Footwork help???

Sunny, I can relate completely! The two most troublesom basics I always have to keep myself in check with are footwork and keeping my eye on the ball.

Keeping my eye on the ball is the easiest because it's not something I have to practice so much as keep in mind to do during practice and competition. Footwork, however, is something you have to practice with technique.

I would recommend going online and researching all you can about footwork drills. The time to practice footwork, oddly enough, is NOT always when you're practicing with another person across the net. It's when you're alone on the court or when you're coach is watching you and helping you one-on-one.

The key is to make your footwork second-nature so that you don't have to think about it during the match because so many factors go into correcting poor habits. That also means that you can't just learn good foot movement techniques and be done with it. You must continually practice those basics just as you do your strokes or they'll start to degrade on you.

The best players in the game to watch for footwork are Roger Federer and Justine Henin. Certainly helps that they just won the US Open so some Youtube material should become readily available soon. I can't confirm this, but I remember hearing that when Roger had his old coach, he would be made to watch old Muhammad Ali boxing matches specifically for Ali's footwork. He was legendary!

Boxing, btw, is a wonderful sport to take with regards to improving footwork. Most gyms these days will train you without you ever having to step into a ring. It's one of the best exercise routines you can engage in for a multitude of benefits including cardio, footwork, rhythm and speed.

Good luck and let me know how you progress! I'll be watching for you on the the tour pretty soon!

Keep it between the lines!

Kung Fu's footwork will be vastly superior. Remember, boxing is a sport. Not a fighting style. Kung Fu, although it can be a sport now, was meant to kill people and defend your life. Boxing's footwork seems easier for you because it is just that. Easier. As you limber up and become familiar with the movements, Kung Fu will feel like second nature and you'll begin to think your boxing footwork seems weaker. Boxing's got decent all around footwork, but as you learn Kung Fu more, and step out of the ring, you'll realize that a toe to toe stance isn't the best for all situations when your safety is on the line. Stick with it and if you don't like it, try a different style or Southern Kung Fu. The best footwork will let you change and adapt to the situation, which is where boxing comes up short. You generally have one foot forward, one back, and equal, or forward, weight distribution. You never kick, and you never really change your stance (By change I mean, something other that facing your body forward with feet parallel). If you like boxing, keep with it. Any training is better than none, but if you want good footwork outside of the ring, definitely take supplemental training.

Ice skating with mens skates(so that you are forced to use the balls of your feet to accelerate and stop not the tips) or boxing (being on the balls of your feet and continuously bobbing around) or skipping rope ( balls of the feet again and strengthening the muscles) would be my three suggestions. First if you take long jumping steps to get to the ball this is a learned skill from dance. You need to switch to a short quick on the balls of your feet from boxing or a short choppy hard accelerating hockey style so that you arrive quicker and stay up to adjust to where you are going next. Rusty has a good anwer so hopefully this adds to it. And yes watch youtube and other footwork videos.

when you are in a ready position, do you lift your heels? pretending your heel is stepping on a tennis ball, your knees should be slightly bend, like a cushion. so when you are in a ready position, your center of gravity is slightly lean forward. Don't leave you feet flat on the ground, lift your heels, this will help increase your reaction time.

just do shadow practice.

SKIP ROPE!!!