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Dinks |
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The dink shot is both a sword and a shield. It can be used to influence the movement of your opponents and it can be used to buy time when you get in trouble.
Trying to dink straight ahead at your opponent is tough because the shot starts low. The risk is twofold...hitting into the net or popping it up and into the opponent’s strike zone (where your opponent can easily overpower your partner with a quick overhead smash.)
Cross court shots let you begin to shape the point without taking a big risk. It also offers your partner the opportunity to jump in at perfect moment.
- Bend at the knees.
- Paddle ready.
- Move up close to the NVZ line. (If you stay back off the line you dramatically decrease your ability to change the tempo by reaching in for a winning volley.)
- Stay flexible/light on your feet.
- Move laterally (like a hockey goalie.)
- For a dink into the NVZ the ball should reach it's highest point just prior to crossing net.
- Volley (take ball in the air) when you can.
- Stay in the point…patience.
- Take the up-tempo winner if you must….but wait for it if you can.
Problems with Pop-Ups at NVZ?
Pop-Ups are shots you hit that keep rising as they cross the net. Generally they wind up presenting your opponent with an easy opportunity to attack. Common Causes of Pop-Ups:
- Too much back swing: When you take the paddle back beyond your hip you quickly lose the ability to control both power and direction. Limit back swing to hip and work to strike ball forward of your hip.
- Grip Too Tight: The tighter the grip the less feel for the shot. Tight grip reduces your ability to take the pace off an opponent’s shot and lightly drop it over the net. Reduce the grip pressure by consciously relaxing your grip and take one finger at a time out of the shot. Try practicing with a very light touch with very little grip tension.
- Straight ahead shots at net: Back and forth across the net to your facing opponent means you are hitting at the highest part of the net. This forces a low to high stroke that has to both clear the net and not travel into opponent’s strike zone. It also makes it easy for your opponent to reach forward and hit a volley. Instead, go cross court. Shots crossing the middle use the lowest part of the net and give you far more room to clear net and drop into NVZ.
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