"Read The Hurt !!!"

This is a tactic, a philosophy, and a command we use often. It is about reading and recognizing that your shot has hurt, or disadvantaged your opponent. The skilled player must react immediately by continuing the attack and finishing off the point.

The analogy we like is to boxing. If you hurt your opponent, and he is stunned and has dropped his arms, you probably won't back away and offer him a rest until he feels up for continuing the fight. No, indeed, we would hope you would "read the hurt", move in, and strike again to finish the job.

It is a reference to the popular concept that there are three stages to each point - Build, Hurt, and Finish. If one is adept at reading the hurt quickly and correctly, they will take advantage of all opportunities, intentional or fortunate, and complete the task. We often practice moving forward when we "read the hurt" on our own baseline shot. The movement need not necessarily be all the way to the net ( though this is also a good tactic), but when recognizing the opponent is in trouble stepping a few feet inside the baseline will accomplish several things:

1- take time away from the opponent - who is scrambling to recover from being hurt, and needs time more than anything. Playing the next ball inside the baseline, and into the open court or behind the player, deprives the hurt opponent of that badly needed recovery time

2- improve your angle into the open court by playing the ball closer to the net, and

3- putting pressure on your opponent by visually confronting them with the forward movement.

So stay aware, and when you have delivered a shot that brings some pain and gets your opponent out of position, late, or struggling in another way, then "read the hurt" and position yourself to finish the point efficiently. I think you'll find this strategy painless and effective.