Court Ghosting · GetMyCoach

Court Ghosting

Shadow movement to the four corners without a ball — split-step, lunge to the corner, recover to the T. Grooves efficient court movement and repeat-lunge endurance.

How to perform it

Without a ball, move from the T to the four corners and back. Leave space to swing safely; start slowly and picture the ball you would be approaching.
Use a small split-step at the T before pushing towards the next corner. Imagine your opponent's strike, or use a partner's cue, to give the split-step a purpose rather than adding a high jump.
Prepare the racket as you move and turn your body as the imagined shot requires. Use enough approach steps to arrive balanced; there is no fixed step count or one lead leg for every corner.
Brake before the imagined contact and settle into a controlled hitting stance. For a low ball this may be a lunge: keep the loaded knee following the foot and make the shadow swing without falling through it.
Push out of the hitting position, recover towards the T and slow as you arrive so you can move again. Practise both sides with rhythm before increasing the pace.

Common mistakes

Treating ghosting as a race between corners without an imagined ball, swing or balanced contact position.
Using a large jump for the split-step, or landing and pausing before pushing off.
Forcing the same long lunge, lead leg or number of steps into every corner.
Falling through the shadow shot or recovering past the T too fast to change direction again.

Train around it

Skip or adapt this movement if any of these apply — and check with a professional when in doubt.

Acute knee injury
Acute hip injury
Acute ankle injury

Related exercises

More moves that train the same muscles.

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