Those who play tennis know that every step and swing counts in each second of the game. It’s no wonder that practically all champions have mastered their footwork to ensure success in matches. Of course, performing excellent strokes is also crucial to winning, but without proper footwork, you might end up hopelessly lobbing the ball in random directions. Every shot requires the correct foot positions to score points.
Most pro players know that honing footwork and movement is essential when creating advantages on the court. How you win matches depends on your footwork and anticipating the ball’s position to effectively execute your shots. It will certainly help if you have good balance when swinging your racket. Without the proper footing, you could put yourself in a disadvantaged position.
Five basic footwork techniques
When speaking of footwork, the big three that are Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic usually come to mind. Such high-level training has made these champions’ movement strategies unparalleled in that they play well even if they sometimes miss the ball; but only because footwork keeps them in an optimal position to maintain balance and control.
Among the basic patterns we can learn from studying each champion’s footwork include these five techniques:
The split-step
This move involves creating a small hop as your opponent hits the ball. When done correctly, the player’s feet will allow him to maneuver in any direction with the full balance needed for a successful return.
For most beginners, this is the first footwork technique taught by coaches as it is one of the most important. It enables them to move for a return shot fluidly.
You can master this by having both your feet around two feet apart (wider when nearer to the net), placing your body weight at the balls of your feet rather than the heels, then jumping off the court by a few centimeters for each return. Remember to time your split step as your opponent hits the ball.
The crossover
This footwork technique allows a player to step back to the ready position after executing more advanced strokes during a match. The best thing about the technique is that it adds more energy to your step during longer rallies and lets you go towards the ball without expending too much energy.
Cross your outside foot over your inside foot depending on which side you are moving. This way, you have a clear view of the ball at all times and prepare your inner foot as you rotate for your shot.
You can use this step when recovering from a wider ball, and covering farther distances on the court is necessary with just a few steps. The crossover step also helps you last in longer matches.
First step to the ball
Mastering this movement allows players to hit a forehand after a split step by using the same foot as their racket hand and positioning it outwards. The technique works best when getting to the ball as soon as possible, rather than resorting to side steps which requires more movement, time, and energy.
First, you must determine which foot you can move while maintaining good balance before executing your shots. When approaching an incoming ball, the first step should allow you to exert the right momentum for a more explosive return with minimal steps.
The side shuffle
When mastering footwork techniques, players need to learn how to pull back into recovery mode at the middle of the court once they find themselves pulling wide. The side shuffle is the best maneuver to achieve this, rather than running back to the center of your side of the court after a forehand or backhand. Resorting to the latter will only create blind spots as you turn your back on the incoming ball.
Once you find yourself on the wider end of the court, maintain your position facing your opponent and move your feet side to side towards the middle. You’ll want to stay as low as you can and keep your shoulders centered over your knees, so you’re ready for a return when the ball comes towards you.
The cross-behind step
When pushed out wide, align your footwork back into position with a cross-behind step. Roger Federer is one of the best players to utilize this technique during matches.
This footwork technique allows you to regain better court coverage within a few steps. Perform this footwork when stopping at a slice, maintaining your balance, and then pushing off with the outside leg. Once you master the technique, you can expect your movement to be more fluid on the court, while conserving your energy for longer contests.
Improving your footwork techniques
Knowing your opponent’s footwork also gives you a considerable advantage during matches, and it tells you what part of the court he can cover, his timing when striking the ball, and how much power he can harness through his movement.
Excellent footwork often leads to knee-jerk reactions once your opponent hits the ball. If you commit more errors while performing a particular footwork technique, you might have to adjust your game for better recovery.
Improving your footwork means aligning it with how you play the game entirely, from your shots to your positioning. Concentrate on your speed and reaction by doing live ball drills and training your muscles to memorize the moves instinctively. Develop your footwork techniques and your mental coordination to apply them in long rallies during a match.
While training for your footwork techniques, maintaining the proper distances is also vital and requires practice. Avoid getting too close to the ball when you are about to hit it, and allow ample space for a proper full swing.
Remember to be fluid and quick to react during a match. Perform some leg and step exercises away from the baseline in between points if you feel like your movement is a little off. Doing such exercises will literally keep you on your feet and maintain excellent movement for the remainder of the match. However, once you get your footwork in check, conserve your energy by doing away with your in ‘between points’ exercises.
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