Your opponent is about to hit the ball from the far baseline. You are either at the net or on the way to the net. What should you be anticipating?

• Anticipate that the next shot will be a lob. It is much easer moving forward than backwards. If it is a lob, you will be glad that you were not racing in or that you were too close to the net. Most players will give you some sort of clue that they are about to lob. They will be falling back or they might be dropping the racket head or they might be doing both things.


• As soon as you can rule out the lob, start moving forward with small "baby" steps.


• After you start moving forward, then determine whether it will be a forehand or a backhand volley. Once you are moving forward it is easier to accelerate forward. When most players stop, they tend to move sideways. By moving forward you can take away some of your opponent's ability to return the ball low and away from you. The forward motion gives you a better angle at the ball.