Open vs Closed Stance: When to Use Each
Quick answer
Use an open stance when the ball is fast, wide, or high and you need to set quickly and recover, which is most modern baseline play. Use a neutral or closed stance when you have time on a slower ball and want to step in and drive through it. The ball and the situation choose the stance, not your personal style.
On this page
Stances are decisions, not styles
Players argue about open versus closed like it is a preference. It is not. Good players use both, point to point, based on the ball. The skill is reading which one the situation calls for and getting your feet there in time.
Use an open stance when
- The ball is fast and you do not have time to step in.
- You are pulled wide and need to hit and recover quickly.
- The ball is high, where an open stance lets you use your legs and rotation.
Use a neutral or closed stance when
- You have time on a slower or shorter ball and want to step in for power.
- You are moving forward into the court, like on an approach.
- You want to drive through a lower ball with your body weight going forward.
Either way, the constant is getting set before you swing, which comes back to split-step timing and movement. On the forehand, the open stance plus good rotation is the modern default for rally balls, with the neutral stance saved for balls you step in and attack.
The short version
Open stance for fast, wide, or high balls and quick recovery. Neutral or closed for slower balls you step into. Read the ball and set your feet.
Frequently asked
When should I use an open stance in tennis?
On fast, wide, or high balls when you need to set quickly and recover. The open stance uses your legs and rotation and saves the time you do not have to step in, which is why it dominates modern baseline play.
Is a closed stance bad?
No. A neutral or closed stance is ideal when you have time on a slower or shorter ball and want to step in and drive through it with your weight going forward, such as on an approach.
Which stance should a beginner learn first?
Many coaches start with the neutral stance to teach stepping into the ball, then add the open stance for fast and wide balls. In the end you need both, chosen by the ball you are getting.
Sources and further reading
Written by
Bolor Enkhbayar
Tennis coach and founder of CoachesNote
Bolor coaches serious juniors and adult competitors. She builds every weekly plan, reviews the video and match notes, and decides the next job, in person and remotely through CoachesNote.
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