In this part, we examine the third movement: the reverse step. You use this movement when a ball has been hit crosscourt to your backhand and you have reached the place from which you will strike the ball. You must now recover and efficiently reverse your direction back toward the center of the court.

Note that the player in the video moves toward the ball with the forward step and then carefully plants her left foot down to break her momentum. She does the reverse step and breaks her motion in a single movement. As in previous videos, she uses minimal effort to glide over the court.

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The reverse step requires greater strength and timing than the two previously discussed steps.

As in the Part I and II lessons, a key concept here is to move laterally while giving the illusion that you are floating effortlessly above the court. This video also illustrates the other key concept that efficient footwork is in part the art of combining multiple movements into one effort, rather than executing them sequentially.