Create Space for Kill Shots

Summary

Universal Rackets explains the difference between a ball you can attack and one you can only neutralize. When it’s close to your body, you’re jammed; moving back or away from it puts the ball in front of you and turns it into an offensive shot.

He adds a layer that higher-level players use: they back up off the kitchen line to create space, but they also back up and then dink, because their opponents are good enough to read the speed-up from the step back. Space and distance create offensive chances, as long as the step back doesn’t give the shot away.

Key takeaways

• Jammed at the body means neutralize, not attack
• Move back or away from the ball to make it offensive
• Space and distance create attacking chances
• Mix in dinks after stepping back so the speed-up isn’t predictable

Action items

• Drill: partner feeds at your body, you step back and attack
• In games, step back and dink a few times before stepping back and speeding up