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250 Series: Skills & Drills Lab

ServeĀ &Ā Return

Takeaways & Training Tasks

Keep the momentum rolling with these quick steps:

  1. Refresh your memory with the 2 skills, 2 drills, and training video.
  2. Knock out the drills 2ā€“3x before we meet again.
  3. Each time you play, pick one skill and make it your mission to useĀ it often and on purpose.

Serve

  • Grip: Continental or Eastern Forehand
  • Stance: Semi Open for optimal hip rotation and weight transfer
  • Paddle Prep: Low to high in pendulum shape next to body
  • Contact Point: Below the waist, out in front with weight transferring from
    back foot to front foot
  • Follow Through: Out in front towards the target

Serve & Return Catch

  • Set up Players cross court from each other at baseline.
  • 1 Player serves, 1 Player is catching the serve with hands focusing on early prep and catching it out front.
  • Part #1 - Alternate serves forehand/backhand
  • Part #2 - Randomize serving for betterĀ ball recognition
 

Return of Serve

  • Contact Point: Focus on contact point out in front
  • Weight Transfer: Load and Rotate. Extending forward through the ball. This
    creates depth which is key for return of serve.
  • Hands: Reach out with non paddle hand on forehands. Separate hands when hitting a 1 handed backhand.
  • Swing: Short Backswing. Swing plane to the side to initiate kinetic chain.

Serve/Return Rotator

  • Place a pile of cones in the outside corners of each service box and one in
    the middle deep.
  • 2 lines of players - one on each side of the court on the Even side.
  • 1 line of players serves and the other line of players returns targeting the
    cones.
  • Once a player has served or returned they run to the other side of the court
    and get in line. Returning players pick up a ball and put in the basket for
    servers.
  • Repeat with serving from the Odd side and returning to the Even side.

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