Defending angles: tactical positioning at the net

What this lesson covers

Preventing opponents from playing angles requires controlling where the ball lands at the back of the court. Volleying deep forces the opponent to play vertically, limiting their ability to use the glass. When the ball lands between the service line and the opponent's feet, they struggle to choose a target and are forced to hit the ball back without precision.

Avoid opening the court by playing toward the opponent's inner leg. Targeting the right leg of a backhand player or the left leg of a forehand player reduces the available space for them to roll or slice the ball. When an opponent advances, resist the instinct to back up. Moving closer to the net narrows the angles and leaves only the lob as a viable passing option, which allows time to recover.