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By Peter Langmaid
Ever wondered why some players glide effortlessly around the court while others race around like their pants are on fire? I have, and I found the answer last summer listening to John McEnroe comment on Roger Federer’s tennis game.
Asked to evaluate the different aspects of Federer’s game, McEnroe said that his footwork is by far the best in the tennis and that Federer’s precise and powerful stokes are all set up by his impeccable footwork. (McEnroe also suggested that Federer’s superb footwork might be somewhat attributable to his playing squash as a kid.)
 Most of us know what good footwork is because we use good footwork when we hit balls down the wall to ourselves: toes perpendicular to side wall, front foot slightly ahead of back foot, weight forward on toes. (Not unlike a batter’s stance in baseball.) From this position we’re able to hit rail after rail with power, accuracy, control, and ease. It’s only when the game begins that we lose power and our shots begin to careen around the court, and most of us focus on our racquet work (hitting the ball) rather than our footwork (positioning ourselves to hit the ball) to remedy the problem.
The underlying reason that good footwork produces better shots is balance. With feet set, it’s easy to move into the ball and hit any shot you want. And good balance means you’re in control of your body. It’s what basketball coaches mean when they say that good defense is played with your feet, not your hands. When you’re balanced you can move in any direction with easy; when you’re out of balance, you have to recover your balance before you can move. And not only will good balance (i.e. footwork) improve your shot production, it will also help you get into position for the next shot more quickly. The difference between fast and slow in squash is not who can run 50 yards the fastest, but who has the best footwork to keep control of their body.
The main reason for poor footwork is laziness, especially when we get tired. It just seems easier to slap at the ball than to move our feet and hit it. And this is ironic because poor footwork produces lousy shots and lousy shots give your opponent the advantage to make you work harder.
So, next time you watch good players play, pay attention to their footwork for more reasons than what brand of shoes their wearing. You will notice that they make the effort to set their feet before they hit the ball. And next time you play, make a consciously observe your own footwork—you’ll be surprised by what you discover.
About the Author (In his own words): Peter Langmaid is a sixty year old squash player who came to the game in his mid-thirties. He loves the intensity and competiveness of the game. Like most squash players, he has more opinions than skills.
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