I never realized how important footwork is

[danno123]

Last night I played a league match. I've got plantar fasciitis in my right foot and was literally limping around all day but took 2 ibuprofen and decided to play because I had already rescheduled this match once before.

I couldn't really split step or get up on my toes and it had a surprising effect on my strokes. I didn't just have a tough time hitting balls where I had to run. I had a tough time even hitting balls that were hit right to me. I didn't do as many small adjustment steps to put my body where it needed to be and that really screwed up my strokes. I also sliced every backhand and it's only afterwards that I realized that I subconsciously did so because hitting a topspin backhand would have required putting weight on my right foot but I could slice and keep the weight on my left. I still won but our longest rally was maybe 4 hits.

 

[LeeD]

Welcome to old age, declining vision, sustained injuries to lower legs, and flat feet.
You are not what you were when you were 22.
In your case, and most guys who suffer the first sentence, think....get the hitting turret into position. You can still hit without moving your feet if you turn shoulders early.

 

[dozu]

been there done that... tennis is such a full body sport... I've had my share of troubles with neck, back, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, hips, knees, heels, feet. the entire poo poo platter.

nothing is worse than injuries to the lower extremeties... you cant move, you cant play.

had heel pains (similar to your issue right now), couldn't walk normally for a couple of years, had to do only swimming

had torn meniscus on knee, could only play at 50% for a year or so, until I figured out all the compensation moves and now playing at about 85% mobility (but probably more than 100% of pre-injury level as I have added other weapons).

having slight ankle issue right now, trying to manage it.

Just to give a perspective, how health is worth more than everything else you have

 

[jdubbs]

Welcome to old age, declining vision, sustained injuries to lower legs, and flat feet.
You are not what you were when you were 22.
In your case, and most guys who suffer the first sentence, think....get the hitting turret into position. You can still hit without moving your feet if you turn shoulders early.

Yeah, the vision thing is starting to happen to me. Played a guy with a big serve last night and had trouble picking up the serve at nighttime, my vision is just slightly worse but not bad enough to wear contacts or glasses at this point. But I just gave him game after game when return of serve is usually my strongpoint. And my movement wasn't great either, he gave me a lot of junk that I had trouble getting to. I think I could take him next time now that I know what to expect.