Groundstrokes:
Groundstrokes include forehands and backhands that are struck at or near the baseline. Groundstrokes are most commonly used when returning serve or for 3rd shots. The difference between how a groundstroke should be approached for a return of serve versus a 3rd shot comes down to objectives and the necessary adjustment in the trajectory of the shot to meet those objectives.

Return of Serve:
The primary objectives of a return are consistency, depth in the court—to pin the opposing team back—and to provide the returner time to move forward to the kitchen line. This makes hitting a return of serve groundstroke at a higher trajectory more effective, as it promotes consistent net clearance, depth, and provides the returner additional time. A similar physical approach can be taken to hitting a return of serve groundstroke, with slightly more emphasis placed on shifting body weight into the shot to naturally carry the returner forward to follow the return in.

Drive Groundstrokes:
The primary objective of 3rd shot drives—or in any situation where the driving team is back and the opposing team is up—is to consistently draw weak responses and errors without making a high number of errors. This objective makes generating more power and reducing net clearance an important adjustment when hitting a drive groundstroke versus a return of serve. An increase in power forces weaker responses from the players positioned at the front of the court volleying the ball, and the flatter trajectory over the net makes the drive more effective while preventing the ball from carrying out-of-bounds due to the increased power. Since a drive groundstroke is struck by a team with inferior court position at a team with commanding court position, it is necessary to play a stronger, low-margin shot to gain a foothold in the rally.

When distinguishing between return groundstrokes and 3rd shot groundstrokes, a coach can simplify the goals by focusing on the ideal amount of net clearance: for a return, higher net clearance with a priority on depth; for a 3rd shot drive, lower net clearance with a priority on generating more power.