Notes & Homework

 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.

Skill: Counter Attack

• Weight Transfer: Allow weight to flow into shot.
• Body Positioning: Prep is key-Good ready position watching for the attackable ball coming at you.
• Swing: Accelerate through the ball. Finish out in front ready for the next shot to come at you.
• Mental: Assume everything can be sped up and be pleasantly surprised if they keep it slow.

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.

Drill: Cross Court Dink to Speed Up

• Place a ball tube stood up straight across from each player
• Players set up at NVZ cross court from each other
• Engage in a dink rally looking to build the point to generate a ball in the middle zone high enough to speed up at the tube in front of you.
• Make this more cooperative if needed or play it competitively to work on creating the higher ball and executing the speed up.