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Week 74
Welcome back to the Road to Pro!
Let's jump right in.
Quick question: after you hit your third shot, how do you decide whether to charge the kitchen or stay back?
I see a lot of players just automatically run to the kitchen after their third shot, no matter what. Getting to the kitchen is still the goal, because that's how you establish an offensive position, but how you get there matters more than how fast. Here are the three rules I use to move forward the right way:
Let your shot decide. When you hit a ball that stays low and lands in the kitchen near your opponent's feet, that's your cue to move forward in the court. On this shot, they have to hit up on the ball, so nothing dangerous is coming back at you. When your drop is too high and lofty and your opponent can hit down on the ball, do the opposite. Stay back and get ready to defend an attack.
Stop moving and get balanced before your opponent makes contact with the ball. You don't have to make it to the kitchen in one trip. Take whatever ground your shot buys you, then pause before your opponent hits the ball. This way you can respond well to the next shot before continuing to move forward. A good shot followed by a blind sprint usually ends with a ball at your feet while you're still moving.
Raise your paddle as you go. In the back of the court, keep your paddle low and out in front of you. A ball coming at you that's above your paddle height is going out. As you move forward, your paddle should climb with you. A little higher with every step, until it's at chest height when you reach the kitchen.
If you want a deeper dive into transitioning to the kitchen, go check out this video where I teach it all to another player (starting at 2:51).👇
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I challenge you to pay more attention to your third shot drops and start moving forward in the court gradually when it's safe, rather than sprinting forward no matter what.
Feel free to forward this newsletter to your doubles partner!
See you in the next one.
- Shea
