The Bailey Method Explained - Bailey Tennis Footwork€¦ · The Bailey Method Explained The Bailey Method is a unique and dynamic approach to teaching tennis footwork, movement and

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The Bailey Method Explained

A Beginners Guide For Players, Coaches and Parents

By David Bailey www.baileytennisfootwork.com

© 2009 The Bailey Method - www.thebaileymethod.com Page 2

The Bailey Method Explained The Bailey Method is a unique and dynamic approach to teaching tennis footwork, movement and balance. It teaches you how to get ready on the balls of your feet, read an approaching ball, react with your feet and hitting stance, respond with a contact move and recover to correct locations on the court. By using a set language with progressive tennis specific drills and various balance techniques, the Bailey Method develops positive habits, improves fitness, speed, and agility while giving a more responsive and relaxed approach to your tennis game.

Thoughts on the method

As human beings, we will not truly BELIEVE something until we actually discover it for ourselves. Believing is first, understanding is second and applying is third. Yes….you must have something mentally before you have it physically…teaching with words is great but doing by action is even greater. When you feel things you learn more than by pure listening or observation. Saying that, The Bailey method is not meant to be ingested or consumed all at once, it takes time and work to grasp its concepts. Bear in mind it is based on 20 years of careful analysis, experimentation and research. For many years I was teaching tennis footwork up and down stairs, in and out of cones, through ladders, over hurdles, in soft sand etc… it has been a long journey of self discovery, trial and error, and break throughs. The defining moment, however, was the day that I realised that “It MAKES SENSE” to do footwork training on court hitting tennis balls using sets of cue words that tells the player what to do. And, it is these CUE WORDS that describe exactly what movements and footwork steps and stances I want the player to make or compose on the court. Why don’t we have a common language that is universal? OR, relevant words that make communication and discussion easier?


In the end my ideal is to create a conscious awareness of a systematic, effective and progressive method of teaching tennis footwork with a specific easily understood language on and off the tennis court. The Bailey Method needs to be much more than a series of drills -

It is an individual based approach that applies to all ages and all abilities

It is a guide that is giving direction and knowledge on how, when and why to move your feet and position yourself on the court.

It is about playing smarter

It is about becoming a better athlete

It is about having fun

It is about getting fitter

It is about becoming a student of the game.

Strengths of the Bailey Method

Probably the two greatest strengths of the Bailey method is 1.) It makes sense 2.) It gets results quickly In teaching The Bailey Method there are NO SHORTCUTS. Cutting corners only leads to lack of understanding and never mastery of the skills required to play and perform at a sub conscious and effortless level. I am also a realist and I truly understand that not everybody is going to be your disciple…….you can’t connect with everybody. Of course some will be closed in their thinking and really believe in THEIR WAY, and I am really comfortable with that. In a nutshell, I am a teacher…and I love to share my passion. The method is very structured (I think that all learners need structure). Yet, I also believe that my method is flexible and student orientated in the sense that I give them a toolbox or menu of footwork, patterns, moves and stances that THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE to use. Teaching is all about instilling confidence and freedom of choice and expression.


Teaching should never be suppressing or stifling. I have always said that “Understanding then application is the key that unlocks your teaching potential” Players and coaches must be students of the game! I’m sure all coaches think they are doing the right thing. They read all the books and watch what everyone else is doing then copy what the winners do. And there lies the problem. While you copy everybody else you will always be left behind. The way to predict the future is to create it The Bailey Method is a whole new way to train and prepare to play. I am a big believer in shadow tennis …which was big in the 50’s and 60’s and today combined with the latest frame by frame technology, it’s back! Yet, I do believe this….Tennis is a simple game and we shouldn’t over complicate it! We should let talent flourish, focus on the athlete, encourage fundamentals like balance, body alignment, strong foundations, understanding contact points and early, compact racket preparation. We MUST develop the tennis athlete as much as we develop the tennis player. And, this is where the Bailey Method comes in, it is brings the tennis athlete BACK ONTO THE COURT. Unique Aspects of the Bailey Method

So what are the unique aspects of the Bailey Method that make it work? May I say that if you are reading this paper then I hope you are one of the converted…..because this paper has not been written to convince but is more a roadmap to grasp my way of thinking and to set you off on your own tangent of thinking…..to be your own independent thinker!

The Bailey Method works because of its simplicity. There are a few simple rules of progressions that are not negotiable. The method cannot be watered down or short cuts taken. It’s like pulling a battery out of a torch. The power is lost! See progressive teaching page 11


There is a set language and of all things this is the most essential and absolutely non negotiable. How can you teach Japanese if you can’t speak the language? A real strength of The Bailey Method lies in its measurability. By having defined parameters it means that data can be collected statistically by recording and recognizing contact moves either live or through video recording. In truth at an academic level there is a lot of scope in master and PhD degrees researching the Bailey Method. There is HUGE Potential for using the contact moves to analysis and assess footwork through video recording. Especially initial assessments where you say nothing except very simple instruction….let the student do what they do naturally and then POLISH their footwork. The proof is always in the pudding when you see the before and after on video and feedback is immediate. The other non negotiable is to respect the FUNDAMENTAL athletic skills of tennis i.e. the ability to lunge, pivot, shift, transfer weight, hop and spin the hips. It is these skills that belong to the game, give it its origins and separates it from other sports. Every sport has its own set of rules that set it apart…and it is the respect of these rules that transcends the sport. Society is made up of rules and without them society would fall into chaos and anarchy…it becomes like a ship without a rudder. So….in saying that after years of researching, observing, teaching, practicing, experimenting, rejecting and absorbing I have made a couple of confident and important statements.

1. There are 15 strong and PURELY DEFINABLE contact move that exist in tennis.

2. Each has its own unique character with its easily recognizable hitting stance, out and recovery steps, balance move, approaching ball

3. There are 6 athletic skills 4. An array of out and recovery steps, braking and sliding steps 5. 8 balance moves 6. 6 hitting stances 7. 4 footwork zones 8. 7 approaching balls


And, that is just the groundstroke! On top of this we must mention volleys, approach shots, returns, getting ready after serving, positioning on the court and running for lobs, drop shots and speciality shots. WOW!! There is a lot to learn!!!

The other really important point is that there will sometimes be a MERGING of contact moves…the 15 that I talk about do become blended at times i.e. a half power move combined with a mogul …or transfer merged with a reverse spin or mogul mixed with a low spin….a bit of a hop and a step down or 1 foot pivot with a back foot hop….With the naked eye it is hard to give these blended shots an exact label….but that is ok …in the end you want to trust the training and let the moves unfold naturally or without conscious thought… the understanding that the Bailey Method is about education, about creating a bias eye towards footwork and make you a better student of footwork than you where before.

New Innovations for the Bailey Method Video Recording

An exciting great innovation to The Bailey Method is the introduction of video recording of 1st initial lessons whereas new clients are assessed without being given any teaching points. There are instructional tips given so as to get consistency across the board. The important point is to get an understanding of what happens naturally and also to compare and contrast their footwork a few months later once the client has been taught The Bailey Method. All initial assessments are given an in depth written report which complements the video recording. Sharpshooter Assessment Because there is a defined amount and documented moves, steps and stances this also enables a scoring system that can be applied to The Bailey Method. I call this the “Sharp shooter” assessment.


In the sharp shooter assessment areas of the court are divided up. Each contact move with its’ relevant out and recovery steps are assessed and scores recorded. It is very popular in a both a small group and /or individual environment. You can divide the court up into various sections with different scoring points and even have targets set up where prizes can be given! The sharpshooter is more of an assessment AFTER the contact moves have been trained and well understood but is also a great way of discovering and recording where strengths and weaknesses lie. It has a great competitive aspect to it. And, just released in September 2008, there is also a “Sharp Shooter Serve Assessment”. This is divided into beginner, intermediate and advanced assessments. It involves 60 serves (first and second) to 4 or 6 designated target areas and involves a tally and comment section. The main focus is obtaining feedback, creating good routines and getting a recovery and split stepping footwork into the muscle memory.

Licensing coaches

As you read this essay there are currently 2 master coaches and 17 level 1coaches teaching The Bailey Method. Level 1 is where the coaches learn The Bailey Basics (12 contact moves) and must master (after watching a DVD and filling in blank workbooks) the shadow tennis, feeding drills, and call out the cue words accurately. After teaching the Bailey Basics for a minimum of 120 hours the coach can then move onto Level 2 where coaches expand there knowledge to 15 contact moves and also are taught returns, approach shots, volleys, smashes, running for drop shots and teach court positioning. They will also be qualified to make initial video recorded assessments and run sharp shooter sessions. Finally there is a master coach license where you run seminars, train other coaches ands learn how to implement The Bailey Method as a fitness trainer running footwork and fitness sessions …. For more in-depth teaching on this see Tennis Blast DVD and manual.


Teaching the Bailey Method The What, When, Why and How?

This chapter will deal with a basic outline of how to progressively teach tennis footwork using The Bailey Method. The main focus will be on:

1. What is the teaching philosophy of the Bailey Method?

2. When should The Bailey Method be applied?

3. Why is the Bailey method essential for tennis players, coaches, parents and tennis fans?

4. How is the method taught progressively from a beginner to advanced, and age 6 – 60?

WHAT? Teaching Philosophy of the Bailey Method

The teaching philosophy is simple. Anyone can learn it, anyone can teach it and everyone will improve the footwork just by becoming more AWARE of tennis movement fundamentals. With The Bailey Method there is a series of progressions that are adhered to and the next progression is not attempted till the previous progression is learnt, mastered and understood. There are 15 simple progressions. Note: (You don’t have to always use all the progressions as these will some times depend on class numbers, equipment available, age, skill and experience and remember all progressions are GUIDELINES ONLY). What is the really exciting thing about The Bailey Method is just that….IT IS A METHOD.… a way of learning, teaching and understanding tennis footwork, movement and balance, where eventually you end up hitting tennis balls on a tennis court. There is a new language and a new ‘look’ that must be learnt and understood. A ‘Completing of the Circle’ with every drill. The completing of the circle takes in the important movements skills called the 5 R, s. The 5 R’s relate to getting ready, reading, reacting, responding and recovering. The complete program is base around 15


contact moves. These develop the athletic skills of pivoting, shifting and spinning the hips, lunging, transferring the weight and multi directional hopping. These athletic skills are hence combined with hitting stances, footwork steps, footwork zones and balance moves.

In the end The Bailey Method is all about developing the tennis athlete and for players, coaches, parents and tennis fans alike to develop an appreciation for the athleticism required to play this incredible game.

WHEN? Application of the Bailey Method The Bailey Method can be applied to any age (6-60) and will benefit any player at any level from the beginner to the advanced professional player. This is because the language doesn’t change, the method doesn’t change and teaching approach doesn’t change. It is understandable that some players will pick it up quicker and master the steps, stances and athletic movements faster than others, but the element of learning and having fun is never lost because it will challenge and inspire players of all levels. Every one HAS to move on a tennis court and as Nick Bollettieri says ‘If you can’t reach the ball you can’t hit it’. The Bailey method will help coaches develop a bias eye towards footwork, learn how to implement footwork into their on and off court lesson and run private footwork lessons, squads (2 – 6 clients) and Tennis Blast classes (8+ clients). One of the great joys is developing a bias eye for coaches, parents and students alike….so when they watch the players on TV they can call the call and see and name the moves as they appear on the screen or when watch tennis live. Being a great student of the game brings a lot of pleasure to people and having a greater understanding of how and why you move is essential. And, saying that every player is going to be different….just like listening to music everyone has different likes and dislikes….learning The Bailey Method is like going to a restaurant and selecting from a menu…..choose the moves that you like and work for you…..but how do you know what is your favourite dish unless you have tried them all????

WHY? Why is the Bailey Method essential for tennis?

The Bailey Method is essential because it brings and new language to the game. It involves teaching and learning, introducing a


consistent communication using tennis related words and progressive teaching techniques. It also teaches simple progressions that can be used on and off the court that give structure to lessons. All tennis players, tennis coaches and tennis parents want and need drills and advice on how to move better on the tennis court. The Bailey Method will present information that helps all players, coaches and parents understand and learn; What are contact moves? What are balance moves? What footwork steps relate to different approaching ball? Once these basic concepts are understood, and players have learnt the look and experienced the look through shadow tennis and other techniques then you apply the Bailey Method. Eventually all the moves will be taught if the student is talented enough and has and open mind that is willing to learn and experiment. HOW? Teaching the method progressively

Every day I learn a better way to teach The Bailey Method and communicate my beliefs to my students. But, obviously over the years I have found ways of teaching progressively that make sense and I believe gets really good results no matter the skill level of the student. It is really important for the student to understand that they are about to have a footwork lesson and that the focus is more on the feet than the grip or swing. Thus, they must be attuned to this mindset when having a footwork lesson. The lessons is all about split steps, recovery steps, contact moves, balance moves, reading approaching balls and most importantly learning the language. It is not about hitting lots of balls initially....though once all the moves are learnt there will be very little shadow tennis. The important point is follow the progressions outline below carefully and don’t cut corners or try and introduce too much information at once. This is not to say that some students will pick up things very quickly and others won’t! But, if you think that if a kid is not getting it is your fault (because you have progressed too quickly) then I think you are on your way to being a great footwork teacher.


Progressions for Teaching. The following are guidelines only

The best way to learn the method is to first “Learn the Look” from the DVD. This introduces the language and the concept and is best to let the student view the moves a week before or click on the menu on the moves you are going to teach. The best contact move to start with is the step down as it incorporates a lot of different “out steps” like the step out, rhythm, cha cha cha, crossover and run around C and runaround U footwork patterns. First ….Footwork Patterns Like mentioned above the first thing I do is work on fundamental locomotion. This includes teaching basic concepts of getting ready, out steps and hitting stances i.e. (below is in order of teaching). Teach these first before starting on the step down:

1. Ready steps 2. Bounce steps 3. Combination of the above 4. Athletic base (feet together, turn both 1t 90 degrees, then a

further 45 degrees)….then explain relax into base, get on balls of feet, stick backside out)

5. Mechanics of split step with verbal and visual and timing cues (ball hits ground)

6. Introduce footwork zones…place cones on court then progress through-

Step outs +neutral stance (white or stepping zone)

Rhythm steps (white or stepping zone)

Cha cha cha steps + semi-open stance (red or rhythmical zone)

Bounce and drop steps (green and yellow zone first steps)

Crossing steps 1 & 2 + open stance (green or crossing zone)

Running steps + running stance (yellow or running zone)

Recovery steps i.e. brake, bounce (recovery), crossover, side skip and shuffle


Runaround footwork i.e. runaround C, runaround U, backwards runaround steps (only if going to teach Lateral transfer and backwards lateral hop in curriculum)

Second.....Dots on court to follow: Start with the steps down Place dots down on the court....can get these from On court Off court so the steps are comfortable...i.e. practice ready steps on 1 disc, the put 2 down for the split step, then another for the step out, another for the step down, the leg through, the drop step and then the cross back or side skip Third......Take away discs Remove the discs 1-2 at a time till the shadow is mastered without the discs Fourth....Self shadow with, then without, cue words The client then practices shadow by themselves but I call out cue words to remind them what to do…..next, they have a go at shadowing without cue words. Fifth.... Coach shadow and coach mirror I usually then get the player to shadow me! i.e. they stand behind me and swing, step and recover when I do ......and then they mirror me (face one another and shadow)...so I can watch them and give them feedback (this is harder for me as I must swing with my non dominant hand) (if I use my dominant hand it is harder for the client as they shadow in the opposite direction) Note: Some clients might find stage 4 easier than stage 3 as they are not familiar with the language…be flexible! Sixth... Resistance Equipment or an off court challenge I challenge the client to remember the footwork moves and patterns using some piece of equipment or get them to shadow on a different surface or test their footwork in some other way i.e. Then I get them to throw a medicine ball like in the DVD, or resist the client using resistant bands, sidewinders, vipers, through sand, up slight inclines


and declines. Shadow boxing with the allocated steps and Thai chi are also great test of the newly learnt footwork etc....note there is no hitting yet. This stage is optional, but great for wet days or large groups. Note: At this stage there is no hitting of balls and I can really slow everything down and make sure they have a solid understanding and grasp of the out steps, hitting stance, balance and contact moves and recovery steps (it is especially the recovery steps you need to modify as some people just don’t feel comfortable or just can’t master a front cross recovery step). The next progressions all incorporate a ball which obviously is much more tennis specific. Seventh....Drop then thrown ball Progress the footwork with a self drop after setting up the stance –

I. Drop to self - into a fence and then over the net II. Self Throw - throw to self as you split step- into a fence then

over the net III. Thrown ball - from the basket (coach thrown i.e. player splits as

coach releases the ball)

Note: Some drills are harder to self throw…especially the backhand….and will also depend on the ability of the student to self drop and throw. What is good about the self throw and drop is the player can practice this by themselves with a basket of balls. A coach throw always needs a second person. However some drills will only suit coach thrown i.e. open backhand for some players If all is well here and all looks good NOW progress to fed ball and eventually live ball and match play i.e. Eighth...Fed ball Ninth…Point play Tenth…Match play


Eleventh…Tournament play I know this sounds like a long way around things....but I only do these progressions if a player is having problems.....I might show someone the shadow and they can do it straight away Note: I have designed a disk sequence for all 15 contact moves and even return of serve, volleys approach shots etc…..using the discs on the court so placers can place their feet IN THE CORRECT position is A FUNDAMENTAL TEACHING TOOL of The Bailey Method! It has had a profound influence on how I teach footwork! The players can FEEL, SEE AND UNDERSTAND the correctness of foot placement and through repetition get the proper footwork patterns etched in their muscle memory. Great players know where there feet are in space!!! This is essential for all our students to have this same skill and trust in there feet!!! The thing is that very rarely to students shadow badly and then hit well as it is easier to shadow then to hit because there is no ball involved. The other things is a lot of players play the DVD at home and pause the DVD and practice in front of the TV or computer...this is why the menu is good

Periodisation of a Teaching Term

There are many ways you can put the Bailey Method into a coaching

program I believe most terms are run over 10 weeks X 4 so below are

some different ways to structure your term for the 12 main groundstroke

contact moves. I will always spend 1 term teaching just the ground

strokes and only when these are mastered do I teach approach shots,

volleys, smashes, running for drop shots, return footwork and finally

serve footwork. These contact moves are dealt with in my level 2

courses. Below are 4 different ways to structure a 10 week term-


1.) Teach from simplest to most complex

The Easiest Moves To Master Are –

(In order of difficulty…MY OPINION ONLY) 2 foot pivot

1 foot pivot

Runaround C and U step down

Step down

Front foot hop

Closed pivot

Mogul move

Lateral hop

Back foot hop

Transfer move

Low spin

Reverse spin

Power move …though abilities and likes and dislikes can vary considerably.

2.) Teach in terms of offensive, rally and defensive moves (MOST PREFERED)

Offensive moves 1st – Week 1 - Step down and Front foot hop Week 2 - Transfer move and Low spin Week 3 – Combine all 4 offensive moves Rally moves 2nd – Week 4 - 2 foot pivot and 1 foot pivot Week 5 - Closed pivot and Lateral hop Week 6 – Combine all 4 rally moves Defensive moves 3rd – Week 7 – Mogul move and Power move Week 8 - Back foot hop and Reverse spin Week 9 – Combine all defensive moves Week 10 – Put all 12 moves together randomly


3.) Teach in terms of athletic moves(refer to original BM pro pack)

Pivot moves 1st – Week 1 - Step down with step out, rhythm and cha cha cha steps and runaround C and U out steps Week 2 – 2 foot, 1 foot and closed pivot Transfer moves 2nd Week 3 – Forward Transfer forehand and inside out and in Spin moves 3rd Week 4 – low spin and reverse spin Hop moves 4th Week 5 – Front foot hop and Lateral hop and back foot hop Shifting moves 5th Week 6 – Mogul step Lunging moves 6th Week 7 – Power moves Week 8 – Offensive moves Week 9 – Rally moves Week 10 – Defensive moves


4.) Teach in terms of footwork zones

Footwork is a 360-degree skill – Concentric out step footwork zones I read this in an article written by Jose Higueras and I totally agree which his analogy (which I think is brilliant and indeed so accurate) “How many times have you heard the following phrases: “don’t give any ground”; “always move forward for the ball”; “don’t hit off your back foot”? In the United States, “hug the baseline” and “take the ball on the rise” have become self-evident truths; to play well, you must play this way. This is a myth. If you want to proof, look at the pro game. The world’s best players frequently eating from the baseline. The pros don’t do this because of nerves or bad technique, but out of necessity. As Rafael Nadal, who might have the best feet in the world, explained when a reporter asked him why he spent so much time well behind the baseline against Fernando Verdasco in the Australian Open semi finals, “Did you see the speed of the ball or not?” Nadal points out a simple fact about footwork in today’s modern, baseline-oriented game: You can’t fight the ball. If it’s coming slowly, move in and take the offensive. But if it’s coming quickly, you need to adjust. Imagine you’re standing in the middle of a circle, ready to react to the ball from 4 feet behind the baseline. You have four obvious choices – forward, left, right or back – along with all directions in between. In other words, footwork is a 360-degree skill. It requires reading the ball immediately and taking the most efficient path to the ball. This is because it’s essential for the players to learn these skills as early as possible. “ Jose Higueras Through all the contact moves that I teach I have developed a great way to explain 360-degree footwork skill. I call it Concentric out step footwork zones. This means that any ball that comes on your side of the net you have no doubt that you can handle this ball because you have mastered movement in all directions.


Here is a very basic rule of moving to the ball and it is based on moving out through a series of concentric circles of out steps so you can cover the above mentioned 360-degree directional plane of movement to the ball. Week 1 -2 0 steps to the ball – out steps are pivot steps. Contact moves are 2 foot, 1 foot and step down pivots 1 step to the ball – step out with the foot closest to the ball. Contact moves are step downs, 2 foot pivots and 1 foot pivots 2 steps to the ball – rhythm step to the ball with a heel strike action while keeping a straight body axis. Contact moves are step downs, 2 foot pivots and 1 foot pivots and front foot hops (with baseline recovery) Week 3 3 steps to the ball- adjust the feet the feet to the ball with the weight back into semi-open stance, always make sure you keep the angles in your legs and attempt to hit off a stable stance. The last step should be wide to help with stability and weight transfer. Contact moves are front foot hops (attack the net), step downs, low spins, reverse spins and transfers

Week 4 – 5 Cross out to the ball - if challenged to reach the ball start with a drop step or a pivot step if cutting the angle i.e. moguls, lateral hops, back foot hops and closed pivots. Week 6 – Run to the ball – widen the split step and always use a drop step as your first movement of the foot closet to the ball. Contact moves are power moves and running for drop shots.

Week 7 – Offensive moves Week 8 – Rally moves Week 9 – Defensive moves


Week 10 – Random moves Please note: The out steps are suggestions only but at least it gives some guidance and a loose syllabus to work from. See Question and Answer section in website to see photos of contact moves if unfamiliar with the terms

I know that there is a lot to learn so just take it easy and don’t rush things. The Bailey method is all about developing balance, athleticism and fitness but the best tip is experiment and use what works for YOU!

Use what Works for You!!! I know a lot of players/coaches will try the above contact moves and might feel uncomfortable with a contact move or out steps and even recovery steps! In the end you have to use what works for you and what footwork patterns, steps and stances that you trust and like. You have just read whole series of detailed explanation of 12 contact moves. And you see that each contact moves can be clearly and distinctly defined. Each has its own name, hitting stance, athletic skill, balance move and approaching ball. However, the out and recovery steps will depend on the positioning of the ball on the court. Yet, what I am about to say is important and talked about this previously! There can also be a blending of these pure moves! Sometimes the shot you are hitting will require a merging of athletic skills. Some great examples are a blending of a mogul with a power move i.e. there is not a clean shifting of weight laterally or a defining sideways elevated lunging movement. I sometimes call this a power mogul move. Other examples might be a blending of:

1. A low spin with mogul move i.e. a spin mogul 2. A shifting 2 foot pivot with a mogul move i.e. a shifting mogul


3. A half reverse spin and forward transfer i.e. a reverse transfer 4. A backwards lateral hop with a lateral transfer 5. A forward mogul and a front foot hop i.e. a gliding motion forward

through the ball as you approach the net And, here, funny enough to say…there can also be a merging of balance moves and even stances. You know the list could go on and on! It could become very exhausting and confusing! In the end I just like to say there really is no right and wrong…. what is important is the fundamentals of good balance, posture, timing, contact moves, progressive teaching methods and great communication between coach and student.

GLOSSARY To be used as a quick reference & or summary sheet for you students!!

1 Foot Pivot Move: A contact move where the player finds an athletic

semi-open stance, loads weight on the one foot and powerfully pivots/lifts the other leg upwards for balance.

Cha Cha Cha Steps: Small adjustment steps. 3 -5 adjusting steps

moving feet into a semi-open stance.

Front Foot hop Move: A contact move where the player hops off

the front foot in a neutral stance, while hopping forward toward the target.

Mogul Move: A contact move where the player is stretched

extremely out wide and is on the defensive. The player establishes a quick open stance and travels beyond the ball with the outside foot pushing the player back to the center of the court.

Neutral Stance: The traditional stance where the player loads

sideways to the ball and steps in with the front foot. The stance is used on balls with a lower trajectory or that land shorter in the court.


Power Move: Is a contact move where the player is on the run

and out of position and goes for an “all or nothing” shot. The move is one big powerful lunging sideways movement.

Reverse Spin Move: A contact move where the player finds an athletic

semi-open stance while being pushed back and quickly spins their hips (counter clockwise) while kicking out the outside leg as they rotate. The back foot should end up facing the side fence.

Rhythm steps: Heel to toe steps. Two steps into an open or

neutral stance. Toes point in direction of movement towards ball, steps can be forward or sideways.

Semi-Open Stance: The stance where the player loads most of their

weight on the outer leg. The player’s body is semi-open, while trying to maintain a wide base, bent knees, and weight on the balls of the feet. Often used on balls with a higher trajectory or wider placed.

Step Down Move: A contact move where the player steps down

with their front foot in a neutral stance, pivots the hips to bring around the outside foot, and brings the trail leg around for recovery.

Spin Move: A contact move where the player establishes an

athletic semi-open stance, makes contact with ball, and then powerfully rotates/spins their hips with toes finishing toward the target. Often the player comes off the ground, while maintaining a low center of gravity.

Transfer Move: A contact move where the player establishes an

athletic semi-open stance while loading about 65% of their weight on the outside foot. The player then transfers their weight from the outside foot to the front foot as they make contact with the ball. Often the player leg curls the back


leg and then brings the trail leg around for recovery.

2 Foot Pivot Move: A contact move where the player establishes an

athletic open or semi-open stance, makes contact with ball, and then pivots their hips with toes finishing toward the target. Often the player stays very low to the ground keeping the angles in the legs.



Fundamentals - The keys to success

Some basic fundamentals that I always like to emphasize in teaching The Bailey Method are: (relate to picture above)

Keeping your base A relaxed body - not uptight i.e. coming up and being tight (stiff) A calm mind Align with gravity - good posture Level shoulders Getting behind the ball with outside foot Sinking into the legs - keeping positive angles in the legs Unit turn - synchronizing feet, hands and racket together Centering - control of the center of gravity Good use of the non-dominant arm Staying up on the toes and flowing from one ball to another i.e.

keeping momentum Understanding contact point Extended follow through

So, great to share all my ideas with you and I want to finish with one of my favorite quotes -

“Tennis is a dance and the ball is your partner”

Please enjoy your tennis, it is a beautiful sport to play… watch and teach it with passion!!

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The Bailey Method Explained - Bailey Tennis Footwork€¦ · The Bailey Method Explained The Bailey Method is a unique and dynamic approach to teaching tennis footwork, movement and