The Importance of Footwork to Tennis Players

The best laid plans have a solid foundation. The same is true in the game of tennis. The confusing part of this is what makes up a tennis foundation? Is it a strong serve, solid groundstrokes, superb fitness, craftiness and creativity? NO! It is something much more basic. In a word, footwork.

Footwork is the critical key to all of the points listed above. The game of tennis is built from the ground up and that means it starts with your feet. The basic premise of this game is to get the ball back in play. But how is that accomplished if you are unable even to get to the ball? The finest strokes are nullified quickly if the owner of said strokes can not even get to the ball. In the 25+ years that I have been playing tennis, the one thing that I have learned is that the most important part of the game is getting to your opponents shot. If you can do this it at least gives you the opportunity to get your racquet on the ball. Getting a racquet on the ball is the only way to hit the ball back.

It has been my experience that the vast majority of mistakes from tennis players can be attributed to their footwork, or more correctly their lack of good footwork. This is why statues don't play tennis. Their footwork is atrocious!

So before you go spending a ton of money to hear your local pro bombard you with tired well-traveled cliches or undergo major stroke overhaul, take a peek at your footwork. Proper footwork will put you into the best position to hit your best shot. After all that's what it is all about, putting our best foot forward, right?