Split Step and Go
Footwork & Movement
Legend
- player
- coach / parent
- cones
- ball
How it works
Establish the split step habit by pairing the movement with a visual trigger (coach's toss) before every ball contact.
What you need
- tennis racket
- tennis balls
- court
- cones
Your focus
The split step is the foundation of all reactive court movement; without it players are consistently late to the ball. Training the split step as a triggered reflex (rather than a conscious thought) allows it to function under match pressure. Beginners who learn this habit early move significantly more efficiently throughout their development.
Player stands at the center service line, 1 meter inside the baseline, holding racket in ready position.
Coach stands at the net with a hopper; the moment the coach's hand drops to toss the ball, the player performs a small two-foot split step.
After the split step, the player pushes off toward the feed (forehand or backhand side) and hits the ball to a target cone.
Repeat 15 times; coach provides immediate feedback on whether the split step occurred before or after the toss.
Goal
It's clicking when your split step lands at exactly the same time the coach's toss reaches its peak, not before, not after.
Helpful cues
- Jump when my hand moves
- Land on both feet at the same time
- Push off the outside foot after landing
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Remove the ball entirely and practice split step timing only, clapping when correctly timed.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Coach delays the feed after the toss to force the player to hold the split-step landing position.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.