The Tennis Split Step

The Split Step
By Greg Herbert
Certified Tennis Professional 
USPTA and USPTR / Cedardale employee for 38 years.

The tennis split step is basically a small hop you make as your opponent hits the ball. It allows you to move explosively around the court in any direction and gets you up onto the balls of our feet putting you in balance for your opponents incoming shot.  A critical part of your game when you only have seconds to get to the ball.    

A Split Step should be made with feet shoulders width apart or slightly wider depending on your location (wider at net and not as wide at baseline). Incorporating the split step into your game can bring your play to the next level and is typically the difference between a lower level player and higher level player.

Try these drills to develop your Split Step:

Drill # 1

Timing is key so learning the most effective time to Split Step is critical. Time your Split Step just as your opponent is contacting the ball.  Try watching a match and Split Step every time the ball is struck by one of the players.

Drill # 2

In a practice session focus on your Split Step every time your opponent makes contact.  Don’t worry if you make more mistakes than usual incorporating the Split Step will pay huge dividends when you have it become a natural part of your game.  You will also find that the Split Step will help another key aspect of your game: anticipation. The added focus on watching your opponents contact the ball will help you be that much more prepared for your opponents shot.

Check out this video for more on the Tennis Split Step.