Footwork Fundamentals: Speed and Control

Key Points

• Work on leading with your outside foot, using a shuffle step
• Balls generally bounce low in Pickleball and require fast, explosive movements
• Courts are smaller, giving you less time to react, making great footwork more important
• Try watching yourself move in a mirror to get that visual cue of leading with the outside foot
• Shuffle from 1 corner to the other, leading with the outside foot and building kitchen line awareness
• If the toes touch the kitchen line, you will lose the point
• Make contact with the ball out in front
• Work on a nice wide stance in the squat position as you shuffle
• Focus on keeping the paddle out in front with short swings, blocking the ball and using the pace of your partner