How many of you split step?

Do you split step?

  • Yes

    Votes: 40 90.9%

  • No

    Votes: 2 4.5%

  • What’s a split step?

    Votes: 2 4.5%
  • Total voters
    44
TagUrIt

TagUrIt

Hall of Fame
I recently got back into tennis last August. One thing I never did, never learned was to split step. I initially though this was useless and a waste of energy and time. I did some research on this and put it into practice now. It really does work and literally sets you into motion for the next shot.

I do forget at times, but I do my best to split step on every shot, especially return of serve.
 
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I split step when im feeling good with energy and light on my feet, but when im feeling lazy and not rly feel like moving much, kind of more like a lazy hitting session or so, im a bit more lazy with it, even tho I know I shouldn't be, I should always play actively and not really lazy and half asleep.
 
Essential on return of serve, receiving overheads, when anticipating hard shots. Don't necessarily need to do it every time @ the net or baseline if you understand directionals and have good anticipation.
 
Knox said:
Essential on return of serve, receiving overheads, when anticipating hard shots. Don't necessarily need to do it every time @ the net or baseline if you understand directionals and have good anticipation.
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^^ exactly my approach.
 
Knox said:
Essential on return of serve, receiving overheads, when anticipating hard shots. Don't necessarily need to do it every time @ the net or baseline if you understand directionals and have good anticipation.
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if you're not split stepping on even "easy" balls to you...
you are likely not fighting for optimal hitting position...
or in otherwords...
you could have made that neutral shot, an offensive shot
 
nytennisaddict said:
if you're not split stepping on even "easy" balls to you...
you are likely not fighting for optimal hitting position...
or in otherwords...
you could have made that neutral shot, an offensive shot
Click to expand...

Great point. I suspect a lot of us on these boards get caught up in stroke technique when we're hitting and forget that movement is the single most important technique. It's one that you can practice on every shot or even by yourself. You have to want it though.
 
nytennisaddict said:
if you're not split stepping on even "easy" balls to you...
you are likely not fighting for optimal hitting position...
or in otherwords...
you could have made that neutral shot, an offensive shot
Click to expand...

Then, what's the meaning of an easy ball?

Easy mean you can handle it anyway you want, including turning it into an offensive shot, with less than ideal effort. On the plus side of this approach you save energy for harder balls.
 
RetroSpin said:
Great point. I suspect a lot of us on these boards get caught up in stroke technique when we're hitting and forget that movement is the single most important technique. It's one that you can practice on every shot or even by yourself. You have to want it though.
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It's ridiculous and funny to me when someone says something is the most important thing. This board is littered with it. Serve is the most important shot. No, return is. Now movement is. Split step? Poor wheel chair tennis community. They are really missing out on important stuff.
 
TagUrIt said:
I recently got back into tennis last August. One thing I never did, never learned was to split step. I initially though this was useless and a waste of energy and time. I did some research on this and put it into practice now. It really does work and literally sets you into motion for the next shot.

I do forget at times, but I do my best to split step on every shot, especially return of serve.
Click to expand...

Have you played other sports? Apparently, split step should come naturally if you played other sports.
 
If you're out of shape like me keeping your feet moving and split stepping can get tiring … BUT it does get you to the ball faster, so I try to do it when I can.
 
@gmatheis @Knox
user92626 said:
Then, what's the meaning of an easy ball?

Easy mean you can handle it anyway you want, including turning it into an offensive shot, with less than ideal effort. On the plus side of this approach you save energy for harder balls.
Click to expand...

Not sure I buy this approach of "saving energy for harder balls". If you are frequently not performing the SS, you are often flat-footed and are likely not staying in your aerobic (heart rate) zone. If you are flat-footed, you don't have much of a flow or rhythm to your footwork.

By constantly moving, with frequent split steps, you keep yourself tapped into the aerobic range (where some 40% to 60% of your energy demands come from aerobic respiration). Energy needs are met easily. When we rely solely (or mostly) on anaerobic systems, energy production is much less efficient.

Asthma?

If you feel the need to save energy, it is possible that you have not developed your aerobic as well as your (two) anaerobic systems. You need all (three) to adequately meet tennis energy demands. Competitive players SS all the time and can play for hours at a time w/o running out of energy.

 
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I dont split step and it is one of the reasons why I win a lot of tournaments. I dont split step but I move from side to side waiting for the ball.
 
Gregory Diamond said:
I dont split step and it is one of the reasons why I win a lot of tournaments. I dont split step but I move from side to side waiting for the ball.
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This might work for an intermediate (or low intermediate) player but I don't see this being very effective at a high intermediate to advanced level. If you want to take your tennis to the next level, I would strongly suggest incorporating the split step.
 
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SystemicAnomaly said:
This might work for an intermediate (or low intermediate) player but I don't see this being very effective at a high intermediate to advanced level. If you want to take your tennis to the next level, I would strongly suggest incorporating the split step.
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My level is good enough because I lost in the final of the Polish Championships last year. Of course in my age category.
 
user92626 said:
It's ridiculous and funny to me when someone says something is the most important thing. This board is littered with it. Serve is the most important shot. No, return is. Now movement is. Split step? Poor wheel chair tennis community. They are really missing out on important stuff.
Click to expand...

Wheelchair tennis is a non-sequitur.

One argument is that the split is so important, one should be doing it almost every time.
The counter is to only do it when needed.

The problem with "only when needed" is what if you're wrong and you need it but you didn't do it? It's too late. Just like not wearing a seat belt and then regretting it in the split [no pun intended] second prior to an accident.

I don't think the energy expended is so great it's a factor in my match. However, I do believe the readiness and balance it gives me is a factor.
 
S&V, where I differ is the context.

We're talking about recreational tennis. There's a lot other lower hanging fruits to pick first. SS is arguably difficult and tiring. Go to recreational parks. Virtually every single person choose dubs over singles and they move just enough to hit the ball!
 
Gregory Diamond said:
My level is good enough because I lost in the final of the Polish Championships last year. Of course in my age category.
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You didn't say what your age category is. Geriatric players often employ subtle or no SS.

For older players (or players who are very overweight), I would suggest a variation of the SS. It is a split step variation that some competitive badminton players utilize. The SS for badminton is usually subtler (less hop) than a tennis SS. Normally, a tennis player starts their SS on their opponent's forward swing so that they are landing on the balls of their feet, with knees bent, very shortly after contact.

With the SS variation, you suddenly sink (instead of jump) as your opponent makes contact. By suddenly bending your knees and lowering your body, are are still deriving some benefit of the stretch-shortening reflex of your leg muscles. This reflex action will make you a bit quicker off the mark if you time it properly. As you sink (bend the knees), it is helpful to have your heels off the ground (or, at least, have most of your weight forward on the balls of your feet).

Another SS variation is something called the Fatso split step. That variation might still be on Youtube.
 
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SystemicAnomaly said:
You didn't say what your age category is. Geriatric players often employ subtle or no SS.

For older players (or players who are very overweight), I would suggest a variation of the SS. It is a split step variation that some competitive badminton players utilize. The SS for badminton is usually subtler (not a pronounced) than a tennis SS. Normally, a tennis player starts their SS on their opponent's forward swing so that they are landing on the balls of their feet, with knees bent, very shortly after contact.

With the SS variation, you suddenly sink (instead of jump) as your opponent makes contact. By suddenly bending your knees and lowering your body, are are still deriving some benefit of the stretch-shortening reflex of your leg muscles. This reflex action will make you a bit quicker off the mark if you time it properly. As you sink (bend the knees), it is helpful to have your heels off the ground (or, at least, have most of your weight forward on the balls of your feet).

Another SS variation is something called the Fatso split step. That variation might still be on Youtube.
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You are right. I am a geriatric player. One of those in the video. As you can see I dont move well. Maybe that is why I dont split step.
 
user92626 said:
S&V, where I differ is the context.

We're talking about recreational tennis. There's a lot other lower hanging fruits to pick first. SS is arguably difficult and tiring. Go to recreational parks. Virtually every single person choose dubs over singles and they move just enough to hit the ball!
Click to expand...

SS should not be tiring for the reasons stated in post #12.

If one is only moving in doubles just enough to play the ball, the level must be pretty low (2.5 to 3.5 NTRP?). Higher level doubles players are moving all the time, whether they are hitting the ball or not. Player who aspire to higher levels learn to incorporate a SS most of time. At 4.0, many players SS. At 4.5 and higher, pretty much all players SS all the time.
 
A waste of time, it is not. I'm pretty stubborn, but even I won't pretend I know better than the thousands of players vastly superior to me. Plus, it is so effective, I don't have any reason to think the energy it expends isn't worth the increased efficiency.
 
SystemicAnomaly said:
Which player are you? The guy closest to the camera is using a SS most of the time. The other guy appears to have a subtle SS (sometimes).
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I dont split step so I am not the guy closest to the camera. And what is even more important usually good servers cant win many points after the serve. They have to hit powerful forehands to beat me. My friend in this video has a very powerful forehand. His serve is not a problem for me.
 
WestboroChe said:
Fascinating. Never even heard of a surface like that. Unfortunately here in the US hard court reigns supreme. My old tennis club was all clay. Still miss that place.
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In Poland we play almost only on clay. It is a great pleasure. It is healthy for legs. I played today on this surface only because it rained.
 
user92626 said:
It's ridiculous and funny to me when someone says something is the most important thing. This board is littered with it. Serve is the most important shot. No, return is. Now movement is. Split step? Poor wheel chair tennis community. They are really missing out on important stuff.
Click to expand...

A lot of things in tennis are hard. Serving for example. But the one thing you can do that every pro also does requires virtually no ability. Just mental and physical discipline. You don't have to hop a foot off the ground like Fed does, but getting up on your toes as your opponent hits the ball is crucial to getting a good first step.
 
Gregory Diamond said:
In Poland we play almost only on clay. It is a great pleasure. It is healthy for legs. I played today on this surface only because it rained.
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Yeah clay is definitely better. Especially on the back.

Last question. Is the sand supposed to make it easier to slide so that it plays like clay?
 
user92626 said:
Then, what's the meaning of an easy ball?

Easy mean you can handle it anyway you want, including turning it into an offensive shot, with less than ideal effort. On the plus side of this approach you save energy for harder balls.
Click to expand...

The problem with this logic is that you split-step before your opponent hits the ball, so you generally do not know exactly what you are getting. You are cheating yourself if you only SS when you expect a big shot coming back. At higher levels, getting a short ball is a big opportunity and you want to be on top of it as soon as possible.
 
Gregory Diamond said:

You are right. I am a geriatric player. One of those in the video. As you can see I dont move well. Maybe that is why I dont split step.
Click to expand...

Would encourage you to try the modified (no-hop) SS that I suggested in post #18. Once you learn the proper timing, your movement to the ball should be a bit quicker than it is now. Coach Mauro developed his own variation of the SS that he (or his student) termed, the Fatso SS. I prefer my variation but, if you have an issue with timing it properly, the Fatso SS might be the way to go. Either way, bend your knees and get your weight off of your heels.

https://fatsotennis.com/uncategorized/never-before-seen-tennis-technique-fatso-splitstep/
 
Gregory Diamond said:
I dont split step so I am not the guy closest to the camera. And what is even more important usually good servers cant win many points after the serve. They have to hit powerful forehands to beat me. My friend in this video has a very powerful forehand. His serve is not a problem for me.
Click to expand...
I thought I noticed some subtle quick SS like reaction in your legs, similar to what @SystemicAnomaly mentioned, sinking instead of real split stepping.
 
Curious said:
Sorry I didn't mean SS while returning a serve, more during rally shots. I might be wrong.
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At least one of my legs always touches the ground. That means that there is no split step. Maybe it is wise to do it on professional level when they serve 240 km per hour. Doing split step you are losing stability.
 
Gregory Diamond said:
At least one of my legs always touches the ground. That means that there is no split step. Maybe it is wise to do it on professional level when they serve 240 km per hour. Doing split step you are losing stability.
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Doing split step is about getting to the ball in time. If you can do that without split stepping at your level of tennis maybe there is no problem!
 
Gregory Diamond said:
At the very beginning of video you can see what I am doing when I am waiting for his serve. I just balance my body from one side to the other.
Click to expand...

Yes, I can see that you are swaying while waiting for the serve. Some movement is better than no movement (even tho you don't SS for your serve return). However, you have some semblance of a SS, every once in a while, in other situations. Pretty sure there was a SS at 0:10 when you were approaching the net. A couple of subtler ones elsewhere. Seeing a few here as well:

 
Curious said:
Doing split step is about getting to the ball in time. If you can do that without split stepping at your level of tennis maybe there is no problem!
Click to expand...

Not just getting to the ball in time. But getting to the ball quicker or sooner so that you can increase your options by getting into a (more) optimal position. If you get to the ball just in time, your options might be more limited.
 
SystemicAnomaly said:
Yes, I can see that you are swaying while waiting for the serve. Some movement is better than no movement (even tho you don't SS for your serve return). However, you have some semblance of a SS, every once in a while, in other situations. Pretty sure there was a SS at 0:10 when you were approaching the net. A couple of subtler ones elsewhere. Seeing a few here as well:

Click to expand...
Agree. 0.10 was a clear split step.
 
SystemicAnomaly said:
Not just getting to the ball in time. But getting to the ball quicker or sooner so that you can increase your options by getting into a (more) optimal position. If you get to the ball just in time, your options might be more limited.
Click to expand...
That's why I said 'in time' instead of 'on time'!:)
 
SystemicAnomaly said:
Yes, I can see that you are swaying while waiting for the serve. Some movement is better than no movement (even tho you don't SS for your serve return). However, you have some semblance of a SS, every once in a while, in other situations. Pretty sure there was a SS at 0:10 when you were approaching the net. A couple of subtler ones elsewhere. Seeing a few here as well:

Click to expand...
At 1:03 in the first video I am approaching the net and both my legs are near the ground but I agree that I try to adjust my legs by doing small steps.
 
user92626 said:
S&V, where I differ is the context.

We're talking about recreational tennis. There's a lot other lower hanging fruits to pick first. SS is arguably difficult and tiring. Go to recreational parks. Virtually every single person choose dubs over singles and they move just enough to hit the ball!
Click to expand...

I think the average rec player could improve more by paying attention to their footwork like the split step than stroke technique.

I think we both agree that the split step has its place in the list of important things; we just differ on what spot it occupies.
 
RetroSpin said:
A lot of things in tennis are hard. Serving for example. But the one thing you can do that every pro also does requires virtually no ability. Just mental and physical discipline. You don't have to hop a foot off the ground like Fed does, but getting up on your toes as your opponent hits the ball is crucial to getting a good first step.
Click to expand...

And the FH is just taking the racket back and swinging into the ball. Easy breezy, no?

But reality of the recreational scene suggests otherwise. Players probably miss more than they hit.

Likewise, SS and decent footwork, for me, requires timing and training ie skill. I'm not talking about low level matches where ones can do without SS, hence it's not needed. It's the same as do we need a 2nd kick serve to play rec tennis? The answer is a resounding NO.
 
I think he makes a great point about split stepping in this video: it allows you to sprint quickly initially so that you have enough time to slow down while getting close to the ball, which increases your chances of being more balanced and stable during the stroke, instead of rushing all the way to the ball without a split step. Never thought about that.

 
SystemicAnomaly said:
Not just getting to the ball in time. But getting to the ball quicker or sooner so that you can increase your options by getting into a (more) optimal position. If you get to the ball just in time, your options might be more limited.
Click to expand...
Sounds like you wanted to say something similar to what I mention in the above post.
 
nytennisaddict said:
Well that’s the #1 reason folks don’t split... they are not in shape to do it over the length of a match.
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That's one reason.

For me, if you're not trained to do SS or have understood well and simply bounce around for the sake of it (because you heard the touting of it on TT) it's d@mn tiring and ineffective.

I play both singles and dubs. My singles are usually tough -- have an opponent near my level; or very low margin games for me -- but my pickup dubs are relatively easy. I always need to employ SS and get very active with footwork which requires turning on some parts in my mind!!! (eg focus, discipline, punching through fatique, etc.) and there're shots where you don't have time to do SS but guess and rush to the next ball. It's on and off. Not simple.

But in my dubs, I mostly casually "stroll" around and hit. My hitting isn't suffered by my less than ideal footwork or lack of SS. That's my reality.
 
Gregory Diamond said:
At the very beginning of video you can see what I am doing when I am waiting for his serve. I just balance my body from one side to the other.
Click to expand...

In addition to the sway (during the serve motion), listen for the sound of the server's ball contact. As soon as you hear that sound, quickly bend your knees and get your weight on the balls of your feet (that is, get your weight off your heels). This modified (no-hop) SS should get you to the serve even quicker.
 
user92626 said:
Likewise, SS and decent footwork, for me, requires timing and training ie skill. I'm not talking about low level matches where ones can do without SS, hence it's not needed. It's the same as do we need a 2nd kick serve to play rec tennis? The answer is a resounding NO.
Click to expand...

The difference is that you can split if you wanted to; you simply choose not to.

By contrast, someone without a kick serve can't just decide to hit one. That person doesn't fail to hit a kick serve because he chooses to; he doesn't have a choice.
 
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