• the top playersplay very relaxed and very focussed
• they time the start of this movement so well that when they start this movement (down) they may not know which direction the ball is going, but as they start to take off they do know - this aint easy
• they actually make the decision of were the ball is going BEFORE the ball is actualy hit
• depending on indiviual reaction time, they start to move anywhere from just before the ball is hit to just after
• you need to practice that decision making process in practice and game situations

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Hi ray -

Yes, I think thats it!   I picked this up by watching some dvds of the top players in tournaments, etc.  I noticed that after they hit the ball and move to the T, they are (of course) watching the ball while moving to the T.  Just as their opponement hits the ball, they stop moving and get into this split step position, where they do this little hop and stop and spread their feet out a bit.  Then (almost at the same time), they move towards the ball and get ready for the shot.  It makes sense to do this, so thats why I was asking.    Is this what you are referring too?

If thats the case, how does one go about practising it?

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• the back leg ( nearer the back court) i call the power leg because where possible i am trying to get weight transfer from back to front foot - the back foot helps drive into the shot
  
• the front foot i call the control foot because once you land the back foot you can use the front foot to control your position relative to the ball
• too close? you step away slightly with the front foot
• to far away? step closer to the line of the ball
• there are plenty of situations where this is not the case especially at the back and front courts

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Ah! I think that explains things a lot better for me too!

So the essence of the "split step" is to position the feet correctly to give better balance when playing the shot(s)?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I took this to mean:

Ideally the feet should be shoulder width apart, but when you move at speed, you legs move more central to your body (especially when taking longer strides). The idea of a split-step is to quickly reposition your feet to gain maximum balance after reaching the end of such a sequence of movement.

If this is the case, then there are two different ways that I do this during my own movement. Firstly I arrive just before the shot position on the leg that I DONT want to put most of my weight off (I'll call this leg the pivot-leg). I then bring the other leg (the planted-leg) through and across slightly in an "L" shape movement (forward then out to the side). This provides a stable base with the weight spread between both legs, but slightly in favour of the plant-leg.

Secondly I find that if I move in a zig-zag pattern to slow, front shots then I can actually arrive with both legs spread appropriately to give balance for the shot. This also helps to add deception to my shots (so I've been told?!). This second movement type only really works when the ball is loose enough and the right distance away, but the final principles of being in a balanced stance are there!!

Of course, I may have misunderstood the "split-step" idea completely, in which case corrections are greatly received!!

Cheers

ADZ

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• it is not a term associted with squash, but tennis
• in the serve and volley game, when a player is coming to the net, at about the service line and as theball isabout to reach them thy will split step or cease their running and open up their stance (to stabilise themselves) for the volley
• i advocate this same action when going  to the back court to retrieve the ball especially off the back wall
• at the appropriate point, stop the running action and take a little hop to separate the legs  (across the shoulders) and stablise and so make a better shot
• my experience is, when most players do it they hit more accurately
• a similar action is taken by the top players when they are about to retrieve a ball
• they watch the opponent as they about to hit, dip their legs a little at the right time and widen their stance in preparation for take off with a little hop
• the are able to get lower ad get more traction for take off
• i call it split step  because it is almost identical to the tennis action
• remember that it is not always ncessary and not always possible

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Sounds great Rippa.

I look forward to reading the upcoming information. 

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Morning Rita!

Glad I got your head scratching this morning!!   Good job.

Thanks for the info!  I love reading, so it will give me something to about and work on with the split steps!!

Good stuff!

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