Next Level 300 Series
Thank you for attending Lesson 2 of our 12 week Training Series! Please note that lessons do not have to be taken in numerical order. You are welcome to start anytime during the 3 month rotation.
Here are your notes and homework from class. Keep practicing to solidify all you learned.
Looking forward to seeing you next week!
Notes & Homework
Skill: Drop Shot
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Contact Point: Contact Point out in front, approx 12-15” in front of toes. Push forward through the ball with a guiding motion.
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Weight Transfer: Allow weight to flow forward into your shot. Load through the shot with weight transfer focusing on forward and low to create optimal ball flight.
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Body Positioning: Square up to the ball: point your toes, hips, shoulders and paddle towards the ball.
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Hands: Soft relaxed hand with continental grip, soft stable wrist, lay back or pronate your wrist.
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Swing: Smooth,slow, even swing tempo with no backswing behind the body. Follow through pointing your paddle out in front directed at where you placed the ball. Will feel like an extended dink.
Drill: Progressive Drop Shot Partner Feed
- Players both start about 3-4 feet behind NVZ straight on skinny.
- 1 Player tosses the ball using the drop shot mechanic - toss underhand to hitting partner.
- Hitting player hits drop shot and then takes 2 steps back.
- Tosser then tosses another and then hitter executes drop shot and then takes 2 steps back.
- Once hitter reaches baseline they reverse it - hit drop and then take 2 steps forward, repeat.
- Hitter arrives back at starting point- players switch roles of tossing and hitting.
- Tosser is still doing an important job. They are working on their drop mechanic with the underhand toss and working on their depth accuracy. They should be trying to land the ball 2 feet in front of their hitting partner.
Skill: Transitioning Speed and 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 through the ball.
Drill: 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. 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.
