# How to use the footwork simulator

> Pick a pro match, set the pace, and shadow every shot on court, on the web or in the GGAB app.

Source: https://getgoodatbadminton.com/docs/footwork-simulator
Updated: 2026-10-11
Answers: How do I use the footwork simulator? / Can I slow down the footwork drill? / What does the red circle mean in the footwork simulator? / Do I need an account for the footwork simulator? / How do I copy a doubles pair in the footwork simulator?

The footwork simulator lets you shadow a real pro match on court. Every beep is your cue to move, at the timing the pro actually played.

## What it's for

Each drill is a tracked pro match: their rallies, their pace, their rests. Nothing is made up or randomised.

There's no score. The only question is whether you're still with them at the end of the rally. Slow it down while you learn, then work back up to full speed.

## On the web

1. Go to [the footwork simulator](https://getgoodatbadminton.com/footwork). You don't need an account or a membership.
2. Set up your drill. The newest singles match is already picked, so you can press Start straight away.
3. Check the **This drill** card. It shows **Total drill time**, **Avg time between shots** and **Avg rally length** with your options, rests included.

If you aren't a member, you may see ads on the page and a short ad before each drill starts. Ads never show during a drill. Signed-in members don't see ads.

## In the app

1. Open the menu and tap **Training → Tools**.
2. Tap **Footwork simulator**.

The app needs a GGAB account with an active membership, like the rest of the app. There are no ads. The app adds one option, **Log to training**, which puts each finished drill into today's training session.

## Set up a drill

Setup works the same way on the web and in the app.

1. Pick a match from **Newest pro matches**. To find another, search by player, event or discipline. On the web, **See more** loads older matches.
2. Under **Copy**, choose whose shots you'll play.
   - In singles, tap a player.
   - In doubles, tap a pair. The cues then say **Player 1** or **Player 2**, each in its own colour.
3. Set the options under the Start button. They're kept for next time on that browser or phone.
4. Press **Start as** followed by the player's name, or **Start as this pair** in doubles.

Can't decide? **Pick for me** chooses a random match and player.

## The options

| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| **Highlight deception** | Turns the screen amber, with the word **Deception**, when your pro plays a deceptive shot. Words only. |
| **Cues** | **Words** names each shot. **Arrows** point to where it sends you. |
| **Show my shots** | Shows your pro's own shots. |
| **Show opponent's shots** | Shows the shots you're reacting to, in grey. One of these two always stays on, and Arrows keep the opponent's on. |
| **Slow down** | Stretches every gap between shots, up to 100% (twice as long). |
| **Skip rallies under** | Leaves out rallies shorter than the number of shots you set, up to 30. |
| **Rest between rallies** | **Match gaps** keeps the real time between rallies. **Custom** sets your own, from 5 seconds to 3 minutes. |
| **Log to training** | App only. Adds each finished drill to today's training session. |

Slowing down or skipping rallies needs a **Custom** rest, so turning either one on switches it for you. The web starts on **Arrows** and the app on **Words**.

> **Getting left behind?**
>
> Slow it down 25% and skip rallies under 6 shots. Then work back up to full speed.

## Words or arrows

**Words** read top to bottom: who hit it, the striking side and direction (such as "Forehand Cross"), then the shot. In doubles the top line says **Player 1** or **Player 2**. Opponent shots show in grey under **Opponent**.

What you see with words depends on which shots are on:

- **Both on:** the opponent's shot appears with the beep, then your pro's shot as they hit it.
- **Only your shots:** the beep comes first (the opponent hitting), and your pro's shot follows. Move on the beep, not the word.
- **Only the opponent's shots:** each grey shot arrives with its beep. Read it and go.

**Arrows** only show where to go. Each arrow points to the spot the opponent's shot sends you, bounces toward it as it lands, and stays up while you play your reply. The arrow and the beep arrive together. In doubles, the line above the arrow says which player takes it.

Arrows read better from across a room. Words teach you what the pro chose.

## The timing ring

The red circle behind the cue is your clock. It works the same with words and arrows.

- It pulses on every beep, the moment you have to set off.
- It then shrinks at a steady speed and is smallest on the next beep.
- The smaller it gets, the less time you have to recover. A long gap starts it bigger than the screen.
- It only shows during a rally.

## Run a drill

1. Put your screen 2 to 3 metres away with the sound on, and stand at your base.
2. Press Start. A 5-second countdown runs and shows who serves first, such as **You serve** or **Opponent serves**.
3. On every beep, get to the spot, play the shot, recover, and be ready for the next beep.
4. Between rallies, **Next rally** counts down the rest and shows who serves next.

The top of the screen shows where you are, such as "Rally 12 of 64". The screen stays on during a drill (on the web, where your browser allows it). In the app, turn your phone sideways for a bigger cue.

## Pause, skip and stop

- **To pause,** tap the screen. Tap again to carry on. On the web, the space bar and the pause button work too, and **Resume** carries on.
- **To move between rallies,** use **Previous rally** and **Skip rally** at the bottom of the screen.
- **To cut a long break,** tap **Skip break**. It shows in rests longer than 2 minutes.
- **To stop,** tap **End** in the top corner in the app. On the web, press the X in the top corner, **End drill** while paused, or Esc. Stopping early takes you back to setup without a summary.

On the web you can also use the keyboard:

| Key | What it does |
|---|---|
| Space or K | Pause or resume |
| Left arrow or P | Previous rally |
| Right arrow or N | Skip the rally, or a long break |
| M | Mute |
| F | Full screen, where your browser supports it |
| Esc | End the drill (outside full screen) |

Switching to another tab pauses the drill. If your browser blocks the sound, tap **Sound blocked: enable**.

## After a drill

When the last rally ends, you see **Match done**, with how many shots you played as the pro and how many were deceptive. There's no score, because the simulator doesn't measure you.

On the web you also see:

- **Rallies**, **Shots** and **Your time**. Your time counts only the time you actually drilled. Pauses and skipped parts don't count.
- **Challenge a friend**. **Copy link** (or **Share challenge**, where your device can share) sends a link that opens the same match, player and options.

In the app, with **Log to training** on, the drill is added to today's training session, or to a new "Footwork session" if you have none today. Tap the line under **Match done** to open it. The logged time leaves out pauses and skipped rests.

Then press **Go again** to replay the same drill, or **Pick another match** to go back to setup.

## Related guides

- [Training](https://getgoodatbadminton.com/docs/training)
- [Pro Comparisons](https://getgoodatbadminton.com/docs/pro-comparisons)
- [Get the App](https://getgoodatbadminton.com/docs/get-the-app)