Footwork Drills That Make You Faster at the Net
Five drills, starting with the split step, to help you get around the kitchen line and transition zone faster.
The court is small and the ball arrives quickly. Fast hands cannot save a point if your feet are late. These drills train the movement that slows rallies down.
Learn the split step first
A split step is a light hop that lands on both feet, about shoulder-width apart, as your opponent strikes the ball. It leaves you balanced and ready to launch in any direction. If you adopt a single habit, adopt this one.
The drills
1. Hop on contact
Ask a partner to feed balls across the net. Call out hop each time they strike, and land your split step at that instant. Within minutes the timing sticks.
2. Kitchen line slides
Stand on the non-volley line and slide sideways to the centerline and back without crossing your feet, paddle up. Aim for three rounds of 30 seconds.
3. Stepping up through the transition zone
From the baseline, take three steps forward, split step, take three more, split step, and continue to the kitchen. That copies the path you should take after a third shot drop.
4. Turn and go back for lobs
At the kitchen line, have a partner shout lob. Rotate your hips, step back with your paddle-side foot and shuffle back three steps. Turning sideways beats backpedaling for both speed and safety.
5. Point and move
Get into ready position while a partner points left, right, forward or back. Take two fast steps that way, then recover. Keep the work short: 20 seconds on and 20 off.
Small details with big payoffs
- Bend your knees to stay low, so you never rise before you move
- Keep weight on the balls of your feet
- Use short steps near the ball and longer ones to cover distance
- Return to the center of your area after every shot
Footwear counts
Every drill above relies on lateral movement, which running shoes handle badly. Court shoes give side support and grip and reduce ankle rolls. See why court shoes beat running shoes and check the promo codes first.