Movement Tip: A Great First Step To The Ball

Your first step to the ball usually determines if you will be in a good balanced position to hit a quality shot.
´
When dealing with balls that are not very far away from you, it is critical to lead with the correct foot and move in the right manner to remain balanced.
During recent clinics OTI Master Instructor Nadim Naser kept seeing the same problem with the first step in this scenario over and over.
Find out the most efficient way to move in this situation so that you can be in a great balanced position to hit powerful groundstrokes in this new video.

[@JeffLewistennis]

This makes a lot of sense and Nadim is very well spoken.

[@rtaylor4720]

Fantastic instruction. I wish I knew this a long time ago!

[@michaelcannan354]

Excellent instruction! Game changer for balance and space

[@NadimNaser]

Michael Cannan cheers Mike!!!! 🙌🏼

[@Contractedharry]

Great video!

[@RaviKumar-iq6nb]

terrific... thanks for this beautiful lesson. well explained

[@jaquevius]

It’s the exact opposite for wide balls though correct. I find I have to take a large crossover with the inside foot followed by one more with the outside leg, which then loads the outside leg to hit an open stance with balance. I agree though, if you’re not stretched then the first move should be the outside leg. It’s a lot to process until it becomes second nature/ habit but I find my balance is so much better if I read the ball and know when to lead with which leg depending on how wide and deep the ball is. Thanks for this

[@trinhinc]

Wow nice one. I think you just helped me fix my issue with being late to the ball...bad foot work and getting all twisted up.

[@NadimNaser]

Mr T. You pitty the fool thanks for the nice comment and glad this video helped you. Keep us posted on your progress. Best wishes

[@olinfregia3836]

Love it. Thank you. Show full backhand self-feed

[@NadimNaser]

olin fregia thanks. I am taking notes on the different video request being made by you and fellow tennis players. 👍🏼 I have two self feed videos on here...but they may be Forehand-heavy as well...

[@JoelReisman]

Great video. Please more on movement

[@NadimNaser]

joel reisman hi Joel. I will have more movement videos in the future. In the meantime, my colleague Ean Meyer has a very popular and comprehensive movement course at OTI definitely worth checking out. Thanks for your input

[@skalenskij]

Very comprehensive and useful explanation, Thank You very much!

[@NadimNaser]

Степан Каленський my pleasure. Thanks for your input 👍🏼

[@krisshigoswami5199]

This video is very useful

[@NadimNaser]

krisshi goswami glad you find it useful 👍🏼🎾

[@dammitol25mg19]

this may help a lot! is it what most pros are doing most of the time (on close balls)?

[@myfolder4561]

Good advice Nadim - and speaking from my own experience of trying to focus and improve my footwork in the last few years, having a low wide base with an athletic stance knee slightly bent will make this first step with the outside leg come quite naturally. The problem I had was my stance resembles more a standing position than an athletic one, which makes crossing over with the inside leg as the first step too natural (thinking back this makes sense because when we walk we basically are making small cross over steps facing forward and this is the natural way of how we walk). As soon as I make a habit of having a low wide base, it almost feel too awkward if you cross over with your first step because you will have to make a big effort and likely lose balance doing so. Not sure if you'd agree but hope it helps for those who're looking to internalize this footwork change quickly without being too mechanical.

[@NadimNaser]

YK wen thanks for your comment. Yes, what you described makes perfect sense. A low, wide base is key for sure 👍🏼

[@ricardoturner8491]

I totally agree. This is the problem I find as a coach for over 30 years.

[@diegoferreira6694]

Gostei amigo das dicas

[@NadimNaser]

Diego Ferreira thank you 👍🏼

[@kenroche8295]

Nadim, nice video. Thanks. What is the foot pattern when the ball is right at you?

[@NadimNaser]

Ken Roche hi Ken. Thanks for your comment. When the ball comes right at you, there are a few scenarios to consider. I.e. Is the ball “just” deep but slow, or is it heavy and deep? Those would be two of these scenario. Maintaining your base is the most important concept here (no cross overs). Being able to anticipate the incoming ball correctly would be the most important skill here in order to maintain the proper distance to the ball without crossing your feet. We call it the “C” dance. When the ball is heavy and deep, then taking it off the rise is important. When it’s coming deep but not very heavy (topspin) then letting it land back in your hitting zone is possible here. Maintaining your base (feet more than shoulder width apart) in a “C” shape move is key , along with an early “read” of the ball...hope this helps

[@marianogonzalezsardi5867]

​@@NadimNaser Hello Nadim I wonder if you teach online tennis? Im from Argentina and im looking for a Forehand improvement. Thanks in advance

[@krisshigoswami5199]

👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌👌

[@henningwicht8321]

HI Nadim, can you share a video with movement and "outside foot first" on the backhand? Thanks, Henning

[@NadimNaser]

Henning wicht hi Henning. I’m taking notes on your requests here and will make a video demonstrating the backhand in the future. Thanks for your input

[@henningwicht8321]

@@NadimNaser hi Nadim, thanks and looking foreward to .😊

[@MrCraber]

Great video! It would be better if you demo the backhand

[@NadimNaser]

Liye Xu there is always a chance for another video in the future ;) the concept is the exact same, whether you have a one handed or two handed backhand. As long as you are within your “comfort zone” and don’t need to backtrack or run far, leading with the outside leg is key, so you maintain your base and balance

[@bulentalkan4686]

Best

[@kylaapawan4320]

when i try to hit, the ball ends up arching up and/or going outside the court, i always get scolded by my coach because of that but my body doesnt seem to take the advice. Its really hard for me, its humiliating not to hit the ball and i really wanna learn tennis so bad, so any tips?

[@kimbashakti155]

How come the fan on the ceiling in the back only have two blades? All of them.

[@lordbyron3603]

I don’t swing my forehand the way you do so Nope, I definitely will not hit a forehand like that at 8:42 in an open stance and just “stop.” By abruptly stopping your sideways movement, you’ve stopped any kind of sideway momentum necessary for pace and a clean drive/follow through. I’d take a shuffle step to the right and then another one .... so two shuffle steps. On the second shuffle step is when I make contact with the ball. The body is still moving sideways as I make contact. And when I do, I wrap the right arm around my upper body and putting the weight of my body on my left foot at the end of the stroke.

[@NadimNaser]

Lord Byron bei Byron. Thanks for your comment. Please note that this video is for balls that are NOT far away from you...if you hit the ball the way you describe in the scenario I showed, then how does your balance keep you in play when you’re falling to the side and wrapping around your body? Also, the open stance was to show that, although a neutral stance is possible, a semi-Open or open stance can also be used as long as the rhythm steps (without crossing your feet over) toward the ball are not inhibited.

[@Meidongwang]

Outside foot first step maybe ok when the ball is coming straight to you. But this is not a good habit to have. It is a slow footwork pattern to cover longer distance or stretch in return or volleys. Inside foot first step or drop step are much more efficient and widely used by pro players

[@NadimNaser]

donmwang yes. This video is solely dealing with balls that are within your stroke zone (two rhythm steps away from you). Beyond that the movement pattern to get to the ball changes but the balance at the end of the stroke shouldn’t. Drop step and cross over steps are indeed what’s used when co wrong distances.

[@kgindpls]

How far are we talking? If you are hitting the ball on the outside singles line then you would use inside? Or your thinking when you really stretched..

[@Yinyinpooerful]

so would you say this is only used for if you were late with a shot?

[@NadimNaser]

我是你的网球教练John the “outside first pattern” should be used as often as possible when the ball is within your hitting zone. Two rhythm steps in any direction. Rhythm steps are those that allow you to maintain your wide base. So, it’s not only when you’re late, also when you are well prepared, as this is the best way to maintain balanced, regardless which stance (neutral, semi-open or open) you use.

[@lordbyron3603]

It’s really just a simple shuffle step to the right. Just say “ for a forehand, take one or two shuffle step to the right.” In this scenario, it’s a two shuffle step forehand.

[@NadimNaser]

Lord Byron this May be sufficient for you, but shuffle steps without a wide base don’t help. Most players we encounter don’t lead with the outside leg first, consequently tangling up their feet and therefore their balance. If the simple idea of “shuffle steps” is sufficient and you can maintain your base and balance properly, then yes, that’s essentially what it is

[@randallchinn1850]

I've seen this on several videos and I understand what you're talking about, but why is the lead leg called the "outside" leg? The other leg must be the inside leg then. Neither of these terms seem to make much sense as opposed to right and left.

[@kgindpls]

It’s called the outside leg bc that is the leg closest to the outside of the crt. The right foot on the forehand and the left foot on a backhand unless you left handed them opposite

[@Contractedharry]

How if you have to move away from the ball? The ball is coming straight at you.

[@NadimNaser]

Henrik Ask thanks for your comment. To answer these questions in detail I would have to make separate videos. My colleague Ean Meyer has a full-fledged and detailed movement course on this available on OTI that covers all this. I have noted your comments and will look to share a video of this in the future. In the meantime, the movement changes when you have to run far distances to get to the ball (regardless of direction); when the ball comes right at you, we find it’s often an anticipation/readiness issue which results in poor positioning and balance. Maintaining your wide base is definitely advised when the ball comes right at you; reading this ball coming right at you and maintaining enough space to that ball when it does is crucial here.

[@georgep5842]

You guys are in complete disagreement with Jeff Salzenstein’s thinking on this particular topic, who advocates the complete opposite. I seem to like his rationale more.

[@SriReddy]

can you post his video here so we can see the difference?

[@EVworldnews]

baselinefootwork.tennisevolution.com/bfs-v1-the-pivot-move Personally I like the OTI footwork as I prefer to load off my back leg.

[@rodctenis]

There is no disagreement with Salzenstein's video, actually both videos are very much the same. Both refer to pivot before moving towards the ball. Nadim's video is for balls close to you, so you don't have to run, Salzenstein's is for balls requiring a run, in that case you pivot and run starting with a cross-over leg movement. What Salzenstein is explaining is that it's key to pivot without breaking your balance and sometimes the idea of split and step-out can be misunderstood. Nadim's movement is exactly that: the step-out is a pivot allowing him to stay in balance, he is not opening the leg far from the body (as demonstrated by Salzenstein). Is the same movement you can see in Salzenstein's video.

[@the1tfactor]

On the face of it, they seem to disagree (I have the Salzenstein footwork program), but I think it’s a matter of focus. If you watch Nadim, even though he is emphasizing the outside leg and balance, he is driving off the inside leg to do the step out. He is just focusing on establishing the base and balance on a ball that is nearby, as is mentioned below.

[@ldeue4837]

The flow step is the preferred method of movement for tennis....this is close to correct, he just isn't really showing you how athlete's really move, especially top athlete's, will they step out with the outside leg? Yes. but how they do this isn't really explained in this video. The flow step will be initiated by the opposite leg, so if you are going left....after the split-step your right toe should the ground first as you turn your other leg(left) out to flow left. The opposite reigns true to flow right. Even when not moving much you should practice flow-stepping around the court, really you should practice all your footwork patterns, horizontal and vertical.