The correct ready position in table tennis: foot stance, knee bend, weight on the balls of your feet and why the fast push comes from the ankle.
## Introduction What does the correct ready position in table tennis look like? Honest answer: feet slightly more than shoulder width, knees slightly bent, weight forward on the balls of your feet, upper body tilted minimally forward and the bat central in front of your body. This isn't decoration — it's the starting position you can push explosively from in any direction. And here's the part that surprises most people: the fast start comes not from sinking deep into your knees, but from a lightning-quick push off the ankle. Elite players actually bend their knees less in the backswing than mid-level players (around 41° versus 59°), yet produce more than double the angular velocity at the ankle. Translated for you: stand lightly springy, don't sink into a squat. In this guide we build your ready position from the feet up.
## What you need - A bat and a table - Some space beside the table for footwork - A phone tripod or a wall for filming (optional but helpful) - Comfortable shoes with good lateral hold
## Step by step ### 1. The stance: feet and weight Stand with your feet slightly more than shoulder width, toes turned slightly out. Bend your knees a little and shift your weight forward onto the balls of your feet — heels only lightly touching. Now you're like a loaded spring: ready to fire off in any direction. Never stand with straight legs and weight on your heels, or you'll start every move half a second late.
### 2. Upper body and bat position Tilt your upper body slightly forward so your shoulders are roughly over your knees. Hold the bat central in front of your body, about belt height, tip pointing slightly forward. From this neutral position you reach forehand and backhand by the shortest path. Your free arm stays loose as a counterweight — it's not decoration, it helps your balance in rotation. Keep a relaxed grip: clamping the bat kills your touch and slows your reaction. Imagine holding a bird — firm enough that it can't fly off, loose enough that you don't crush it.
### 3. The push comes from the ankle This is the key many beginners miss. Instead of sinking deep into your knees and pushing up, you work from the ankle: small, fast pushes off the balls of your feet. This is exactly where levels separate — the angular velocity of ankle extension is more than double in elites compared with mid-level players. Deliberately practise small, springy sidesteps rather than shoving yourself with big effort.
### 4. Footwork: never cross your feet When you move sideways, do it with chassé steps (sidesteps): the outer leg leads, the inner leg follows, the feet never cross. Cross your feet and you lose balance and the ability to push off again immediately. After every shot you return to the central ready position — that return is just as important as the shot itself.
### 5. Orient to the table Your ready position is slightly angled to the table because the forehand is the dominant attacking side — in analyses the forehand makes up nearly 58 percent of all strokes. So don't stand rigidly square; stand so you can deploy your stronger side quickly without giving up the backhand space.
## Common mistakes - Weight on the heels: makes you slow. Fix: weight forward on the balls of your feet. - Squatting too deep: costs power and reaction. Fix: stay springy, work from the ankle. - Crossing the feet: destroys balance. Fix: chassé steps, legs follow. - Standing still after a shot: Fix: return immediately to the central ready position.
## Safety notes The ready position also protects you from injury. A slightly bent knee with weight on the ball of the foot absorbs lateral loads better than a locked-out leg — knee problems in table tennis typically arise on landings and wide lunges. Warm up ankles and hips before fast sidesteps. If you feel lateral hold slipping away, check your shoe sole before you question your technique.
## Pro tip Do the "quiet ball" test: have balls fed to your middle and force yourself to spring back to the exact centre position with a small hop after every shot. If you can hear the spring — a soft, rhythmic tap of the balls of your feet — you're working correctly from the ankle. If it's silent, you're standing too passively.
## FAQ ### Why shouldn't I bend deep into my knees? Because speed in table tennis comes from the fast ankle push, not the knee bend. Elite players actually bend their knees less in the backswing than mid-level players (~41° vs. 59°), but have more than double the ankle angular velocity. Staying springy beats sinking deep.
### Forehand or backhand — which do I learn first? Both belong early, but the forehand is the attacking core and dominates play: in match analyses nearly 58 percent of all strokes are forehands. Build a stable ready position from which you reach both sides, and focus your attack on the forehand.
### Why can't I cross my feet? Because crossed feet destroy your balance and your ability to push off again immediately. In fast rallies you're then not ready for the next ball. Move with chassé steps: outer leg leads, inner leg follows, feet never cross.
### How wide should I stand? Slightly more than shoulder width. That gives you a low, stable base for lateral movement without becoming immobile. Too narrow and you topple; too wide and you can no longer push off quickly. Knees slightly bent, weight on the balls of your feet — that's start-ready.
Tischtennis: First Steps and Exercises