Notes & Homework

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: Bowtie Volleys

• Players stand straight on at NVZ. Players hit 10 shots or a time limit to each of these directions:
  • Volley down the line - forehand to backhand
  • Volley across - backhand to backhand
  • Volley down the line - backhand to forehand on the opposite side from round 1
  • Volley across - forehand to forehand
• LEVEL UP: 1 player hits every shot down the line and 1 player hits every shot across.
• From above it will look like you are drawing a bowtie with your ball flight.
• Do this for 2 min then switch who is hitting down the line and who is hitting across.

Skill: Speed Up 

• Contact Point: Out in front of you the same as you would a dink.
• Body Positioning: Same as a dink. You are trying to disguise this shot.
• Hands: Laid back wrist and slight flick as you strike the ball.
• Swing: Short to no Backswing. Accelerate through the ball. Be careful not to overhit this shot.

Drill: Speed Up & Counter Attack

• Players stand straight on at NVZ.
• Start cooperative dink rally alternating which player hits the speed up.
• Opponent is looking to recognize the speed up and counterattack it.
• Perform this cooperatively by slowing down the pace on your speed ups and slowing down your counter attacks.
• See how long you can maintain a slow counter battle in order to build good visual and physical muscle memory.
• Increase intensity as players become more proficient at hand battles.