Fancy Footwork Part II

Here's a great drill that will improve your game dramatically.

It's called the Fan Drill.

It's a killer but it's worth it.

Start by doing it as fast as is comfortable. Gradually increase your speed until you are doing the drill in a full out sprint.

When you can go as fast as you can, start doing sets of three or five with a short rest between sets (10 to 20 seconds or so).

Do this drill three or four times a week and your court coverage will improve. You'll be more fit and you'll have much more time to set up to the ball and hit winning shots.

The Fan Drill

Start at the centre mark on the baseline with your racquet in your hand in a proper grip.

Sprint to the point where the right singles (or doubles if you are a masochist) sideline meets the net. Touch that spot with your racquet or, even better, your non-racquet hand. BACKPEDAL (this is important!) back to the centre slash.

Now run to the same spot on the other side of the court and repeat.

Then run to the spot where the centre line meets the net and backpedal to the centre slash.

After touching those three spots, do the same thing where the service line meets the sideline, backpedaling to the centre slash after touching all three spots (both sidelines and the centre line along the service line).

Finally, SIDESTEP (shuffling motion, DON'T cross your feet) along the baseline to the edge of the court, touching the sideline. Shuffle back to the opposite sideline, touch that corner and then finish by shuffling back to the centre slash.

Do the entire drill on the balls of your feet. Don't let your heels touch the ground.
It's called the fan drill because your path over the court resembles one of those fans ladies use to cool themselves in summer.

A fun way to do the drill is have two people do it at the same time on opposite sides of the net. You can race head to head or time yourself with a stopwatch.