Ready…GO!

Tennis, at its essence, is a "READ and REACT" sport.

Without the ability to somewhat forecast the direction of the opponent's shot, tennis can be a very frustrating experience.

That "READING" of the imminent ball strike is a combination of understanding the geometric likelihoods and watching the opponent's racket face as it approaches the moment of contact.

That "Read" should (with enough experience) put you in the correct "zip code" and give you a fighting chance to get to that next incoming ball.

Being in the right "zip code" does not, however, provide any guarantee of being able to arrive in balance and poised to deliver a high-quality response.

That task is triggered by a well-timed and properly executed "SPLIT STEP"!

A Split Step or Ready Hop is an integral component to success in many sports, not just tennis. 

In a few weeks baseball spring training will begin just a short drive from Marco Island. Take a day trip to JetBlue Park and make it a point to watch the infielders on both teams execute a "Ready Hop/Split Step" just as the pitcher's delivery enters the batters hitting zone.

Go watch FGCU Division One College Volleyball that is played at Alico Arena. A 35-minute drive North on I-75 and you will see the Split Step/Ready Hop in full display hundreds of times by every player.

The action of dropping into, and then instantly exploding from, that momentary crouch to retrieve a ball to your left or right takes practice but pays a high dividend.

The clarity you will enjoy when you arrive in balance, comfortably behind the bounce of the ball is worth its weight in gold!

Make the "Read," gather yourself, then "Go" using a well-executed "Split Step" as your launching pad.