diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 9d68770..b0270b1 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -136,10 +136,13 @@ sudo mv wtp /usr/local/bin/  # or add to PATH
 # Automatically tracks remote branch if not found locally
 wtp add feature/auth
 
-# Create worktree with new branch
+# Create worktree with new branch from HEAD
 # → Creates worktree at ../worktrees/feature/new-feature
 wtp add -b feature/new-feature
 
+# Create worktree from default_branch specified in .wtp.yml
+wtp add -b feature/new-feature
+
 # Create new branch from specific commit
 # → Creates worktree at ../worktrees/hotfix/urgent
 wtp add -b hotfix/urgent abc1234
@@ -194,6 +197,9 @@ version: "1.0"
 defaults:
   # Base directory for worktrees (relative to project root)
   base_dir: "../worktrees"
+  # Optional default branch for new worktrees created with -b
+  # If omitted, git uses the current HEAD
+  default_branch: "main"
 
 hooks:
   post_create:
diff --git a/cmd/wtp/add.go b/cmd/wtp/add.go
index 582dcbe..22b0279 100644
--- a/cmd/wtp/add.go
+++ b/cmd/wtp/add.go
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ func addCommandWithCommandExecutor(
 	}
 
 	// Build git worktree command using the new command builder
-	worktreeCmd := buildWorktreeCommand(cmd, workTreePath, branchName, resolvedTrack)
+	worktreeCmd := buildWorktreeCommand(cmd, workTreePath, branchName, resolvedTrack, cfg)
 
 	// Execute the command
 	result, err := cmdExec.Execute([]command.Command{worktreeCmd})
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ func addCommandWithCommandExecutor(
 
 // buildWorktreeCommand builds a git worktree command using the new command package
 func buildWorktreeCommand(
-	cmd *cli.Command, workTreePath, _, resolvedTrack string,
+	cmd *cli.Command, workTreePath, _, resolvedTrack string, cfg *config.Config,
 ) command.Command {
 	opts := command.GitWorktreeAddOptions{
 		Branch: cmd.String("branch"),
@@ -151,6 +151,8 @@ func buildWorktreeCommand(
 		if opts.Branch != "" && cmd.Args().Len() > 1 {
 			commitish = cmd.Args().Get(1)
 		}
+	} else if opts.Branch != "" && cfg != nil && cfg.Defaults.DefaultBranch != "" {
+		commitish = cfg.Defaults.DefaultBranch
 	}
 
 	return command.GitWorktreeAdd(workTreePath, commitish, opts)
diff --git a/cmd/wtp/add_test.go b/cmd/wtp/add_test.go
index 08db60d..3e3450e 100644
--- a/cmd/wtp/add_test.go
+++ b/cmd/wtp/add_test.go
@@ -328,12 +328,13 @@ func TestResolveWorktreePath(t *testing.T) {
 
 func TestAddCommand_CommandConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 	tests := []struct {
-		name             string
-		flags            map[string]any
-		args             []string
-		expectedCommands []command.Command
-		expectError      bool
-	}{
+			name             string
+			flags            map[string]any
+			args             []string
+			defaultBranch    string
+			expectedCommands []command.Command
+			expectError      bool
+		}{
 		{
 			name: "basic worktree creation",
 			flags: map[string]any{
@@ -358,6 +359,31 @@ func TestAddCommand_CommandConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 			}},
 			expectError: false,
 		},
+		{
+			name: "new branch uses configured default branch",
+			flags: map[string]any{
+				"branch": "new-feature",
+			},
+			args: []string{},
+			defaultBranch: "develop",
+			expectedCommands: []command.Command{{
+				Name: "git",
+				Args: []string{"worktree", "add", "-b", "new-feature", "/test/worktrees/new-feature", "develop"},
+			}},
+			expectError: false,
+		},
+		{
+			name: "new branch without default branch keeps git HEAD",
+			flags: map[string]any{
+				"branch": "new-feature",
+			},
+			args: []string{},
+			expectedCommands: []command.Command{{
+				Name: "git",
+				Args: []string{"worktree", "add", "-b", "new-feature", "/test/worktrees/new-feature"},
+			}},
+			expectError: false,
+		},
 	}
 
 	for _, tt := range tests {
@@ -369,6 +395,7 @@ func TestAddCommand_CommandConstruction(t *testing.T) {
 			cfg := &config.Config{
 				Defaults: config.Defaults{
 					BaseDir: "/test/worktrees",
+					DefaultBranch: tt.defaultBranch,
 				},
 			}
 
diff --git a/internal/config/config.go b/internal/config/config.go
index 6f47715..8858050 100644
--- a/internal/config/config.go
+++ b/internal/config/config.go
@@ -18,7 +18,10 @@ type Config struct {
 
 // Defaults represents default configuration values
 type Defaults struct {
+	// BaseDir is the default directory for new worktrees.
 	BaseDir string `yaml:"base_dir,omitempty"`
+	// DefaultBranch is the optional base branch for new worktrees created with -b.
+	DefaultBranch string `yaml:"default_branch,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // Hooks represents the post-create hooks configuration
diff --git a/internal/config/config_test.go b/internal/config/config_test.go
index edcc287..a01b6f5 100644
--- a/internal/config/config_test.go
+++ b/internal/config/config_test.go
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ func TestLoadConfig_ValidFile(t *testing.T) {
 	configContent := `version: "1.0"
 defaults:
   base_dir: "../my-worktrees"
+  default_branch: "develop"
 hooks:
   post_create:
     - type: copy
@@ -60,6 +61,10 @@ hooks:
 		t.Errorf("Expected base_dir '../my-worktrees', got %s", config.Defaults.BaseDir)
 	}
 
+	if config.Defaults.DefaultBranch != "develop" {
+		t.Errorf("Expected default_branch 'develop', got %s", config.Defaults.DefaultBranch)
+	}
+
 	if len(config.Hooks.PostCreate) != 3 {
 		t.Errorf("Expected 3 hooks, got %d", len(config.Hooks.PostCreate))
 	}
@@ -109,6 +114,7 @@ func TestSaveConfig(t *testing.T) {
 		Version: "1.0",
 		Defaults: Defaults{
 			BaseDir: "../test-worktrees",
+			DefaultBranch: "develop",
 		},
 		Hooks: Hooks{
 			PostCreate: []Hook{
@@ -145,6 +151,10 @@ func TestSaveConfig(t *testing.T) {
 	if loadedConfig.Defaults.BaseDir != config.Defaults.BaseDir {
 		t.Errorf("Expected base_dir %s, got %s", config.Defaults.BaseDir, loadedConfig.Defaults.BaseDir)
 	}
+
+	if loadedConfig.Defaults.DefaultBranch != config.Defaults.DefaultBranch {
+		t.Errorf("Expected default_branch %s, got %s", config.Defaults.DefaultBranch, loadedConfig.Defaults.DefaultBranch)
+	}
 }
 
 func TestConfigValidate(t *testing.T) {