There are two essential but very different footwork skills; proper movement to support the athletic motion and fast feet. Pickleball requires both.

Golf, my former occupation, is an example of a sport that only uses one. Proper placement of the feet is a requirement. It provides a stable platform for the arm swing. Fast feet? Not only are they not needed but a determent.

Pickleball requires both, and here’s where my weakness shows up! Bluntly put…..my feet are slower than a heard of snails traveling through peanut butter. Okay, maybe they are a little faster than that, but not by much.

It wasn’t always that way. Ski racing is another sport that puts a premium on quick feet. As kids, we spent hours doing plyometrics, one foot, two feet; it seemed like we were always jumping or hopping.

Then came my golf career, and for the next 15 plus years, I focused solely on developing a better swing. These days I spend winter skiing and summers on the pickleball court; both sports require fast feet.

What’s a girl (or guy) to do to get fast feet?

Head to Amazon.

Yes, Amazon! For less than $10, you can create super-duper fast foot improvement tool. That’s a fancy way of saying an agility ladder and a roll of masking tape.

You can kill two birds with one stone. Use this to warm up. Most people don’t spend little if anytime warming up, which can lead to injury. Your heart rate will elevate quickly, getting you ready to play, and in no time, you’ll find yourself floating around the court. Maybe not floating, but you’re sure to be quicker!

We use the ladder as a warm-up before our weekly skills and drills clinic.

Start slowly, learn the steps, and make them precise, then increase the speed. If you are like most people, it won’t take that long.

Here are a few drills to start.

 

Now you know what good footwork looks like, why it’s essential, and how to improve your foot speed. What are your favorite exercises to get fast feet? Post in the comments below.

 

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