In this part, we examine the second movement: the lateral forward step. In this movement, you move parallel to the baseline by turning in the direction of the ball and taking small steps to recover to the ready position, which is determined by where your opponent is. In the video below, the player stops moving to the right and then turns both feet at once by lifting her weight upward and shifting her feet below her. The video below is a continuation of the Part I footwork video and illustrates this movement as well as other movements to be discussed later.

Click image to see video

Click for small video

The player's steps are not rushed and provide only a repositioning, which is followed by a transition back into the lateral sidestep of Part I, where the player prepares for her opponent to strike the ball. Be aware that the front lateral movement must be completed before the opponent strikes the ball so that you not caught in a biased position when the ball is struck.

The aspect of this movement that is hard to master is the transition between the lateral sidestep and the lateral forward step.

As in the Part I lesson, the key concept here is to move laterally while giving the illusion that you are floating effortlessly above the court, as seen in the photo above taken from the video. Note that the player barely lifts her feet above the court. This video shows further that efficient footwork is in part the art of combining multiple movements into one effort, rather than executing them sequentially.