What is the right job for a tennis player? How do you move well on the tennis court? I will try to answer these questions in order to help you improve your tennis game.
Tennis movements are very diverse and there are many different ways to move on the tennis court. Tennis is a complex activity that involves movements in every direction to reach the balls but also to recover. The best tennis players are the ones who use the right technique in their movements but also the ones who can do it very quickly.
First of all, the tennis player needs to perform a split move before each shot. This split move is done when the opponent hits the ball. It is a very small and short jump that allows you to be on the balls of your feet in a wide position. The player will then be ready to move in any direction. This is the key to getting good foot traffic. A split step should be done before every single shot and allow the player to be light on his feet and ready to transition to the ball.
A tennis player rarely takes more than 4 steps to get to the ball. It is then important to be explosive and quick in the first steps. Depending on where or where the ball bounces, the player will have to move in a different way. Being able to read your opponent’s shot is key to moving well.
If the ball is going to bounce next to you, one side step is usually enough to get you into the correct positions. If the ball is deep, you will have to move backwards very quickly to hit the ball as you move forward. If you lag, you will remain unbalanced while hitting and then the shot will not be effective.
For most shots, the player will have to move about 3 steps to the backhand or forehand. The most effective method is to move forward and diagonally with the ball. After the split test, step forward with the leading leg facing the ball and at the same time push off the ground with the opposite foot. This will allow you to have a quick and explosive first move. Once the lead leg is back on the ground, push hard into the ground and bring your other leg in front of you, then set you up and you will be able to hit an effective shot.
If you have to run for a short ball, after the split step explodes straight ahead, avoid taking a step back. This is a common mistake that costs time. Your first step forward should be in the direction of the ball.
It’s one thing to get to the ball but now you need to recover well in order to be ready for the next shot. The most effective method after a shot is to take a cross step and then step back, this is much faster and more effective than doing side steps just to recover.
All these different steps need good coordination and of course they must be practiced. A lot of tennis players can be a lot better if they use correct technique as they transition to the ball and recover. The best way to train movements is to train agility on the court. Transitioning to the cone, tangents, and recovering from the starting point are good exercises to improve the movements. Since there are no tennis balls, the player can really focus on his moves and learn the right technique. After a short while he won’t think about it, it will be automatic and then he will be able to use this with live balls.