Where’s my opponent

If there isn’t enough to be aware of, you need to know where your opponent has moved to since hitting the ball to you.  Then you can determine what shot and which direction you want to hit.

This brings us into another area; that of strategy and tactics.  Classically, strategy is considered your overall game plan.  Tactics are how you will get it done.  An example of strategy may be to play to a come to net often.  The tactic could be to move them wide on the forehand side and then hit an approach to the backhand knowing that it’s their weaker stroke.

I like to think of strategy and tactics a little differently.  Strategy is how you will play against the opponent considering their strengths and weaknesses vs. your strength and weaknesses.  While tactics are how you will play against the court.

Let’s consider tactics from this viewpoint.  There is a concept called the angle of possible returns.  It says that from any given point there is an area that can be hit into.  This is defined by drawing lines from your location to the left and right side of the opponent’s court that a ball can be hit into.  From the center of the baseline, this would be a line approximately to each sideline and service line T.  As you move left or right, this area shifts to open up more of the sideline on one side and less on the other side.  As you move forward in the court, this also opens up more area.

So from a tactical standpoint the best place for you to be is the middle of the angles your opponent can hit into.  This shifts each time you hit the ball to your opponent.  That is why standing in the middle of the court is not necessarily the best location.  If the ball is in the left corner opposite you, you should shift slight to a position on the right side of your court.

If all strokes are of equal strength, then tactics would say observe where you opponent is based on the angle of possible returns and hit it the area of greater space.  You can be very successful playing this kind of tactical game, as long as you are willing to stay steady and not force the point.  This was one of Chris Evert’s very successful approaches for many years.