Notes & Homework

Skill: Volley

• Contact Point: Contact Point out in front, approx 12-15” in front of toes. Push forward through the ball with a guiding motion. 
• Weight Transfer: Allow weight to flow into your shot Body Positioning: Good Ready Position: elbows out in front of body, paddle in front of sternum, weight in balls of the feet. 
• Hands: Continental grip with medium strength. 
• Swing: Follow through pointing your paddle out in front directed at where you placed the ball. Do not over follow through - keep it compact and out in front.

Drill: Ball to Paddle Volley

• Players stand straight on skinny to each other at the NVZ. 
• One player underhand tosses a ball to partner that will hit a volley back to them.
•  Toss 1 forehand, 1 at body and 1 backhand. 
• Tossing player emphasis on good ready position to receive the ball after volley and good release forward when tossing.
• Hitting player emphasis on good volley mechanic. 
• Tactical Takeaways:
•  Improved ready position. 
• Improved volley control.

Drill:  Volley Grinder

• Players set up straight on skinny at NVZ.
•  Engage in a cooperative volley rally with the intent to see how long they can keep the rally going
•  Set timer for 1 min round and see how many they can do without messing up. 
• Repeat and try to beat your score. 
• Tactical Takeaways: 
• Improved volley consistency and ball control.

Skill: Drop Shot

• Contact Point: Out in front. Push fwd through ball with guiding motion.
• Weight Transfer: Load through the shot with weight transfer focusing on forward and low to create optimal ball flight.
• Hands: Soft continental grip, lay back wrist.
• Swing: Smooth, slow, even swing tempo with no backswing behind the body. Will feel like an extended dink.

Drill:  Progressive Drop Shot Self Feed

• Player sets up 3-4 feet behind NVZ with ball basket.
• Self feed by dropping a ball in front of you and hit a drop shot into the NVZ.
• Hit 2 balls - one straight on and one cross court.
• Back up 2 steps and repeat 2 drop shots.
• Once you reach the baseline then work your way back up with the same pattern of 2 drops and then 2 steps forward.