| Principally, the court of the tennis ground measures | | | | understand that where your rival player next shot will |
| thirty nine feet from its baseline to the net: and the | | | | come and try to reach at that point well in advance. |
| player waits for ball in anyone of the two positions | | | | Keep in mind that while running between shots you |
| inside the court of tennis. | | | | need to change your position when ball is in the air, so |
| Primary position is at the area which is nearer to the | | | | that you are not hurried in to play a bad shot once the |
| net's (court's) center at an approximate distance of 3 | | | | ball jumps up. |
| ft from baseline (or approximately 36 ft far from net). | | | | Your anticipation will become better and better with |
| The secondary position involves standing roughly | | | | experience and time, and it will play a big role in your |
| opposite to the ball at an approximate distance of 8 ft | | | | success in the game that you play. Follow a simple rule |
| from net (or 31 ft away from baseline). | | | | of look and learn from other players who get into the |
| As all the players at baseline occupy the primary | | | | right place just by instinct well before the next stroke. |
| position, men at net take up the secondary position, | | | | That's why I recommend the position of coming to play |
| which is also called the net position or position at the | | | | the shot from behind the baseline as it is easier to play |
| net. | | | | the shot while running forward compared with running |
| You obviously would change your place from these | | | | backward to play the shot. |
| primary or secondary positions to return the shots of | | | | A tricky position to get yourself caught in is present at |
| your opponents, but after you have returned the shot | | | | the net just after returning a short stroke towards your |
| of your opponent, you should come back to your | | | | opponent. If you remain at this place, your rival will pass |
| original position as quickly as you can. | | | | you at his will. It is this time that you need to make a |
| The place in the court from approximately 10 ft from | | | | fast decision and go to that place in the shortest |
| the net toward the baseline is called "no-man's-lank" or | | | | possible time as your opponent swings and plays the |
| "blank" where you should not hang on; because if you | | | | shot. In arriving at this quick decisions, you inherently |
| hang on, there are chances that a deep stroke by | | | | make a guess that which side of the court will he |
| your opponent player will drop at your feet, which is | | | | stroke the ball. If you think correctly, you win the point, |
| hard to pick up and return. If you are able to play a | | | | and what if you think wrong, you lose the point; |
| stroke from this blank area, as you will need to play | | | | however, you will not be in a better position without this |
| very often (because this will be the primary area that | | | | wrong decision, as without this you will end up giving |
| your rival player will be focusing to cause maximum | | | | easy opportunity to your opponent to earn the point. |
| trouble to you), you should try and go to your primary | | | | Always plan you position in the court in a proper |
| position behind the baseline to hang on for the next | | | | manner such that you should not sacrifice you safety |
| stroke and come forward once again to return the | | | | at the same time covering the largest possible area. |
| stroke. On the other hand, if you are not able to reach | | | | This is very significant as you need to cover any |
| behind the court's baseline after completing the | | | | straight horizontal stroke from any position you are |
| previous shot, you immediately should use the | | | | present; for it's the most effective, and yet dangerous |
| alternative of getting stuck at the position at the net as | | | | shot. Lastly, it comes down to one question of what |
| a substitute. | | | | extra court area you need to guard than the area |
| If you wait and remain at the same position from | | | | from the ball to the net. |
| where you last had given the return, to watch the | | | | An excellent ground understanding of positions in the |
| progress of the ball, you will overlook the chance to | | | | court would result in saving many points in addition to |
| regain your anchor position which is at the court's | | | | saving your energy by reducing the requirement of |
| baseline or on the net, depending on the case, at the | | | | long runs in the court because of hopeless shots. |
| right time for the next stroke. Always think and try to | | | | |