One of the most underpracticed skills is how to start a rally with a partner or opponent. I have coached many years and have tried to teach my players on how to feed the first shot to begin a warm up rally, etc. but some just don{t get it. Using the Continental grip is a great idea- since most of my players seemingly use the semi-western grip and, of course, hit a high bouncing ball with topspin. Great ideas' Thanks!
I feed with an Eastern grip. I find that sometimes with a continental, the ball sometimes will go out of control for me. With an Eastern grip, I can a little put topspin, slice or just flattened out and always under my control. My normal forehand grip is a semi-Western. But you are right, women tend to use their normal grip and it tends to loop a lot get out of control. I try to suggest a thinner grip but they don't want to change.
My hitting partner never feeds it properly to keep or start a rally. In fact, there is no rally unless I feed or give pace for him to use. Tempted to forward this video.
Thank you for covering this important topic! Too many times my hitting partners send me balls that are essentially winners! I am eager to practice this skill and SHOW MY PARTNERS how to do this as well. Ha ha! Great videos, I will be subbing your channel, thanks again - JD, Canada
Important topic, thanks. I am trying since years to teach my partners to feed the ball like this, not always with success. By the way, in the last years I began more and more to feed the ball in different ways, to teach beginners how to react properly to the different depths , speed, and spin (or lack of). They are indeed learning faster how to be more competitive. Sometimes they have also to let the bounce ball twice or three times, so they get aware of the movement towards the ball or away from the ball.
