Optimal Reaction

Hops aren't only for beer...

We ended yesterday's post about split step timing with a question - why bother to hop? After all, can't a player just move toward the ball from the ready position?

Obviously, the answer to the second question is yes, a player can simply step out of the ready position to make a return. But, the answer to the first question comes from science and it says that optimal reaction is created by using a hop.

The split step and, therefore, the hop comes from tennis. But it isn't the only sport that uses it. The women's softball team at Auburn University has looked at the science and uses it extensively in their play. As explained in the below video called Auburn Softball: On the Hop, the hop takes the slack out the muscles and allows them to fire in a "more aggressive purposeful ballistic motion". Its essence is that reaction time is reduced - especially first step reaction time. 

Split Step Timing

Its not the situation. Its your reaction to the situation...

We have been talking about movement and, more specifically, about movement from the baseline toward the NVZ line. A fundamental of this movement is the split step. This technique transitions a player from forward movement to the ready position and then toward his next return. 

We certainly have not ignored the split step in our discussions. It is highlighted in Chapter 5 - Earn the Net and mentioned frequently in many other posts. Many of those posts were written early in my playing and learning experience and relied on some old-school advice about the timing. Generally, players were taught to stop and split step just prior to the instant when the opponent was striking the ball. 

In Pickleball...Movement is Not Optional

I have frequently mentioned footwork and movement in my posts. It has been a while, though, where a post was devoted solely to what is likely the single most important factor in pickleball. It was several months ago when I posted Moving at the Kitchen Line and Split Step. A couple of recent videos highlight the importance of focusing on movement and are worth discussion.

Mark Renneson's video Pickleball You Move You Win uses clips from top players' matches at the recent US Open to show the value of movement. Mark shows the players' movements to position their bodies for the optimal shot. But, beyond the positional movement, he emphasizes the high energy of staying light on one's feet with athletic stances and active feet. The dynamic movement of small quick steps allows the adjustments needed to get properly positioned.