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Shots & strokes
Drive
A flat, hard shot hit with little arc — typically off a bounce. Used to push opponents back or set up a third-shot transition.
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A drive is a hard, flat shot — often off the bounce after the serve return. The third-shot drive is one of two main strategies for transitioning the serving team into the kitchen line; the other is the third-shot drop.
Drives reward power paddles + topspin. The risk: a poorly-aimed drive sets up an easy block volley for the opponent at the kitchen line.
see also