Brian,
From a biomechanics perspective, would you please help me out with the following questions:
If I am on the balls of my feet in a split step at the baseline, and I want to retrieve a drop shot with the quickest and most efficient movement possible, should my first step be forward to move to the ball or backward to load a driving leg (a la' sprinters starting position)? The USTA coaches are absolute in advocating the latter, however Federer definitely breaks the mold on this much of the time.
Does the above answer change if my split step is done with my weight neutral rather than on the balls of my feet?
Next question: Harvard Men's Tennis advocates a straight-legged split step "high set" rather than a bent-legged lower center of gravity split step. They contend that starting from a higher position means the body will have to lean less in order to get off balance, thereby gaining an advantage in moving to the ball. It seems to me that a "high set" offers no means to push explosively with the legs once the body is off balance. So, this begs the question: When moving right or left from a split step, is the initial move made with a body lean, or with a leg drive --- and then once again, should the initial move be made with the foot going towards the ball, or away from the ball to load a driving leg and to create an imbalance?
Last question is for John. John, today pretty much everyone is finally teaching the crossover recovery step after...let's say a wide forehand. My question: Based on the time it takes for a player's average rally forehand (let's say 70mph) to reach the other side of the court, would a player have time to perform two crossover steps before converting back to a balanced split step.
Thanks for your feedback if you can find the time.
CC
From a biomechanics perspective, would you please help me out with the following questions:
If I am on the balls of my feet in a split step at the baseline, and I want to retrieve a drop shot with the quickest and most efficient movement possible, should my first step be forward to move to the ball or backward to load a driving leg (a la' sprinters starting position)? The USTA coaches are absolute in advocating the latter, however Federer definitely breaks the mold on this much of the time.
Does the above answer change if my split step is done with my weight neutral rather than on the balls of my feet?
Next question: Harvard Men's Tennis advocates a straight-legged split step "high set" rather than a bent-legged lower center of gravity split step. They contend that starting from a higher position means the body will have to lean less in order to get off balance, thereby gaining an advantage in moving to the ball. It seems to me that a "high set" offers no means to push explosively with the legs once the body is off balance. So, this begs the question: When moving right or left from a split step, is the initial move made with a body lean, or with a leg drive --- and then once again, should the initial move be made with the foot going towards the ball, or away from the ball to load a driving leg and to create an imbalance?
Last question is for John. John, today pretty much everyone is finally teaching the crossover recovery step after...let's say a wide forehand. My question: Based on the time it takes for a player's average rally forehand (let's say 70mph) to reach the other side of the court, would a player have time to perform two crossover steps before converting back to a balanced split step.
Thanks for your feedback if you can find the time.
CC
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