One-wall guide
Nothing behind you or beside you will rescue a loose shot, so one-wall rewards patience and a low, flat ball. This is how the bots have learned to take their chances.
Serving
- With no side or back wall to hold it, keep the serve low, flat and controlled toward a corner, and win the point on the shots that follow.
Shooting
- A low ball is a chance to shoot, even from deep court.
- Go for the kill more often when the ball comes in low.
- Take a chance on the kill even when the ball is not perfect.
- Attack a ball that sits up a little; it does not have to be at your ankles.
- You can shoot from deep when the ball is low; there is no need to wait until you are close.
- A lob over the opponent from up front buys time and moves them back.
- Mix in a lob from mid court to push the opponent back. (a leaning)
- Lob to reset the rally when you are deep and under pressure.
Reading your opponent
- With your opponent up front on the right, put the kill away for later.
- An opponent in mid court on the left is a good time to attack. (a leaning)
- The kill is on while your opponent is in mid court in the middle.
- Hold off on the kill while your opponent is in mid court on the right.
- Look to shoot once your opponent is deep on the left.
Where to hit it
- Go wide from the first shots of a rally.
- Late in a rally, keep the ball safer and away from the lines.
- Do not hunt the weak hand every time; the open court wins more.
- Pulled out wide, go down the line and hug it.
- When you are pulled wide, drive cross-court at a sharp angle into the open court.
- Off to the side, keep the cross-court kill inside the line. (a leaning)
Where to stand
- Between shots, recover further up, closer to the short line.
Under pressure
- When you are behind, stay patient and wait for the right ball. (a leaning)
Doubles
- Stay close to the middle, both of you; the gaps are on the outside.
- Leave the ball to your partner unless you are clearly closer. (a leaning)
What beats each style
Bots play in different styles. Here is what has worked against each.
Power
Hits hard and goes for the kill early.
- You can shoot from deep when the ball is low; there is no need to wait until you are close.
- Even from deep, take an angle; a straight ball is easy to read.
- Keep attacking while a run of points is going your way.
Control
Places the ball and waits for a clean opening.
- You can shoot from deep when the ball is low; there is no need to wait until you are close.
- Even from deep, take an angle; a straight ball is easy to read.
- Shoot when your opponent is up front in the middle.
Retriever
Gets everything back and makes you hit one more.
- You can shoot from deep when the ball is low; there is no need to wait until you are close.
- Keep your drives low and flat.
- Go for the kill more often when the ball comes in low.
Server
Wins points from the serve and the first return.
- Even from deep, take an angle; a straight ball is easy to read.
- Attack a ball that sits up a little; it does not have to be at your ankles.
- Keep attacking while a run of points is going your way.
All-rounder
Has no clear weakness and no clear trick.
- Even from deep, take an angle; a straight ball is easy to read.
- You can shoot from deep when the ball is low; there is no need to wait until you are close.
- Up close, shoot. That is where the kill is easiest.
Where a line says "a leaning", the bots mostly agree rather than all agree. Left and right are as you stand facing the front wall.