1. Get the ball in
2. Direct the ball left and right
3. Direct the ball deep and short
4. Spins
5. Speed

II. Five Strategies for Recreational Players

1. Outlast the opponent
2. Force errors
3. Produce short balls
4. Open the court for a winner
5. Pre-determined mid-court volleys (for singles)

III. Patterns for Outlasting the Opponent (lower levels of play)

1. Keep the ball deep and down the middle -- high over the net
2. Hit to the backhand
3. Alternate left and right, deep to the corners
4. Short angles open up winners for opponents
5. Deep serves (even lollipops) are most effective
6. Moonballs

IV. Patterns for Forcing Errors & Producing Short Balls

1. Short, wide serves
2. Slice serve into body
3. Deep returns (moonballs or lobs) to the backhand
4. Short returns to backhand (especially in doubles)
5. Short, xcourt shot to the forehand, followed by a deep ball to the backhand
6. Hitting behind players (e.g., 4-hand, 4-hand, backhand or short, wide serve)
7. Short slice in front of service line (produces weak "arm" or "butt" shot)
8. Long-ball/Short-ball pattern

V. Patterns for Opening the Court for Winners

1. Short, wide serve to forehand followed by deep groundstroke to backhand, followed by groundstroke to forehand side (on service line or in front)
2. Short, wide serve to forehand followed by short ball behind player (same spot)
3. Short crosscourt groundstroke followed by deep groundstroke to opposite side followed by groundstroke to opposite side (on service line or in front)
4. Moonball deep to backhand, move into midcourt and hit swinging volley to forehand side (on service line or in front)
5. Side to side, eventually going behind player, short
6. Deep to corner, drop shot to opposite side of court, lob over head for winner -- drop shot doesn't need to be a winner
7. Short, xcourt return or groundstroke in doubles, followed by lob down the middle or over player you just brought up
8. As player approaches in singles, short xcourt stroke, followed by down-the-line, x-behind or lob winner

VI. Pre-Determined Mid-Court Volleys (for singles)

1. Player will receive one of four volleys in the mid-court:
   *High to the forehand
   *Low to the forehand
   *High to the backhand
   *Low to the backhand
2. Players must learn which two areas on the court are the highest percentage choice for each volley received, and limit most responses to these two choices

Based on you players' styles of plays, they should begin practicing shot combinations and patterns early in the season. If they have trouble with certain aspects (depth, direction), THEN you work on stroke technique in order to help them achieve their tactical goal.

The patterns should be practice often enough and under match-like enough conditions so that when they are in a match, these patterns will become automatic to execute.

Learning, practicing and owning patterns of play will make your players proactive, not reactive.