250 Series: Skills & Drills Lab
VolleyĀ &Ā Transitioning
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 2ā€“3x before we meet again.
- Each time you play, pick one skill and make it your mission to useĀ 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.
Transitioning Speed & Footwork
- Speed: Do not run to the line. Controlled steps at a brisk walk with paddle out in front of you.
- Stance: Do not stop feet side by side (split step)- continue walking and
adjust speed and direction if needed. - Contact Point & Weight Transfer: Accelerate or Decelerate to accommodate hitting the ball out in front of you with your weight transfer moving throughthe ball.
3 Ball Toss
- Set up 3 cones on the sideline as guides: 1 at baseline, 1 midcourt, 1 at NVL.
- 1 player at the baseline and 1 player at NVZ. Can be done straight on or cross court.
- NVZ player underhand tosses a ball to each cone depth.
- Baseline player hits drop from baseline, proceeds to next cone and hits drop midcourt, proceeds forward and hits a dink at NVZ.
- Focus is on transitioning speed and gathering footwork.
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