Specialty Shots

Front 1

Volleys:

Block volley

Back 1

Used for extremely fast moving ball, minimal backswing and a firm grip

Front 2

Punch volley

Back 2

Slightly slower moving ball,
allows you to turn shoulders and take racquet back no further than rear shoulder

Front 3

Swing volley

Back 3

If the ball is higher and slower, you could take racquet back further

Front 4

Aggressive swing volley

Back 4

Hit with a strong looping topspin shot even from mid court or behind

Front 5

The drop volley (definition)

Back 5

Soft, "touch" shot meant to drop vertically (or nearly) close to the net, and to bounce w/very little forward motion

Front 6

To hit a drop volley

Back 6

1. Loosen wrist and grip @impact
2. Let racquet recoil slightly as the ball is hit
3. @ the same time, turn wrist and forearm quickly in a clockwise direction
4. Loose wrist will take speed of of oncoming ball.
5. Backspin will slow the bounce of the ball & reduce its foward motion.

Front 7

Half volley (definition)

Back 7

A ground stroke (ball first hits the ground before the player hits it). Played similarily to regular groundstroke, usually played from a volley location, and will probably have to use a volley grip.

Front 8

To hit a Half volley

Back 8

1. Shorter backswing
2. Adjust length of the stroke, depending on the distance from the net and your aim point.
3. Adjust plane of swing according to strategic location.
4. Depth-close racquet face slightly and swing in a flat plane. Lift the ball-Open racquet face and swing in an upward plane.
5. Make adjustments w/wrist and forearm, consider possible angles of deflection of the ball of your racquet on each swing.

Front 9

The lob volley (Definition)

Back 9

A. Usually executed as a defensive measure when the opponents are aggressively crowding the net.
B. If a net player hits a dropshot and opponent must approach the net quickly to retrieve it. The opponents forward motion would be hard to stop, making them vulnerable.

Front 10

How to hit a lob volley

Back 10

1. Open the racquet face quickly as you hit, by turning the wrist and forearm quicly in a clockwise direction to put backspin on the ball.

Front 11

The lob (Definition)

Back 11

A high shot, usually played as a groundstroke.

Front 12

2 Types of lobs

Back 12

1. Offensive-usually hit with topspin, will bounce away before the net player can retrieve it.
2. Defensive lob, hit with either backspin or no spin. It may still be retrievable, generally forces very weak return or overhead smash opportunity for the person to hit it.

Front 13

How to hit lobs

1. Use stroke similar to groundstroke, same: grip, stance, preparatory swing, and pt of contact.
2. Swing in a more upward plane than normal.
3. Often-much shorter backswing to make a play on fast moving ball (may resemble volley stroke-short punch/block/or push w/little or no wrist action).

Back 13

Topspin
1. Hit similar to your drive stroke, but w/intended trajectory, swing in more markedly upward plane.
2. Proper combination-Swing plane & angle of racquet face. Produces both upward flight and topspin that causes the ball to curve sharply downward after sailing over net.

Front 14

The drop shot (definition)

Back 14

A delicate "touch shot" requiring precise timing and deft racquet work. Used by a player who finds opponent: out of position, off balance, or slow footed. Intention: to make the ball descend nearly vertically to the net, w/little forward motion.

Front 15

How to hit a drop shot

Back 15

1. Built on groundstroke patterns, same grip, stance, and backswing and forward swing used on drives.
2. Slow swing just before contact to hit ball softly, you may have to open the racquet face quickly as you hit (applies backspin to the ball)
3. The spin causes the ball to bounce more toward vertical axis, result: opponent will have to run further to get to the ball.
4. Slow forward swing causes you not to follow through as much, if at all.
5. Extend arm and racquet along line of your shot (your target line) only far enough to steer ball delicately toward the aim pt.
6. Disguise stroke to not give away intention.