Tennis Footwork, Split Step Lesson 3 of 3: Pivot and Fake
January 19, 2012 by: Ian WestermannMy first two videos in this three part series focused on the technique and the timing of a split step. Today we’re going to take a look at how the pros use the split step during competitive points to move around the court as efficiently as possible.
I’ll also be showing you two different examples of when you do NOT want to use a split step, something that often gets left out of tennis footwork instruction.
The details shown by the pros in this video really explain why they look so smooth and effortless moving around the court. Your average person has no idea all of this is going on during the points that they see on TV, even if they play tennis a lot themselves. If you can start implementing these patterns even a little bit on the court then I promise your court coverage will increase dramatically!
Video 1 of 3: Split Step Technique — Click Here!
Video 2 of 3: Split Step Timing — Click Here!
Wow – did I have this wrong.
I had misunderstood the timing of the split step (particularly at the baseline and service return). I would go up neutral, come down neutral, then move in one direction or the other. The idea I had was like compressing springs (my legs) so that I could push off more efficiently. This did help a lot over being just bent kneed, but the timing appears to be harder because I have to do it earlier. It also seem that my current technique has one more useless hop for each shot, which gets into fatigue.
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I just recently found your website. Your videos and podcasts are awesome. It really makes a lot more sense watching the video while you explain all the moves step by step. I probably will not be able to remember everything but once in a while, your instructions will float to my head.
You have done an excellent job on the podcasts and I really enjoy it. Keep up the good work and thank you.
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Awesome comment Ian!
In Addition to turning the foot one direction or the other upon landing.
Can we also say that the pro’s decide if the ball is coming forward or backward or on a diagonal
and also land on PART OF THEIR FOOT to help them in those directions too ?
Yes ? No ?
Further question: if we watch a video of Murry from 10 years ago, would we see him, having NOT YET LEARNED THIS SPLIT STEP TECHNIQUE ?
I guess I am wondering if there is a point in time where he had to be told this
and then worked on it conciously and drilled on it, until it became instinctive ?
Or is this a case of PEOPLE WHO DO THINGS THAT ARE THE MOST NATURAL ATHLETICALLY, that is what anyone who GETS OUT OF THE WAY OF THEIR OWN BODY’S NATURAL INSTINCTS, that is the only possible physical way of doing it, and professional tennis has a NATURAL SELECTION PROCESS LIKE EVOLUTION and only people who can figure this out are the ones who become the pro’s ?
Yes ? No?
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Thanks really appreciate the video’s will be paying more attention tommorrow will report back how I did. Iliana.
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Nice examples of split step use in competitive play.
One thing that shouldn’t go unmentioned, or perhaps unemphasized, is the protective nature of their foot movement. They execute the split step with the feet coming down with a 60 to 90 degree angle from heel to toe between the two feet — their toes point in different directions.
The split step action not only makes sense for keeping the ball in play, it also helps players keep playing by reducing the risk of ankle and knee injury when moving hard to chase a ball down. If one doesn’t point the toe nearest the ball in the direction of the movement, there’s an increased risk of rolling an ankle and/or turning a knee, and/or hip.
This injury prevention movement also applies when the ball is hit in open stance that pros almost exclusively use — the outside foot points out (parallel to the net), the inside foot points pretty much at right angles to the net. (See the initial frame of the video for Ferrer’s post shot foot orientation as an example). Ideally, the momentum of the lateral movement to get to the ball is absorbed by the outside foot and knee in a properly rotated fashion, then as the ball is struck, the core rotates and weight is shifted to the foot that points generally forward for the knee and ankle to absorb the forward and rotational power of the stroke and core movement. If both feet face the same outside direction, the core rotation and power can exert a repeated damaging force on the forward hip, knee or ankle.
Many clubs are full of older players with knee braces, hip injuries and ankle problems that didn’t get the memo on the correlation between proper split stepping, open stance play and injury prevention. Teaching pros who don’t strongly emphasize these protective technique points to players of all ages may also be partially at fault for the damaging results of decades of improper technique.
There’s a synergism to form and function that the pros make tennis look easy. However, they do things the way they do with proper split step and foot movement not just because it works for setting up and making good shots, but because good technique also allows them to play harder and longer and more injury free — unlike many recreational players who are just happy whacking the ball now and then, good technique or not…
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Thanks Will.
Some very usefull information there. It’s much easier to follow in slow motion.
I shall try to implement this in practice.
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well done, helps a lot Thanks
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I had no idea! Great analysis.
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Great way to wrap it up Ian! As always, thanks for all that you do for us!
Milad
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Great videos, Ian. Your slow mo videos and analysis allow us to learn how the pros play the game. In real time it all happens so fast that we can’t pick up these subtleties.
Thanks,
Ed
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I really like the #3 , was not aware of the pivot split before ! what is the split step timing for receiving the serve ? is also at the point of contact?
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Dispelled common myths about split steps. Particularly found the timing of the split step helpful.
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Great videos Ian.
I have learnt alot from them. The main thing I learnt that I was doing the split step too early.
Thanks Ian.
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Illuminating ! That’s the word.
Thank you so much Ian.
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Thank you Ian. Split-Step Rules! Also noticed that Ferrer’s left hand is about two inches above his left hand when he hits the two-handed back hand. Is this unusual?
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Thanks, Ian! Really good stuff!
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Very interesting insight into one of the often forgotten “basics”.
Good videos and good explanation too.
It would be interesting to analyse also splt steps when returning the service.
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This is the best tip I ever got! Splitting a bit later I became able to adjust my feets during the split step (in the air) to land according to the opponent’s shot direction, getting ready for the next shot earlier than splitting early as I was always told to. You rock!
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Great video. I love how you show the actualk point play and the fake as well.
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This was awesome. I have been working on my split step and keep finding myself doing it to late. One thing that has helped me (along with your videos) is keeping my feet moving or “bouncing” before the split step like Ferrer was your 1st video.
I especially liked the examples of Ferrer and Murray actually moving one of their feet in the direction of the ball as they are coming down out of the split step.
Can’t wait to show my high school team this video. Thanks for all you do Ian. You are making a huge impact in developing players in the tennis world.
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just finished a lesson with our club pro on singles movement. funny thing – he was teaching me the fake situation that you show in the practice match in this video. while he didn’t focus as much on the footwork aspect – to execute the fake properly actually requires exactly this footwork. excellent video and commentary Ian – keep the good stuff rolling!
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Excellent observations. Thx!
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Hi Ian
Great observation. So illumating.
Big of you to admit you had been teaching a different method.
In eager anticipation.
Roger
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Great video! I have been using the split step from video 1 and 2 and during a game, I tended to come down and pivot toward the ball naturally. So was glad to see video 3 showing this is a good goal to reach. I feel the balance and still have time for my shots. This also helps with your Volley course especially. Thanks Ian.
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Hi Ian
Best split-step video I have ever seen. What I am taking away is the need to pivot immediately after landing in a neutral stance.
Thanks for investing your time in this 3-part video
Cheers from Penang, Malaysia
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Thanks a lot, Ian. Really appreciate your videos. I’ve learned a lot, and in the short time that I’ve practiced split-stepping as per your videos, I have felt great improvements in my movement.
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Thank you so much Iann for all the information you give me in the last past year.. Because of this i have become a 5 level player high ranked in one year and a half (was 3,5 level player).I have learned much more from you and Will from FYB than any tennis teacher i use to learn from.
Thank you so much again!!
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Really good video. I practiced my split steps today. As part of my warmup, I do split steps forward with 2 or 3 quick steps and then split, for a half court lenght. Then I do 3or 4 steps backward for a lop preparation. So far this seems to be helping my preparation in the game.
I love your videos. The main thing that I have to remember is to do the split step every time in preparation for the next hit. One of your other repliers said it best. YOu must keep your feet moveing as long as the ball is in play.
Thanks so much
jth
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Thanks Ian. My game truly improves from watching the pros, and your breakdown of the split step adds greatly to my learning!
Mr Ed
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Excellent footage and dialogue! Will you be having any more clinics this year, and will you be taking them on the road?
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Thanks Ian. Very good information. Keep it coming please. Kind Regards,
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Thanks again and good job !
Is it my imagination that when some top players split they land with toes slightly behind hips ? Perhaps when they volley ?
rene
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Ian,
I agree with the previous commenters that this is a well-done and much needed set of lessons.
On timing: I’ve seen recreational players do a split step, even timing it more or less correctly, then stand there, flat-footed, waiting for the ball! At the recreational level of play, the ball often travels so slowly that one can actually do that.
On the other hand, I’ve watched videos of the Bryan brothers practicing (one at the net, the other at the baseline) and the one at the net does two split steps between each shot.. You can believe me when I say the ball is traveling faster than it does in recreational play.
If I remember correctly, even in your video of Murray and Ferrer, Ferrer is doing two or more split steps–or a ready step plus a split step–between each shot.
The basic rule should be: when the ball is in play, your feet never stop moving.
Would that make a good follow-up video for more advanced recreational players?
Bob C.
Toronto
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Excellent. I think I pay a lot of lip service to court movement as the single most important part of the game. However, this little segment made me realize that I seldom think about it during the game. I do not mean thinking about getting my feet wide or narrow; I mean I need to get to position “x” so I can step into the ball to hit shot “y” or I need to recover to the center before doing my split step, etc. This seems so obvious, but I am too busy rehashing the last swing or ruminating about how wonderful or horrible (depending on the day) my next shot will be. I feel like an idiot, but thanks.
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Hi Ian,
Great segment on the split step. Speaking of other tecniques of neutral positions (such as the split step,) is the subject of returning ones hands to a neutral position after ones own hit. Many players at all skill levels fail to accelerate their hands into a neutral position early enough to agressively initiate a proper return. Failure to do this immediately after ones own hit undermines a players ability to initiate all other successful movements.
The great thing about teaching this to students, is that it is easily picked up with just a bare minimum of added concentration. A good instructor will sense a student has not returned their hands to a neutral in front position and can place a constant reminder in their minds.
Obviously, the pros do this unconciously & immediately after every hit. This movement must be done in conjunction with the split step & is equally important.
Well, thats my 2 cents for now.
Scott Rubinstein
Saugerties, NY
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ed Reply:
January 21st, 2012 at 2:00 PM
scott-
your comment about moving your hands – accelerating your hands to neutral is very, very helpful. thanks for the comment!
ed
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Thx a lot! Great stuff. I enjoyed the series a lot!
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Your analysis is right on as usual. Excellent series. There are few players like Ferrer, I don’t think his heels ever touch the court when the ball is in play. He and Federer seem to float about the court.
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Wow, Ian, what a great series. I’ve been watching the Australian Open with a whole new perspective. I have even practiced the split step timing in my living room – you can be the server or returner, depending on the camera angle. I can also slow down my viewing speed to see it in slow motion. I have a match tomorrow, I think I will have very positive results!
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Ian Westermann Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Let me know how it goes, Ellen!
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wow, i have been waiting for this vid for so long. Video 2 was awesome, i cant believe how much time i had to react after timing my split step correctly.
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Ian Westermann Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 11:01 AM
Great to hear, Karl!
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Great videos! What I’ve taken away from this is the simple “rule” that I should start my up motion on the split step just as the opponent is making contact (unless I have a solid reason to suspect which way he is going with his shot.
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Ian Westermann Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 10:29 AM
That’s a pretty good rule of thumb, Peter. Please keep in mind that different players take different amounts of time to complete their split step so your main focus should be on ending it at exactly the right time (just after identifying where the ball is headed).
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Thanks again Ian! Super cool stuff! =)
I had this same idea on my mind to someday just start to watch hd videos of pros from this back wiew and gather information of their footwork! And I will do that but you helped me to the great start! =)
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Ian Westermann Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Glad it was helpful!
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Ian,
Thanks for another great video series! You have brought out a whole new aspect of the split step: that it’s not just a piece of footwork but rather part of the larger process of identifying the incoming ball.
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Ian Westermann Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
You’re welcome, John
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Love these videos. Great stuff!
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Ian Westermann Reply:
January 20th, 2012 at 10:28 AM
Thanks, Micah!
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