The Ready Position: Small Detail, Big Difference

You do not need a powerful smash or a clever wall shot to start feeling more comfortable on a padel court. Often, the biggest improvement comes from what you do before the ball arrives. A good ready position gives you time to choose your shot, move your feet and meet the ball without rushing. The essentials are simple: racket up, knees bent, weight forward, then reset after every shot. Here is how to turn those instructions into a reliable habit.

Racket up: give yourself options

Hold your racket in front of your body, with the head up and your hands roughly between waist and chest height. Think of it as a central starting point from which you can move towards either a forehand or a backhand. Keep your elbows comfortably away from your ribs rather than pinned against your sides. Your non-playing hand can lightly support the throat of the racket, helping you keep it steady without gripping too tightly with your playing hand.

The right height depends on where you are. At the net, a slightly higher racket position helps you prepare for quick volleys; further back, let it sit a little lower so you can handle balls arriving around knee height. “Racket up” does not mean holding it rigidly in front of your face. Aim for relaxed and available, not tense and fixed. A useful check is whether you can turn towards either side without first making a large adjustment.

Knees bent: stay balanced, not crouched

Set your feet around shoulder-width apart, or slightly wider if that feels stable, and soften your knees. Add a small bend at your hips while keeping your chest comfortably lifted. You should feel ready to move in any direction, not as though you are holding a deep squat. Standing bolt upright makes your first movement slower, while crouching too low can tire your legs and make it harder to move freely.

Keep your knees pointing broadly in the same direction as your toes and avoid locking your legs between shots. To find a comfortable stance, try moving one step left, returning to the middle, then moving one step right. If you have to straighten up before you can move, you are probably too low. If you feel stiff or top-heavy, soften your knees a little more. The aim is a position you can repeat throughout a rally without unnecessary effort.

Weight forward: light feet, not tiptoes

“Weight forward” means feeling light and ready through the balls of your feet, rather than sitting heavily on your heels. It does not mean leaning your whole body towards the net or balancing on your toes. Your heels can still touch the ground, and your weight should remain controlled within your stance. You need to be able to go backwards for a lob just as readily as you move forwards towards a short ball.

Try a simple contrast during your warm-up: stand with your weight on your heels and take a step sideways, then repeat from a balanced stance with gentle pressure through the front of your feet. Notice which feels easier. Keep your upper body quiet rather than pitching forwards. If an opponent lobs you, turn and move towards the ball instead of backpedalling blindly; being balanced makes that change of direction much easier and safer.

Add a split step: time your readiness

The ready position is not a pose you hold while the rally carries on around you. It becomes useful when you combine it with a small split step: a light hop or unweighting of your feet as your opponent prepares to hit. Start that movement just before contact and aim to land around, or just after, the moment they strike. You can then push off once you recognise the ball’s direction.

Keep it small. You are not trying to jump high or land heavily, and you should not still be suspended in the air while the ball speeds towards you. Practise without a ball first: ask a partner to mime a shot, time your small split step to their swing, then move towards the side they indicate. Progress to gentle feeds, focusing on the rhythm of prepare, land, move rather than on hitting a winning shot.

Reset after every shot: prepare for the next ball

After you hit, bring your racket back in front and recover towards a sensible position alongside your partner. Do not pause to admire a good shot or let the racket hang by your leg after a mistake. Recovery does not always mean returning to the exact place you started: your next position depends on the ball you have played and where your partner and opponents are. Move together where possible so you do not leave a large gap between you.

Aim to be balanced and ready as your opponent strikes, rather than still charging towards your preferred spot. If you have not completed your recovery, use a split step where you are, then react. Practise this in a cooperative rally: after every shot, quietly say “reset” and return your racket to its central position. You could try this with a partner at an NPN session, keeping the pace comfortable enough that both of you can build the habit.

Make ready your default

For your next game, choose just one cue: racket in front, soft knees or light feet. Check it before the return of serve and whenever a rally gives you time to settle. Once it feels natural, add the others.

Your ready position will not make every ball easy, but it will give you a more balanced starting point. Prepare, react, reset: small actions that help you feel less rushed and more in control.