Watch a beginner miss and then watch their feet. Nine times out of ten they were late, too close to the ball, or off balance at contact. Better swings help, but better footwork makes the swing you already have work. These drills are used with juniors and adults alike.
1. Split step timing
The split step is a small hop just as your opponent hits. It loads your legs so you can push off in any direction. Practice by having a partner feed balls from across the net and calling out when your feet land. You want to land as the ball leaves their strings, not after.
Six movements to train
Split step
Land as the ball leaves their strings
Shadow and recover
Swing, then side step back to center
Cone touch
Short explosive steps, not strides
Adjustment steps
Tiny steps to set your distance
Line hops
20 seconds side to side, three rounds
Two ball wide
Forehand wide, backhand wide, recover
Kids who learn to move well early have a huge advantage as the ball gets faster, so footwork is built into every junior session, often disguised as games.
2. Shadow swings with recovery
Without a ball, start at the center mark, shuffle to a forehand position, swing, then recover to the center with side steps. Repeat on the backhand. Ten each side. It builds the habit of recovering after every shot, which most players forget.
3. Cone touch drill
Place four cones or water bottles in a square around the center of the baseline, a few big steps apart. Move to each one, touch it, and return to the middle. Time yourself. This builds the short, explosive steps tennis actually uses, rather than long running strides.
Big steps get you close. Small steps get you perfect.
4. Adjustment steps
Have a partner feed balls to slightly different spots. Before each hit, take several small steps to set your distance from the ball. Big steps get you close; small steps get you perfect. Players who skip this jam themselves or reach constantly.
5. Line hops
Stand beside a court line and hop side to side over it for 20 seconds, then front to back. Three rounds. It is simple conditioning for quick feet and ankle strength, and it takes two minutes before any practice.
6. Two ball wide feed
A partner feeds one ball wide to the forehand, then one wide to the backhand. Hit each, recovering to the center in between. Start slow and increase pace. This is the closest drill to real point play and shows quickly whether your recovery is sharp.
Why this matters more for juniors
Kids who learn to move well early have a huge advantage as the ball gets faster. Footwork is built into every junior tennis session, often disguised as games so it never feels like running laps.
Get feedback on your movement
Footwork is hard to self diagnose because you cannot see your own feet while hitting. A few private lessons focused on movement often fix problems players have had for years. Lessons come to your court across the San Gabriel Valley and Los Angeles, every day from 7am to 8pm.