Next Level 400 Series
Thank you for attending Lesson 4 of our 12 week Training Series! Please note that lessons do not have to be taken in numerical order. You are welcome to start anytime during the 3 month rotation.
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Here are your notes and homework from class. Keep practicing to solidify all you learned.
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Looking forward to seeing you next week!
Notes & Homework
Skill: Return of Serve Strategy
- Emphasis should first start with return depth to prevent drives and keep opponents pushed back.
- Best placement for return of serves are down the line or in the middle.
- Middle causes confusion but is also more favorable to the hard hitters that drive the 3rd ball.
- Down the line is most offensive but also hardest to hit with accuracy.
Drill:Â Target Returns
- Place pile of cones in the outside corners deep in each service box on one side of the court.
- Players set up cross court from each other on the baselines, 1 side is servers and 1 side is returners.
- Servers will set up on the same side of the court as the targets.
- Servers will alternate hitting serves to their opponent's forehand and backhand.
- Returners must return all serves at the target cones down the line from them.
- Go for 2 min round, switch from odd/even side.
- Gather up balls, change server return roles and repeat.
Drill:Â Transition Zone Neutralizer
- Set up 3 cones on the sideline as guides: 1 at baseline, 1 mid-court, 1 at NVL. 1 player at baseline and 1 at NVZ (straight on or cross court).
- NVZ player hits slightly challenging ball to each cone depth.
- Baseline player must hit a drop shot or reset ball at each cone - staying at each cone until they land one in the NVZ.
- Make it harder with more pressure from feeder.
- Keep positions for timed rounds then switch roles.
