400 Series: Skills & Drills Lab

NVZ Top Spin

Takeaways & Training Tasks

Keep the momentum rolling with these quick steps:

  1. Refresh your memory with the 2 skills, 2 drills, and training video.
  2. Knock out the drills 2–3x before we meet again.
  3. Each time you play, pick one skill and make it your mission to useĀ it often and on purpose.

Top Spin Dink

  • Grip: Eastern Forehand/Backhand
  • Stance: Open or Semi Open pushing forward through the shot
  • Paddle Prep: Low to High swing plane in a C Shape, avoid scooping up at the end. For less shot depth - push forward less. For more depth - push through the ball more
  • Contact Point: In front and to the side, transferring weight into the shot. Lead with top edge of the paddle
  • Follow Through: Out in front towards the target with non dominant hand acting as counter balance

NVZ Target Ladder

  • Players set up at NVZ skinny cross court
  • Use court strips to mark shallow and deep in NVZ
  • 1- 1 Player dinking, 1 Player alternating shallow/deep
  • 2- 1 Player dinking, 1 Player alternating shallow/deep/inside foot
  • 3- Both players executing shallow/deep/inside foot
 

Swing Volley

  • Contact Point: Out in front, approximately 12-15” in front of toes.
  • Weight Transfer: Load and rotate to allow weight to flow into your shot.
  • Keep your weight low. Do not pick up with the shot.
  • Hands: Eastern grip with laid back wrist.
  • Swing: Swing through the ball like drawing a Nike swoosh to the side of you. Low to high swing plane. No backswing behind the body.

Toss & Swing

  • Place cone piles down the line mid court.
  • Feeders stand close to basket at T of NVZ to allow hitting down the line.
  • Hitters set up at NVZ.
  • Feeder tosses the ball to partner who attacks with a swing volley focusing on timing with contact point.
  • Balls ideally fed waist height.
  • 1 min forehand feed. 1 min backhand feed.

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