For years, I’ve taught thousands of players and churned out countless videos preaching one thing: keep your ready position nice and high. It’s been my go-to advice—until recently. I started taking lessons from John, a coach whose YouTube videos I’ve long admired (you should totally subscribe!). Having played pickleball together for three or four years—dating back to his Crystal Lake days and my Brookfield, Wisconsin stint—he knows my game inside and out. When I told him my hands felt too slow, the first thing he zeroed in on was my ready position. Turns out, I’d been doing it wrong all along. Here’s what I learned.

The Myth of the High Ready Position

I used to think a high paddle—chest level or above—was the key to quick hands. It made sense: higher paddle, faster reactions, right? But John flipped that on its head. After watching top pros with lightning-fast hands—like Ben Johns—he pointed out a pattern: their ready positions are lower than what I’d been teaching.

Take Ben Johns as an example. In photos, his paddle hovers around waist height, maybe a touch higher, perfectly aligned with the net strap. It’s not up by his chest or shoulders—it’s relaxed, natural, and effective. So why does this work?

Why Lower Is Faster

John broke it down into two key reasons:

• Relaxation = Speed
  When my paddle’s up high, my arms and shoulders tense up. Tension is the enemy of fast hands—it slows you down. But if I let my arms hang naturally, the paddle settles around hip or net-strap height. That relaxed stance lets me react quicker. Try it: shake out your arms, let the paddle dangle, and notice where it lands. That’s your starting point.
• Most Shots Hit Here
  Hard-hit balls tend to come at your midsection—waist to hips—not your chest. With a lower ready position, your paddle’s already in the strike zone, ready to block or counter. If the ball’s higher and screaming at you, it’s likely going out anyway. Plus, a high paddle leaves you jammed up, popping balls out of bounds that you could’ve let sail. Lowering it boosts your “let-it-go” instincts.

Testing It Out

To put this to the test, John and I hit the court for some fast-hands exchanges. We focused on three things:

• Relaxed Ready Position: Paddle at hip height, tension-free.
• Neutral Paddle: Not tilted toward forehand or backhand—just straight up and down.
• Rapid Fire: Trading shots as fast as we could.

The difference was instant. My hands felt lighter, quicker, and more in control. No more straining to catch up—my paddle was already where it needed to be. We laughed our way through it, but the results were no joke.

High vs. Low: Finding the Sweet Spot

Now, I’ll admit “high ready position” was a bit of an exaggeration on my part. When I teach, I see most amateurs holding their paddles too low—below the ideal zone John described. So maybe overcorrecting to a higher position isn’t the worst idea for beginners—it forces that paddle into a neutral stance, ready for forehand or backhand. But once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to dial it back.

John and I agree: the sweet spot is slightly above waist level—think net-strap height in a relaxed posture. It’s low enough to keep you loose, high enough to stay responsive. For beginners, that initial exaggeration might help, but the goal is to settle into this pro-inspired position.

My Takeaway (and John’s Not Fired Yet!)

This tweak has already leveled up my game, and I’m sticking with John as my coach—he’s not getting fired anytime soon! The ready position isn’t one-size-fits-all—it can vary based on your skill or comfort level—but the fastest hands in pickleball prove lower is better. Next time you’re on the court, drop that paddle a bit, relax those shoulders, and see how it feels. Your hands might just thank you.

Watch on YouTube: John Cincola FIXES My Ready Position