Acceleration and Deceleration

Key Points

• Key Movement Phases: After the split step, focus on acceleration (big steps), deceleration (small steps), balance, and weight transfer forward.
• Big and Small Steps: Use big steps for speed and small steps to slow down, find balance, and prepare for an efficient shot.
• Avoid Overrunning: Overstepping during contact wastes energy and time, requiring unnecessary distance to recover. Minimize excess movement to conserve effort and stay ready.
• Weight Transfer: After achieving balance with small steps, transfer your weight forward to generate power and maintain offensive play.
• Coordination and Structure: Structured movement, combining acceleration, deceleration, and balance, enhances efficiency and performance.
• Stance Flexibility: Use either open or closed stance during contact, ensuring balance and proper weight transfer regardless of position.
• Naomi Osaka Example: This technique helped Naomi generate powerful forehands and backhands by staying low, maintaining balance, and transferring weight effectively.