Drop or drive under pressure

Setup

1. Serving pair A at the baseline, receiving pair B in normal positions. Eyewear on: drives come fast at the net players.
2. Pair B is told to mix the returns: some deep and low, some short or high, some to the middle.

How it runs

1. A serves; B returns and moves to the kitchen line. Both A players stay back until the third shot (two-bounce rule).
2. A reads the return and chooses. Deep, low or fast return, or B already set at the line: drop it. Short, high or slow return, or B still running in: drive it.
3. After a drive, A looks for a fifth-shot drop to get forward. After a good drop, both A players move up together.
4. Play every point out. Five serves, then the pairs swap roles.
5. Pressure round: start every game at 8-8-2 (serving score, receiving score, server number). A team that wins a point with the choice the coach agrees with gets a bonus point.

Coaching points

• Decide early: read the return's height and depth as it leaves the opponent's paddle, not as it bounces.
• A drop needs time and balance; take it when the return pushes you deep.
• A drive needs a ball you can hit at or above knee height, in front of you, with your weight moving forward.
• Drive low over the net at the opponents' feet or the middle. Below the shoulders, never at the face.
• The partner of the hitter watches the opponents' positions and can call 'drop' or 'drive' if agreed beforehand.
• Under a tight score, pick the higher-percentage shot for you, not the shot that looked good last time.

Common mistakes

• Driving a deep return from behind the baseline and popping it up.
• Dropping a short, high return that could have been attacked.
• Running in after a drive without a fifth shot to cover the move.
• Changing the decision mid-swing.