Ready Position

Beginnergroundstrokes

Feet apart, knees soft, weight forward on the balls of your feet.

The athletic base you return to between every shot. Knees bent, weight forward, racket out in front with both hands.

Key points

•Feet shoulder-width apart
•Knees soft and springy
•Racket centred at waist height
•Weight on the balls of your feet

Practice with Coach Elena

Camera setup tips

· Place the camera side-on to you, 2 to 3 metres away.
· Keep your whole body in frame, head to feet.
· Phone on a tripod or a laptop webcam both work.
· Perform the movement, pause, repeat. Your coach speaks every 15 seconds.

Theory & Technique

The ready position is where every point begins and where you should recover after every shot. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, knees slightly bent, and your weight balanced on the balls of your feet — never your heels. Hold the racket out in front of your body with both hands, the non-dominant hand supporting the throat of the racket. Your torso should lean slightly forward from the hips, keeping your centre of gravity low and forward. This loaded, athletic stance lets you explode in any direction the moment you read the ball.

Fun Fact

Roger Federer was famous for performing a small 'split step' — a tiny hop landing on both feet — at the exact moment his opponent's racket made contact. This primed his muscles to react in any direction within milliseconds.

Watch the real thing

Learn from real coaches first. Your live scoring compares you to the reference figure above; these videos are for learning, and stay with their creators on YouTube.