I often notice that some players have difficulty covering short balls. Here are a couple of suggestions on how you can convert those short balls into winners.  

First of all, be observant. Watch to see if your opponent appears off-balance or is struggling to reach the ball on his/her side of the court. Either of these conditions may result in a shallow return. “Get Yourself Ready to Move in Quickly”.  (2). When you observe that your opponent has hit a short ball, move forward without taking your racquet back. Bring your racquet back while on route to the ball. If the ball is exceptionally short, keep your racquet out in front of you so that you can reach out to return the ball. (3) Practice wind sprints to build explosiveness into your legs.

George Haley