Q&A for How to Improve Reaction Speed

Tennis movement is all about the first few steps and being as explosive as possible to get to the ball. This requires a good ready position. Rest on the balls of your feet, not your heels, for every ball, and get back into the ready position once your shot is complete. This sets you up to make fast movements and change direction very quickly. You can improve your footwork using ladder drills. If you don't have a ladder, you can create one. Use empty bottles or any household item that you can get your hands on. Work on fast movement of the legs, but remember to keep your head up.

Listening to sounds may help you improve your reaction speed if you perform some kind of movement or activity when you hear a specific sound. For instance, kick or throw a ball up against a wall and catch it every time you hear a certain sound, or snap your fingers when you hear a car horn, or jump in the air or click your heels when you hear a bird chirp. Listening by itself may improve your concentration and focus, but not your reactions.

You can practice ball games, such as tennis. Or, you could get a partner and pass a ball between the two of you, increasing or decreasing speed and experimenting with new angles. If you are currently involved in a sport, ask your coach for any tips as well. Make sure to take care of your body by eating right, working out, and sleeping enough, too.

No, something as basic as reaction time will at least take around 3 weeks to even show small impovement. Its just like gym, you will notice some changes right away in the first week but lasting results and real improvements come with time.

Start off by practicing the starts as much as possible. Get in a pool and go through the starting process, in particular. You can also do other agility exercises, such as running from a starting line. This will teach your child how to channel their energy into a quick start.

Practise picking up fast serves and always go for the ball. Other than that, just practise as much as possible because it's really the only way to build your reflexes and to get proper muscle memory that'll allow you to both realize and react quickly to the ball movements.

Caffeine causes this release of adrenaline through a "fake-out". Here's how it works: Normally, when you are lying down to sleep, your brain generates adenosine, a neurotransmitter which slows down nerve activity in the brain. Caffeine blocks the nerve cells from detecting or being affected by adenosine.