Notes & Homework

 Skill: Lob Serve

• Contact Point: Focus on contact point out in front approx 12-15” in front of front foot.
• Weight Transfer: Load and rotate with weight transfering forward and UP into your shot.
• Hands: Soft loose continental grip.
• Swing: Low to high swing plane extending forward and UP through the ball.

Drill: Lob Serve & Return

• Place a line of cones 3 feet inside the baseline to create a depth target.
• Players set up crosscourt from each other at the baseline.
• Players take turns serving lob serves to their partner who catches ball and then serves it back.
• Add in lob returns after a round of just lob serves.
• Improves lob serve consistency and depth.
• Improves ability to diffuse hard hitters with deep lob serves and returns.

Skill: Return of Serve 

• Contact Point: Focus on contact point out in front
• Weight Transfer: Load and Rotate. Extending forward through the ball. This creates depth which is key for return of serve.
• Hands: Reach out with non paddle hand on forehands. Separate hands when hitting a 1 handed backhand.
• Swing: Short Backswing. Swing plane to the side to initiate kinetic chain.

Drill: Return Collector

• Place a line of cones 3 feet inside the baseline for a depth target.
• Players set up cross court from each other on the baselines.
• 1 player serves and 1 player hits returns back to server.
• Both server and returner are focusing on accuracy and depth.
• Players count how many returns they get in the cross court service box in the 1 min rounds.
• Use depth targets as players get more proficient.