How to deal with loose shots using your feet 

When the ball is coming towards you – perhaps at an awkward or unexpected angle – do you step backwards or do you move more sideways and around the ball?

Getting your weight through the ball and staying central 

Moving backwards can be detrimental as since you and your body are now going backwards, it can be difficult to transfer your weight forwards again and through the ball when you hit your shot. This might mean you end up stretching forwards or flicking your racket at the ball, resulting in a weak or inconsistent shot.

Instead, when the ball is coming towards you, try to move ‘around it’ – moving towards the centre of the court in order to create space for the ball to the side of you, rather than in front of you. Think of how a matador tries to get a bull to run towards the red cape to the side of his body as opposed to having the red cape directly in front of his body.

Turning or rotating to create the angle 

Getting around the ball might involve a couple of small, quick steps or maybe even a larger step depending on your movement style, but it almost always involves some rotation to turn your body towards the side wall. This turn is the key, as if you are able to turn your body towards the side wall, you have more ability to guide the ball towards the corners of the court.

Another benefit of this sideways movement and turning is it can also keep you closer to the T-Position, resulting in less time and movement required to get back to the T-Position. It can even create a better angle for hitting the nick!

Have a look at how you are dealing with loose shots and balls in the middle of the court and see if you can rotate, turn or move sideways quickly in order to generate a more accurate, tighter shot.