Baseline Defence (Part-2)
Starting from A, you will notice two straight lines, along which your opponent could send a ball in returning to you and still have that ball land within court. Those two lines make the angle. Therefore, if he returns a ball from A and you are playing baseline, no matter where you are, don't stand there, but get back as quickly as possible to the point A' to anticipate his return. If his return is made from B, your defensive point is B'. If he returns from C, your defensive point is C, and so also D and E. you taking positions at D' and E'.
Thus, you see, as he is farther to your right, you work farther to the left. If he comes too near the net, you, of course, lob over him and force him back in his court, in which event you come up for net play. If he manages to get closer to the net through your having made a weak return you still observe the principles of the angles for baseline defense, as shown in Figure 4, only you will have to play still farther back of the baseline, but getting to the middle of the angle on the same principles as shown in the diagram.
The farther back of the court you are the higher and harder your return has to be in order to get over the net and also to keep your opponent back. A player's first thought when running back for a ball should be to make sure of putting that ball over the net. Get all the depth possible to your return. You keep your opponent back by doing so. The ball should travel about two feet above the net. It is a low and short return that gives your adversary the chance to come up to the net.
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