The one footwork step every player needs to know – the split step
Tip 1
One of the most important footwork steps in pickleball for all players to know, that can be used from anywhere in the court, is the split step.
A split step is a small hop taken just as an opponent makes contact with the ball, putting you on your toes with your weight evenly balanced. This technique prepares you to move in any direction, improving agility and response time.
The split step helps you in a couple different ways:
- It can stop your forward momentum as you transition to the kitchen, which is imperative for hitting resets. You can’t hit an effective reset when you’re in motion, so stopping quickly with a wide, balanced base is key.
- It allows you to change direction on a dime. If you're running in one direction and your opponent hits the ball the opposite way, you won’t be able to get there in time unless you come to a brief, balanced stop to quickly shift your momentum. By using the split step, you absorb your momentum, allowing your body to quickly reset and push off toward the new direction of the ball.
Tip 2
Maybe the most important aspect of mastering the split step isn’t about the actual movement with your feet but instead learning when to execute it. The timing is rather intricate, and being precise with it will take some practice. The better your timing gets, the faster you’ll be able to move to the ball! The split step should be timed with your opponent’s contact. More specifically, you should begin your hop right before your opponent makes contact with the ball so that you are in the air when the ball is on their paddle, and back on the ground as soon as it leaves their paddle (and you know which direction the ball is going in).
Reminder: This will especially apply when you’re facing bangers - players that like to speed the ball up consistently and generate power on many of their shots. Reading the situation early and having a good set foundation with our feet will allow us to be more agile and comfortable during quicker encounters.
