The first situations i want to deal with are the openings. I will focus on the likeliest responses and/or the statsticly most succesfull ones. My analysis is based on proplayergames.

Single openings category1 short serves:
Single-opening-responses after a short serve directet close to the T (also called serve on the “1″) [S1] from the evan court side (the right side)[E] (evan side because of evan numbers)

Single-opening-response-1a
A: [S1] [E]
B: the likeliest response will be a netdrop.

Comment: I will deal with this possibility later, because the situation is very complex, and start with [Sor-1b]

Single-opening-response-1b

A: [S1] [E]
B: Another likely response is a swip towards the backhand side of your opponent. (should be deceptive or at least masked)
A2: the likeliest and most reasonable answer will be a straight defensive backhand slice. (if you don’t anticipate the shot an intercept it)

comment on A2: you might think, that this is a weak reply, and that your opponent gets a good chance on a net kill. The clue is the slice action. It brings the shuttle steeply downwards just after it passes the net; the tempo of the shot is a perfect mix, wich allows you to get back in position and still it is fast an steep enough to prevent an anticipation and net kill by your opponent. Only if you have technical defficites there will be a problem. And of course the backhandslice is not the only reply, and you should always have many options, but it ist the most likely and most reasonable reply. It ist a standard for this situation, wich every player should keep in mind as his first choice, and train it a lot.

Tactical training for Sor-1b partner-exercise
A: serves [S1]
B: swips towards the backhand corner
A2: makes a straight backhandslice

…from now on you continue with the exercise: “1 against 3 corners”. B will remain in his short forehand corner and place shuttles in the 2 backcourt corners or play a straight netdrop. A must alwayas play drops, netdrops or harmeless smashes towards his partner/towards his partners short forehand side.