Pat Cash on the Volley
Part 4
Interviewed by Paul Fein 2017
What is "the center of possible returns"? And why is positioning yourself there so vital at net?
The center of possible returns is the best place to position yourself laterally, both in the backcourt and in the forecourt. This position puts you in the center so that have an equal distance to cover for lateral shots either to your forehand or backhand side.
During backcourt rallies, if your opponent is hitting the ball from his forehand corner, you re-position one to two feet to the right of the little center strip on the baseline. If he is hitting the ball from outside his forehand alley, you re-position yourself two to three feet to the right of the center strip.
When you're positioned at the net, the theory is the same, but the practice is different. Here you move in the same direction as your opponent behind his backline. For example, if you hit an approach shot or volley into his backhand corner, you shift a foot or two to your right. That puts you in the perfect lateral position—the new center of possible returns—to have an equal distance to move to for forehand and backhand volleys.
