Let’s talk court position. In a game of singles, usually, the person who holds center court controls the game and usually ends up with the win. Center court gives you more shot choices and results in better shot options than you have when you are scrambling around outside of center court.
What are you trying to accomplish when you serve?
When someone serves, there are 2 main objectives. The first is to serve an ace and secondly, serve something that allows the server to hold center court. At the same time, the serve returner is trying to either hit a shot that is not returnable like a passing shot or a pinch shot or to move the server out of the center court position. This can be done in a number of ways. My “go-to” is a ceiling ball that does not provide the server a shot opportunity off the back wall.
What is Center Court? Where is Center Court?
This seems like a good time to talk about where the center court position is. I think this is pretty standard if you ask most players. In my opinion, the center court is the area about one to two feet behind the receiving line and halfway between the right and left walls. As indicated by the Orange shaped area below:
What should I do after I hit the ball?
One of the most frequent goofs I’ve noticed when watching players that are below the A (or maybe the B) division is they become a statue or spectator immediately after taking a shot. The best practice is not to stop to admire your shot. Once you hit your return shot, immediately move to the center court location. This puts the most pressure on your opponent and allows you to be in the best location on the court. This should be your objective, your strategy. Of course center court is the same area you want to avoid your return shot crossing through or your opponent will be there already, waiting to make their favorite shot.
Where should I stand to be in Center Court?
The second slip-up I see occur is that players will position themselves well in front of the broken receiving line instead of one to two feet behind it. Most do not even realize they are doing this until they have an opportunity to see a video of themselves playing. This will make you more susceptible to a pass straight down the line or a wide-angle pass. These are 2 of the easiest, highest percentage shots you can make.
Wouldn’t it be better to make your opponent attempt a lower percentage shot from 38’ like a pinch or kill shot? Yes, as you get better and start playing better players, they will be more accurate at making these lower percentage shots but they will be substantially better at the easier pass shots too. What you will find though, is holding center court position will put you in a better position to get to the pass shots and make a better return on a pinch or kill shot that was not performed to perfection.