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Drop Shot Basics

Jim McLennan, Senior Editor, TennisONE

Click here to see drop shot animation.

What--Drop shot with heavy backspin
Who -- Anyone with touch, though we saw it much more in the old days of Rafael Osuna and Ilie Nastase then we do in the modern era.
Why --the drop shot opens the court, and when not an outright winner often sets up the next shot for an easy passing shot or lob winner.
Where -- You are inside the baseline, and your opponent is on or behind their baseline.
When -- They have hit a relatively simple shot (not much pace or depth) and you can take it on the rise.
How -- Swing high to low with a sharply angled racquet, create sufficient backward spin with fairly good racquet speed, but cut the ball enough that it doesn't fly through the air very fast. Feels like a "purposeful mishit". When the ball rises against a down swinging racquet even more backspin is created than when a similar swing is made against a descending ball.

Mental Image: Picture the angle of the racquet from start to finish, play the ball on the rise, follow through on the hitting side, swing the racquet sharply from high to low.

Ball Machine Practice: Place the machine on the baseline, shooting the ball onto your service line, you must take it as it rises, from within the baseline.

Specific practice: Learn to drop shot the opponents second serve.

The ball enters the picture just as it bounces.
I am beginning my high to low motion.
The ball is rising into the hitting zone.

Nearing contact, racquet well angled, balanced on the front foot, eyes on the ball.
Follow through, remaining sideways, racquet finishes low and still angled, you can easily see how much backspin has been created.

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