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Lesson #1 (Everthing Starts Here) |
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This tip gets a page all to itself. Why? Because it is a really BIG deal.
It's called the "ready position." Developing a go-to, default ready position means you have a consistent, balanced foundation for your shots. Less time reacting and more time for executing your shot.
Below are a few tips on creating your own default "ready position." Tinker with them to find what works best for you. But know this, your best game will be difficult to achieve without it.
- Feet slightly wider than shoulders in closed stance.
- Weight slightly forward on balls of feet.
- Relax the knees.
- Paddle centered and extended slightly at comfortable height.
- Feet/hips/shoulders square to the ball.
- Limit paddle take-away and follow-through to hip/shoulder width. Too much take-away uses time you don't have and often leaves you with paddle out of position.
- Rotate hips and shoulders against feet. (Feel the tension in your ankles/calves.)
- Use non-paddle hand as counterbalance. (This is where your power comes from.)
- Transfer weight forward toward target.
- Contact with ball is forward of hips/knees.
- Shuffle left/right along the Non-Volley Line like a hockey goalie.
- Return to the Ready Position
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Adding strip of colorful tape on end of paddle can helps track incoming ball and protect paddle from scuffing.
It's also a good place to add your name with a marker.
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