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© Copyright 2001, Jim Loy
I tell people to try not to hit their opponents. Sometimes it cannot be avoided. And other times, quite often really, the opponent is the natural target. You have to hit at him or her; just hope that no one gets hurt.
Let's consider doubles. Your partner is at the net and you just hit a bad short lob. You just hung your partner out to dry, and you should expect the opponents to hit the overhead at your partner (unless there is an easy overhead at some other angle). It was your fault, not your opponents' fault. Your partner was the target. If they hit it to you, you would have gotten it back. They would be foolish to hit to you. People who are out of position (in no person's land, for example) become the target. If one player is at the net, and starts backing up for no reason, he/she has become the target. If no one is out of position, the passing shot (in doubles) is down the middle (or sometimes down the line).
When all four people are at the net, there are several ways to win, angles, between the opponents, lobs, whatever. But one of them is at the opponent. It's not a power shot, so probably no one will get hurt. But the tennis commentators say to aim at the opponent's right hip (assuming he/she is right handed), as that is the most awkward volley.
I hate to mention this, but often the weaker player is automatically the target.
What if you are the target. You're about to eat yellow felt. I'd say, don't get hit. Your partner may be covering for you ('cause you're the target). If you can make a decent shot, go for it. I often make myself the target, moving up into no person's land, to draw the hot volley or overhead. And then I'll hit the great reaction shot, probably a lob. Another way to make yourself a target, is to poach a lot when partner is serving. They are going to blast at you or down the line, because you asked for it. If you're not comfortable with that, then guard the line.
Some of my partners play too close to the net, when my opponent is serving to me. Or they will always move toward the net, no matter how bad my return is. Hey, I cannot hit a great return everytime. If a top spin serve goes to my backhand side, I am likely to pop it up. So, always hang back when the opponents are serving to your partner (unless your opponents are one of those rare pairs who both play at the baseline when serving). You can always move in after a great return.