It sounds obvious, but you want to hit the ball where your opponent isn't! Take every opportunity to finesse the ball into openings, creating awkward and challenging returns. Even if you don't pass your opponent, forcing them to lose their balance will often cause them to pop the ball up just enough that you can attack it aggressively and either end the point or ensure the end is coming soon. Any time you can force your opponent to stretch for a shot, turn their shoulders, move backward, or even lunge forward, you have increased their chance of making a fatal mistake. Sometimes you want to surprise them with a quick strike to the torso, but more points are won by smart placement and shot selection. In this case, good defense certainly will lead to better offense.
