Glad you’re picking up speed.

The split step is the first element in any powerful movement from a standing position.

What I suggest you do first is to test right foot forward, then left and very the distance of your feet apart until you find something more comfortable that allows you to move quickly. I prefer my racket leg slightly ahead to give me something to push off. It’s enough to get some momentum into my footwork pattern.

If you continue to have a problem, see if you can video yourself moving after the split step and send it to me. I’ll have a look and see if I can spot something which will solve the problem for you.

To your continued success in 2010.

Paul

Thanks for your advice! I’ve been taking the opportunity to work on quicker movements as if being flicked and it has indeed helped me increase footwork speed! I’ve also started working on some plyometric exercises that accompanies the P90X program and I feel that a lot of it applies to good footwork. However, I feel this is still only really limited to doubles…

I can’t seem to understand the split step in singles; when should the hop be initiated and completed? I feel like I’m always rooted to the ground after the hop and can’t reach any drops or clears and eventually move back towards my habit of trying to predict the opponent’s next shot based on the quality and positioning of mine. Do you have any advice as to how I can improve my split step?

Thanks!
Chris

That’s a good question.

What I used to do is find an area outside to practice, which gave me sufficient room to cover the key areas of weakness in my game. Here’s a few tips for you…

1) stand on the front service line facing the net and then travel to the back line as though you’d been flicked. Count your steps and jump. Do this a number of times so you are sure you’ve got it nailed. This way, you can work the same movement elsewhere and you know you’re covering the right ground.

2) break the movement down further and work on the explosive first step and you’ve done the split step.

3) watch my video on moving backwards to ensure you are doing that vital push element

4) And finally…here’s the biggest tip I can give anyone about movement. Most players spend a huge amount of time practicing moving to an area on court. But, they never spend any time practicing the recovery to base.

I was coaching county juniors at weekend and had the opportunity to work with the top two juniors (aged 16) in the cell. These lads are playing “gold” standard badminton so they are very good. However, neither had been coached on improving their recovery to base.

I think it was a huge shock to them how hard they needed to work to recover well. They both did a very good job and it gave them so much more time to prepare for the next shot.

This should really help you get started. Let me know how you’re getting on.

To your success in 2010

Paul

One of my goals this year is to increase my speed on court for both doubles and singles. While I\’m decent with doubles footwork, I generally get crushed in singles simply because I am so out of position to play an effective shot. Do you have any suggestions for simple exercises one can do with limited space in order to increase footwork related agility?

Cheers
Chris

Good to hear from you and many thanks for your excellent comments.

Repetition is vital to shot mastery, but there can be a drawback.

Remember the saying “practice makes perfect.” Well, actually it’s not true. The saying should say “perfect practice makes perfect.” The reason for this is that if you get the technique wrong from the outset, then all you will do with repetition is groove an incorrect technique.

That’s why coaches are so important in player development.

Sorry to hear about your injury. Hopefully it’s not too serious and you’ll be back to full fitness soon.

I could have written far more detail on goal setting but I thought it’s one of those topics that, whilst vital, will not appeal to everyone. As you know, the majority of league and club players generally are not interested in this type of topic.

To your success in 2010.

Paul