Evaluating Your Game:
Learn to “Dink” the ball proficiently, be patient. Don’t try to make a “kill” shot unless it’s really there to make.
Know when to hit the ball hard or softly. It’s not about power.
Watch your opponent’s paddle hit the ball, it tells you a lot about where the return will be going and how hard it will be hit.
Hit the ball to opponent’s feet or backhand, especially if it’s weak.
Develop a drop shot (just over the net) from the baseline. This is an important shot when your opponent(s) are at the non-volley line. Never use it when your opponents are back near the baseline.
Work on a cross-court dink.
Have friends make some shots to you that you don’t like and work at returning them. Maybe your opponent doesn’t like them either. Try them on him or her.
Look for patterns in your opponent’s play. Sometimes you can see things during pre-game warm-ups.
When you see that your opponent is about to hit the ball try to stop moving, especially forward or backward. It’s much easier to hit the ball and control it if you are stationary.