Cross Court Dink – Skill level 2.0
This drill is intended to stretch out your opponent’s defense, and develop patience (for yourself and your partner). Keep dinking diagonally across the court until your opponent makes a mistake (allowing your or your partner SLAM the ball). Skilled players use this technique to look for weaknesses (court position, movement, forehand/backhand), exhibiting great patience in order to force and error (unforced error) or set up their partner for a slam.
Drill Execution – Have 4 players (2/side) stand at the NVZ in the ready positon. Start by dropping the ball in the court and dinking toward the opponent’s diagonal. Vary the dink so that all 4 players are forced to hit forehand/backhand dinks. Options include playing an entire game in the NVZ (dink only). Have players rotate positions to ensure all players use both forehand/backhand strokes.
Drill Execution – Have 4 players (2/side) stand at the NVZ in the ready positon. Start by dropping the ball in the court and dinking toward the opponent’s diagonal. Vary the dink so that all 4 players are forced to hit forehand/backhand dinks. Options include playing an entire game in the NVZ (dink only). Have players rotate positions to ensure all players use both forehand/backhand strokes.