Peel and Dig

Steps

1. 01Have a feeder deliver sets that are deliberately mixed: some tight and hittable, some far off the net.
2. 02Read the set at its peak and either stay to block or peel back off the net to defend.
3. 03When you peel, turn and open to the hitter rather than backpedalling blind.
4. 04Score each rep on whether the decision matched the set, not on whether you won the point.
5. 05Run 20 sets so the read has to be made under fatigue.

Common mistakes

• Deciding after the hitter's approach rather than off the set, which is always too late.
• Backpedalling with the back to the ball, so the first defensive step is a stumble.
• Peeling on every ball, which hands a good hitter an unblocked court.