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How do you know how high the ball will come off the glass?
Rebound = pace + height on the glass + spin. Fast and high comes out far; slice dies; topspin kicks.
A ball is heading for your back glass. What tells you how high and how far it will rebound?
Rebound = pace + height on the glass + spin. Fast and high comes out far; slice dies; topspin kicks.
Why
The rebound off the glass is predictable if you read the incoming ball. Pace decides distance: a fast ball comes out a long way, a slow one drops near the wall. Height on the glass decides angle: a ball hitting high on the glass comes out on a longer, flatter path than one hitting low. Spin changes both: topspin grips the glass and kicks up and out; slice slides down the glass and dies. Good defenders are already moving to the right spot before the ball reaches the wall, because they read these three things as the ball crosses the net.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Fast ball: stand further from the wall. Slow ball: stand closer. That one rule fixes most positioning.
Intermediate
Add the spin read: a ball with backspin will die at the wall, so take it early; topspin will jump out, so give it room.
Advanced
The rebound also carries side spin from angled volleys. A ball that hits the glass on an angle comes off on the mirror angle; read the incoming direction.
Common questions
A ball is heading for your back glass. What tells you how high and how far it will rebound?
Pace, height on the glass, and spin. Rebound = pace + height on the glass + spin. Fast and high comes out far; slice dies; topspin kicks. The rebound off the glass is predictable if you read the incoming ball. Pace decides distance: a fast ball comes out a long way, a slow one drops near the wall. Height on the glass decides angle: a ball hitting high on the glass comes out on a longer, flatter path than one hitting low. Spin changes both: topspin grips the glass and kicks up and out; slice slides down the glass and dies. Good defenders are already moving to the right spot before the ball reaches the wall, because they read these three things as the ball crosses the net.
Why not just how hard it was hit, and nothing else?
Pace is one factor. A hard ball with heavy slice still dies; a soft one with topspin still kicks up.
What should a beginner do here?
Fast ball: stand further from the wall. Slow ball: stand closer. That one rule fixes most positioning.
How does this change for an advanced player?
The rebound also carries side spin from angled volleys. A ball that hits the glass on an angle comes off on the mirror angle; read the incoming direction.
Puzzles like this one
The ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
beginnerThe ball bounced then hit your own back glass. Still in play?
One bounce on the floor, then any number of walls. Only a second floor bounce ends the point.
intermediateA smash is coming at you. What is your job?
You are not trying to win this ball. You are trying to still be in the point two shots from now.