I was actually adding split stepping to a match I played today. Much better balance, much easier to get the ball, and also, I had the impression that I became more in tune with my opponent. As an additional bonus, I also didn't get zapped.
Haha yep. Here’s a video I made yesterday showing that exact way of practicing. Watch the second half of the video. ua-cam.com/video/H2DL1mcCgPA/v-deo.html
A lot of good points, and entertaining ways to relate them, on your channel. This is really part of the split problem, and to be honest, covered in plenty of places. Part 2 is the incorrect teaching that the next part of the sequence involves landing equally balanced with feet each directed to the front, before an abduction of the near leg if the perceived eventual ball contact point requires lateral movement. This never happens in effective locomotion to reach a ball. External rotation of the near leg/foot and internal rotation of the distal leg always occurs (as in the examples in this video) regardless of the following lateral direction; and often exhibits a tap down of the rotated near foot even it does become the first foot towards contact.
@@2MinuteTennis wow! That is very basic anatomical terminology; and tennis is a game totally dependent on the position of the body when the eventual contact point is perceived/estimated. Watching where the near foot is, relative to what people incorrectly call the player's centre of balance or gravity at that moment, determines whether the split step will contribute to a faster first reaction. It doesn't matter if people understand a simple explanation if it doesn't make a difference.
Nope. Split step happens at the same rime no matter the situation. Split step needs to be timed with reaction time. Our reaction time doesn’t change based on the opponent or court positioning. How fast we react is a constant.
Nice. One question for you Ryan. When someone hits slice with spin and low bounce on your backhand, What’s the best way to return (backhand , or slice etc. )? Thanks.
Honestly, being in the air at the time of opponent contact doesn't seem to make any sense as far as mechanics are concerned, but I wonder if it's a good heuristic that is close to optimal (which I'd guess is just starting to touch the ground with your toes as your opponent contacts the ball). 'course, as an amateur, I think I'm far enough from optimal, that getting this heuristic right could easily improve my game! :)
It’s best not to be “just starting to touch the ground with your toes as the opponent contacts the ball”. If anything, you want to be just taking off and leaving the ground as the they. You need to land as your recognizing where they hit. If you land as they hit the timing is off. Since there’s a delay In Our reaction time we have to land when we know where to go.
I was actually adding split stepping to a match I played today. Much better balance, much easier to get the ball, and also, I had the impression that I became more in tune with my opponent. As an additional bonus, I also didn't get zapped.
I love the zapping reference!!!
Thanksgiving day, still watching tennis videos
Thanksgiving day. I’m still making videos. Haha. Thanks for the support!!
Same.
You can practice your split step when watching tennis on tv. Add in a unit turn and shadow swing and you'll have a good workout !
Haha yep. Here’s a video I made yesterday showing that exact way of practicing. Watch the second half of the video. ua-cam.com/video/H2DL1mcCgPA/v-deo.html
Thanks, Ryan!
A lot of good points, and entertaining ways to relate them, on your channel. This is really part of the split problem, and to be honest, covered in plenty of places. Part 2 is the incorrect teaching that the next part of the sequence involves landing equally balanced with feet each directed to the front, before an abduction of the near leg if the perceived eventual ball contact point requires lateral movement. This never happens in effective locomotion to reach a ball. External rotation of the near leg/foot and internal rotation of the distal leg always occurs (as in the examples in this video) regardless of the following lateral direction; and often exhibits a tap down of the rotated near foot even it does become the first foot towards contact.
I have no idea what you just said…
What I included in my video may be wrong, but at least people understand what I say…
@@2MinuteTennis wow! That is very basic anatomical terminology; and tennis is a game totally dependent on the position of the body when the eventual contact point is perceived/estimated. Watching where the near foot is, relative to what people incorrectly call the player's centre of balance or gravity at that moment, determines whether the split step will contribute to a faster first reaction. It doesn't matter if people understand a simple explanation if it doesn't make a difference.
@@mantiskfok thanks!
In a faster paced men's doubles should I initiate my split step slightly earlier when at the net ?
Nope. Split step happens at the same rime no matter the situation. Split step needs to be timed with reaction time. Our reaction time doesn’t change based on the opponent or court positioning. How fast we react is a constant.
Nice. One question for you Ryan. When someone hits slice with spin and low bounce on your backhand, What’s the best way to return (backhand , or slice etc. )? Thanks.
Gee, I've been getting zapped for ages! That explains a lot
Haha maybe. Keep me posted how it works for you!!
Honestly, being in the air at the time of opponent contact doesn't seem to make any sense as far as mechanics are concerned, but I wonder if it's a good heuristic that is close to optimal (which I'd guess is just starting to touch the ground with your toes as your opponent contacts the ball). 'course, as an amateur, I think I'm far enough from optimal, that getting this heuristic right could easily improve my game! :)
It’s best not to be “just starting to touch the ground with your toes as the opponent contacts the ball”. If anything, you want to be just taking off and leaving the ground as the they. You need to land as your recognizing where they hit. If you land as they hit the timing is off. Since there’s a delay In Our reaction time we have to land when we know where to go.