Work Your Way In
Four on one court? Only one ball may be hit hard at a time.
One Step at a Time
A feeds calm balls, and B steps in from the baseline one good drop at a time.
How to play
- A stands at the kitchen line and starts every ball: calm balls at B's feet.
- B starts behind the baseline and plays a drop: a soft ball that lands in or near the kitchen.
- Good drop: B takes one step forward and split-steps. Step by step to the kitchen line, then back out to the baseline the same way.
- Bad or high ball: B holds or steps back, and plays the next one soft.
- Keep the stroke small: a little push and lift, not a big swing.
- Swap roles after about 5 minutes.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: A plays with pace at B's feet, so B has to decide under pressure whether to step in or hold.
Too hard: A feeds only calm, easy balls, and B thinks only about the timing of the split-step.
Good looks like: Balanced at every step, the soft ball stays low, and B only moves forward after a good ball.
Survive the Pressure
A attacks at the feet, and B resets soft from further and further back.
How to play
- A stands at the kitchen line and attacks with pace at B's feet. Every ball must stay in the court.
- B plays resets: soft balls that take the pace off and land in front of A's feet, near the middle.
- B moves to every ball but holds the set distance: first at the kitchen line, then about 1 m behind it, then about 2 m behind it.
- High ball: B stays balanced and lowers the paddle, the ball will come down. A ball clearly flying out: let it go.
- Points to 5: B only has to survive, A plays to win. Then swap roles.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: A plays at full pace, and only resets that land in the middle count for B.
Too hard: A aims clearly at the feet and plays at moderate pace, so B can read every ball.
Good looks like: Quiet feet, a loose grip, and resets that drop low in front of A instead of popping up.
Seven Against Eleven
B works in from the baseline on half the court, and A tries to keep B back.
How to play
- Half the court, lengthwise. A starts at the kitchen line, B behind the baseline.
- No serve: A starts every rally with an easy ball to B. A start ball that is too hard or goes wrong is played again.
- B works in with drops and resets. A keeps B back with soft volleys at the feet, no hard hits.
- Once B reaches the kitchen line, anything goes: play the point out. Lobs are allowed.
- Both score on every rally. A needs 11, B only 7, because B's job is harder. Then swap roles.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: A may now use every shot, hard hits included.
Too hard: B may drive the first ball instead of dropping it, and A has to block it soft or step back.
Good looks like: B moves forward only behind a low ball, split-steps as A hits, and holds or steps back after a high one.
That's 30 minutes.Good rally, everyone.