Defensive Shot

A defensive shot is a shot you hit when your main goal is to just stay in the point. Since you’re in trouble, you’re not trying to hurt your opponent with it. That wouldn’t be wise: the risk of making a mistake would be skyrocket-high. What you’re trying to do instead is just to regain some ground, and get the point back to neutral as quickly as possible. Examples of defensive shots are a moonball, a slice backhand hit on the run, a very-high-yet-not-deep lob etc.

Whenever you find yourself in a defensive situation, you’re in trouble: either you’re out of the court, or you need to hit a low ball, or worse, you’re out of the court trying to catch a low ball.

Anyway, the point is you’re in a vulnerable situation. Playing an offensive shot is not really an option, as your chance of making a point from that position is almost inexistent, and unless you want to try your luck, you pretty much know in advance you’re going to gift your opponent if you try a winner. And chances are, you probably cannot even play a neutral shot as you’re in such trouble that neutralizing your opponent may result more difficult than usually, which is why you should opt for a defensive shot. To stay in the point and try to get back to a reasonable position.