first stepreaction speedchange of direction
The First Step That Makes Fast Players Late to the Ball
The foot that opens the movement, and the direction it opens, matter more to your available time than top speed.
Start with this check
If the upper body leans first or the opposite foot blocks the route, the first two steps cross awkwardly and delay the start.
Try these steps in order
- After landing the split-step, push the court away with the foot nearest the direction of travel to send your center of mass that way.
- For a longer run, follow a short first step with a crossover step to build speed.
- Use video to check for a pause between the opponent's contact and your first step.
Bottom line
Court speed begins with the first two steps after choosing a direction, not with your maximum running speed.
Reviewed sources
Technical evidence is shown separately from community topic signals.
Technical evidence
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