A player should only look to change direction when in excellent court position and has time to correctly execute to help guarantee success. This court position is when the player has both feet inside the court, which will help increase the angles for successful change.

When the player is positioned behind the baseline, they should be encouraged to go back crosscourt, over the lowest part of the net and where there is the greatest distance from point to point.

The difference between down the line and cross court is 19.1 degrees. Chances of errors increase when changing direction off a deep crosscourt ball (angle of incidence – where the ball is coming from versus where the ball is going to – angles of reflection).