Plain-English definitions and on-court coaching cues for players, parents, and coaches across all development stages.
How players move to the ball, set up and recover.
How a player moves to the ball, sets up, hits and recovers. In the orange stage it covers acceleration, stopping, stance and recovery steps.
“Good tennis starts with the feet.”
The five parts of every groundstroke: split-step, move to the ball, hit, recover, split-step again. A key orange-stage goal is completing the full cycle on every ball.
“Split, move, hit, recover, split. Every ball.”
A small hop landing on the balls of the feet as the opponent hits. It loads the legs so the player can push off in any direction.
“Hop when they hit.”
The athletic stance between shots: feet about shoulder-width apart, knees bent, weight on the front of the feet, racquet in front, eyes on the ball.
“Ready position: triangle feet, low, racquet up.”
The body's balance point. Keeping it low by bending the knees makes it easier to move and stay balanced.
“Get low. Sit into your legs.”
The area between the feet. Balance is stable when the centre of gravity stays inside it.
“Feet under you, not way out to the side.”
Staying on the balls of the feet, not flat on the heels, so the player can react quickly.
“Light feet. Heels just off the ground.”
An Orange 2 goal: an explosive first step that covers as much ground as possible in the time the incoming ball allows.
“First step is the fastest step.”
An Orange 2 goal: the last step before the hit, which stops the body in balance so the swing can happen from a stable base.
“Arrive, stop, then hit.”
Slowing the body down with small adjustment steps as the player approaches the ball.
“Little steps as you get close.”
The steps a player takes after hitting to get back to a good position for the next ball.
“Hit and get back. Don't watch your shot.”
How the feet are placed at contact. In orange, players learn the neutral stance (for driving through the ball) and the open stance (when there is little time). Orange 2 players should be able to show each one on command.
“Neutral when you have time, open when you don't.”
Front foot steps forward so the feet line up roughly toward the net post. Helps the player swing forward through the ball.
“Step in with the front foot.”
Feet roughly parallel to the baseline, hitting off the outside leg. Used when time is short or the ball is wide.
“No time to step in? Load the outside leg.”
Moving body weight from the back leg to the front (or across) during the swing, to add power without extra arm effort.
“Push from the back leg into the ball.”
The best place to wait for the next ball: the middle of your opponent's possible replies, not always the centre mark.
“Recover to the middle of their angles.”
Crossing the outside leg over to cover a wide ball quickly.
“Wide ball? Cross over and go.”
Side steps without crossing the feet, used for small adjustments and recovery.
“Shuffle back to the middle.”
A stance between neutral and open, allowing both rotation and forward movement. Common on modern forehands.
“Half-open, load and turn.”
Front foot steps across the body. Often used on one-handed backhands and slices.
“Step across on the one-hander.”
Braking, loading and pushing off quickly in a new direction. Tennis players change direction several times per point.
“Stop fast, push fast.”