Drill

Setup

Begin with shadow/rehearsal or controlled feed appropriate to the action.

Instructions

1. 1Have a partner drop or hit a ball unpredictably to either side.
2. 2Split step exactly as the ball leaves their hand or racquet, not after.
3. 3React and move to the ball only after landing from the split step.

Key feel

Split step timed to the opponent's contact, not your own reaction.

Success cue

The targeted behavior becomes more repeatable on comparable balls without creating a new visible breakdown.

Recommended reps

4 sets of 10

Progression

Shadow/rehearsal → controlled feed → directional live ball → variable feed → point-based constraint → match-like execution.

Common mistake

Splitting too late, after already seeing which way the ball is going.