Is the return long or short

Strokes and Technique

Pasquale Mule
Pasquale Mule Asked 7 years ago

Hi Alois, a lot of times when i play a match, i have difficulties telling which ball is going short and which is going long. I always try to keep the ball nice, short and low but when my opponent pushes it back, a lot of times I tend to find that its short but in reality its half long which I should attack.

My question is how can we tell if the ball is going short or long?

Thanks for reading!


Alois Rosario
Alois Rosario Answered 7 years ago

Hi Pasquale,

This is something that needs to be trained.  Get someone to push the ball back to you at varying lengths. At first you can even just watch the ball bounce the second time and see if it is short or long.  Then as you feel like you are getting the feel of the lengths, play the ball back.

You can do this with multiball as well but off a service return would be better.


Thoughts on this question


Pasquale Mule

Pasquale Mule Posted 7 years ago

Thanks Alois!, besides when will be the next ask the coach podcast?


Alois Rosario

Alois Rosario from PingSkills Posted 7 years ago

Not sure about the next podcast.  Jeff is going to be away for a couple of weeks.  Did one on Tuesday though.


Pasquale Mule

Pasquale Mule Posted 7 years ago

I just saw you posted one while i didnt even notice hahah.


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