Crosscourt passing shot under pressure

The decision

Decision: You are stretched. Where can you pass the net player?

You are behind the baseline. The defender is near the middle, near the net.

• Heavy crosscourt pass — Spin above the net — GOOD READ: Your shot targets the opponent’s left, away from where the defender started. The ball lands 1.4 m inside the sideline. The defender travels 7.4 m back and returns deep in this example.
• Thread down line — Aim for a sliver — FAIR OPTION: Your shot targets the opponent’s right, away from where the defender started. The ball lands 0.6 m inside the sideline. The defender travels 7.1 m back and returns deep in this example.

What to take into the next point

Clearance and space matter when the opponent covers the net.

What a good read looks like

The read this lesson trains: Choose a passing target from a wide contact. Decisions where the defender’s visible position decides which side of the court is open, and whether changing direction is worth it. 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 Direction change and open court pattern

Every lesson that trains this pattern is collected on the Direction change and open court pattern page.

Related lessons in this pattern

• Pulled wide. What do you play? — SIMULATION-BUILT LESSON · lesson 1 of 50
• Return away from the server — ORIGINAL LESSON · lesson 15 of 50
• Down-the-line passing shot — ORIGINAL LESSON · lesson 22 of 50

Free to play

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