Next Level 350 Series

Thank you for attending Lesson 6 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.
Here are your notes and homework from class. Keep practicing to solidify all you learned.
Looking forward to seeing you next week!

 

If you are interested in Private, Semi Private or Small Group Instruction, our excellent line up of Club Coaches are ready and available to help you! See Club Coach schedules and rates:  Club Coaches

Drop Shot Mechanic

  • Soft hand, soft stable wrist, soft body
  • Swing forward- not up 
  • Contact Point in front – no backswing behind the body
  • Non paddle leg forward and reach with non paddle hand
  • Laid back wrist
  • We will have a plain vanilla and an aggressive drop – it all depends on what ball gets hit to us and how our footwork prep plays out
    • If you can load forward and low you can be more aggressive – diving drop at their feet
    • If caught off balance – keep it safe and just try to get it to bounce in front of opponent 

Drop Shot Yo Yo Drill

  • Focus is on loading forward even though you are moving back 
    • Both players start at NVZ.  
    • one player stays at NVZ and other player hits two shots into the NVZ and then takes two steps back, two hits aiming for NVZ and then two steps back, repeat until they reach the baseline.  
    • Then hit two shots aiming for NVZ and two steps forward repeated until you reach the NVZ.  
    • Then other player goes to baseline and back.

Mid Court Defense Mechanic

  • Soft body, soft hands
  • Stagger feet
  • Push ball forward and use weight transfer
  • Stay Calm Under Pressure – Your body needs to be the shock absorber

Mid Court Catch and Release Drill

  • Players stand straight on across the net from each other- 1 at NVZ and one midcourt
  • Each time the ball comes to midcourt  player they must “catch” or stop the ball with their paddle then gently hit back to their opponent at a height that is able to be volleyed.  
    • The catch and release is a double hit.  Hit once to catch the ball and hit twice to hit it back into the NVZ
  • Objective is to hit second hit into the NVZ at an unattackable height

Transitioning Strategies

3rd Shots

  • #1 Watch your partner if they are hitting the 3rd shot
    • If they look balanced, loaded forward you can put some money on their shot and start to move forward
  • #2 Watch your opponent that is receiving the ball -their paddle prep will tell  
    • Green light to move forward- opponent contacting below the net
    • Yellow light to move forward with caution – opponent contacting net height
    • Red light to NOT move forward – opponent contacting shoulder height or higher

Transition Zone Shots

    • If it is LOW go SLOW – This is MOST OFTEN THE CASE
      • Don’t speed up, attack or swing fast at balls you are contacting below your knees
      • Keep trying to drop or reset these balls into the NVZ so your team can approach the net
    • If it is HIGH make them CRY – this happens occasionally usually off a REALLY good drop or drive
      • Attack the balls in transition zone that are waist height or higher 
      • Targets 
        •  #1 open court 
        • #2 the person straight in front of you