Your contact point when hitting the ball in relation to your body plays an integral part in a successful shot, which can create errors from your opponent. It can also lead to a weak reply, which makes you play defensively with the subsequent shot. Therefore, making contact with the ball in relation to proper areas of your body will increase your chances of successful shots.
Zone 1: Starts at your feet and continues to your knees – this zone will require you to be cautious in your return. Depending on your level, you might have to rely on a slice or a chip shot. If you must resort to this shot, make sure you concentrate on hitting deep to your opponent.
Zone 2: Starts from your knees and continues to your waist – shots from this zone can have a variety of speeds, spins, heights over the net, different depths and different directions. Try and challenge your opponent with different shot selections to put them on the defensive.
Zone 3: Starts from the waist and continues to your shoulder – shots from this zone can be more aggressive and attacking especially if you are inside the court around the service line. When you get this opportunity try and finish the point without letting your opponent touch the ball.
Try to position yourself in Zone 2 and Zone 3 for 75 percent to 85 percent of your shots. This is your power zone. By understanding which zone you are hitting from, you can focus on your technique and tactics, not how hard to hit it.
– Warren Girle, USTPA, Prince Pro Team Cedars Tennis Club, Longboat, Florida