Five footwork principles explained...

1. Stay away from the ball - Keep your feet moving to stay away from the ball so the ball can be struck at full extension (see Forehand / Backhand articles).

2. Stay dorsiflexed - Pull toes up as if lifting a bucket of sand. This puts the balls of the feet on the ground and lends itself to faster explosion to the ball.

3. Make the last step a cross-over - When moving up or back strive to step-over with the foot closest to the front wall to create a better base.

4. Stay low - Stay low between shots so you can get to the ball faster.

5. Stay back - Part of footwork is to create the better angle. To do this, play deep in the middle, behind the dotted line to create better angles.

Five footwork drills on the five principles (listed in order of each principle).

1. Tap and freeze - Set up to hit a ball off the front wall and then freeze before you hit the ball. You may find yourself too close to the ball.

2. Ball drops - Have a partner drop a ball in front of you and try to catch it before it bounces twice. Put both feet against the back wall to avoid false stepping with the dominant foot.

3. Move and hit - Same as the ball drop except with a racquet. Move forward and make the last step a cross-over to strike the ball.

4. Random ball drops with a partner - Same as ball drop except your partner drops racquetballs randomly all over the court. You must stay low to get to the ball.

5. Tape the center court spot - Take a couple of strips of electrical tape and make an "X" where center court should be. Strive not to get in front of that spot.

These are five principles and five drills to help you improve your footwork.