Fast Hands
Four on one court? Only one ball may be hit hard at a time.
Forehand, Backhand, Repeat
A and B volley back and forth at chest height, switching forehand and backhand on every ball.
How to play
- A and B stand straight across from each other at the net (not diagonal).
- A hits a forehand volley at B's chest. B takes it on the backhand and sends it back.
- Each of you switches on every ball: forehand, backhand, forehand, backhand. No free play.
- Start so close to the net you can almost touch it. Once the streak holds, both step back to the kitchen line: you will feel you have far more time.
- Medium pace, go for long streaks. A mistake costs nothing: just start again.
- Between balls, hold the paddle up in front of your belly. Everything through the middle goes on the backhand.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: Raise the pace and play for the streak: whoever breaks it loses the point. Whoever makes three mistakes starts the next ball.
Too hard: Skip the close start and play only from the kitchen line, where you have the most time.
Good looks like: Every ball arrives at chest height, the elbow stays in front of the body, and you let the ball come to you instead of reaching for it.
One Side Attacks
A and B dink, only A may suddenly hit hard, and B blocks or counters without ever attacking.
How to play
- A and B dink as normal at the kitchen line.
- Only A may speed up, whenever A wants: on the first dink or the fifth.
- For now, A speeds up at about 60% pace.
- B never speeds up. B blocks or counters.
- B's focus: paddle up in front, weight forward.
- Then swap roles.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: A speeds up at normal pace, and B has to decide each time between block and counter. Neither is wrong, as long as the ball stays low.
Too hard: Before the rally, A calls where the speed-up will go: "line", "body" or "cross". Drop the call once B is ready.
Good looks like: B's paddle is already up and in front when the speed-up comes, and B's answer stays low over the net.
Nobody Knows When
A and B dink together, either may speed up at any time, and the other has to answer it.
How to play
- A and B dink together at the kitchen line.
- Either of you may speed up at any time. Do not give it away in advance.
- For now: about 3 speed-ups in every 10 dinks, at moderate pace.
- The other answers with a counter or a reset.
- No points yet.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: Speed up whenever you like, at full pace, and play for points.
Too hard: The attacker may aim at only two targets, the right shoulder or straight down the line, and calls it out loud first: "shoulder!" or "line!".
Good looks like: The defender reads the attacker's paddle angle and knows where the ball is going before it is hit.
That's 30 minutes.Good rally, everyone.