Showing how the net player covers the court, and particularly the straight shot, by following the line of his own shot. Solid line-movement of players; broken line-flight of ball. A serves. Ball bounces at X. B, from position, moves to B2 and receives it, hitting it back down the centre. A followed in along the line of his shot and a little toward the centre to A2. He is ready to go farther to his left in case B should try a passing shot down the sideline, but when he sees the ball hit, he moves farther toward centre and volleys at A3 to the opposite side from B.

Continuing the situation: A's volley (from A3) bounces at X2. Meanwhile B moves from B2 across and behind the ball, taking it at B3 and playing it straight down the sideline. A has moved to A4 to cover the straight shot; he now takes another step to A3, and wins with a killing cross-court volley to X3. If B had elected to try a cross-court drive himself on his last shot, it would have been very difficult to pass A and keep the ball in court, since, from A4, A can block off any return from B except a very sharply angled and perfectly stroked shot.