THE READY POSITION: Tennis’ Most Overlooked Fundamental
THE READY POSITION: Tennis’ Most Overlooked Fundamental
We’ve written about rituals to calm the mind before serving. We’ve explored routines between points. But there’s one habit we’ve never broken down fully—and yet, it might be the single most important fundamental in tennis.
It’s not a stroke. It’s not a tactic. It’s the ready position.
Before You Swing, You Must Learn to Be Ready
Before you learn to hit a forehand or serve a ball…Before you even grip a racket…You should be taught how to get ready.
The ready position is the true starting point of every point. It anchors your body in balance, primes your mind for focus, and sets you up for every movement that follows.
It’s not just a stance—it’s a launchpad. From this position, you transition into the split step, explode into your first step, and execute every shot with control and timing.
Why It’s More Fundamental Than Any Stroke
You can have textbook technique, but if you’re flat-footed or off-balance when the ball comes, you won’t get the payoff.
Here’s why the ready position matters more than any swing:
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It begins every movement. You can’t get to the ball efficiently without it.
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It builds balance. Balanced players hit better shots—period.
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It trains reaction time. It prepares you to move with purpose, not panic.
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It’s your first mental cue. Resetting in your ready stance clears distractions and locks you into the point.
How to Find Your Ready Position
The ready position isn’t one-size-fits-all—but it follows universal principles. Here’s how to find your ideal stance:
Step-by-Step: Build Your Ready Position
| Step | Purpose / Cue |
|---|---|
| Feet shoulder-width apart | Creates a strong, stable base. |
| Weight on the balls of your feet | Feel light and coiled—avoid being flat-footed or stiff. |
| Slight knee and hip bend | Think of a light athletic squat—ready to explode in any direction. |
| Torso upright with a forward lean | Stay tall through the spine, with a slight hinge at the hips. |
| Racquet held comfortably across your body | Position it at waist height, elbows relaxed, ready to react in either direction. |
| Eyes locked on opponent’s body | Focus on their racquet and movement—not just the ball—for early anticipation. |
Ready Position Checklist:
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Can you move in any direction without shifting your weight first?
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Are you balanced—not rocking forward or back?
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Can you hold this stance repeatedly without fatigue?
If yes—you’ve found your ready position!
At Manly, We See This Skipped Too Often
At Manly, we continually watch teaching pros skip this step. Players are sent straight into drills on forehands, backhands, or serves—without being taught how to stand, balance, or prepare.
The consequences show up fast:
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Players get stuck reaching or off-balance.
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Footwork becomes reactive, not proactive.
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They blame poor technique, when the real issue is timing and positioning.
And it all starts with being unready. This isn’t just a minor oversight—it’s a gap in foundational training that slows down development and undermines confidence.
Every lesson should start with teaching the ready position.
Master the Start to Control the Rally
Don’t wait for your coach to emphasize this. Make it your habit.
Before every return, every rally ball, every point—reset your body into readiness. Be balanced. Be alert. Be coiled to move.
If you can own the first second of a point, you’ll start to own more of the match.
Wrap
The ready position is like punctuation in a sentence—it organizes the chaos. Skip it, and everything else becomes harder.
So the next time you step on court, ask yourself: Did I get ready, or did I just react?
The best players don’t just play the game. They start every point already prepared to win it.
