400 Series: Skills & Drills Lab
Base Line Top Spin
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.
Top Spin Return
- Grip: Eastern Forehand/Backhand
- Stance: Open or Semi Open pushing forward through the shot
- Paddle Prep: 3/4 back swing. Low to High swing plane in a C Shape, avoid scooping up at the end. For less shot depth - push forward less. For moredepth - 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
Return Depth/Direction
- Players set up cross court on the baselines: 1 Server, 1 Returner
- Create 3 targets in the back third of court for the returner: 1 in each outside lane and 1 in middle.
- Server will serve 3 to returners forehand who returns 1 to each target square.
- Then 3 serves to backhand to return at each target.
- Move to odd side of court and repeat.
- Add in spin control for added challenge.
Top Spin Drop Shot
- Grip: Eastern Forehand or Backhand
- Stance: Open or Semi Open based on set up to the ball
- Paddle Prep: 1/2 back swing with a low to high swing plane to create top spin. Use more brush up (C Shape Swing) than push forward to create more spin and shallow depth needed for drop rather than drive
- Contact Point: Out in front of body and off to the side with weight transferring forward through the shot. Lead with top edge of the paddle
- Follow Through: Out in front of opposite shoulder with non dominant handas counter balance
Transition ZoneĀ Spin Drop
- Set up 1 player at NVZ and 1 at the baseline. Can be self fed with 1 player if needed.
- NVZ player feeds to baseline player who hits repetitions of top spin only or slice only drop shots. Then alternate each spin each shot.
- Perform cross court both directions and straight on.
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