	DRILLS
	NET POSITIONING
	FOREHAND STROKE
	BLITZING
	CLOSE TO NET
	RUN DOWN LOBS
	WHEN TO DRIVE
	SUMMER TRANSITION
	OVERHEADS
	DISGUISE COMBINATION
	DEUCE COURT PLAYER
	WATERFALL OVERHAD
	PLAYING IN THE ELEMENTS
	LOB TO THE LIGHTS
	WHO'S ON OFFENSE?
	SPEED OF PLAY?
	DROP SHOT
	TOP SPIN
	SPIN OVERHEAD

Tips

DROP SHOT - Gerri Viant

The Drop Shot

The Drop Shot is a fun shot to add to your repertoire of skills. Once you own it, use it to help keep your opponents off balance and guessing. The reason it is called a drop shot is because the ball should DROP off your paddle. Definitely a point winning shot if executed correctly off of the right shot.

From the ready position, you are looking for your opponent to drive from behind the baseline without a lot of speed. A good time to try this shot is if your opponent is attempting to drive off of a side back screen from deep in the court.

You should be using a continental grip. Soft hands light grip, especially in warmer weather because a firmer grip will make the ball travel more forward which would give your opponents a deeper ball which is easier for them to get to.

The contact must be made above the level of the net so the ball can hit your paddle and DROP.

Once you have anticipated hitting this shot, you need to move close to the net with your paddle face higher than your hand and above the net. Your movement to the net must be completed before you strike the ball, otherwise you risk the momentum of your step adding speed to the ball at contact and making it land further into the court. By being right on the net you can remain perfectly still and allow the ball to hit your paddle and DROP.

It's not necessary to try to angle this shot off the court. A complete DROP off your paddle will either be a winning shot or cause your opponents to really scramble from deep in the court to get to a low short ball. As soon as you hit this shot get back to the ready position incase your opponent does manage to flick it up, you want be ready to volley it right back behind them. And so the chase continues.

Do not attempt this shot from below the level of the net. Trying to hit this ball UP over the net not only telegraphs it to your opponents, but the ball will bounce up higher and deeper in the service box for your opponents to run down and attack.

Remembering why it is called a DROP shot will help you execute this shot better.

Article written by Gerri Viant. Head Racquets Professional at The Nyack Field Club Nyack New York . Co founder of Performance Paddle Camp. PPTA Professional

Written for the APTA to be published in Platform Tennis Magazine. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission from author is prohibited

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