Next stage of training

I can't remember if I had thought enough about footwork, but I feel the need to refocus on it in order to get my game to the next level. I still hold firm on the racquet techniques I've learned and feel the constant need to hit the ball up, especially when I'm retrieving from a low shot. In order to execute the racquet skills, however the footwork is showing itself to be the weak link.

Firstly, I'm not recovering smoothly. I'm missing the split step and that bounce. I'm consuming valuable time in getting back into position and getting my eyes back on the player and the ball. Secondly, I either overrun the ball or lunge too shallow and short.

To combat these problems, I am thinking I need to change my ghosting and add several more footwork drills into the mix. One, I have to add a random sprint into the drill. Sometimes I'm out of position during a rally and I have to go on a dead run from anywhere on the court. The very prescribed star drill just doesn't prepare me for that. Another change I have to make is in mixing up the pace and cadence of footwork to any quadrant of the court from the T. For example, I can do a leisurely paced split step and a one-two step for a relatively upright shot, or I do a cross over and lunge bringing my trailing foot in for a faster pace stroke. One more addition has to be a speed drill that involves the length of the full diagonal with real time stop through the T. Lastly, I have to practice ghosting lunging to the forehand side for a half volley shot that past my strike plane. This one scenario is really important for me to get right. Low hitters and those who hit really good widths on their cross often force me to lunge back to half volley a low straight drive.