COLLIN JOHNS HITS A DEEP CROSSCOURT DINK AGAINST RILEY NEWMAN AND MATT WRIGHT TO SET UP AN ATTACKABLE SHOT FOR HIS BROTHER AND TEAMMATE BEN JOHNS AT THE PPA AZ MASTERS MEN’ S DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIPS. PHOTO BY BRUCE YEUNG; IG: @ YEUNGPHOTOGRAPHY.
Drill 2:
One of my favorite drills to run students through is called“ Say it.” In this drill we dink straight ahead or crosscourt and say either“ Offense” or“ Defense” every time we hit the ball. This gets students thinking about the shot they are hitting, and it becomes an extremely easy way to judge how well you are doing.
Are you getting a high ball after you say“ Offense” a few times in a row, which is great, or are you constantly hearing your opponent say“ Offense” right after you say it and need to change something?
To be offensive with your dinks at the non-volley zone, it is important to use these drills to train your mind into the patterns. A big part in creating an attackable ball with a dink is to be visualizing and mentally preparing for the next shot. Try these drills the next time you drill with your partner and think about this strategy. Go get that attackable ball and win the game! •
Josh Deutsch is a PPR clinician at Royal Oaks Country Club in Dallas, Texas.
SPRING 2026 | MAGAZINE 29