The Importance of Proper Footwork

December 4, 2014 | By Carl Thorsen
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Proper footwork in tennis is as versatile and technical as it is physically demanding. Because of this, footwork is one of the most difficult aspects of the sport to attain a high level in. Furthermore, proper movement is extremely influential on the development of strokes and tactics, which ultimately dictates what level someone can compete at.

There are many different aspects of footwork, but when you look at the professionals, there are a set number of things they all do with their feet.

First, they all have a wide base when they split-step and set their feet before hitting the ball. This allows them to be balanced and grounded, which ultimately leads to explosiveness moving to and from the ball. It’s logical when you think about it, tree roots grow down and out. So if my feet are directly beneath me, how can I push to my right to my forehand (assuming I am righty)? I can’t, my left foot needs to be substantially further out than my left shoulder to efficiently push to my right. Just watch Novak Djokovic on his return of serve, his split-step is almost as wide as he is tall.

Second, they all have a solid closed-stance forehand and backhand. This is so important for a number of reasons. First off, it facilitates the development of a proper unit turn, weight transfer, spacing and adjustment steps. The open stance, when abused, can allow for sloppiness. For example, if I am hitting an open stance forehand and am lined up too close to the ball, all I have to do is shift my weight to my left foot to create more space for the contact point. The problem with that is I never learn what proper spacing means, I don’t learn how to transfer my weight into the court when possible, and I don’t need to adjust my feet. If you hit a closed-stance forehand and you are too close to the ball, it will force you to take some adjustment steps to get further away from the ball and create space.

Lastly, all the pros understand that big steps are just as important as small steps, regardless of whether they are running, shuffling or backpedaling. If your opponent rips a ball into the corner, there is no time for small adjustment steps. The faster you cover that ground, the better, and the best way to do that is with big, explosive steps. If your opponent hits a defensive slice up the middle of the court, you have a lot of time and not a lot of distance to move. As a result, you’ll probably only take a number of adjustment steps. The majority of shots and points though will incorporate a variety of big steps to small steps. In other words, get to the general area where you will hit the ball and if you have some time, take some adjustment steps.

There are other movement skill sets that pros have mastered, but these are the ones that they all do. It states that they are fundamental and necessary to tennis at a high level.


Carl Thorsen
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