Hey there, it’s your coach Jordan Briones.
There are three shots that can win you easy points when used at the right moment. Most players either do not think to use them or they try them and execute them the wrong way. One of them in particular is almost completely ignored even at the pro level, which means if you learn it, you are already ahead of most people you will play against.
Let me walk you through all three.
The Three Shots Every Player Should Know
1. The Drop Volley — Your First Easy Point Weapon
The drop volley is the shot you play from the kitchen line when your opponent is stuck deep. After a deep return that pushes them back, instead of hitting hard, you simply redirect the ball just over the net so they are forced to sprint forward in a completely defensive position.
The biggest mistake I see on this shot is too much paddle movement. Players try to feel the shot or guide it and the ball either pops up or lands too deep. The key is to hold your paddle still and let the ball do the work. Open paddle face, contact out in front, and almost no movement through the hit. The pace of the incoming ball is what arcs it softly over the net. You are just redirecting it.
Keep your grip pressure very light, around a three or four out of ten. And watch the ball all the way into your paddle. If you are looking at where you want to hit it, you will mishit it almost every time.
Once you play it, watch what your opponent does as they run in. If they have no backswing and are just reaching, they are going to try to dink it softly. That is your signal to be ready for the put away. If they start to wind up as they run, the ball is almost certainly going out. Let it go.
2. The Lob — Your Underused Weapon at the Kitchen Line
This is the shot I believe is most underutilized even at higher levels. And the setup for it could not be more clear. When your opponent is taking everything out of the air and leaning their toes right up to the kitchen line, they are giving you a perfect opening above their head.
The execution mistake most players make is using their wrist or trying to finesse it with small muscle movements. That makes the shot inconsistent and hard to control. Instead, use your shoulder and a little leg drive. Bigger muscles give you more reliable touch.
From your dink position, simply lift the ball vertically up and well above their reach. You are not trying to hit a winner. You are trying to send them back. Even if they get to it, they are now at the baseline hitting defensively while you are still at the net. That is exactly where you want to be.
Hitting the lob out of the air before it bounces makes it much harder to read and react to. If it bounces first, they have more time. So prioritize catching them while they are still moving forward and the ball is in flight.
3. The ATP — How to Execute It Intentionally, Not by Luck
The around the post shot gets a lot of attention, but most players treat it like something that just happens. In reality, you can set it up intentionally by pushing a ball wide toward the sideline of your opponent crosscourt, which forces them to return a wide ball that you can then run around the post to finish.
A simple way to know if you are wide enough to go for it is your feet. If both feet are carrying you outside the sideline, that is a good ATP opportunity. If only one foot is near the line, you are probably not far enough out and should reset instead.
Stay low as you go out to the ball and wait as long as you can before making contact. Hit it at the lowest point possible to keep the ball tight and difficult to handle. Keep the swing simple, a push or a light topspin down the line. No wrist. Just clean contact and forward movement.
After the shot, recover immediately. Players are getting better at defending the ATP, so do not stand there and watch it. Get back to cover your sideline and help your partner for whatever comes next.
These three shots do not require elite athleticism or a perfect technique. They require the right moment, the right read, and clean simple execution. Start with the one that fits the situations you see most in your game and build from there.
See you on the courts,
Coach Jordan Briones
