Reset Techniques

The three ways to make contact on your resets...

Author

Shea Underwood
August 10, 2025

Week 56

Welcome back to the Road to Pro Newsletter! Just by opening this issue, you are now automatically eligible for this week’s paddle giveaway. Last week’s winner was Andrew from Florida!

Here’s what I’ve got for you this week:

  • The three types of contact you need for resets

  • An easy way to practice each type

If you’re reading this, you now have a chance to win this week’s paddle giveaway!

Now, let's get to it!

Big shoutout to Selkirk for sponsoring this newsletter and making all the paddle giveaways I do possible! I personally have been using a Selkirk paddle for over five years now, and every paddle I’ve used has been better than the last one. I recently started using their newest paddle — the Project 008, and it’s giving me more power and spin than I’ve ever had before. You can pick yours up on their website here and use code INF-Shea for a gift card on a future purchase.

Reset it Anywhere

There are three different ways you can make contact with the ball when hitting a reset, and it depends on how hard the ball is hit toward you and where it lands on the court.

The first and easiest method is to let the ball bounce, peak, and begin to fall before making contact. When the ball hits the court, it loses a lot of its pace, making it easier to control and apply your own spin. Ultimately, this just gives you more control over your shot.

Sometimes, though, you won’t have time to wait for the ball to bounce and peak. The second option is to hit it off the short-hop, meaning right as it’s rising from its bounce in the court. The ball is still traveling quickly, but since it hits the ground first, some of your opponent’s speed is absorbed before it gets to you.

The last option is taking the ball out of the air. This is the most difficult because you're hitting against the full force of your opponent’s shot. But even though it’s more difficult, you need to learn how to do this well, since you’ll definitely run into this shot in a game as you transition to the kitchen.

You’ll face all three types of contact in a game, so make sure to practice each one. The more you drill resets using all three types of contact, the more confident you’ll be in any position on the court. And that means you'll transition to the kitchen more smoothly and with fewer mistakes.

Learn Control

Practicing the three types of contact on your resets is honestly very simple. All you need is one other person, and then have them stand at the kitchen line while you stand farther back in the court.

To practice the first type - letting the ball bounce, rise, and peak before falling - start at the baseline. This gives the ball plenty of room to hit the court and reach its peak. Keep a volley going with your drilling partner, and every time the ball comes towards you, watch for it to reach its peak and then make contact as it’s falling back towards the ground.

To practice the short-hop, move a few feet in from the baseline. Have your partner aim their shots just in front of your feet, so that you’re forced to make contact with the ball right after it starts rising from the bounce.

For practicing resets out of the air, stand around midcourt. Ask your partner to aim their shots knee-height or above so that you have to hit the ball before it bounces. Keep a rally going this way.

The goal is to get comfortable with all three types of contact so you're ready to reset the ball no matter where you are in the court. The more you practice each situation intentionally, the more natural your resets will feel—and the easier it’ll be to stay in control as you move up to the kitchen.

Discounts for You