Controls
Directions always follow the screen: pushing up moves you up the screen, no matter which end of the court you are on.
| What | Keyboard | Gamepad |
|---|---|---|
| Move / aim | W A S D or arrow keys | Left stick or D-pad |
| Topspin shot, flat serve | Space | A |
| Slice shot, slice serve | Shift | X |
| Drop shot (drop volley at the net), kick serve | Ctrl | Y |
| Ask the ball machine for a ball (training) | E | Right trigger |
| Pause / menu | Esc | Start |
Rally: one button press, three jobs
When the opponent’s ball comes, press and hold a shot button. From that moment:
- Your player moves to the ball on their own, but only at a jogging pace. You should already be close: good footwork before you press is what makes the shot good.
- The direction now aims the shot instead of moving you. A ring on the opponent’s side shows where the ball will land.
- Holding the button charges power. About 0.8 seconds of holding gives the full attacking pace.
Release the button just before the racket meets the ball. That release is your timing: the closer to contact, the better (see Hitting well). If you are still holding the button when the racket meets the ball, you play a weak, safe ball short into the middle of the court.
Serve
- Before the serve, left and right slide you along the baseline.
- Press and hold a serve button to choose the serve: Space flat, Shift slice, Ctrl kick. While you hold it, the direction aims into the service box.
- Release to toss the ball.
- Press any serve button again right before the racket meets the ball. The closer to the contact, the faster and more precise the serve. A serve you do not time is slow and wild.