I like to do what I call a hop back. It is basically a short push off with your toes into a backwards hop. Landing into a split step, while crouching down into the low blocking position. This basically incorporates your first and second recommendation into one move.
Aloha Jordan and thanks so much for some more great tips. I've been working on this the last couple of weeks trying to emulate who I believe is one of the best woman re-setter/defender. Your instruction comes at just the perfect time. Thanks again for your time and effort in putting these together for us! :)
Love your videos yet on this one you say, while at the NVZ, hold your ground when you see a smash coming after a high ball. Then later you said to take a step back and stay low with paddle low when you see a high ball about to be smashed to us. You mention doing both, yet being careful not to be moving while stepping back - but I notice you are in the transition zone when you demonstrate holding your ground AND taking a step back. A couple of partners have told me to hold my ground while at the NVZ no matter what because they can hit at my feet but I prefer to take a step back rather than being ripped in the face or body. Like you said there is more reaction time. . (I also take a mini step back when I can see a lob coming.) I want to get along with and be a good partner so should I just stay at the NVZ no matter what? Thank you for all the great coaching!
The problem is, is that everyone is an expert on their own opinions. Lol! If backing up or taking a step back helps your reaction time, and helps you defend more balls, then this is the way to go. Although sometimes I won’t take a step back because I feel like I can handle the ball in the position that I’m in or maybe I don’t have enough time. I can understand what your partners are saying when at the NVZ. Every time you take a step back, it WILL expose more of your feet. But this is what you have to decide for yourself in that split second decision. When you are at the NVZ, I think there are few times when you do have the time to take a step back. So maybe you are backing up and hitting the ball at the same time, which is definitely not something that you want to do. Maybe record and watch yourself in a game sometime. Then you can watch see see what you really do!
How can a receiver recognize that an opponent is about to hit with topspin or with underspin/slice, in order to prepare to return the topspin or slice? Thanks for your many helpful videos.
Look at their motion. You can tell by how they come in to contact and their whole motion in general. If they go very high to low then it’s underspin/slice. Very low to high is topspin. Read their swing.
Where you are standing during this video is what I was told is "no man's land". I was taught to move to the NVZ after the serve was returned by opponent.
After the return, the serving team has to let the ball bounce. Regarding getting to the NVZ, you will most likely have to hit shots from “no man’s land”, to get there.
Wouldn't lobbing the ball over the attacker be a good strategy? It pushes the attacking side back and gives you time to get back to the "kitchen" line.
The area you're aiming for between out of reach for a smash, yet still in, is really small. It's hard enough to execute a lob from the kitchen line. Doing it while blocking after a pop-up would be a lot harder than learning how to just reset.
Yes Dave, that would be a good shot. Although hitting that shot with consistency, away from the opponent’s overhead smash, is REALLY tough! The margin for error is really small.
Don't worry about the shot straight down the line for a winner or whatever. Play every other shot smart and well and everything else will take care of itself. You'll lose that point but win the game. Opponents hit good shots sometimes and you can't cover everything.
The lob is an option, but the better players that you play, they will be able to put the ball away if your lob is short into their court. At lower levels, you can get away with lobbing more often, and it can often be a go-to defensive shot.
Give it a rest. I believe the proper response is thanks Jordan and PTP for the helpful video that didnt cost me anything to watch and cost them time to make.
