Practicing Modern Tennis Footwork

[laplouis]

long rally..

[MindsetForSports]

Hey Will, great videos for all levels tennis players. I like the work you are doing. We need to get you on The Tennis Psychology podcast as a guest. Ian Westernann is a guest all the time!

[doublea422]

Why did they bring so many balls when they only needed one?

[Willenskraftz]

Uh .. they're hitting and talking and switching drills and never miss lol

[beavertown2006]

Both coaches are very clear in teaching. Thanks!!!

[xlovemakayla]

I love you. You rock a tennis. Thanks for the great videos. They really help me. (:

[Tony07UK]

Yann has poor footwork because it's affecting his vision - and vision is crucial to good judgement and finding the oncoming ball. Excessive jumping, bobbing up and down reflects poor footwork.

[huntbug1]

@Tony07UK he was a pro...'nuf said

[Tony07UK]

@huntbug1 .. having achieved what? His movement is stiff and mechanical - he is walking forwards and backwards while playing the ball inside the box area - looks totally stupid! If the ball is short, then one walks up to it. This drill would look far more relaxed and efficient if Fed, Djokovic or Murray were demonstrating it.

Auzoux is a nobody - Google search and you'll see!

[Tony07UK]

This video shows footwork actually distracting from playing smooth and comfortable shots - Yann even chooses more complicated footwork than is necessary, especially when he decides to play a backhand in his 'forehand' box (right side) Watch Yann's head bob up and down - pros don't move their heads like this.

[Tony07UK]

In addition the guy Yann looks very mechanical - he himself is not a smooth mover or hitter and principally this is where this footwork series fails, as unlike other FYB articles this 'instruction' is very bland. Once watched .. no desire to come back for a repeat. All my students have given me the same feedback. Watching the pros in slow motion - and checking the footwork will reveal a lot more about how they even think about playing their shots.

[Tony07UK]

Not even pros who rally from the baseline during warm ups are running around this much. Watch Justine Henin and others on Youtube rally in the boxes and then progress back to the baseline increasing the power on their shots. While viewers may initially be focusing on the arm movement, as this is where all the 'action' is perceived to be, it is worthwhile actually watching what the feet are doing. The feet do what is necessary to get the hand (and racquet) to the ball.

[Tony07UK]

Footwork is intrinsically linked with head movement and as has been mentioned in a previous post, footwork is learned while we're growing up - we turn our heads to see and the feet follow - it's natural and common sense. Players don't want to be focusing on the feet - they should be focusing on the ball, finding it with their hands and keeping their heads still. The problem with this video is that the players are 'bouncing' around far too much with excessive footwork -

[Tony07UK]

I've seen many good tutorials on FYB and send many video links to my students on FYB features such as the forehand, backhand and service motion which are among the best on Youtube. However, this series on footwork is too much about nothing. I have seen pro players practise strokes right up by the net inside the boxes and they don't look anything like this video - they don't continuously keep walking backwards and forwards to play these short balls .. it doesn't look right!

[atsporty]

Great macro lesson

[Noyabronok]

Great follow up to the 30 minute introduction of modern footwork you did before. Did you film at the main court of William H.G. FitzGerald Tennis Center?

[iyagaldones12]

this video help me a lot ;) thanks FYB

[cmck0810]

Could you create a video for foot work drills that we can do without a partner?

[goodcommentguy]

I like how they have all those balls behind them, but instead of using those they rally for about 5 minutes with a SINGLE ball. epic consistency.

[TheLeilisa]

Need exercise tips for tennis ?

[TonLars]

Your videos are great! Like alot of the stuff you guys are doing with these footwork videos. But I really disagree, with what im seeing at least, with what youre calling a "walking step". Why step in to a short ball forehand with the right foot instead of getting in closed stance and stepping in with the left foot, or even setting up open stance? I could be wrong, but I dont think Ive ever seen or done a so called walking step when ive played.

[EdmenTWS]

they did the entire thing using one ball. awesomeeeeeeeeeee

[southp0105]

Thanks for this great tutorial. I tried this today against the wall. After a regular 90 minutes I felt my breath was much more heavy, but my feet was much more alive. I also found that walking step is far more difficult than I imagined :(

I am going to keep practicing this. Thanks again!

[southp0105]

Thanks for this great tutorial. I tried this today against the wall. After a regular 90 minutes I felt my breath was much more heavy, but my feet was much more alive. I also found that walking step is far more difficult than I imagined :(

I am going to keep practicing this. Thanks again!

[AzianguyxD]

thanks will good video :)

[VUARTEM]

польный эрунда рука с ногами не дружит

[20003606]

really a capitals fan?? Capitals are basicly a 4 man team. Red Wings are alot better.

[il2mat]

I am shocked is it practice?It is look like exercise for pregnant women or adult beginner. Two dilettantes

[deve8uk]

lets see this done with someone whos got 2 left feet no control of teh racket, im not saying its pants far from it. But its always great to watch decent players talk about learning stuff when they have complete control over ball flight and foot work. It just does not relate to befinners at all, they have a hard enough time hitting teh ball

[TrueProphecy22]

@deve8uk They're showing how to practice footwork. Someone with "two left feet" and "no control of the ball" needs to build up to this practice routine. Will has dozens of other videos demonstrating the basics of just hitting the ball that a complete beginner should watch before this.

[Arnatuile11]

@queenofcourt lol i know, i was just saying that to be random ;)

[22phan]

This "short court" warm-up is usually used in the wrong order. It should be used at the end of warm-up rally.

[breek1]

that looks like a whole lot of work and is making me tired just by watching! hahaha

[radicalsquared]

Good work Will,

More from Yann please

[HyperHorse]

This is one of the best drills I've seen for a while.. I'll be sure to employ it when I start playing again...

Thanks Will & Yann...

[dagoebam]

Good video guys! 

[laurouq]

Yann is my favorite virtual coach!!

[Dexliu]

Definitely a bonus to my footwork! Thanks a lot.

[laughaholic987]

he's got a good racket :D

[Arnatuile11]

I have an awesome backhand ^^

[LeafVillItachi]

Looks like i have meaning in my short courts now xD

[SILK334]

honestly even pro dont use this as much as u think they would they quite often they will just use open stances to hit the ball but the spin at the pro level is so much higher than the juniors, amatuer, or even college so i suppose it would be harder to do

[FairwayJack]

Thx FYB

[Doggieman1111]

nice video, thanks

[mtlsteven]

very nice, non stop hitting, :P pretty good video thanks FYB! but too bad it's getting cold and rainny almost everyday in canada montreal, can't practice :(

[n4ko]

excellent videos... will

i love FYB .. i wouldnt be half the player i am without u guys...

[KingValiant]

Thanks for putting up all these videos, they are really helpful :)

[Kingaxel1]

Great video Will! As always, it's very helpful and instructional. I like the this one particularly because you demonstrate the tips in an actual practice format. You can actually see what this actually looks like during practice with a partner. One can copy exactly what you did and have a great practice session.

[champ1193]

holy cow, 61k hits on that last one... nice job guys

I wish I had the time or motivation to work on this stuff

[iscreamlimousine]

The bucket of balls was unneccessary, didn't even use but one

[khaderach19]

@iscreamlimousine they are probably filming a series of videos in this one session. the bucket of balls might be used later.

[FYB2007]

@ytaidan gotta disagree w/you here. how you move your feet isn't common sense and this stuff is relevant for players @ all levels.

[LeafVillItachi]

@FYB2007 and with that i totally agree with FYB. I'm a high school tennis player and i this video and the previous one you've done with him have taught me a lot and for the most part improved my game. 

[champ1193]

@ytaidan FYB is right, i've noticed that players in europe do this more naturally due to playing on clay, but young american players never actually learn this, though some do similar things naturally

[tommyenglish1]

@ytaidan this is one of the best coaching videos i have seen and its not common sense. There are about 10 different steps here. Everyone can learn from this video.

[bimbim007]

@ytaidan there is a reason why you learn foot work. speed is not effective without footwork. Your might be fast into getting in to the ball but you use alot of energy and you wont be prepared when you hit the ball. and its not common sense

[TlMpossible]

@ytaidan if it was common sense then everyone's footwork would be as effective as a professionals?

[hayxx045]

@ytaidan I don't agree that it's common sense in the fact that everyone can do it, but I do understand your point especially for 4.0+. Footwork is important, but they're is little to be learned from this video. Go out and play and recognize when you get caught flat footed on a shot, and work on it. I eventually learned to dance on my feet and use stutter steps to approach the ball by playing a lot and watching nadal/federer. if you've got natural tennis ability, you should pick it up naturally.

[hayxx045]

@ytaidan Also I'd like to add that they're is definitely more complex applications of the footwork that this video demonstrates, for example the process of switching from defense to offense, lunge steps, moving laterally with speed, moving up to the net for a volley, predicting where the opponent will hit the ball, etc. In particular I notice that my footwork when moving in after an approach shot is pretty poor and I get caught in bad positions to defend the pass.

[dodododa]

@ytaidan Maybe it's "common sense" to you after 5 years of tennis school, but what if I'm training a newbe? Should I ignore footwork and let them keep taking big steps to the ball and get their spacing wrong all the time? There are veterans I play with who still play with these bad habits because they never practiced properly. I guess it isn't common sense to them.

[WirelessRouter]

@ytaidan I don't think 4+ level players got up there because they used common sense without going through this kind of training. Otherwise, we're all 4+ level, just have to unlock the common sense, aren't we?

[Elohite]

I have a question. I myself and understand a lot of players with various skill levels warm up in the short court. Do the pros warm up with the short court before moving back?

[FYB2007]

@Elohite some do, some don't. depends on preference.

[claus1225]

excellent tip. thanks.

those 5 min is like an hour of hit for me

[FunnyPlace1]

3rd

[ssireling]

Great stuff.

[MrTrifoi]

first viewer

[Gijiner765]

@MrTrifoi not first viewer,only  first commenter