Overview
- APP pro Richard Livornese Jr. argues that teams now win more often by taking initiative on 50/50 balls rather than waiting for clear pop‑ups.
- Livornese recommends low, off‑pace rolls to disrupt “sliders” who anticipate counters, turning their movement into errors or weak replies.
- When pulled wide, players are advised to attack with varied options—down the line, an aggressive roll to the middle, a hard crosscourt, or a well‑placed lob.
- PPA pro Roscoe Bellamy outlines six priority skills for 2026: two‑handed backhand dink, the drip, counter volley, defensive dead dink, push volley, and the combo.
- Analysts link the shift to faster paddles and quicker exchanges, with modern defense focused on resets and finishing points on the following shot rather than the first strike.