• Approach the ball to the side, not behind it.
• Strive to be about a racket length to the side of the ball to allow for the swing.

• Early racket preparation will help in judging  the distance the body should be from the ball when approaching, and prior to striking the ball.
• When approaching the ball for a drive, head for a point to one side of where the anticipated stroke will occur.
• Do not head straight for the ball as you will end up too close.
• As you near the ball, prepare the racket getting into the shape position.

• Place, say 4 balls stationary on the court (2 at the front and 2 at the back), position yourself in the centre of the court, and visualise moving to recover a shot where the stationary balls arepositioned.
  
• Sit a racket on the floor, maybe with the ball sitting on top of the strings, and place the handle where the dominant foot is to be placed when approaching to strike the ball. Take this in 3 stages until all the basic key points have been covered.  Method, eg

• Progress to naming the strokes being attempted, eg from the front a lob, and from the back a boast.
• Vary the combination of alternate swings.
• Then, add a third ball into the ghosting movement, as described above.

• The player does not bend
• Lunge into the stroke
• Gets too close to the ball
• Stands straight when driving the ball
• Over-runs the ball.
• Tries to deceive the opponent.

• Note the early racket preparation
• The body movement parallel to the side wall
• The balanced stance
• The fluent swing

• The footwork, giving room for the ball to come off the wall.
• The energy in the swing, since the boast is moving at an angle off the side wall, not giving any power or momentum to work with.
• At all times the legs are flexed allowing for longer strides, and being able to get down lower to the ball.

• Keep at least one racket length from the line of the ball.
• Shape as positioning occurs.
• Maintain balance

• Come in behind and about one racket length to the side of the anticipated hitting position by placing the back foot almost a metre behind the anticipated striking point.
• As the back foot goes down, the racket should be fully prepared to commence the stroke.
• You have established the Shape position.
• The front foot is taken forward to be about a racket length to the side and in line with the striking point.

Experienced players can give false clues.  How?

• Delaying striking the ball.
• Altering body position.
• Changing the angle of the wrist.

Here is a guide to evaluating if you keep the opponent guessing

• "Set" with the backswing just prior to the stroke.
• Transfer weight as the downswing commences (the hit).
•  Keep the procedure as fluent as possible.

• As the front foot starts to come down the backswing commences taking the player into the Set position.
• Depending how early the player is for the shot, the set position soon makes way for the hit as the weight of the body transfers from the back to the front foot and the downswing commences.
• Ensure that there is plenty of room to take a full swing at the ball (usually a racket length between the player and the line of the ball.
• Start the racket off on the line of the ball if possible and swing through to the target point.

• Movement while striking the ball can alter the accuracy of the shot, but increase the power of the shot.
• Forward movement while striking the ball will make it more difficult to recover to the centre of the court after hitting the ball. (Often causing one unnecessary forward step).

• Weight transfer can get players into trouble if the feet are not balanced.
  
• It is necessary to have a wide base of support to steady the feet.
• If the feet tend to move with the transfer of weight that can make the shot inaccurate, as it pulls the swing out of alignment from the target point, resulting in a lack of balance, which then hinders recovery.

• Lifting of the head at the time of striking the ball can prevent weight transfer.
• Moving off the ball before finishing the follow through can alter the direction of the hit and power of the shot..
• Standing almost cross-legged when attempting to recover to the center court, will hinder the speed of recovery, and prevent smooth movement back to the center court.
  
• Check that balance is maintained on both the front and back foot (test that out by attempting to swing while having the weight on either leg).  This is particularly helpful when the ball juts out quickly or unexpectedly hits the nick.
• It is important to be able to step back towards the center court after striking the ball, as opposed to taking a step forward, then turning around, and moving back.

• Follow through to the target.
• Commence recovery immediately.
• Finish follow through near ready position for next return.

• Immediately after racket ball impact, the player should start the process of recovery to the T.
• Throughout the striking process the player should remain balanced and this must be maintained as the backswing is completed and recovery is commenced.
•  Ideally, the follow through should finish not far from the ready position for the next return.

• While recovering to the T (centre court area) keep watching the position of the opponent.
• Be "Ready" to volley or intercept the ball while the opponent is returning to the "T".
• Balanced movement and racket ready.