Refreshing to see a post about a real mans game...
First of all, please tell me you use the right and left arrow keys for control of the paddles, if not, please change that.
what I tend to do is NOT randomly fire the paddles, that results in nothing but bad news. I hold down the arrow keys keeping the paddles in the up position, allowing the ball to rest there and then I can decide what to do with it there.
Accuracy is everything. You have to learn to time your shots right so the ball goes exactly wherever you want it go (whether it be re-entry or basic training.)
Try reading this
http://faqs.ign.com/articles/498/498637p1.html
and
http://download.cheatcodes.com/faqs/25486.html