We all want to win and the drop shot has the potential to be the rally decider, this will automatically make you more tense than you would be for a shot with less stakes on the line. The drop shot also has much less of a margin of error than other shots. If you hit the ball too low then you might clip the tin and lose the point, if you hit the ball to high then you might set your opponent up with an easy shot from which to attack you.
The first principle of the drop therefore is to keep it simple no matter your standard.
The skill of the drop comes from a players ability to apply cut to the ball and feel it on the strings, the last thing you want is the ball to bounce off your racket. Think about the angle that you want to create with the ball and keep the swing as simple as you can to find that angle.
Pick the right ball to hit the volley drop on. The ball should have bounced above the height of the tin so that you are able to swing down on the ball.
On both the forehand and backhand make sure that your shoulders are parallel to the side wall.
You should look to minimise the back swing so that you can start your swing closer to the ball. It is still important to start your swing with your racket up but not as far back as you would on say a drive.
Be in control of the ball off your strings. Do not let it bounce off but make sure that your racket is going out to meet the ball.
Hit through the line of the ball with a slightly open racket face.
The first principle of the drop therefore is to keep it simple no matter your standard.
The skill of the drop comes from a players ability to apply cut to the ball and feel it on the strings, the last thing you want is the ball to bounce off your racket. Think about the angle that you want to create with the ball and keep the swing as simple as you can to find that angle.
Pick the right ball to hit the volley drop on. The ball should have bounced above the height of the tin so that you are able to swing down on the ball.
On both the forehand and backhand make sure that your shoulders are parallel to the side wall.
You should look to minimise the back swing so that you can start your swing closer to the ball. It is still important to start your swing with your racket up but not as far back as you would on say a drive.
Be in control of the ball off your strings. Do not let it bounce off but make sure that your racket is going out to meet the ball.
Hit through the line of the ball with a slightly open racket face.
A good way of visualising this is to imagine that your impact point is on the near corner at the top of the racket head. This will mean the ball can be held on the string for the largest amount of time, meaning a greater amount of cut, hopefully resulting in more pace being taken off the ball and it clinging easier to the side wall. Many coaches call this hitting through with edge. When you are looking to generate power you want to strike the ball in the centre of the strings and hit the "sweat spot", when you're looking to take pace off the ball you want to use the edge of the racket.
Drop Shot Video Example - Click here for a video example.
Drop Shot Video Example - Click here for a video example.
