Why Is Reaction Time Important in Tennis?

Tennis is a sport of speed and precision. With the average speed of the ball on the court being 80mph and serves touching 130mph, the player has mere milliseconds between the ball hitting the opponent’s racket and reaching them.

All that calls for an incredibly low reaction time in tennis from the players, if they want to have a solid chance of winning. 

Before we get into the details of why reaction time is important in tennis, let’s see what reaction time actually is. 

What is reaction time?

With reference to tennis, reaction time is the amount of time taken by a tennis player between seeing the ball hit the opponent’s racket and forming a response strategy for it.

Importance of reaction time in tennis

Having a short reaction time and being able to respond to faster in a game of tennis means that a player can have more time to:

  • Target the ball the right way.
  • Better decide the next move they are going to make.
  • Maintaining a better body balance before striking the ball.
  • Deliver an efficient and effective stroke.

Tennis is not the only game in which reaction time matters. Reaction time in table tennis is equally important.

Why is reaction time important in table tennis?

Reaction time in table tennis is important for the same reasons as tennis. 

Table tennis ball travels at 60-70mph and the table is significantly smaller than a tennis court. This adds up to an even smaller window for the player in which they have to detect the ball and strategize their next move.

The players with a better reaction time in table tennis can better plan their moves and come up with a counter strike that can give them an edge over the opponent.

Take it from the experts

Jamal Liggin

Owner of JLT Performance Gym

"Reaction and reaction time are the main pillars of training athletes. BlazePod is the best way to challenge your athletes' reaction, especially at the end of a long session. This is a vital element of being a pro athlete and BlazePod helps my athletes grow with each session."

Kostas Chatzichristos

Head of Performance, CSKA Moscow

"Reaction training was always an integral part of our movement training. I love the variation, training options and ease of use that BlazePod provides during our session. One of our most-used training tool"

John Achterberg

Liverpool FC GK Coach

"Top-tier athletes train not just to build muscle, but also to increase hand-eye coordination and reflex speed. BlazePod can do all three at once."

reaction-img
BlazePod kit

$299

Start your BlazePod journey with this customizable kit. Choose the amount of Pods your need based on your needs and profession.

  • 4 Pods
  • Charging base
  • Pod case
reaction-img
RIW™ pro bundle

$549

Get an RIW™ station going with your existing Pods and PodBases

  • 6 Pods
  • 6 PodBases
  • 6 Wall Mounts
  • Includes 6-month BlazePod Pro membership*

Interested in special offers & customization options for large groups and organizations? Let’s talk!

Conquer every goal, on every field

Train on neural priming and spatial awareness for faster, more accurate responses on the field.

Improve stamina, strength, and agility, with exciting and explosive new exercises.

Attack, guard, communicate, and shoot better on the court.

Attack, defend, and navigate the ring better than ever to win every fight.

Maximize responses for more agile footwork techniques, better serves, and more.

Enhance patient engagement, improve cognitive skills, and accelerate rehabilitation.