How To Split Step [6 keys to points to help you react faster]

[@ginomarone8831]

This is your 4th video I just watched. You touch on subjects and areas I don’t ever hear anyone else talk about - or at least, not as detailed as here. This is waaaaaay beyond recreational stuff, perfect content in helping me - help my kid in her game!

[@TennisHacker]

Thanks for your comment. And glad you enjoyed the video. Small details but they can make a big difference 😃

[@yenkuangting]

I have exactly same view point as Gino . It helps me as well as
my old (senior) tennis lovers whom I will definitely share with them.
Thank you .

[@bekedreshaj8391]

It's 3 o'clock on Tuesday morning and I have been watching your videos non stop.
It's absolutely amazing the way you explain everything.
Superbly 👌
Thanks a lot!

[@TennisHacker]

Haha, can't beat a late night tennis binge. Glad you found the explanations useful.

[@philbland4207]

Thanks Richard. Yet another really clear and detailed video with very good, specific drills to help us develop new skills (re-learn old ones that we weren’t taught correctly first time round!)

[@TennisHacker]

Glad it was helpful!

[@yenkuangting]

Very useful and helpful even to a 70 years old woman,
my reaction toward the
Incoming ball did surprised my same age and higher level
Tennis players
Thank you

[@ernestsolivan]

The best video I have seen on the split step and I have seen just about all of them! I've never done the split step during any of my matches and couldn't figure out why I was getting passed all the time. I practiced what you taught in the video on the tennis court today and I am excited about using it during my matches. You approach was so concise and easy to do. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. May I recommend a book? "Mastering The Mental Side of Tennis"

[@TennisHacker]

Glad you enjoyed the video and thanks for the recommendation.
If you are interested in diving deeper, i have a program where I help players with all aspects of the game. If you want to chat, use the following link www.tennishacker.net/book-a-call

[@Gameboob]

6:19, super useful tip here. Knees pointing inward a little. Which is also why you don't want feet pointed outwards (mentioned at 4:35)

[@stephenpugh6257]

Thanks Richard what an amazing and insightful video. Best I’ve ever seen on an area which so often barely gets more than a casual mention. I can see I’ve got some work to do but at least now I know what i should be aiming for. 😊

[@Arx9845]

Phenomenal demonstration and instruction. Thank you.

[@DAKESIS17]

great detailed content! well done!

[@TennisHacker]

Thanks for your comment 😁

[@MC-wp2vz]

super helpful

[@kbroph10]

Paralysis through analysis keeps popping up in my head! This video may be perfect for a wta or an atp player;
Recreational players should have already zoned out ;)

[@TennisHacker]

It’s not meant for all recreational players… only then ones who are interested in improving their tennis 😬😀

[@dinopalangdan8177]

Absolutely perfect lesson

[@valeriegraham4737]

Your detailed instructions are wonderful, thank you

[@TennisHacker]

Happy they help.

[@adutton41]

Wow! You are fantastic! Thank you 🙏

[@TennisHacker]

Thanks, I glad you found the video helpful :-)

[@chinaski5]

Super helpful tips! Thanks!

[@TennisHacker]

Glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful!

[@axelb.8685]

Great video, it's long and worth every second. At the end you mention a strengenth video, where can I find it?

[@jeffreynaschek2267]

Great video on the split step

[@TennisHacker]

🙌🙌

[@weyman4317]

Very well explained.

[@somalikapop8858]

Thanks ❤

[@TennisHacker]

You are welcome

[@Jazzerooney]

Thanks coach! Better every video!

[@TennisHacker]

Thank you sir. It's fun to learn :-)

[@minthein3909]

Thank you so much 🙏

[@argento3334]

Excellent

[@TennisHacker]

Thanks

[@neygercey7899]

Nice drills. You got have strong legs to move as fast as you do.

[@TennisHacker]

strong legs are very important in tennis :-)

[@ernestsolivan]

I tried split stepping during my last match and I kept forgetting to do it. Subconsciously I am doing what I have done ever since I've been playing tennis (not using a split step). Any suggestions on how I can integrate the split step into my matches? I do ok during practice but, matches are a challenge. Thanks.

[@TennisHacker]

Thats a very normal thing to happen when you first start working on it. It’s just a case of making it your primary focus until it’s a habit. This might take several months, but it will be well worth it. Keep up the good work 👊

[@davidkatz7694]

Thx

[@TennisHacker]

Welcome 😀

[@haasws]

Really thorough and clear! Thank you!

[@TennisHacker]

Glad it was helpful!

[@evenaicantfigurethisout]

I think another factor is how fast your opponent can hit the ball. At the 2.5 level say, I found that split stepping upon string contact was leaving me flat footed. Splitting just a bit after the ball leaves the string was just about right and also affords more time to figure out where the ball is going

[@TennisHacker]

The split step on contact was a cue, it's always better to land just after contact for the reason you mentioned.

[@mohamedhassanein2019]

Magnifique

[@TennisHacker]

Thnaks

[@seleldjdfmn221]

Fantastic vid. Do You think UA-cam is good for small creators? See Ya bud xd

[@percivalmzoxolovoco9138]

🙏🙏🙏

[@TennisHacker]

Thanks, glad you found it helpful.

[@Whisper555]

Most recreational players do not split step at all and if they do, it is done at the incorrect time poorly.
Most people incorrectly believe the split step is primarily about movement, especially for the vast majority of players who are not facing +180KPH serves.
Yes, the split step really helps movement for those that need to be able to move THAT quickly, but the process of why/when you split step is far more important than the movement itself.
Most people don't see opponents contact, nor can they predict and anticipate where a ball will be hit BEFORE it is struck because they have never developed the skill to do so, even though it is not that hard.
The vast majority of recreational players only react to the incoming ball, very close to the time of the bounce on their side of the net. When this happens, even a well trained player with good technique and movement is going to be struggling to hit an efficient and effective shot consistently, which is a concept that most recreational players have a lot of trouble grasping. To put it another way, if a good player did things the way your typical recreational player executes, the good player would fail miserably as well.
Good players know what shot they are doing BEFORE the ball crosses to their side of the net AND they choose their target BEFORE the ball crosses the net, then execute their movement and swing technique confidently knowing the outcome BEFORE the ball bounces on their side of the net.
Most people do not do this, every "good" player does, which is one of the biggest differences between "good" players and everybody else.
Tennis is 100% a mental game.
P.S. Although possibly debatable, nothing in this video sticks out as grossly technically incorrect. The video would help most tennis players if they followed it. Why it will not help most tennis players, is that they do not understand the WHY they should split step and the process behind the split step that causes consistent efficient & effective outcomes.
To put that another way, hardly any parent has ever said their kid is dumb. Almost every parent universally states the same concept, if my kid focused and concentrated they would be massively better. Unfortunately the same idea can be said of most adult recreational players as well, not just their kids.
P.P.S. This is also not a question of intelligence either, as doctors and lawyers who have demonstrated a clear ability to concentrate & focus and obviously "not dumb" exhibit the same pattern of failure in their tennis as well.

[@Whisper555]

@Richard Brice I don't think I said it would not help?
I think I said that most players will not do it.
To put it another way, unless a person finds value in doing the split step, then all the technique in the world will not help them. This is true for all tennis technique.
You have provided the what & how, but in my experience, this is not enough. You need to give them the "why". The Raison d'être if you may.
I'm not overly fussed, my comments are simply food for thought.
Keep up the good work

[@poida007]

@@Whisper555 Your points are on the money and very important. A common problem in tennis coaching is the failure to link the how (technique) with the why (tactical). Students are more likely to buy into the how when they understand the why, and it’s not hard to link the two unless the coach doesn’t know “the why” part. This video unfortunately does not get “the how part” right based on the way the split step is preformed at the advanced and pro levels.

[@Whisper555]

​@@poida007 My pleasure Peter
I've had some more time to reflect on my previous comments and I have come to a few realisations;
1. Good foot function leads to good footwork.
2. Most people do not split step because the move itself does not return energy like it should.
3. For the good foot function to be useful the player must be able to a) Feel where their feet are in space, so they can predict when there foot will touch the ground and recruit and activate the appropriate muscles and body segments in the correct sequence , b) The foot is the sensor that tells the rest of the body when maximum load is about to be reached and again, recruit and activate the appropriate muscles and body segments in the correct sequence.
The barefoot running fraternity headed by Dr Irene S. Davis of Harvard Medicine is a good start. There are a few other barefoot running proponents out there and the material is heavy going, but once you wrap your head around it, it makes a hell of a lot of sense.
Gymnasts training is big on single leg glute bridges and then working towards pistol squats for the ability to land well. To be world class its considered mandatory to be capable of doing these very well by the age of 10.
I like the skipping and ladder drills if done with specificity and precision. Lots of exercise are a waste of time because the athlete has not been taught why they are doing an exercise, so they end up doing the exercise without much purpose or value.
Hope this helps
Probably won't, "It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing." 😞

[@MichaeldeLouwere]

@@Whisper555 I'm definitely a recreational player and so are a lot of friends of mine. And we all greatly benefit from using the split step. Watching these videos really help me to improve my game, and with this knowledge I help beginners who again greatly benefit from this.
The split step is basic training material for beginners as wel as more advanced players.
At least... Here in the Netherlands it is.

[@kennylin3397]

Thank you, Christian Bale

[@TennisHacker]

hahahaha

[@sergeyrozov9797]

Is it required 20 min to explain a split-step?

[@TennisHacker]

It is if you want to learn training progressions yes. The split step is the foundation of every tennis shot, so learning and training properly is more than worth 20 minutes of time.

[@poida007]

Have to respectfully disagree with this “ commonly taught” interpretation of the split step timing and landing. Splitting at the time the ball is struck is simply too late, especially on returns at a higher level. In almost all cases, for a “perfect split step” advanced and Pro players are “in the air” as the strings touch the ball. On landing, both feet DO NOT touch the ground at the same time, the timing is very subtle and you need to watch carefully, you’ll see that the outside foot touches the ground first, inside foot is in the air to facilitate quicker movement to the ball (moving to the left, right foot lands first, moving right, left lands first).
There is biomechanical research and evidence which explains and clearly shows this. It needs to be trained visually/mentally and physically. Just carefully watch some slo mo of pros, Djokovic is a great example.

[@TennisHacker]

Thanks for your comment. Totally agree that when you watch elite players play the are generally landing just after contact. But I think for the average person (who is more likely to see this video), trying to split step at contact is a good thing to aim for. Especially when so many people don't split step at all. Also I'm not a fan of the word "perfect" for any tennis skill. There is no perfect way to split step. There are variations that are appropriate to each situation and baed on a person's idiosyncrasies. Again I agree that a lot of the time the outside foot will land first, but there are also many instances where this doesn't happen and might not be appropriate.

[@poida007]

@@TennisHacker Again, I’ll have respectfully disagree with teaching the version you’re demonstrating because there’s no advantage and it can be counterproductive because both feet landing at the same time slows the player down (surface friction from both feet) and is worse than if they just had active feet in between shots. Anyone can learn to split before the hit, it’s not hard once they dial it in. It’s then easier to land on the outside foot to get to the ball and they’ll have more time, especially if they land simultaneously on both feet. When pro or advanced players are late, it’s a concentration matter, just like for the rest of us. There are no player idiosyncrasies with this movement, unlike stroke styles.
Agree there is no perfect in an open sport like tennis but it’s better to set the bar higher than to settle for average and most people who want to improve are motivated by a higher standard to aim for, it’s not meant to be taken literally. But let’s give the players the opportunity to aim higher. I’d encourage you to do a “Part 2” to this video. 👍🏻

[@olyoshea205]

4mins in and I’m bored mate! Can’t last the full 21mins. Is the lift, pivot, plant video shorter?

[@TennisHacker]

I'm sure when you do a tennis lesson, the person can learn everything in 3 minutes :-)

[@evilernie1985]

@@TennisHacker Personally, I love the level of detail you go into with your videos. Keep up the good work, mate!

[@francoisgouws7288]

Don't watch and find something that bores you less . Especially if yes an expert!

[@jacksonlar]

@@TennisHacker You didn't waste a single second in this video. Some players simply lack the patience of a mosquito.

[@mowghlee]

Too long

[@TennisHacker]

Sadly teaching stuff can take a little time :-)