Notes & Homework

 Skill: Defending the Pop Up

•  Contact Point: Out in front, and typically low.
• Weight Transfer: Allow weight to flow into shot. Use weight to direct the ball rather than swing at it.
• Body Positioning: Athletic stance with weight forward.
• Hands: Soft hands and wrist to provide shock absorber for ball.
• Swing: Push this ball forward. Avoid swinging up at this ball.

Drill: Pop and Pressure

•  Players stand straight on at NVZ.
• Start cooperative dink rally until one player intentionally pops up a dink.
• Opponent cooperatively smashes the ball mid paced allowing partner to step back and attempt to reset the smash.
• Resetting player must stay back until they hit a neutral ball that they can move forward on or until the ball is dead.
• Alternate who is popping and smashing each rally.
• IMPORTANT: this is cooperative - do not smash these hard. Give each other a chance to reset properly and then get more aggressive as you and your partner become more proficient at resetting.

Skill: Punch Volley

•  Contact Point: Out in front. Push fwd 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.

Drill: Volley Grinder

•  Players stand straight on at NVZ.
• Engage in a cooperative volley rally with the intent to see how long you can keep the rally going.
• Set timer for 1 min round and see how many you can do without messing up.
• Repeat and try to beat your score. Improves volley consistency and ball control.