There are three shots that you must continually work on:
- The Serve
- The Return of Serve
- Dink
The Serve. It’s hard to practice these shots while playing in real games, but you need to develop a couple of different serves. Otherwise, you’ll be too predictable. So, work on serve with a bit of backspin, another with a bit of topspin, and another that’s pretty flat. Additionally, practice serving to the receiver’s backhand as well as their forehand. In other words, mix up your serve! But… the most important skill is to almost never serve a fault. That’s just embarrassing… Don’t forget to stay back after the serve so you remember to let it bounce on your side before you start volleying!
The Return of Serve. Watch the serve so you know what kind of spin is coming your way. It takes some practice, but if you keep an eye on it, you’ll get better over time. Make sure you move forward after the return.
Dink. A dink is a soft shot that lands in the kitchen (non-volley zone). If done properly, it prevents your opponent from smashing the ball at you. A good dink will slow the game down and give you a chance to wait for an opportunity to hit the ball hard past your opponent. It really takes a lot of practice, but it’s an invaluable part of the game,