Singles: read the space before choosing
Use a court sketch to explain a short or long shot choice, without treating the drawing as a match result.
A choice you can explain
Before choosing a target, consider the space, your own situation and your opponent. A gap on a drawing does not make every shot possible.
This is a conversation on paper. Try it once you know what a net shot and a lift from the forecourt are. You will use these two familiar options; this page does not teach their technique.
Prepare a small court on paper
Sit together with paper, a pen and two different counters. No racket or shuttle is needed. Sketch the singles court boundaries and a line across it for the net. The drawing need not be to scale; it is not a guide to court measurements.
Put your counter near the net on your half. Imagine a shuttle comfortably in front of you, below the top of the net. On the other half, mark two broad target areas well inside the boundaries: one near the net and one towards the back, both straight ahead from your position.
The partner moves the opponent's counter. Your counter, the imagined shuttle and the targets stay fixed throughout. “Front” and “back” refer to distance from the net on each half, not the top or bottom of the sheet. This is a rally situation, not a serve.
Try three sets of five
- Five pictures each. The partner places the opponent near the net, towards the back or between the targets, varying the position between pictures. Describe where you see more room, then suggest a net shot to the front target or a lift to the back target. Explain the choice in one sentence. If both seem possible, say so.
- Five changes each. Start with an opponent position and explain a choice. The partner then moves only the opponent's counter nearer to or farther from the net. Look again: would you keep or change your choice, and why? The before-and-after pair counts as one attempt. You do not have to change your answer every time.
- Five discussions each, if useful. The partner sets a picture and you suggest one of the two shots. They ask, “What would you need to check on court before trying that?” Name one thing the picture cannot show, such as how much time you have. If you are unsure whether you could play the shot, say so; do not invent a solution.
Swap the explaining and picture-setting roles after each set of five. Discuss an uncertain answer and count it too. There is no timer, score or required number of correct answers. You can stop after either of the first two sets.
Keep the drawing in perspective
Choose one picture and summarise your reasoning: the opponent was here, I considered this area, and I still needed to check this other detail.
The paper exercise lets you explain a decision. It does not show whether your shot would reach the target or beat a moving opponent. A farther target is not automatically the better choice. On court, keep your options within strokes you can control, and discuss the transfer with your coach.
General practice advice: play within your limits and stop if something hurts.