Here's a tip from Dave Brower, host to this summer's Senior Games and Fellow Ambassador from Metro west. For those of us in attendance at the Portland Tourney, we can attest to the importance of having a soft game.

Tips and Techniques - Hitting hard vs. easy

Most players (guys especially) like the feel of banging the ball, but there are times when a soft shot is preferable.  When you are able to contact the ball above your waist (above the net), a hard shot gives your opponent less time to react and hit a good return.  However, when you must contact the ball below your waist, a soft shot is called for, since you are forced to hit the ball on an upward trajectory.

If you try to hit the ball hard, you may pop it up, giving your opponent an overhead smash opportunity, or you may hit the ball out of the court.  You will have better success hitting a soft shot just over the net into the non-volley zone, which forces your opponent to hit the ball frombelow the waist, giving you time to get into position for a smash or hard return, or a dink shot, keeping the point going until someone makes a mistake.  So, remember - soft is sweet