The Key to Better Pickleball: The Ready Position

Pickleball is a fast-paced sport that requires quick reflexes, strategic thinking, and a high level of agility. One of the key aspects that separates good players from great players is their ability to maintain the ready position between shots. This fundamental skill is often overlooked by beginners but is crucial for improving overall game performance. In this blog, we’ll explore why keeping your pickleball paddle in the ready position between shots is essential and how it can enhance your gameplay.

The Ready Position: An Overview

The ready position in pickleball is a stance where the player holds the paddle in front of their body, typically at chest or waist height, with knees slightly bent and weight balanced on the balls of the feet. This position allows players to react quickly to incoming shots and transition smoothly between offensive and defensive plays.

Benefits of the Ready Position

1. Quick Reaction Time Maintaining the ready position enables players to react swiftly to their opponent’s shots. When the paddle is up and centered, players can quickly move it to intercept volleys, dinks, and drives. This reduces the time it takes to respond, allowing for more effective returns and better overall control of the game.
2. Improved Court Coverage A proper ready position allows for better court coverage. Players can move more efficiently and cover more ground when they are balanced and poised to react. This is especially important during fast exchanges at the net, where split-second movements can make the difference between winning and losing a point.
3. Versatility in Shot Selection Being in the ready position gives players the versatility to execute a variety of shots. Whether it’s a forehand, backhand, volley, or dink, having the paddle in a neutral, ready state allows for seamless transitions between different strokes. This adaptability is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge and keeping opponents guessing.
4. Enhanced Focus and Anticipation Staying in the ready position helps players maintain focus and anticipate their opponent’s next move. It keeps players engaged and alert, reducing the likelihood of being caught off guard by unexpected shots. This heightened awareness can lead to better strategic decisions and more successful plays.
5. Consistency and Stability Consistency is key in pickleball, and the ready position promotes a stable and consistent playing style. By maintaining this stance between shots, players ensure that they are always prepared to execute their strokes with precision and control. This stability reduces errors and enhances overall performance.

Tips for Maintaining the Ready Position

1. Keep the Paddle Up One of the most common pieces of advice for pickleball players is to keep the paddle up. This means holding the paddle at chest or waist height, ready to react to both high and low shots. Keeping the paddle up reduces the time needed to prepare for the next shot and allows for quicker, more effective responses.
2. Stay on the Balls of Your Feet Balance and mobility are crucial in pickleball. By staying on the balls of your feet, you can move more quickly and efficiently around the court. This posture also helps maintain stability and reduces the risk of losing balance during fast-paced exchanges.
3. Maintain a Neutral Paddle Position A neutral paddle position involves holding the paddle in the center of your body, angled slightly downward. This position allows for quick adjustments to both forehand and backhand shots, giving you greater versatility and control over your returns.
4. Practice Footwork Drills Incorporate footwork drills into your practice routine to improve your movement and agility on the court. Drills that focus on lateral movements, quick steps, and directional changes can help reinforce the habit of maintaining the ready position and enhance your overall court coverage.
5. Focus on Hand-Eye Coordination Work on exercises that improve your hand-eye coordination. This can include ball toss drills, reaction drills, and other activities that require quick responses and precise movements. Enhanced hand-eye coordination complements the ready position by allowing you to react more effectively to fast-moving shots.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Dropping the Paddle A common mistake is dropping the paddle below waist height between shots. This increases the time it takes to bring the paddle back up to a ready position, reducing your reaction time and effectiveness. Always keep the paddle up and in front of your body.
2. Flat-Footed Stance Avoid standing flat-footed on the court. This limits your mobility and makes it harder to react quickly to your opponent’s shots. Stay on the balls of your feet to maintain balance and agility.
3. Overcommitting to One Side Another mistake is overcommitting to one side of the court, leaving the other side vulnerable. Maintain a centered position and be ready to move in any direction. This ensures better coverage and reduces the likelihood of being caught out of position.

The ready position is a fundamental aspect of pickleball that plays a significant role in a player’s success on the court. By maintaining this stance between shots, players can react more quickly, cover the court more effectively, and execute a wider variety of shots with greater precision. It also helps in staying focused and anticipating the opponent’s moves, leading to better strategic decisions.

Incorporating the ready position into your gameplay requires practice and discipline, but the benefits are well worth the effort. Whether you are a beginner looking to improve your skills or an experienced player aiming to refine your technique, mastering the ready position will elevate your pickleball game to new heights.

Remember, consistency and control are key in pickleball, and the ready position is the foundation upon which these qualities are built. Stay balanced, keep the paddle up, and always be prepared for the next shot. By doing so, you’ll find yourself winning more points and enjoying the game even more.

Picture Credit: JOOLA