The footwork system

In the beginner area you learned the basic cycle: central position, split step, out to the ball, back to the middle. Now you fill this cycle with the individual step types that make each zone of your court reachable fastest. That's the complete footwork system.

Four step types carry it. The chassé is a sideways shuffle in which the feet never cross — you stay in balance and often use it to prepare the next step. The lunge is the most-used step: a deep, explosive lunge into a corner, hitting-side foot leading, that gets you to the Speeder stable and far. The scissor jump gets you to deep, high Speeders in the rear area — you push off, switch leg position in the air and land ready to hit again. The block jump intercepts fast balls from the side when there's no time for a full step.

What's decisive is that you choose the right step for each zone — and after every stroke find your way back to the central position with a clean recovery step. The recovery step is the most inconspicuous and the most important: it re-establishes the cycle each time.

Think of a fencer. Their feet never stand at random — every step has a form and a purpose, and after every attack they return immediately to the base stance. That's exactly the economy you're after for your court.

At some point this system runs unconsciously. At first you choose the step deliberately; over time your body chooses it itself — and then you're everywhere in time.

Assign the steps to the zones