5th Ball Attack

A strategy in which the server attempts to win the point on the 5th ball over the net. The ideal sequence in the five ball attack is:

• serve
• return
• loop
• return
• kill (smash)

Some fifth ball attacks are planned from the beginning of the serve, with the server having a specific third ball stroke in mind to prepare for the 5th ball attack. Other 5th ball attacks take place when the server cannot make a planned 3rd ball attack, and uses a less powerful stroke, (usually slower and with heavier topspin), hoping to set up a chance for a 5th ball attack instead.