Difficulty doing a footwork drill
Footwork
Arnab Ghosh Asked 11 years ago
Hi,
There is a drill which my club coach insists on doing. Its playing an extreme backhand and on the next shot hitting a forehand loop in the extreme right. I am having a problem doing the drill. Half the time I can't even do more than 2-3 shots. What am I doing wrong?
- Am I supposed to see the ball and then make the footwork left or right, or hit and jump before the blocker returns the ball?
- Should I start with drills which have short footwork and gradually increase the distance?
- Should I have two steps while shifting left or right or should I make one long step towards the ball?
Sincerely,
Arnab Ghosh
Alois Rosario Answered 11 years ago
Hi Arnab,
With these drills to start with you should move straight after hitting the previous ball because you know where the ball is going.
The movement is a sideways jumping action with both legs. If you can get there in one jump that is great but otherwise, make a couple of movements. Take another look at our lesson on Footwork Basics.
This wide drill will get your legs moving in the correct motion. You could do some narrower movement to start with to get the feel of the movement.
Recommended Video
Which Footwork Drill?
In this master class we talk about which footwork drill you should select for your practice sessions.
Watch NowThoughts on this question
Become a free member to post a comment about this question.
Arnab Ghosh Posted 11 years ago
Thanks Alois, for the quick response and the video suggestion.
I'll try moving across with two steps the next time and see if I can improve and connect with more balls.
Regards,
Arnab
ganesh burra Posted 11 years ago
Hi Alois,
When playing TT I somehow put so much pressure on my legs that I hardly move, how to relax the legs while playing TT?
The problem is not just the legs, I even unconsciously hold the bat too tight after playing 3-4 strokes.
And onemore thing is that when I am putting conscious effort in moving my feet, I am moving sideways fine, but coming in and out is a problem then.
How to get over these problems? Is there a way that I can improve or I am thinking too much?
Hi Ganesh,
It may be you're thinking too much. It is important to keep relaxed while playing to allow your body to move freely. Start by focusing on your grip. Try to hold it as loosely as possible while still keeping it in your hand. As you feel this tighten, focus on loosening it again.
Taking a deep breath can also help.