A Beginner’s Guide to Tennis Footwork
A lot of players, especially beginners, don’t pay a lot of attention to their feet, but good footwork is the key detail to setting up a good shot. You can have all the speed, power and coordination in the world, but if your body is not in the right position as you hit the ball, your shot will be much harder if not impossible to hit well. If you aren’t fast enough to get to the ball in time, it won’t even matter how good your forehand or backhand are. Basically, good footwork underscores a good tennis game. Good footwork not only allows you to reach a tough ball, but also gets you in the right position to hit the best possible shot.
The idea of footwork is often daunting to beginning tennis players and may not be fully understood even into the intermediate stages of play. Very simply footwork is the ability of a player to reach a ball (speed) and to place themselves in the position that allows them to most easily complete the shot they want to hit.
The speed aspect of footwork is pretty self-explanatory. It comprises a player’s ability to run down or reach a ball. Speed is about sprinting but also preparation. If you get the chance, watch advanced players or professionals. Notice that they do not stand flat-footed as they wait for a serve. Do they stop after they hit a ball? No, they’re already shuffling back to the center of the court or preparing to hit the next ball. As you watch a professional player pay attention to his feet through several points of match play. Notice that he rarely stops moving. When waiting for a serve, these players crouch down and balance their weight on the front of their feet so they can push off as soon as they read where the ball is going. Often, they spring forward as soon as the other player hits the ball. Notice that on many occasions, a player will jump forward and begin moving even when a server serves into the net. The returner is already setting up the shot before the ball even hits their side of the court. Good footwork supports good anticipation. By keeping on your toes (advice every coach loves to shout at their players), you will be able to start your motion almost instantly. This saves time and contributes to your speed and ability to reach a ball.
As you watch professional or advance players move through a rally, you’ll notice that they don’t stop after hitting a ball. In fact, when a point is being played, their feet are in constant motion. As the ball bounces into the court, the players are tuned into its movement and adjust themselves for the shot they want to hit. Footwork also integrates foot speed. If a ball forces a player to one side of the court, they often shuffle back to the court’s center in order to maximize their coverage. If they are at the net, they will move their body to one side of the court and step forward with the opposite foot to meet a volley. If a ball lands in the middle of the court, they will take many small steps to set themselves up just right to hit back a winner (a ball the other player cannot return). This is the agility aspect of footwork. Agility comprises a player’s ability to set themselves up for a shot. While having a good form, turning your body and taking your racket back early are all important components to setting up a perfect shot, and so is your body’s placement in relation to the ball. If you’re too far away from the ball it will fall too low for you to hit it properly. If you’re too close, the ball will be too high. By situating yourself perfectly, you will be able to hit the ball in your strike zone (the height at which you feel most comfortable hitting at).
It is obvious to see that footwork is one of the most important part of a tennis player’s game. Many players can get away with having a weak backhand or poor net skills, but lack of footwork will make it almost impossible for a player to advance to higher levels of play. If you’ve ever run to a ball with plenty of time to spare only to shank it into the net, you know your problem was a lack of proper footwork. But how can players improve this aspect of their game? It’s easy for a coach to bark “move your feet!” but much of the footwork learning process is instinctual. As you log more hours on the court your body will naturally begin to develop a feel for the game. Your brain will begin to process the movements of the ball, and your consistency will improve. You’ll begin to recognize how it feels to hit the ball correctly and naturally adjust your body to hit in the strike zone.
This intuition comes more naturally to some players than others, but any player will improve their footwork as they spend more time practicing and playing tennis. With increased intuition comes increased anticipation. For instance, you’ll recognize when your opponent opens the face of their racket and cuts under the ball. This shot is called a slice, and you’ll know the ball will bounce very short. Before it even reaches your side, you’ll be running to the net to reach it. Also, as you play more you’ll begin to develop a sense of what height feels the most comfortable to hit at. Some players like to hit the ball when it is high at their elbow. Others like the ball to be around waist-height, and some even like to wait longer until the ball is low by the knees. Knowledge of your comfort zone will allow you to set up the best possible shots. If you like a high ball, you can get closer and hit the ball early. If you like to hit the ball low, keep behind the ball and move your feet to keep yourself the correct distance away. Really understanding the keys to good footwork may seem like a lot to think about, but the good thing is that, over time, these skills will become a natural part of your game. As your skill increases and you advance in your game, you’ll notice that much of your footwork is automatic.
Players know what they like to hit and will intuitively try to situate themselves to hit these shots more often. For instance, players with a weak backhand will often run around the shot to hit a forehand. They may not be consciously thinking about what their feet are doing. They only know they want to hit a forehand, and their legs do the rest for them. Intuition alone, however, is usually not enough to develop great footwork. A player that wants to advance and improve their game will need to practice footwork drills. Many of these drills are speed related, but will also cover shuffling, changing course, split steps and stepping into shots. Some of these principles, such as split steps and stepping into a ball, will be learned at the intermediate level. Beginning players should concentrate on keeping their feet moving, increasing speed, beginning to understand anticipation and finding their strike zone.
One of the best ways to increase footwork is to simply play. Work on keeping your feet moving between points. Remember, if a player is standing flat-footed it costs them a lot of time to start running for a ball. A player who is already moving their feet and poised to run can break off in an instance. So, get energized. Shuffle between points, jump up and down every so often and keep on your toes.
The great thing about footwork is that the more you practice, the more it becomes an intrinsic part of your game. Advance players don’t need to remind themselves to stay on their toes after every point. They’re so used to being in that state that it comes automatically. In fact, it would feel strange to them not to have their feet moving. They’ve also perfected their shots to the degree that they hardly ever miss a ball due to poor footwork. When a ball comes, they are off and sprinting, taking lots of baby steps and putting themselves in the perfect position to return all without thinking about what their legs and feet are doing. The truth is, footwork is hard and can be frustrating for beginning players who already have many other things to concentrate on as they learn the fascinating game of tennis. However, good footwork is essential to a good game of tennis, and the sooner players begin to practice and concentrate on the essential components of footwork, the more quickly they will develop fast feet and agility. Obtaining these skills will significantly increase the all around quality of their game.
So, to beginning and intermediate tennis players: don’t forget about your feet! Practice, practice, practice, and good luck as you develop your tennis game.
