IN the preceding chapter we took up the tactics of defense when you are playing near the net, that is, between the zone on the court marked in Figure 1 as a "danger zone" and the net. There are two distinct classes of defense play, known as net play and baseline play. Great players differ in their preferences as to these styles. Some are known to favor baseline defense, but generally the greatest players favor the net defense.
I advise a cultivation of the net defense, and the use of it wherever possible, believing it to be the best point maker. However, it is certain that you will have to resort at times to a baseline defense, because you will be forced to make a return from some point far back in the court, and your opponent will immediately come forward and you will have no alternative except a baseline return. So let us consider what you will do in these circumstances.
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Consider Figure 4. You will notice the points arranged across the court, A, B, C, D, and E. These are strung across the court just back of the service line and are the principal points from which your opponent in returning balls to you can force you to continue at baseline play. If he gets to the back of his court you will naturally come forward to the net. Therefore, if we consider the principle of baseline play on balls returned from the points A, B, C, D, and E we shall have covered the ground. Any emergency arising different from the points here shown you will understand if you understand the principles shown in these.
