POP QUIZ SHOT SELECTION

QUIZ QUESTION

IN 5.0, OPEN AND PRO LEVEL COMPETITION WHAT IS THE MOST OFTEN USED THIRD SHOT BY THE SERVING TEAM TO ADVANCE TO THE NET.

a. back spin low deep drive between opponents at net

b. top spin low drive between opponents at net

c. forehand drive to opponents weak hand sideline

d. overhead lob of opponents at net

e. drop shot from baseline into opponents NVZ

f. none of the above

g. all of the above depending on the situation. .

ANSWER:  BOTH JOSH & KEVIN NAILED IT.  I WAS SUPRISED BY THE LACK OF 3rd SHOT DROPS USED BY TOP RANKED PLAYERS IN 2019 NATIONALS.  MOST SERVING TEAMS SELECTED THE DRIVE TO THE MIDDLE OF OPPONENTS AT THE NET.  IF YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO PULL OF A BASELINE DROP SHOT AND THEN HAVE IT LAND CC IN THE NVZ, THAT WOULD BE TIME CONSUMING DIFFICULT SHOT TO RETURN.

HITTING A LOB OVER THE HEAD OF YOUR OPPONENT THE BASELINE AFFORDS THEM TIME TO STEP BACK AND SETUP FOR A PUT-AWAY SMASH, OR MAKE A DIAGONAL CROSS KITCHEN CHIP SHOT.  

ANSWER:  BOTH JOSH & KEVIN NAILED IT.  I WAS SUPRISED BY THE LACK OF 3rd SHOT DROPS USED BY TOP RANKED PLAYERS IN 2019 NATIONALS.  MOST SERVING TEAMS SELECTED THE DRIVE TO THE MIDDLE OF OPPONENTS AT THE NET.  IF YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH TO PULL OF A BASELINE DROP SHOT AND THEN HAVE IT LAND CC IN THE NVZ, THAT WOULD BE TIME CONSUMING DIFFICULT SHOT TO RETURN.

HITTING A LOB OVER THE HEAD OF YOUR THE BASELINE ALLOWS YOUR OPPONENTS TIME TO STEP BACK AND SETUP FOR A PUT-AWAY SMASH, OR MAKE A DIAGONAL CROSS KITCHEN CHIP SHOT.  

DEPENDING ON THE SITUATION AND WHO IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE COURT, I WOULD HIT A BACKSPIN CHIP SHOT FROM THE BASELINE INTO THE CENTER OF THE OPPONENTS NVZ LANDING CLOSE TO THE NET.