INSTRUCTION By Alice Tym
PURPOSEFUL SHOTS
Technically , all shots should be purposeful . You should plan your game like a chess match : every shot has a purpose . In addition to your bread-and-butter shots — your deep serves , deep returns , solid volleys , and placed overheads — you need to practice specialty shots . Those are the shots you pull from your arsenal when your bread-and-butter shots aren ’ t working or when you want to augment your standard shots by keeping your opponent off guard .
These shots are designed to create a specific situation or to counter specific situations . You are hitting a specific shot as a reaction to certain situations . Here are seven specific shots , when and why to use them , and how to practice them .
1 . The Short Serve
When and Why
Players get used to returning deep , clean serves . They get grooved . They start using your pace right back against you . They stand behind the baseline ready for your good serve and they pound it . You need variety to keep them on their toes . It is helpful to tell your partner when you are going to serve short because the return is often short as well . A code word is useful so that you don ’ t surprise your partner . Use the same preparation and motion on your serve but take the pace off of it . You don ’ t have to do it often ; you just need to make the opponent off balance and uneasy . How to Practice Take a bucket of balls and practice alternating deep and short serves . You don ’ t want to telegraph the short serve , so you need to work on having a set routine . And , you need to know how hard to hit so the ball clears the Non-Volley Zone ( NVZ ) line .
2 . The Drop Volley
When and Why When your opponents are hanging deep behind the baseline to cover your deep volleys , it is time to drop a few short volleys into their NVZ to keep them honest . If they are setting up and driving the ball with a lot of pace , they are expecting a deep response from you . Variation is the key . How to Practice When you are drilling at the net , hit every third volley softly . Maintain the same motion so that you don ’ t telegraph your drop volley . Absorb the energy of their hard drive as if you were catching a water balloon . Stay low so that your body does the work , and you can make last-minute adjustments .
3 . The Drop Overhead
You should plan your game like a chess match : every shot has a purpose .
When and Why
When your opponents are doing a good job of fielding your deep overheads , it is time to surprise them with a short drop . They are camping out way behind the baseline so that they have more time to run down your deep shots . Change it up . How to Practice An overhead drill requires good footwork . It is the same for the drop — perhaps even more so . Position yourself well ; this is a touch shot so your footwork must be even more precise than it is for a normal overhead . You still must look as if you are going to smash it hard . Avoid being sloppy .
4 . A Short Return of Serve
When and Why
Most good players have solid , deep returns . Players practice deep crosscourt and down-theline shots . If you cannot match or beat your opponent ’ s drives , you must be creative . Mix up your returns . Throw in a short one to change the depth and rhythm . A short return of serve can be especially effective when hitting into the wind . How to Practice When doing crosscourt and down-the-line groundstroke drills , set up for a normal drive , but take some pace off every third ball just to break up the rhythm . For both players to benefit from the drill , it is an opportunity for your drilling partner to practice