Learn to tailor the length of your backswing to the needs of the situation. Use a long, full swing to hit a ball that is coming at you slowly; the ball has little speed on it and you may add speed by using a long, full swing.

Use a short, compact backswing to return a fast ball; you don’t need to add speed, but you do have to time it accurately and hit it solidly. A short swing is easier to time.

Use a short swing for low shots in midcourt, too, when you have no choice but to hit the ball up and easy, and for scrambling shots when you are merely trying to get the ball back in play.