Shot selection is a player’s ability to recognize what is going on in the point, know the shot options available to him and choose the best possible shot from all the information he has gathered. Knowing the proper and most effective shot to hit in any given situation is a fundamental building block to a successful game.

A player’s shot selection is dependent on a number of factors, including his court position, his opponent’s court position, the incoming ball’s characteristics (speed, spin, height, etc.), court conditions, environmental conditions, the player’s strengths and weaknesses and his opponent’s strengths and weaknesses. More advanced players make shot selection virtually automatic with their experience, while beginner and intermediate players will typically make their shot selection a split-second decision as the ball approaches.

It is important to keep in mind that as a player’s skill level increases, so do the available shot choices, so there is not just one specific shot that is right for the situation. In turn, what may be the proper shot for one player to hit during a point may not be the right shot for someone else to hit if given the exact same situation. It all depends on what the player is capable of doing and what he intends to do to build the point.