SkillBeginnertennis racquet, tennis balls
Split Step Drill (Tennis)
A tennis-specific drill practicing the small hop taken just before an opponent strikes the ball. Prepares the body to react and move in any direction quickly.
How to do it
- 1Start in a ready position, weight on the balls of your feet
- 2As your partner (or feeder) is about to hit, perform a small hop landing on both feet
- 3Land in a wide, balanced stance with knees bent
- 4React to the direction of the ball and push off explosively
Common mistakes
- Timing the split step too late (should land as opponent contacts ball)
- Jumping too high — it should be a quick, subtle hop
- Landing flat-footed instead of on the balls of the feet
Muscles worked
calvesquadricepsglutescorehip flexors
Variations
Easier
Shadow split step without a ball
Harder
Live rally with focus on consistent split steps
Used in
Related exercises
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