Shot Menu: Cut, Line, Deep

Steps

1. 01Hit 10 hard-driven balls first, so the arm speed the shots hide behind is established.
2. 02Cut shot: same approach and same arm speed, but slice across the outside of the ball with an open hand to send it sharp cross-court just over the net.
3. 03High line: same approach, contact behind the ball and push it deep down the line over the blocker's outside hand.
4. 04Deep corner: same approach, roll the wrist over the top and drop it behind the defender into the back corner.
5. 05Have a partner stand in one defensive position and call your shot AFTER you leave the ground. 15 balls, scoring only shots that beat where they actually were.

Common mistakes

• Slowing the arm on the shot, which tells the defence what is coming while the ball is still up.
• Aiming shots at the middle of the court rather than at the space the defender left.
• Only ever swinging hard, so a disciplined two-person defence simply waits.