ETI 024 Split Step - Be QuickDownload this podcast – You may need to right-click and select Save Link As to download the file to your computer
Three R’s – ready read and then react.
Ready – feet spread, knees softly bent, weight on the balls of the feet
Read – as quickly as possible read the ball, see clearly is this ball coming to the forehand or backhand side
React – turn your shoulders and hips to the ball as quickly as possible.
The split step is your transition to ready from shot to shot during a rally. But consider, baseball infielders wait in a ready position without a split step – would it work in tennis if we were ready but “hopped” less?
19 Comments
ben
June 24, 2013What exactly is the split step? Demonstrate it, please.
Jim McLennan
June 25, 2013Ben – scroll thru all the podcasts and you will see more – but this move occurs whenever the opponent makes contact – so like an infielder in baseball you could move quickly in any direction to the ball
Jim
Skip
June 24, 2013Hi Jim, Surprised yoy mentioned Murray, I often think if I jumped as high as he does on my return of serve my vision would be blurry for two games.. Just me I guess..
Jim McLennan
June 24, 2013Perhaps – but watch his quickness about the court – as effortless as any of the best
Jim
Will
May 18, 2013It seems to me a lot of people at the club level are too early on their splits, meaning they split and then they decide where to go. At this point they almost need to do another split to get going quickly.
The pros seem to split and use the split to get going quickly.
The club players seem to split, land, think and then go. At this point the split was pointless.
Jim McLennan
May 18, 2013Will – I agree on the timing of this thing – but as with most stuff in tennis – it is often easier said than done
Jim
Szewai
May 18, 2013It can help us more if you can include some demonstration
Jim McLennan
May 18, 2013I will do more action in future podcasts – good idea – no worries
Stavroula
May 18, 2013How could we quicker read the opponent and the incomming ball?
Jim McLennan
May 18, 2013This has to do with your court positioning and the quality of your shot – there is no way to anticipate if the opponent is hitting deep and in control of the court – but you can react quicker if you find the depth first and then start to see when they are hitting late, or off balance – then the trick is to start a moment sooner to the part of the court you anticipate
Jim
Prof Hunt
May 17, 2013Morning Jim Another great bit of information, will watch the split from some top pros,
Your English fan
Steve
Shawn
May 17, 2013Sorry Jim! I accidently posted my previous comment in the wrong place!
Shawn
May 17, 2013Hi Jim — Some instructors advocate hitting the two handed backhand like a forehand on the opposite side. So, for a righty, the two handed backhand would be hit like a lefty forehand.
To do this the bottom hand on the grip does not pull very much;most of the work is done by the top hand on the grip. So, for a righty, the top left hand would use a forehand grip like the Eastern, the bottom right hand would use the Continental grip, and would generate little pull during the swing.
As a practice drill to get a feel for this hit practice balls using the normal left hand forehand grip on top, but on the bottom, with the right hand, only grip the end of the grip with a few fingers, like with the middle, index and thumb.
Jim McLennan
May 18, 2013Agassi said his two hander began with the right arm pulling and at impact the left hand carried the racquet thru – seems there are quite a few ways to hit this two handed stroke – but to me there was and is beauty in the one handed backhands of Rosewall, Laver, Hoad, Edberg and now Federer (certainly there are many more on this list)
jules
May 17, 2013I note that it takes a higher level of fitness to be able to do a split step between every shot. I think that by doing it as often as one can, fitness will gradually improve.
Jim McLennan
May 17, 2013Jules – perhaps, but do not over do it – I notice that many of the best movers have somehow the lightest if not lowest hop
Jim
Shawn
May 17, 2013Or, should baseball infielders also be taught to split step when the batter swings?
Jim McLennan
May 17, 2013Shawn – I really have no idea – somehow I think baseball may have it right
Jim
Dan MacTavish
May 17, 2013Hi Jim, I really like your instructions, I find them helpful and I try to copy or apply and imitate them. I am a passionate 61 year old player and instructor. You do a good job Jim, in communicating, thank you, with great regard. Dan MacTavish.
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