Tip 01 — Stop dying in no-man's land

Most points aren't lost at the net or the baseline — they're lost in the ten feet between them.

The transition zone (a.k.a. no-man's land) is the stretch between the baseline and the kitchen line where a ball at your feet is nearly unplayable. Get caught standing there when the rally speeds up, and you're stuck blocking half-volleys instead of dictating anything.

The fix isn't avoiding the zone — you have to cross it to reach the net. The fix is not lingering in it. After your return or your third shot, keep moving until you're at the kitchen line, not somewhere in between. Decide before you hit the ball whether you're staying back or coming in, then commit to getting there.

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