even when in a cooperative there’s a big difference in preparation when I split and when I don’t split.
I’m gonna guess you play a lower level, and the ball is moving so slow, and you just pushing the ball back (ie no need to fight for optimal positioning if you’re just gonna block the ball back)
even when in a cooperative there’s a big difference in preparation when I split and when I don’t split.
I’m gonna guess you play a lower level, and the ball is moving so slow, and you just pushing the ball back (ie no need to fight for optimal positioning if you’re just gonna block the ball back)
lol, that’s pretty damn good. better than me. i’m utr9. then i’m amazed you don’t consider split step a critical part of movement to every shot. I can see not splitting when playing someone much weaker and i’m just being lazy, otherwise to me, optimal movement always involves a split step (for every shot unless you’re behind (eg reaction shots or scrambling)My best player is UTR 9, and I feed him breadsticks. Is that a low level?
If i learned as a kid I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t even realize you’re just doing it automatically every time.You got me thinking now... I was definitely drilled to split step as a kid, I had totally forgot that stuff. I probably don't even realize I do it. Now I gotta check.
When the ball is coming fast, split step happens naturally.
lol, that’s pretty damn good. better than me. i’m utr9. then i’m amazed you don’t consider split step a critical part of movement to every shot. I can see not splitting when playing someone much weaker and i’m just being lazy, otherwise to me, optimal movement always involves a split step (for every shot unless you’re behind (eg reaction shots or scrambling)
It's possible that this is actually a deficiency in my coaching game, because I certainly do split step when playing at competitive pace, although I never actually think about it. However, I never drill split step with my players outside of specific contexts like returning serves and overheads and whatnot. Maybe I should be.
That being said, there are certain elements of the coaching progressions I use (mostly MTM) that could be considered to serve the same purpose as the split step. I'm gonna have to experiment with this and see what my players think. They get the final word.
To win long matches we should eliminate unnecessary effort. I understand the idea of split step but there are serious consequences of this technique. If you did it once and I didnt you would get to the ball faster but if we did it 100 times on average I would be faster and what is equally important I would have strength in the legs to hit the ball with greater force and precision. I win a lot of tournaments because I move economically.
To win long matches we should eliminate unnecessary effort. I understand the idea of split step but there are serious consequences of this technique. If you did it once and I didnt you would get to the ball faster but if we did it 100 times on average I would be faster and what is equally important I would have strength in the legs to hit the ball with greater force and precision.
I win a lot of tournaments because I move economically.
According to Tim Mayotte it's a deficiency in the US coaching establishment.
J
If i learned as a kid I wouldn’t be surprised if you don’t even realize you’re just doing it automatically every time.
Why won't he tell me his UTR?
J
...I dont move well. Maybe that is why I dont split step.
I suppose I was doing it wrong, never really found the correct timing of the split step I guess.
I never knew about the split step. So I'm trying to bring it into my game. But I've also got Achilles niggles so I don't want to hop around too much.
I found the ss improves my return of serve.
And doing a wide split step when you've hit a rubbish shot which is about to get creamed that lets you do a drop step to start your sprint.
I think it's non-negotiable in those two scenarios
I stopped doing it a few months ago. Now I play better. I suppose I was doing it wrong, never really found the correct timing of the split step I guess.
And athletic hop is being employed more and more in many sports. I have been trying to get out volley ball team to use it.
All good VB diggers I knew used some variation of the split step in combination with a wide stance and low center of gravity...gee, sounds like a service return stance!
...
the ideal "split step" to me, is not a hop.. it's actually a hop, but only one foot lands as you recognize where the ball is going. ie. a split step to gravity step/drop step.
For really slow balls, split step is not really that important.
When the ball is coming fast, split step happens naturally.
It might not be that difficult to find the correct timing. Cue off the forward swing of your opponent's racket -- not the loop, preparation, racket drop or some other part of their swing. By focusing on exactly when their forward swing occurs, you will likely pick up some other useful visual cues as well. If you start your hop right as the opponent starts their forward swing, you will be at the top of your hop as they are making contact. Shortly after the ball has left their strings and you will be landing your SS hop. By the time you land, you should have a fair approximation for where the ball will travel.