Learn how not to hit ‘out balls’
It’s easy to say, but it isn't just a question of not hitting a ball. Not hitting ‘out balls’ is a skill that takes time to learn. It takes discipline, good judgment, practice reading the speed, height and trajectory of the ball.
Good judgment is developed over time from playing experience and learning from our mistakes. There are no fixed rules on reading ‘out balls’ as every ball is hit with a different speed, spin & position on court.
Key points to get started...
Look for:
A rising ball driven hard at chest height with little top spin.
A ball driven at chest height from mid court is a difficult ball to keep in play especially if the opponents body weight is going through the ball. This is often an ‘out ball’ as well.
If a player hits a cross court attack these are balls that can also easily go out.
So, how do we get better at this skill?
Teammates often help each other to call a player off a ball that is going out. It’s often easier to see when a ball is going out when you’re not focused on hitting it yourself.
Listen to your partner and trust their call. If it was a good call, take a mental note of
why it went out. Notice if the ball's height, pace or trajectory was off. You can learn from a player who is good at not hitting ‘out balls’ and start to see what they are seeing.
Secondly, if you’re playing a team who hit the ball very hard with good topspin it’s difficult to judge if these shots are going in because the ball is traveling so fast.
During a rally it wouldn’t hurt to let one of these fast balls go and just see if they are landing in the court or not.
Lastly, practise developing this skill during rec play with friends and while drilling. Get into the habit of not hitting ‘out balls’ when you drill. Don’t keep ‘out balls’ in play, use this as an opportunity to develop this ability to read the speed and trajectory and to know when to play and when to let it go out.
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