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You are defending. How close to the back glass?
Two to three metres in front of the back glass. Forward for the short ball, back for the wall.
The other pair is at the net and you are at the back. Where should you wait for the ball?
Two to three metres in front of the back glass. Forward for the short ball, back for the wall.
Why
The defensive position is a couple of metres inside the back glass: far enough forward to reach a short ball, far enough back to let a deep ball hit the glass and come out to you. Stand on the glass and you have no time and no wall; stand at the service line and everything lands at your feet. Weight on the balls of the feet, racket at waist height, slightly wider stance than feels natural: from there both the lift and the wall shot are easy.
What this means at your level
Beginner
Stand where you could touch the back glass with a big step back. That is about right.
Intermediate
Move with the ball: as their volley is hit, take a small step forward; as they set up to smash, drift back and turn slightly toward the glass.
Advanced
Defensive depth is a dial, not a spot. Deeper against a smasher who can hit through the glass; shallower against a pair that volleys short and soft.
Common questions
The other pair is at the net and you are at the back. Where should you wait for the ball?
Midway between the service line and the glass. Two to three metres in front of the back glass. Forward for the short ball, back for the wall. The defensive position is a couple of metres inside the back glass: far enough forward to reach a short ball, far enough back to let a deep ball hit the glass and come out to you. Stand on the glass and you have no time and no wall; stand at the service line and everything lands at your feet. Weight on the balls of the feet, racket at waist height, slightly wider stance than feels natural: from there both the lift and the wall shot are easy.
Why not right against the back glass, so nothing gets behind you?
From there every ball is in front of you and none of them come off the wall to you. You cannot move forward in time either.
What should a beginner do here?
Stand where you could touch the back glass with a big step back. That is about right.
How does this change for an advanced player?
Defensive depth is a dial, not a spot. Deeper against a smasher who can hit through the glass; shallower against a pair that volleys short and soft.
Puzzles like this one
The ball is at your feet at the net. What now?
A ball below the net cannot be attacked. Block it deep and wait for one above the tape.
beginnerThe ball is coming off the back glass. When do you hit it?
Move back with the ball, let it pass you, hit it in front of your body.
intermediateYour partner got pulled wide. Where do you stand?
The pair moves like one body. When your partner is pulled wide, you take the middle.