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Waiting at the net: where is the racket?
Racket up in front of the chest, both hands on it, head of the racket above the wrist.
You are at the net between shots, waiting for the next ball. Where should you hold the racket?
Racket up in front of the chest, both hands on it, head of the racket above the wrist.
Why
The ready position at the net is the racket held up in front of the chest, both hands on it, head of the racket above the wrist and slightly angled toward the backhand side. From there both volleys are a short move forward and the ball hit at your body meets the racket rather than your ribs. Keeping the racket down or pulled back adds distance the racket has to travel, and at the net there is no time for distance. Beginners lose more net points to a low racket than to bad technique.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Between every shot, bring the racket back up in front of you. Say "up" to yourself if it helps.
Intermediate
Hold it slightly to the backhand side: the backhand volley needs more preparation, and the forehand is easy to reach from there.
Advanced
The non-hitting hand on the throat of the racket is not decoration: it sets the racket face for the backhand volley and keeps the shoulders square between shots.
Common questions
You are at the net between shots, waiting for the next ball. Where should you hold the racket?
Up in front of the chest. Racket up in front of the chest, both hands on it, head of the racket above the wrist. The ready position at the net is the racket held up in front of the chest, both hands on it, head of the racket above the wrist and slightly angled toward the backhand side. From there both volleys are a short move forward and the ball hit at your body meets the racket rather than your ribs. Keeping the racket down or pulled back adds distance the racket has to travel, and at the net there is no time for distance. Beginners lose more net points to a low racket than to bad technique.
Why not down by your side, relaxed, to save the arm?
From your side the racket has to travel a long way to a fast volley. It arrives late and the ball is past you.
What should a beginner do here?
Between every shot, bring the racket back up in front of you. Say "up" to yourself if it helps.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The non-hitting hand on the throat of the racket is not decoration: it sets the racket face for the backhand volley and keeps the shoulders square between shots.
Puzzles like this one
They lobbed you deep. Smash it or play the bandeja?
Deep ball, high hands: bandeja. The shot exists to keep you at the net, not to win the point.
beginnerThe ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
beginnerThe ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.