P123 PHASE

P1 · Build the rally (neutral)

P1 is the neutral phase of P123 point building: build with depth and margin until a shorter ball earns an attack.

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.

Part of the P123 point-building pattern. The full P123 route is lesson 002: P1 → P2 → P3: Build, attack, finish.