| Win With Consistency | |
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You might be thinking, "But, what if she attacks the net? It won't matter how deep my ball would have been if she picks it off in the air." This brings in the next most important skill you'll need: direction. If you're competing at the intermediate level, you'll only need a modest ability to aim your shots in order to foil your opponent's attempts at attacking the net. Proficiency at the net is rare among intermediates.
Of course, the ability to control direction is useful well beyond just passing an opponent who's at the net. You want to be able to run your opponent, pick on his weaker side, and wrong-foot him, but as a consistency player, placement isn't just an offensive tool. It's also essential defense.
The best example of defensive placement is hitting crosscourt when you're in trouble. You'll be hitting over the middle of the net, which is 36" high, instead of the 42" at the sidelines. The court is longer, too: 85.5 feet diagonally as opposed to 78 feet down the line. In baseline rallies, you want to be somewhat diagonally opposite your opponent's position. Making him hit from diagonally opposite you puts you close to the best position to be ready for the next shot.
If you want to win with consistency, be ready to run. You're basically trying to wear opponents down, which won't work too well if you wear out first.
Also practice your lob. It will save you over and over again, both when your opponent attacks at net and when you need time to recover your position after retrieving a particularly wide ball.
Lastly, develop a tenacious mindset. Your basic strategy is to let your opponent make too many mistakes. You're the bulldog, or the tortoise racing the hare, or whatever other critter makes you feel like you're simply unshakeable. Let your opponent glory in his spectacular shot -- then drive himself nuts missing the next five! Enjoy it all with a sense of calm, determined confidence.
Additional Resources:
Is Your Court Positioning Worth a Million?
Pick on Someone Bigger Than You
