IMPORTANT STARTING POINTS
- Make every player feel welcome and excited
- Answer any immediate questions or concerns
- Introduce the theme and structure of the session for players to engage with and follow along
- Be energetic and approachable from the very start
ANGLED SHOTS:
- Cross court drives
- Boasts
- Cross court volleys
- Court court kills
- Reverse angle
- Back wall boast
- Cross court volley nick
- Cross court drop
- Cross court lob
TECHNICAL ADVICE FOR BOASTS
- Turn the shoulders towards the back corner to assist with the correct angle for boasts
- For the boast hit the ball towards the front opposite corner on the next court! Sounds strange, but it works!!
- Open racket face, especially when the ball is deeper on the court
- Change in racket head speed may be needed
TACTICAL QUESTIONS/DISCUSSIONS FOR BOASTS
- Where are boasts played from on the court the most and why? Boasts are often played as a defensive shot when a player is stuck further back on the court, especially in the corners.
- Where do you play attacking boasts from on the court? Attacking boasts are usually played further up the court by the short line and when in front of the opponent.
- Is it better to hit the ball hard or soft for a boast? Both are good options, depending on the situation a player is in. A slower, higher boast can give a player more time to recover out of the back, but a harder lower boast will be more challenging for the opponent to get back.
- How can a good boast effect to your opponent? A good boast, played at the correct time can wrong foot the opponent and make it very difficult to get back or read in the first place.
TECHNICAL ADVICE FOR CROSS COURTS
- Face the shoulders towards side wall for the cross court.
- It’s important to hit the ball out in front of your front foot in line with the front corner in order to get the ball across the court.
- Aim to hit the ball approximately half way across the front wall so that the angle is wide enough to go past your opponent if they are on the T.
- Keep the racket face open and aim to help get the ball high so that it lands deep on the court.
- Change in racket speed may be needed.
- Aim for a cross court will hit the side wall behind the service box on the opposite side of the court and die in the back corner. It is not expected at the start to achieve this, but it is good to know what you are aiming for.
TACTICAL QUESTIONS/DISCUSSIONS FOR CROSS COURTS
- Where are cross courts played from on the court the most and why? Cross courts can be played from anywhere in the court. A lot of people play too many cross courts. Keeping the ball closer to the side wall more of the time makes it more difficult for your opponent.
- Where do you play attacking cross courts from on the court? Attacking cross courts are usually played further up the court by the short line or at the front of the court when the opponent is in the behind.
- Is it better to hit the ball hard or soft for a cross court? A slower, higher cross court can give a player more time to recover or reset the rally and a hard, lower cross court can twist the opponent quickly and give them fewer shot options.
- How can a good cross court effect to your opponent? If cross courts are played wide enough and at the correct time during the rally it can twist and turn their opponent and bury them deep on the court in the back corners, where it is difficult to play the ball or have shot options.
