Fake smash, short drop
Ready when: First smash from a held ball (i4) self-check met.
What you are learning
Disguise: getting ready exactly as for a smash, then playing a very short, soft ball just over the net instead (a drop shot). If the opponent cannot tell which is coming, both shots win more points.
Words on this card Net, Touch, Smash, Drop shot, Disguise, Set
- Net
- The low barrier across the middle of the table; at home a rope or a bench.
- Touch
- Each time a player plays the ball; at most three per side.
- Smash
- A hard shot hit down over the net to win the point.
- Drop shot
- A soft, short shot that lands just over the net.
- Disguise
- Making one shot look like another.
- Set
- One part of a match, played to 12 points.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Set up for a smash: leg back, eyes on the falling ball.
- At the last moment, slow the leg and touch the ball softly just over the net.
- Do one real smash, then one drop, with the same set-up.
Your part while they practise
Feed a high ball; fetch.
Step by step
- Prepare exactly as for a smash.
- Play a very short, soft ball just over the net.
- 10 tries at the mat, then swap.
How much: 10 tries each, 2 rounds 15 min a session 1 day a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Smash or drop
Mix 5 smashes and 5 drops; the receiver calls which before contact.
Who plays: 2 players, swapping after 10; a feeder if there are 3.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- The feeder sends a high ball
- The player chooses smash or drop without saying
- The receiver calls "smash" or "drop" before the ball is hit
- 10 balls, then swap
- Fair play
- The player must play 5 of each.
- Points
- The player scores 1 point when the receiver guesses wrong and 1 point for each drop on the mat.
- Fouls
- No points
- A different set-up for the drop
- The receiver calling after contact
- The drop landing past the mat
- Winning
- More points after 10 balls each.
- 4 points for 1 star
- 7 points for 2 stars
- 10 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
Toss to yourself.
The feed is a foot pass.
What you will see, and what to say
- it looks different from the smash
Same set-up as the smash
Hide it. - the drop goes long
Tiny touch, soft foot
Barely touch it.
Self-check
4 of 10 drops on the mat.
Stop and get a coach when
Always at this level.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains disguise, drop shot.
awiseathlete.com/sports/teqball/teqball-a1