Why split step?

[Mr.Lob]

I've read a bit about split stepping, and see the pros split stepping before serves. But, to me split stepping seems to have no real advantage over being on the balls of your feet, knees bent, in an athletic position... which is where you're at immediately after a split step. Right?

If your timing is off on the split step, you could find yourself out of position to make the shot.

I'm a 3.5-4.0, I don't see a lot of split stepping in my doubles league. If I do split step, it is natural and instinctive. So do you split step, why, and is it something you have to practice a lot to get the timing down properly?

 

[LeeD]

I do not split step.
OTOH, I'm 64, I have torn tendons in my ankles, and I cannot run, or step onto the balls of my feet with my left foot.
However, hopefully, you're younger and not injured.
1. Split stepping is a way to time your muscles so they react at the correct time to fire in response to your opponent's shot.
2. Just being on the balls of your feet is a very SLOW reacting stance. You need to push off your whole foot, including the heel, when facing your opponent and reacting left or right, not just the balls of your feet.
3. Split stepping loads your thigh and calf muscles, so they are pre strung, to release faster than any other ready position. It's similar to a sprinter tensing his calf and thighs in anticipation of the start gun. He doesn't TENSE up, he lightly loads his leg muscles, so they can fire quickly.
4. Nothing is worth anything if you can do it first time every time. Every gain takes practice, work, diligence, and determination.
5. While some 5.0 players don't split step, you can bet your lunch money they DID split step when they were getting the skills to play 5.0 level.

 

[gmatheis]

I've read a bit about split stepping, and see the pros split stepping before serves. But, to me split stepping seems to have no real advantage over being on the balls of your feet, knees bent, in an athletic position... which is where you're at immediately after a split step. Right?

If your timing is off on the split step, you could find yourself out of position to make the shot.

I'm a 3.5-4.0, I don't see a lot of split stepping in my doubles league. If I do split step, it is natural and instinctive. So do you split step, why, and is it something you have to practice a lot to get the timing down properly?

Watch the pros during a rally, they split step every time their opponent hits the ball ... not just on service returns.

You are much more explosive if you load your legs up and immediately push off than if you were to try and hold that loaded up position.

Think of jumping up to reach a basket ball rim. You don't start with your legs bent ... you bend them just before jumping up.

do I do it? ... I try but I don't do it nearly as much as I should because I never played junior tennis. If I had it would have been drilled into me and would be second nature ... I wouldn't even have to think about it. I don't think the timing is that hard, it's just turning it into a habit that takes some time so you do it without even thinking about it.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

^ Yes, a properly performed split step will make your next movement more explosive. This is due to the stretch-shortening cycle (see links below). While an athletic position in the balls of your feet with the knee bent will provide some advantage, a well-timed split step should provide an even greater advantage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stretch_shortening_cycle
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10899328

To the OP: Keep practicing the timing of your split step. A poorly timed split step can be counterproductive. If too early, it is not too bad -- you effectively get the static athletic position that you described. OTOH, if you're late, it will delay your move to play the ball. Some pro players will split step as they hear the contact made by their opponent. However, this might cause a lot of players to be slightly late. Many players will initiate the split step on the opponent's forward swing (or upward swing for a serve) before contact such that they land just as the ball is coming off the opponent's strings. Do not start your hop/jump before your opponent's forward (or upward) swing.

With practice, you should be able to find the optimal time for your split step. Note: If you are early or on-time with your split step, you will probably land with your weight equally distributed on the balls of both feet. If you are slightly late, you might find that you are landing on just one foot and starting to move the other foot in the direction that you want to run.

For LeeD and others that might find a conventional split step too painful, there are a couple of modified split step variations that might be of use. One of these is a split step movement that is sometimes employed by badminton players. Instead of a dramatic hop/jump, badminton players will suddenly lower the body as the opponent is making contact (or about to make contact) -- increasing the knee bend and temporarily unweighting the body. This movement, if performed correctly, should produce a stretch-shortening cycle. Like a conventional tennis split step, this lowering/unweighting movement needs to be well-timed for optimal effectiveness.

Another split step variation is something known as the fastso split step. I sometimes refer to it as the geriatric split step. Here is Coach Mauro's split step variation:

http://fatsotennis.com/tag/tennis-split-step
http://tt.tennis-warehouse.com/showthread.php?p=5500841#post5500841 (posts #5 and #9)
.

 

[Elite Tennis Barcelona]

the split steep activate your fast twitch fibers and organize your footwork to be able to go to the ball quicker

 

[sureshs]

I agree with OP that for an adult 4.0, investing in split-step training is probably not worth it. I don't really see it as a low-hanging fruit as some have claimed. There are other such fruit even lower.

 

[Rui]

I think a combination of OP's rising on the balls of your feet and SystemA's lowering of the body is a good idea for people with split stepping disabilities.

 

[LeeD]

Lowering body good, llke a 3rd baseman or SS.
Raising to balls of feet bad, because then you have to lower your heels to push off to either direction.
The reason CB's in football and infielder's DON'T splitstep is that they don't know the timing of the player or ball coming towards them.
We split in tennis because we have figured out the pace of the ball, to some degree.

 

[hawk eye]

I do sort of split step, (very minimal, like some guys on the senior tours) but can't keep it up for more than one set. Then i really have to conserve my energy. An i'm not even overweight.

 

[PeterWA]

Everybody here pretty much have it summed up. Split stepping will let you get to the ball quicker because of the explosive motion.

I used to never split step, but just on the balls of my feet with my knees bent, like you suggested. Than, someone better than me told me to split step and not have lazy feet all the time so I started split stepping and I could guarantee you that you will get to the ball faster.

 

[Maximagq]

Newton's First Law: Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. If you split step, you are already in motion and your next movement will be quicker.

 

[WildVolley]

Hopping into a split-step pre-loads the muscles for movement and can, in some cases, load a jump reflex.

Assuming no health problems, all players should be split-stepping when playing a match. The pros do it for a reason, and so should you.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I agree with OP that for an adult 4.0, investing in split-step training is probably not worth it. I don't really see it as a low-hanging fruit as some have claimed. There are other such fruit even lower.

Quite often one of the observed differences between 3.0 and weaker 3.5 players compared to 4.0 (and strong/effective 3.5) players is that the latter usually split steps. While there may be some 4.0 players who do not split step on every shot, I believe that it is rare to see a solid 4.5 who does not. I do believe that it is worth the invest. If not the classic split step, then one of the variations I suggested.

 

[Ballinbob]

Because, tennis

 

[GuyClinch]

It absolutely helps. I think if you really analyze the pros though their split steps are one sided - that is in mid air they decide which way the ball is going - and adjust the landing a bit..

Can you beat players while not split stepping - absolutely. There are lots of balls most players can get to without split stepping..but it is a boost.

Some players seem to hop around constantly - when warming up not even just wait and split step. They hop around like a boxer. So its like hop hop - split - hit - recover - hop - hop - split - hit - recover etc.

 

[Mr.Lob]

Thanks for the advice and info everyone. Got a few pros and a few cons on me split stepping.

How much time and training are we talking about to become proficient in split stepping? Currently I'm playing 2-3 times a week.

Wanting to improve, though a lot of other things I could work on. I'm generally considered fairly quick and fast, though cardio could use some work.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

... How much time and training are we talking about to become proficient in split stepping? Currently I'm playing 2-3 times a week...

Depends on how much you are willing to work on it. When you go out to the courts do you usually just play sets? If you are willing to perform mini-tennis, drills and extended hitting/rallying, you should be able to become proficient much quicker than you would if you primarily just play sets or matches.

Watch the following videos periodically to inspire your mastery of split steps. Repeated viewing should help to get it to stick so that you can more readily make it a habit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxJLR-IzxEY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVwPRKh1Mdk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9tZhQi8aDcg

 

[Vlad_C]

This series of videos was quite useful to me when I started working more seriously on my footwork.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2xAK9p2hIM
The guy talks a bit too much, but he covers everything you need to know about the splitstep.

 

[hawk eye]

This series of videos was quite useful to me when I started working more seriously on my footwork.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2xAK9p2hIM
The guy talks a bit too much, but he covers everything you need to know about the splitstep.

Yeah there are quite a few longtalkers out there. Coach Mauro has the same annoying habbit.

 

[sureshs]

Newton's First Law: Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. If you split step, you are already in motion and your next movement will be quicker.

Newton's First Law has nothing to do with it. After you split step, you are subject to the same outside forces as before.

 

[Chas Tennis]

^ Yes, a properly performed split step will make your next movement more explosive. This is due to the stretch-shortening cycle (see links below). While an athletic position in the balls of your feet with the knee bent will provide some advantage, a well-timed split step should provide an even greater advantage.
....................................................

Some pictures, many closely related to using the SSC with the legs -
pre-stretch muscles and then quickly use them for the motion............
https://www.google.com/search?q=str...7fCvK14AO9yoGYBw&ved=0CCwQsAQ&biw=995&bih=606

 

[TimeSpiral]

I've read a bit about split stepping, and see the pros split stepping before serves. But, to me split stepping seems to have no real advantage over being on the balls of your feet, knees bent, in an athletic position... which is where you're at immediately after a split step. Right?

If your timing is off on the split step, you could find yourself out of position to make the shot.

I'm a 3.5-4.0, I don't see a lot of split stepping in my doubles league. If I do split step, it is natural and instinctive. So do you split step, why, and is it something you have to practice a lot to get the timing down properly?

SystemicAnomaly has given you a well articulated, cited, and free lesson on split stepping. I strongly encourage you to take it all in. I'm not going to reiterate what's already been covered, but will add to it, what I can.

Split stepping is a footwork "timing routine" used to improve shot reaction and court coverage. It basically starts your reaction to your opponent's shot before he hits the ball, instead of after. Since one step of court coverage can be all the difference, this increased reaction time pays dividends ... but it does take sound practice to get it right.

Most here have said that you want to land just as your opponent is striking the ball. At lower levels, this is probably fine, but ideally you want to be landing just barely after your opponent has struck the ball. The moment of impact doesn't always--or even usually--give you enough information about the shot to know which part of the court you need to cover. It's not until the ball has created a trajectory in the air that you're able to know where to go. So if you can figure out that length of time--it's extremely quick--you should be able to time your split step so: (1) you glean the direction of the shot while executing the split step, and (2) are ready to explode the moment you land.

On the serve, for instance: I'm aiming for the moment of impact to coincide with the apex of my split step (maybe an inch or two off the ground). This way I hit the ground moving forward, with the visual information needed to return the serve from the proper position.

In general: If you split step too early you will land, load your legs, and have nowhere to go. This can create a false start, or even leave you flat or wrong-footed. If you land too late, you might not have enough time to cover the court.

 

[Avles]

Newton's First Law has nothing to do with it. After you split step, you are subject to the same outside forces as before.

Roetert and Ellenbecker disagree:

http://books.google.com/books?id=SijmZb2YvcIC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74#v=onepage&q&f=false

 

[TennisCJC]

To those that think split step in not necessary, my opinion is it is not only necessary but critical to hitting good shots. I play 4 times a week with players ranging from 3.5 to 4.5 and the biggest mistake I see is players slow to racket because they are a bit flat footed. A split step helps you get a good prep on ground strokes and returns, and is even more critical on volleys where you have even less time to react. Once you have reasonable groundstroke, return and volley technique, my opinion is getting balanced and weight loaded ready to move is the next most important thing to learn. I see players miss shots and they then complain about not doing this or not doing that but to me it looks like they missed it just because they were not ready to react. Tennis is a fairly fast game and getting on balance with weight loaded and ready to move is super important.

 

[sureshs]

Roetert and Ellenbecker disagree:

http://books.google.com/books?id=SijmZb2YvcIC&pg=PA74&lpg=PA74#v=onepage&q&f=false

And I disagree with them.

The term inertia is often misused.

It is easy for me to play tennis after being active in other work for sometime, rather than after just getting up from bed. It has to do with muscle looseness and a whole bunch of such physiological reasons, but not Newton's first law of motion.

 

[TimeSpiral]

And I disagree with them.

The term inertia is often misused.

It is easy for me to play tennis after being active in other work for sometime, rather than after just getting up from bed. It has to do with muscle looseness and a whole bunch of such physiological reasons, but not Newton's first law of motion.

Well, I don't think you can say the Law of Inertia has "nothing to do with [split stepping]." The law of physics clearly relate to a body's physical motions, but maybe not as directly or importantly as physiology, anatomy, and general biomechanics.

I would probably agree with you that some are incorrectly stating the relationship between this basic physics law and biomechanics though. Here is a good read on how the three basic laws of motion relate to biomechanics.

 

[sureshs]

Well, I don't think you can say the Law of Inertia has "nothing to do with [split stepping]." The law of physics clearly relate to a body's physical motions, but maybe not as directly or importantly as physiology, anatomy, and general biomechanics.

I would probably agree with you that some are incorrectly stating the relationship between this basic physics law and biomechanics though. Here is a good read on how the three basic laws of motion relate to biomechanics.

That link is being flagged as bad so I will not go there.

I didn't say the Law of Inertia has nothing to do with split stepping. If something is always valid, it can always be claimed as a reason for anything, and then it becomes a meaningless exercise in word-juggling. I am sure the law has everything to do with how we move. So also does the conversion of ATP to ADP. But I wouldn't attribute the advantage of split stepping to that.

 

[TimeSpiral]

That link is being flagged as bad so I will not go there.

I didn't say the Law of Inertia has nothing to do with split stepping. If something is always valid, it can always be claimed as a reason for anything, and then it becomes a meaningless exercise in word-juggling. I am sure the law has everything to do with how we move. So also does the conversion of ATP to ADP. But I wouldn't attribute the advantage of split stepping to that.

Hmm. I read the article without issue ... thanks for the heads up though.

We agree on that last bit. The advantages of the split step are obvious and apparent even at the surface level. Incidentally, if you want to go all the way down to the physics level, the split step clearly requires more energy than not split stepping. Yet pro players, keenly aware of physical economy, still split step in virtually every instance.

 

[sureshs]

Hmm. I read the article without issue ... thanks for the heads up though.

We agree on that last bit. The advantages of the split step are obvious and apparent even at the surface level. Incidentally, if you want to go all the way down to the physics level, the split step clearly requires more energy than not split stepping. Yet pro players, keenly aware of physical economy, still split step in virtually every instance.

The link is probably good. But it is flagged on my office machine and that often happens for the smallest of reasons.

Yes split step consumes quite a bit of energy I have found.

I think it is very useful for an advanced player who has his mechanics down pat. The alertness and timing that he gains helps him make the most of his mechanics. I am not seeing that level of stroke proficiency at the 4.0 level.

 

[GuyClinch]

I think it is very useful for an advanced player who has his mechanics down pat. The alertness and timing that he gains helps him make the most of his mechanics. I am not seeing that level of stroke proficiency at the 4.0 level.

There doesn't seem to be any logic for not doing it.. It uses a little more energy - but I don't think 'bad' split steps are a huge problem at the rec level.

Plenty of activities on the court at the lower levels are of suspect value inititally but necessary if you want to improve IMHO. Hitting heavy topspin and pace and hitting proper continental 'kick' serves are more error prone then hitting fairly flat and hitting eastern grip dink serves. But you practice them anyway because you want to learn to play proper tennis.

Split steps are a very easy footwork pattern.. much harder is doing something like a hop step

This is the footwork pattern you want to learn as a rec player because everyone at first is hitting soft dinks..

http://www.jeffsalzensteintennis.com/tennis-forehand-footwork/

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

... Yes split step consumes quite a bit of energy I have found.

I think it is very useful for an advanced player who has his mechanics down pat. The alertness and timing that he gains helps him make the most of his mechanics. I am not seeing that level of stroke proficiency at the 4.0 level.

Sure the split step requires somewhat more energy expenditure. Not sure that I would characterize it as "quite a bit" but, perhaps, it is not that important how much more energy is actually consumed. The benefits provided by the split step far outweigh the added energy expenditure for both intermediate & advanced players.

A player at a 3.0 level or lower might not derive much benefit from a split step but most 3.5 & 4.0 players probably would. I teach footwork patterns, such as split steps and recovery steps, to novice students (advanced beginners). For these students, the footwork patterns is usually part of their dynamic warmup. While they may not actually use it when hitting or rallying, it seems to help novice players get to an intermediate level quicker. For intermediate players it makes the better movers on the court -- better anticipation and more explosive movement to the ball. With the split step these players are more balanced and better prepared to the to the next ball. It also makes their movement more fluid and lends a rhythm to their stroke-movements.

The extra energy expenditure required when executing recovery steps and split steps actually helps us to tap into our stored energy more readily. This concept is counter-intuitive to novice and low intermediate players. By keeping the feet moving (w/splits steps, recovery steps, etc), we get the adrenaline flowing and we keep the heart rate up in the aerobic range. This should help us to utilize oxygen more readily rather than just relying on our anaerobic systems to produce energy.

Our anaerobic systems are very inefficient -- they do not produce energy as readily as our aerobic system. We often feel sluggish or find that it is more of an effort to move to the ball if we are relying only on our anaerobic systems. Once we start tapping into the aerobic system for some of our energy demands for tennis, we feel like we are able to produce energy more easily. We get the impression that we have more of a flow and more energy to spare (even tho' we are, paradoxically, using more energy).

 

[LeeD]

A shortstop/3rd baseman/2nd baseman doesn't split step in anticipation of the batter hitting the ball near them.
Neither does a goalie in soccer.
Nor does a DB or OLB in football.
You can react pretty fast without split stepping, but you do need the ready position.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

^ I have seen the split step or footwork very similar to the tennis split step employed in soccer, baseball, softball, badminton, volleyball and other sports. It can be missed because it is often subtler than then the obvious split step seen in tennis. The un-weighting or hop footwork seen on the soccer video below is somewhat less pronounced the tennis split step. It is more like the type of split step or a sudden lowering of the body/COG seen in badminton.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h2J_AVzxKMI&t=2m48s

http://www.sports-split-step.com/index.php/blog/quick-off-the-ball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_s61KbNTXrk

Another function of the split step in tennis is that is helps to sync us up to our opponent's shots & rhythm (esp for their serve). Also, if we are looking for our timing cue for our split step, we are probably focusing better -- keeping a keen eye on our opponent's arm/shoulder and their forward swing (or upward swing for the serve).

 

[Topspin Shot]

I can't believe no one has mentioned this! When you split step, you don't land on both feet unless the ball is coming right at you. You push off one or both feet, be at the top of the hop at your opponent's contact, and land on the outside foot. In other words, if the ball's coming to your forehand, land on your left leg if you're a righty and on your right leg for a backhand. Landing on the outside leg gives you a dynamic push in the direction you want to go. If you land on both feet, again unless the ball is hit within a step of you, you will have defeated nearly the entire purpose of split-stepping. Watch the video of Djokovic hitting groundstrokes. It's not in slow-motion, but you should still be able to see what he does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsj275401gA

 

[Ballinbob]

Split stepping on every shot has probably been the biggest improvement I've made this year. It just keeps me focused and moving well. SA makes a good point when he says it syncs us to our opponents shots-it really does I feel.

When I'm not playing well it's usually because I'm not split stepping or not timing it correctly

 

[Cheetah]

A shortstop/3rd baseman/2nd baseman doesn't split step in anticipation of the batter hitting the ball near them.
Neither does a goalie in soccer.
Nor does a DB or OLB in football.
You can react pretty fast without split stepping, but you do need the ready position.

Incorrect. They most certainly do split step. Every single player on a baseball field does a split step. If you watch a baseball game on tv and they show an aerial view of the field during the pitch you can see every player split step.

Football (soccer) goalies split step on penalties but the split is shorter because you are not exactly sure when the ball will be struck and distance is shorter and there won't be any large distance covered but they still split step. They will also split step on longer range shots more noticeably and less noticeably the closer the ball is to goal when struck.

 

[Povl Carstensen]

Newton's First Law: Objects in motion tend to stay in motion unless acted upon by an outside force. If you split step, you are already in motion and your next movement will be quicker.

Newton's First Law has nothing to do with it. After you split step, you are subject to the same outside forces as before.

I can't believe no one has mentioned this! When you split step, you don't land on both feet unless the ball is coming right at you. You push off one or both feet, be at the top of the hop at your opponent's contact, and land on the outside foot. In other words, if the ball's coming to your forehand, land on your left leg if you're a righty and on your right leg for a backhand. Landing on the outside leg gives you a dynamic push in the direction you want to go. If you land on both feet, again unless the ball is hit within a step of you, you will have defeated nearly the entire purpose of split-stepping. Watch the video of Djokovic hitting groundstrokes. It's not in slow-motion, but you should still be able to see what he does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xsj275401gA

Exactly, by placing weight on one foot or the other, you use the kinetic energy from the split step to start moving sideways. Which makes it quicker than if you were just standing in "ready" position, and then had to get started. You can also use it to move forward, by letting the foot land behind you, etc.
So I would say it is in fact related to Newtons first law.

 

[Avles]

Incorrect. They most certainly do split step. Every single player on a baseball field does a split step. If you watch a baseball game on tv and they show an aerial view of the field during the pitch you can see every player split step.

This video shows two third basemen performing a split step: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vQW2w700k0

It also focuses on the idea of landing on the outside leg as mentioned by TopspinShot.

 

[TennisCJC]

Yea, LeeD I have to disagree too. I see middle line backers and baseball players get up on the balls of their feet all the time in anticipation of their next move. Not sure if it is full split step but it is certainly loading the weight forward, flexing the knees and getting good balance to explode off the mark.

I see rec tennis players running through shots and waiting flat footed all the time.

 

[sureshs]

I kind of do a "mental" split-step hehehe

 

[sureshs]

Exactly, by placing weight on one foot or the other, you use the kinetic energy from the split step to start moving sideways. Which makes it quicker than if you were just standing in "ready" position, and then had to get started. You can also use it to move forward, by letting the foot land behind you, etc.
So I would say it is in fact related to Newtons first law.

That is a good point and perhaps points to Newton's third law, the reaction supplying the forward momentum

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

I can't believe no one has mentioned this! When you split step, you don't land on both feet unless the ball is coming right at you...

Not necessarily. I thought that I had addressed this in this thread but perhaps not. However, I have definitely discussed this in previous threads more than once. Landing neutral (2-footed) as opposed to unbalanced (1-footed) depends, in large part, on the exact timing of the execution of the split step.

Beginning and (low) intermediate players are often encouraged to initiate the hop on the forward swing such that they are landing the split step at contact or just as the ball is coming off the opponent's racket. This is usually encouraged so that they do not split step too late. Such a split step will often result in a neutral landing (but the weight is shifted almost immediately assuming that the player had not split step way too early).

Elite players, OTOH, tend to split step a scosh later. They will start the hop either on the opponent's forward swing or just as their strings are making contact. This means that they will nearly always land slightly later than lower level players = a short time after the ball has left the stringbed and is on its way. Taking a look at the slow motion videos from FYB and Essential Tennis, it can be seen that a given player, like Ferrer, has a slight variation with the initiation of his split hop. As a result of this, he sometimes lands 2-footed or very nearly neutral while, at other times it is more of a 1-footed landing. I have observed this with other elite players as well (in these and other videos).

Jeff Salzenstein also discusses the reverse split step in his videos.

 

[LeeD]

You HAVE to land on both feet, but you can have more weight on one foot than the other.

 

[SystemicAnomaly]

^ This is true. That is why I referred to neutral & unbalanced landings (rather than just a 2-footed or 1-footed).

.

 

[Matchball]

It works, it's just an extra training chapter . . .

 

[LeeD]

Isn't life a always learning experience?
Shouldn't tennis BE like life itself?
No matter your age, or your experience, you have something to learn.
A split step is just one step on your way to learning.
But it itself will open new avenues you haven't yet explored.

 

[srimes]

S I teach footwork patterns, such as split steps and recovery steps, to novice students (advanced beginners).

What are recovery steps?

 

[LeeD]

Maybe to recover back to the center of intersect possibilities of your opponen'ts next shot?
Based on his preferences and where you had hit your shot.

 

[Ballinbob]

How much time should we be spending on these different footwork patterns? In a 3-4 hour hitting session would like 30 minutes be enough?

I get the split step is important and all but should we be practicing gravity steps, walking steps, and just different footwork patterns in general? Or should we just trust out instincts when it comes to movement?

 

[MurrayMyInspiration]

How much time should we be spending on these different footwork patterns? In a 3-4 hour hitting session would like 30 minutes be enough?

I get the split step is important and all but should we be practicing gravity steps, walking steps, and just different footwork patterns in general? Or should we just trust out instincts when it comes to movement?

Instinct. Just move. Split step all the time. Left foot forward on fh volley, right foot forward on bh volley. I dont think you should devote anytime to practicing this. The more steps you take the better, if you can do 6 steps instead of 3 good if you can do 7 steps instead of 6 that is even better! Backhand groundstroke always try to get the right foot across for righties, if not open stance. Forehand, open stance, semi open stance (closed on short ball perhaps). Try and get set and hit or else what is very common these days is the open stance slide and hit yourself into the ideal recovery position. Wawrinka is a master of this if you watch his cc forehand.