split step
Pre-reaction hop stance
A split step is a small hop in racket sports—tennis, badminton, squash—timed just as an opponent strikes the ball.
The player lands with feet apart and knees bent, ready to push off in any direction.
It's a fundamental movement that converts stillness into explosive reaction: She timed her split step perfectly and reached the drop shot.
- footworkSkilled lower-limb movement
- tennisRacquet sport over net
- volleySimultaneous firing burst
- ready positionPreparatory athletic posture
- courtTrial venue or sports surface
ready · reaction · hop · bounce · anticipation · movement · agility · timing · net · approach · explosive · on your toes · balance · quick · racket · serve · return · lateral