-
Tip of the Day: "The Split Step" - Some Random Thoughts...
I got copied onto a threaded email last
night from some of my teaching colleagues regarding the "split step", and
I of course, felt compelled to add my two cents worth. Below are my
thoughts, random at best about the subject...
================================
"Would we all agree that a main factor
in the timing (when) of the split step depends on how close you are to
your opponent...?
Meaning that if two players are both far behind the baseline that a split
step almost doesn't happen, well, maybe slightly, but certainly not as
early as if you approach behind a shaky
2nd serve and McLennan is taking it early on the rise and flattening it
out Stow style down low at your feet...? In that case you might have to
split before Mac makes contact...
I'm serious, I think we focus way too much on the mechanics of the split
and not enough about the differences in the timing of the split which I
contend happens after your opponent makes
contact if you're both back on the baseline and sooner and sooner
(sometimes before) as you get closer to your opponent's point of contact.
But in terms of mechanics, I think we are balanced in our split depending
on what shot we think is coming. If we're both back on the baseline and I
sense my opponent is going to hit a normal groundstroke (not a drop shot),
then my posture will be very balanced and non committal to needing to move
forward.
But when approaching the net (getting closer physically to my opponent's
point of contact), I think we have to risk a more forward leaning posture
in our split to take advantage of our court position and get to our
opponent's shot as soon as possible (not reaching of course with our hand,
but with our feet).
The other factor I think that we know instinctively but don't teach enough
is that the timing of the split is also dependant on how fast a shot we
anticipate will be coming back.
If we approach and that shot takes our opponent really out wide, stretches
them out so that their stroke mechanics will be compromised, we can time
that particular split a bit earlier (cover more court) to be able to react
to anything that comes back, a floater or a lob.
And our opponent's possible shots create different split step timings for
us. Someone like Charlie Hoeveler causes problems with our timing of the
split because he can change shot speeds,
angles, and directions, plus the threat of a lob, all from the same set
up.
So really, I don't think it's possible to teach amateur players the minute
details of what the body does during a split step. Well, maybe we
can, but the payoff just isn't there. But I do
know that they can learn about timing of ""when" to split depending on
where they are on the court in relation to their opponent.
I think we could do a better job of teaching our students how our shot
selection variety can be disruptive to our opponents' split step patterns
and timing. You guys know me, I just don't
think shot variety is possible with these extreme grips being taught to
amateur players.
The pros have enough grips, in fact, I think Federer is the best in the
world right now primarily because he has MORE grips than the anyone else
on the tour...
But amateur players who get
comfortable with any grip past an Eastern forehand realistically won't be
able to make the necessary grip changes on wide shots and low shots to
possibly a Continental and be able to challenge by creating poor split
step timing in their opponents.
Same thing for teaching our students a two handed backhand with the lower
hand in an eastern forehand grip. They'll probably never be able to move
over to a continental for that stretched
out wide or short backhand...
I've had success against (a top national senior player, but his name
is deleted...!) because I feel I can get him to commit to split too
early (getting slightly off balance where he doesn't volley as well) by
showing him power early in the match when he serves and volleys. At the
end of the set, I just feel that I can control his split step timing and
balance, and with that pressure at the end of the set, we tend to rush and
our splits are not timed as well...
I do drills where I will call out when the student has to split. I'll
force them to split too early, at contact, and too late. When they come
out of the split they have a natural instinct as to which is the right
timing for that situation.
This is really a great topic, but I think it gets back to consistently
good timing of the split, meaning going into the split with incredibly
soft hands, quiet eyes, still head, and a total commitment to reacting to
the opponent's shot direction with the feet and not prematurely reaching
forward with the racket hand.
???????..... Brent"
================================
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- Related
Product:
Jim McLennan's
"The Secrets of World Class Footwork"
Videotape and Training Manual
Learn the secrets of how to develop the "drop step", a footwork pattern
that all top players instinctively use on many shots.
Not only that, Jim's well
organized videotape and
companion manual will teach you...
- how you can move quicker and on better
balance which will also improve your visual contact with the ball
- how you can arrive at your hitting
position earlier (consistently better spacing to the incoming ball,
thus
better shot making)
- how you can recover back to the "middle"
of the court sooner (challenge your opponent with you being in better court positions
shot after shot)
- how and when
you will use the "jab step" or the "drop step"...
- what is and how you can perfect the "split
step"...
- what is the concept of
"Gravity Motion" and how does it apply to your improvement as
a player...!
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to the gift
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you try to go with it, you know, extreme grip and swing shape, in hopes of
getting excessive topspin, well, the more that goes wrong with it...
esn't
fight the ball.
al lesson by me where we focus
precisely on the necessary mechanics for you to have a good tossing
motion. The 2nd video is my evaluation of Pete Sampras's serve
tossing motion. This guy is THE model for any of us to copy a
perfect serve tossing motion.
thus
better shot making)