P1 → P2 → P3: Build, attack, finish

Decision 1 · P1 · NEUTRAL

Decision: The reply is deep. How do you build?

You are behind the baseline. The defender is deep too.

• Heavy crosscourt — GOOD READ: A high, deep diagonal keeps the rally neutral while moving the defender. A high, deep diagonal keeps the rally neutral while moving the defender. From here you do not yet have a finishing ball.
• Deep through middle — FAIR OPTION: The largest deep target limits sharp replies and gives you time to recover. The largest deep target limits sharp replies and gives you time to recover. Less immediate width, more consistency.
• Change down the line — TOUGH CHOICE: It can work with clean balance, but this early redirection travels a shorter path near the higher part of the net. It can work with clean balance, but this early redirection travels a shorter path near the higher part of the net.

Decision 2 · P2 · ATTACK (after Heavy crosscourt)

Decision: A short ball arrives. Where do you attack?

The higher diagonal drew a shorter reply. You are inside the baseline; the defender remains deep.

• Approach into open space — GOOD READ: Depth and placement move the opponent and let you continue toward the net. Depth and placement move the opponent and let you continue toward the net. Expect a passing attempt, not an automatic winner.
• Drop shot — FAIR OPTION: The opponent starts deep, making touch plausible. The opponent starts deep, making touch plausible. It is less forgiving if the bounce sits up or the defender reads it early.
• Flat toward right line — TOUGH CHOICE: This flat drive aims near the right sideline. This flat drive aims near the right sideline. Its low path and narrow target make execution demanding.

Decision 2 · P2 · ATTACK (after Deep through middle)

Decision: A short ball arrives. Where do you attack?

Your deep middle came back shorter. The defender is deep; you can move forward.

• Approach into open space — GOOD READ: Depth and placement move the opponent and let you continue toward the net. Depth and placement move the opponent and let you continue toward the net. Expect a passing attempt, not an automatic winner.
• Drop shot — FAIR OPTION: The opponent starts deep, making touch plausible. The opponent starts deep, making touch plausible. It is less forgiving if the bounce sits up or the defender reads it early.
• Flat toward right line — TOUGH CHOICE: This flat drive aims near the right sideline. This flat drive aims near the right sideline. Its low path and narrow target make execution demanding.

Decision 2 · P2 · ATTACK (after Change down the line)

Decision: A short ball arrives. Where do you attack?

The defender redirected your line change, then left a short ball. You reached it inside the baseline.

• Approach into open space — GOOD READ: Depth and placement move the opponent and let you continue toward the net. Depth and placement move the opponent and let you continue toward the net. Expect a passing attempt, not an automatic winner.
• Drop shot — FAIR OPTION: The opponent starts deep, making touch plausible. The opponent starts deep, making touch plausible. It is less forgiving if the bounce sits up or the defender reads it early.
• Flat toward right line — TOUGH CHOICE: This flat drive aims near the right sideline. This flat drive aims near the right sideline. Its low path and narrow target make execution demanding.

Decision 3 · P3 · USE THE OPENING (after Approach into open space)

Decision: The defender floats your approach back. Where is the space?

You moved inside the baseline. The defender stands toward the left.

• Place to open court — GOOD READ: A controlled placement into the exposed half forces a long recovery run. A controlled placement into the exposed half forces a long recovery run. The target stays inside the singles sideline.
• Toward defender’s side — FAIR OPTION: The defender already occupies this half. The defender already occupies this half. Another target may make them move farther.
• Flatten near sideline — TOUGH CHOICE: A flat ball close to the line removes your margin. A flat ball close to the line removes your margin. A clean winner is possible, but it is not required by this opening.

Decision 3 · P3 · USE THE OPENING (after Drop shot)

Decision: They chased your drop. Which side is now open?

The defender moved toward your right. Look at the other half.

• Place to open court — GOOD READ: The defender is on your right after chasing forward. The defender is on your right after chasing forward. Your left corner is now open; stay inside the sideline.
• Toward defender’s side — FAIR OPTION: A shot to the right goes toward the defender’s current half. A shot to the right goes toward the defender’s current half. They may not have far to move.
• Flatten near sideline — TOUGH CHOICE: A flat ball close to the line removes your margin. A flat ball close to the line removes your margin. A clean winner is possible, but it is not required by this opening.

Decision 3 · DEFENDER REACHES IT · RESET (after Flat toward right line)

Decision: The defender returns your flat attack deep. What now?

You are behind the baseline. The defender reached your attacking shot.

• Heavy crosscourt reset — GOOD READ: You are back behind the baseline. You are back behind the baseline. A shaped diagonal buys recovery time and denies the opponent an easy short counter.
• Deep middle reset — GOOD READ: Depth through the middle gives you a larger window and reduces the angles you must defend on the next reply. Depth through the middle gives you a larger window and reduces the angles you must defend on the next reply.
• Attack down the line — TOUGH CHOICE: The opponent got your earlier flat drive back. The opponent got your earlier flat drive back. Changing direction again from a deep, stretched contact does not create a guaranteed winner.

What to take into the next point

Build from deep, attack the short ball, then choose where the defender has left space.

What a good read looks like

The read this lesson trains: Recognize when to rally, attack, and finish. The point-building sequence used in this academy: P1 build the rally, P2 attack the short ball, P3 finish only when an opening is earned. Lesson 002 is the full P123 route lesson; lesson 050 is one P123 decision only, not the full sequence. In the interactive lesson you play the rally, make the call, and then read why it worked or did not. The coaching grades the decision, not just the point outcome — a good read can still lose the rally, and the lesson says why.

Part of the P123 point building pattern

Every lesson that trains this pattern is collected on the P123 point building pattern page.

Related lessons in this pattern

• Turn defense into offense — SIMULATION-BUILT LESSON · lesson 34 of 50
• P123: Earn the first attack (one decision) — SIMULATION-BUILT LESSON · lesson 50 of 50

Free to play

Every RACQIX Academy lesson is free. The first lesson you open in the app plays with no sign-up. Opening further lessons asks for an email address and marketing consent to unlock the full set of 50, remembered on this browser — and declining is one tap, which leaves the lesson you opened, the lesson library and every page on this site available.