Footwork in singles

I can identify with you David. I've been doing a lot of extra training lately on this element and the situation is gradually getting better. I pass on a few things that I have worked on during this time in case they are of any help, as you might be having some of the same problems (most of this is covered in some form or another in previous posts that Cheung noted).

1. Improve leg muscle strength & endurance--shadow drills, resistance training (weights), rope skipping, running (esp. hills and steps). This part is the easiest for me.

2. Light bouncing in the ready position--maybe most people are standing still, but I find I can get a better start if I just bounce lightly while I'm waiting for the return. I got this idea from watching boxers who rely on their quick, sudden movement in the ring. I think this is especially important to me since I have flat feet, and this helps keep me on the balls of my feet.

3. Lean forward slightly--If my weight is just a little forward, it helps me to move that way. If I have to go back, I throw my shoulders back to get momentum that way.

4. Keep feet the proper distance apart--I tend to spread my feet too far apart. Consequently, I can't push off well, or I have to make an extra movement to bring them closer first.

5. Relax while waiting for the return--I tend to be too tense, so when I have to move, my leg muscles are not only fighting gravity, but each other as well.

6. Making the correct shot beforehand--often, I will make a shot I have no business making in the given situation, and my opponent gets to it before I'm properly prepared for his shot.

 

I can’t emphasis more in shadow practice to improve your footwork. I have similar problem along with many other problems! However, I notice improvements when I concentrated on shadow practice lately.

Off course you should have strong muscle, stamina etc.... You have to formulate shadow practice based on your particular needs. Setup game plan of 10 or 15 or 20 shots moves covering all corners in sequence that closely looks like where you experience difficulty. Do shadow practice with proper footwork and use stopwatch to time your routine. In addition, just keep two things in mind that I think are extremely important.

1: Pause between shots to position yourself for receiving any kind of return.
2: Just imagine that you are playing a real game. Keep your eye towards your opponent’s court and towards imaginary shuttle path. When playing shot close to net imagine that you are picking up a drop and so on.


Improve your timing/speed without sacrificing any of the above two. Do it for 1/2 hr to one hour a day and 2 to 3 times a week and you will feel improvement in your game with in few weeks.

 

Good advice by all. Perhaps it is making things a little too explicit but I am a firm believer in putting things in simplistic terms. When you perfrom your split step as the opponent is hitting the shuttle make sure of two things. The first is that you have enough time to land and push in the direction of the shot, jump too early and you will be on the ground as the shuttle is hit and will have to jump again, jump too late and you will be in the air for too long watching the shuttle land on the floor. The second is that you do not land from the split step square on to the net, this would allow you speed in sideways directions but not forwards or back. Land sideways on to use the natural motion forwards or backwards.

 

Just a few more things I can add...

1. Make sure your deep serves and clears are deep--beyond the back doubles service line. The deeper your opponent is when they hit the drop, the more time you'll have to read it and react. On your defensive clears, unless you have a low ceiling, hit them high enough to give yourself enough time to get back to the base position and get balanced.

2. Some players are good at hitting drops from a smashing or clearing motion. Don't let yourself be deceived. If you're thinking smash or clear, you will be less prepared to move forward.

3. Make sure you know just where the drop is going, and move directly there. Sometimes I read drop shot correctly, but misread the location and have to change direction during the approach.

Once your legs are strengthened and you've trained yourself in the proper footwork, get someone to hit you lots of drops from all kinds of positions until you can fully integrate this skill into your game.

Some of us have to work real hard on this, and it can get better, but some people are just naturally quick. In a recent doubles game I played, my partner and I were in the side-by-side defensive formation as the other team had a chance to hit down to us. One of the opponents hit a drop to my side. I could have gotten to it OK, but my partner came all the way across from the other side and got to it ahead of me and was able to make a more aggressive return. That's quickness!