When do you split step?

[tennisfreak3]

The question seems stupid but I just saw a video on youtube saying to split step after the recognition of the ball path. Every pro is doing that. They are not split stepping when contact. They are even doing that on the serve return.

So I was thinking. What about doing the little jump of the split step at the contact? So when I'll be on my toes, the timing will be perfect.

 

[TheCheese]

The thing is that the pros are recognizing where the ball is going to do very quickly after contact. You should be in the air when they're hitting and know which way to go before you land.

 

[BHiC]

The thing is that the pros are recognizing where the ball is going to do very quickly after contact. You should be in the air when they're hitting and know which way to go before you land.

I agree, the pros are watching the opponent and picking up the ball with little distractions. The recreational player's eyes are all over the places, and almost always late coming to the ball. I have always heard to start your split just before the opponent makes contact.

 

[WildVolley]

The videos I've seen show that most pros are in the air while contact is being made. They only land out of the split step as the ball is traveling their direction.

So my general advice is to time the split step such that your feet are off the ground and your body is unweighted as the opponent is making contact with the ball. That way you can adjust your movement as your feet touch down.

 

[TheCheese]

I agree, the pros are watching the opponent and picking up the ball with little distractions. The recreational player's eyes are all over the places, and almost always late coming to the ball. I have always heard to start your split just before the opponent makes contact.

Are you being sarcastic? Recreational players should be able to what the pros are doing. The ball tracking and timing just takes a little practice.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

Are you being sarcastic? Recreational players should be able to what the pros are doing. The ball tracking and timing just takes a little practice.

Gaze control studies have shown that elite players' eyes tend to wander less than lesser players. When watching a server, for instance, elite players will focus primarily on the upward swing of the racket whereas non-elite players' eyes are all over the place -- they are watching the toss go up and down, their eyes are bouncing around at various body parts, etc. The elite player probably trust their peripheral vision more to pick up other info (rather than have their eyes darting around a lot).
.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

As others have said, you can start your split-step on your opponent's forward swing or a little bit later, at contact. In either case, you'll should be landing shortly after contact. In the first case, you'll probably land neutral (on both feet). For the latter case, you might be landing primarily on 1 foot and starting to move in the opposite direction to intercept the ball. You want to make sure that you are not too late by starting your split after contact has already been made.

 

[connico]

The point of the slip step is be more explosive when you recognise where the next shot is going. So in theory, ideally you should time your landing and split step for just after you know where ball is headed. If that makes any sense

 

[Limpinhitter]

The question seems stupid but I just saw a video on youtube saying to split step after the recognition of the ball path. Every pro is doing that. They are not split stepping when contact. They are even doing that on the serve return.

So I was thinking. What about doing the little jump of the split step at the contact? So when I'll be on my toes, the timing will be perfect.

You split step every time your opponent makes contact with the ball. It prepares you to move in any direction. By the time you hit the ground, the ball is in flight and you can recognize where it's going and respond accordingly.

 

[dominikk1985]

the correct way to do this is between bounce and contact. you want to land at contact so that you can start immediately when the ball is on the way.

 

[sureshs]

I am not sure that SS benefits club players

 

[charliefedererer]

Ian at Essential Tennis realizes how important the split step is in tennis, so he made this series with you in mind:

Tennis Footwork Split Step Lesson, 1 of 3: Technique http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2xAK9p2hIM&feature=player_embedded

Tennis Footwork Split Step Lesson, 2 of 3: Timing http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jtWMP75377k&feature=player_embedded

Tennis Footwork Split Step Lesson, 3 of 3: Pivot and Fake http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=UG5Z5fs4-Ms#!

 

[user92626]

Gaze control studies have shown that elite players' eyes tend to wander less than lesser players.

That's good info!

I'd also love to see a study on whether two eyes work better than one. There's an inexplicably lack of pirate-turn-tennis pro players in this sport.

 

[syc23]

I am not sure that SS benefits club players

SS benefits whatever level you play, it gets you prepared for whatever type of shot your opponent plays.

 

[user92626]

I am not sure that SS benefits club players

Took me a few seconds to figure out what your SS means.

Dude, you have over 20 000 posts and counting, why are you being frugal with typing out two more words?

 

[sureshs]

SS benefits whatever level you play, it gets you prepared for whatever type of shot your opponent plays.

I think looking at the opponent's strings at contact does the job.

 

[Limpinhitter]

I think looking at the opponent's strings at contact does the job.

Sureshs, after all this time, I think we've discovered what's holding your game back.

 

[sureshs]

Sureshs, after all this time, I think we've discovered what's holding your game back.

It is certainly not lack of SS, I can assure you

I think SS is helpful when the ball is being hit really hard from both sides.

 

[bhupaes]

I think being a little early with the split step is okay - it's certainly much preferable to being late. You'll land a split-second earlier, but does it matter as long as you are still in a crouched position so your legs are still loaded and you are ready to make a move in an instant after the ball is hit?

 

[sureshs]

SS helps to "explode into the next shot."

How many club players do you know whose game can be described as explosive?