350 Series: Skills & Drills Lab
Serve StrategyĀ & Drop Shot
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.
Serve Strategy
- Emphasis first is depth to make returns harder for opponents.
- Best placement for serves are at backhands or at the body.
- Backhands are typically weaker.
- At the body will either jam them up or force them to run around and hit a
forehand. Often resulting in a weaker return.
Target Serves
- Players set up at baseline cross court from each other
- Divide service boxes into 3 vertical lanes: Outside, Middle, Inside
- Add a depth line if desired
- Players serve and catch back and forth targeting the different lanes and
depth if added. - Perform both directions cross court
Drop Shot Preparation
- 3 Steps after you or your partner serve:
- 1- Exhale - relaxed bodies produce better drops or drives
- 2- Step Back - Either start back off the baseline as the non server or step
back after you serve. You will need space to move forward through your 3rd shot. - 3- Watch your opponents hit the return - early prep starts with early ball
recognition. Watch them hit and you will know where to prep.
Serve, Return, 3rd, 4th
- Players set up cross court or straight on at the baselines. If done in a group - set up straight on.
- Players play out a serve, return, third ball then fourth and then stop the rally.
- Alternate each rally who serves and who returns.
- Focus is on transitioning as both the server and the returner with appropriate speed and at the appropriate time.
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