300 Series: Skills & Drills Lab
Drop Shots & 4th Shot Swing Volley
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.
Drop Shot
- Grip: Continental or Eastern Forehand/Backhand
- Stance: Open or Semi Open based on set up to the ball
- Paddle Prep: 1/2 back swing with a low to high swing plane
- Contact Point: Out in front of body and off to the side with weight transferring forward through the shot
- Follow Through: Out in front towards target with non dominant hand as
counter balance
Transition Zone Approach Control
- Set up 1 Player at baseline & 1 Player at NVZ skinny straight on or cross court
- Set out depth target in NVZ - bigger target for beginners, smaller target for
advanced - 1- Self feed drop shots at target -3 moving forward
- 2- Partner feed drop shots at target - 3 moving forward
- 3- Partner Rally drop shots - 3 moving forward trying to keep the rally continuous.
- Perform cross court both directions and straight on
Swing Volley
- Contact Point: Out in front, approximately 12-15” in front of toes.
- Weight Transfer: Load and rotate to allow weight to flow into your shot.
- Keep your weight low. Do not pick up with the shot.
- Hands: Eastern grip with laid back wrist.
- Swing: Swing through the ball like drawing a Nike swoosh to the side of you. Low to high swing plane. No backswing behind the body.
Self Feed Drop Shot & Fourth Swing
- Players set up 1 at the baseline with the ball basket and 1 at NVL.
- Baseline player self feeds drop shot.
- NVL player works on 4th shot swing either out of the air or off the bounce.
- Do not play out the ball - just 3rd and 4th.
- Add depth cones for 4th shot player to encourage pushing them deep.
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