Tennis Footwork Tip: Master The Split-Step & The Flow Split-Step

[@lkhoward24]

I learned to play back in the 1950s but haven't played since being diagnosed with Parkinson's nearly 20 yrs ago. With my sluggish old body, footwork has become the key to playing again. I feel as though I'm a beginner, starting all over with a blank slate and practicing how to be more efficient with my movement. I used this tip and now I'm getting to the ball much faster, covering more court, and expending less energy. Thanks to videos such as yours, instead of getting down on myself for all the things that I can no longer do, I'm feeling good about the progress I'm making (little by little) and once again enjoying the game I love. Thank you for the lesson.

[@JustTimon]

How did your journey go until now? Are you still playing Tennis? Hope you are doing well, this is a good attitude towards life you showed there in your comment :)

[@JinHwang]

I hope you feel better with your parkinson. Be careful. :)

[@lkhoward24]

@@JustTimon I left home and became an international professional surfer when I was thirteen. I also played tennis and strung racquets for extra cash during my traveling adventures--even taught former pro-MLB star baseball player and manager Felipe Alou's employees how to string on what was the state-of-the-art Serrano machine when I was in the Dominican Republic. I don't miss not being a surfer anymore, but I always figured I'd be playing tennis 'til I died. At least, I prepared myself for the slow decline that would come with age, never expecting to get smacked with a disabling illness while still feeling and playing as if I were still a young man as I approached seventy. I have suffered from depression, but have a supportive, loving, caring wife, connected with a Multiple Sclerosis/PD group in my area where I do water aerobics twice a week, a key to staying upbeat: socializing. I've done martial arts for sixty years, so now I practice Chinese martial arts, many of which can be done slowly and with partners: tai chi chuan, Bagua, and Xingyi. I've hit against a wall, used a ball machine, and rallied a bit with decent players, but not ready to compete, even at a 3.0 level. I played in A-level tournaments throughout my life and my fundamentals are locked in. I'd even attended a clinic in Brazil some 30+ years ago with Oscar Wegner teaching MTM, and watched him giving advice to a young Guga Kuerten. His backhand became the model for mine which I can no longer use due to heavy reliance on it to the point where I destroyed my elbow and had to learn how to hit a two-hander (a stroke, I'd never even seen while first learning the game and still don't care for). I exercise daily (mostly walking and doing tai chi), and stick to a simple diet of unprocessed food and no sugar. I stay in the moment as best as possible while telling myself to be grateful for anything and everything. I got rid of all of my surfing stuff--a quiver of 16 boards, a dozen or so wetsuits, camera housings, and shaping equipment. But I have a pair of Volkl V-Cell 100 sq in standard racquets around when I feel the urge to hit the courts. My ultimate goal is to play tennis. I've met many former tennis players who no longer play, saying they're too old or run down. But, as they say in the surfing world, "You don't stop surfing because you get old; you get old because you quit surfing."

[@lkhoward24]

@@JinHwang I'm doing well thank you. (see my reply to @JustTimon)

[@babukoshy]

This is really valuable. first time hear about these flow moves. Thanks a lot.

[@JinHwang]

I never thought about the spilt-step with the jump to the left or right. I will try to do it next time I play tennis. thank you.

[@ambiorixcastillocina2730]

This video is more than gold.

[@SatorMoon]

Don't listen to anyone. video length is fine. learning is not something that needs to be efficient, it needs to be enriching.

[@neygercey7899]

This is what we dont learn with regular tennis instructors. Thanks a lot.

[@HerdyDjamasKoe]

terima kasih atas pelajaran yang diberikan sangat bermanfaat untuk cara kerja kaki dalam bermain tenis.

[@rosali6824]

Very good footwork lessons

[@kylaapawan4320]

how i wish our coach taught us footwork before jumping to playing doubles and singles. Now im so ashamed that i can't hit the ball or have no field presence. Nice video, very helpful!

[@tensforme]

Hey this is very good. This is tennis 101 but sadly many don't learn it when they're starting out.

[@AntonChayev]

Hi Ian. Thanks for the great video! Can you please explain the purpose of that box? I think all the same drills could be performed without the box? Thanks!

[@christiandelapena8623]

Thank you, I learned a lot.

[@warehouse13graphicsolutions]

How about a video on doing this on return of serve?

[@frazac83]

Thank you!! Very clear!!!

[@jeanhuz3689]

Thanks for the Video. One question please : during the flow the opposite Leg to the push goes underground the body or away like the girl shown ?

[@geennaam12]

Good video. Just a question: some coaches advise you to land and push with the leg directly to the side where the ball is coming, instead. Could you please give some pro’s and con’s about this approach?

[@geennaam12]

I mean, right after the split step...

[@marymizerany327]

@@geennaam12 well right after the split you want to get ready for the ball when you do that you are more ready for the ball coming than if you are not so it is good when you do it but when you don't then it is ok but not bad HOPE THIS HELPS!!!

[@joanochs465]

Very interesting and helpful., Joan

[@danielgomez9908]

Fabulous video !!! Thank you !!!

[@Better_Call_Raul]

07:35 What is the point of first stepping up on the box and then coming down? Isn't just standing on the box and then jumping down enough? How does the step up to the box help?

[@hotaylor1021]

Top level split steps and its flow

[@nishachainani]

Great video thank you

[@peppio]

Great lesson

[@ayokay123]

They didn't teach any of this stuff 45 years ago when I started playing. :D

[@AppeltVortex]

Great lesson, thanks!!!

[@king0vdarkness]

Is this the second video in the movement series?

[@didanhtennis]

Thank you for this video. Where can I get that "box" for my players to practice that?

[@joepic5050]

Its a step like step aerobics

[@MrWhitianga]

excellent explanation, cheers

[@jaquevius]

Very nice!

[@Sladovsky1]

good stuff

[@솔기-f2j]

WoW..so cool

[@hotaylor1021]

Split flow steps excellent trips

[@kissmyab]

How would you know that the ball goes left or right? Shouldn't you land on your both feet then you decide whether you go to left or right?

[@JB-bc9nm]

You are reading the contact of the ball. Any bit of momentum, motion you create is better than no movement. Also your physical position on the court does have a lot to do with where they can hit the ball.

[@Better_Call_Raul]

You need to be in the air as opponent contacts. As you are coming down, you will see which side the ball is coming to. So if you see ball is coming to your right, you land on the left foot and push off the left foot to your right.

[@diwodkfoepr2145]

good

[@leemini5846]

2:41

[@leemini5846]

4:50

[@scotthazlewood9123]

Great video....but never understood why it takes 10 minutes to explain and demonstrate what could be done in under 3 minutes; even with some repetitions (regardless of your rating/level). All online instruction videos seem to do this.....

[@Itsuptoyouandme]

No open stance fh by you or student at the start

[@dickfrederick5720]

( TENNISCISE )

[@shanmugasundaram6625]

probably not every one as smart as you.

[@douglashagan65]

Split stepper check steps most important element of the vale if you don't split stepper check step in the correct time your dad so let's get back to what we really know about intelligence and what is the correct way to get into position to Vale and how do we have Folly will get him to that 2-minute racket position

[@leemini5846]

6:40 시범

[@nanxiaxu]

i wanna watch more videos of this girl

[@chrisyun4960]

down bad?

[@douglashagan65]

Exactly right on the boss your feet now that's just like a boxer you want to stay off of those heels because if you go back on your heels your aunt like it's like you're in quicksand so you're on the balls of your feet and you're ready to make you can move real quick Tiny Steps now kind of like a running back in the NFL and now you have that ability to really launched it a 45° angle to cut off all that Vale whether it's left to right or whether it's coming right down the middle to you and that's when you probably your decision to where you're going to go as far as the Target on that

[@bjmiller5895]

Good video, but I don't agree with this timing of the split step, and neither do a number of tour level players. Check Ferrer or Nadal, for example. The balls of their feet contact the court at the instant their opponent strikes the ball. Then, their knees flex, and during that split second, between contact and flex, the direction of the ball to their (and your) forehand or backhand can be picked up. I don't see players doing the land-on-one-foot split step. It's hard enough to do that if you jump from both feet to initiate the split step, but try jumping off of one foot and then taking your first step toward the ball with that same foot. I don't see players doing that, and I don't think most tennis players could do it. Furthermore, if you are in the air when your opponent strikes the ball, you will not be in contact with the earth with your knees flexed, ready to turn your shoulders and move to the ball until your opponent's shot is almost to the net. If their ball is hit with pace or if it's a serve, you are going to be late. If you are skeptical about this, get two people to watch you rally, either volleys or groundstrokes. Have one person say "hit" the instant your opponent strikes the ball: have the other person say "hit" the instant the balls of your feet hit the court. Do this until you can time your split step so both "hits" occur at the same instant. You will be amazed at how much more time you have to turn your shoulders and get into the hitting position and to move to the ball.

[@leemini5846]

8:36 박스 없이 시범

[@KK-bc6ok]

I like Elizabeth!

[@borisvisic6659]

My friend.. Show us video how Federer moves in matches??? I seem all professional players in live You are not 100% right Sory

[@johnnykwan753]

Hong kong Tennis arrangement and Training, !!25408333

[@syedkhizarmohsinshah8883]

Land on your toes...

[@douglashagan65]

Write the world-class tennis players like Boris Becker they on weight I'm waiting on waiting on waiting on waiting I'll take the computers aware of what I'm talking about on the way to you and

[@adamromero]

cute girl

[@SoonerStoneAI]

so much overlap between football and tennis.

[@marymizerany327]

This guy charges almost 1000$ an hour we have to feed him too just watch his videos not hir please take this seriously before hiring him!!!!!

[@360AthleteTraining]

please this is total nonsense