250 Series: Skills & Drills Lab
Volleys & Overheads
Takeaways & Training Tasks
Keep the momentum rolling with these quick steps:
- Refresh your memory with the 2 skills, 2 drills, and training video.
- Knock out the drills 2–3x before we meet again.
- Each time you play, pick one skill and make it your mission to use it often and on purpose.
Punch Volley
- Contact Point: Out in front. Push forward through ball with guiding motion.
- Weight Transfer: Allow weight to flow into your shot.
- Body Positioning: Good Ready Position
- Hands: Continental grip with medium strength.
- Swing: Follow through pointing your paddle out in front where you placed the ball. Do not over follow through-keep it compact and out in front.
Toss Volley Catch
- Part #1: Players set up at NVZ cross court or straight on. 1 Player hitting
volleys and the other tossing. - Toss ball to hitter alternating forehand and backhand target.
- Hitter focuses on 1 of the technical aspects of volley.
- Tosser focuses on catching volley out in front and watching paddle face
- Part #2: Same set up but players randomize tosses and focus on ball
recognition of where their partner is tossing or hitting.
Overhead Smash
- Grip: Continental
- Stance: Open Stance perpendicular to the net, use SCISSOR STEPS to move
back - Paddle Prep: Paddle above the back of the head in trophy position
- Contact Point: Above the head and out in front of the body- extending up to reach the ball
- Follow Through: Swing down and across to the non-dominant side of the
body
Paddle Free Smashing
- Set up straight on, one player at transition zone and one at NVZ.
- Player in transition zone tosses a ball high over opponent’s head simulating
a lob. - NVZ player attempts to set up in a well balanced position from which they
could hit a smash, but they catch the ball above their head with their non
paddle hand.
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