Hitting Drop Shots: Racquet Grip, Swing Angle & Spin
To begin the lesson, Coach Lewit opens with a discussion on using and hitting drop shots, beginning with the important teaching points for how to hold the racket and the proper grip to use (Continental) to hit the drop shot.
Coach Lewit goes through the different types of balls a player might hit the drop shot with and the swing path his or her racket should take when hitting these different types of shots – including discussions on swing angle, and how to best use the racket face for hitting high balls and low balls.
Coach Lewit also talks about different spins you can put on the ball and the importance of ‘disguising’ a drop shot when attempting to use it during a match, which is especially important because players need to be taught HOW to hit drop shots before attempting them against an opponent.
Building upon a solid foundation of how to hold the racket and how to swing to hit a drop shot are critically important fundamentals that players must learn.
Drop Shot: Footwork & Drills/Exercises
Next, Coach Lewit leads a detailed examination of the footwork required and necessary to hit drop shots – going over all the different types of footwork that one can use to hit drop shots, as well as an outline of the and an array different types of drop shots that players can use depending upon where they are on the court. Coach Lewit examines hitting different drop shots a player can use as he or she moves forward, moves backward and while on the run. There are a variety of different shots that players can hit depending on the situation and their personal level of skill.
This is an important component of the video as it provides the knowledge necessary to help a player with his or her drop-shot development because of the footwork that is necessary for hitting the drop shot and all the different steps required to successfully hit a drop shot.
Lastly, Coach Lewit shares his favorite drills and exercises to help players’ master the drop shot. He starts with hand feeding which can be done as a warmup or an initial drill as one is still learning technique for how to hit the drop shot.
The next progression of exercises are done with racket feeding and then lastly, some important partner work done in a live-ball drill setting.
Coach Lewit also discusses patterns of play for how and when to use the drop shot. These strategies are important for high-level players who are looking to improve their abilities during competitive matches. He also briefly discusses hitting drop-shot serves and drop-shot returns.
This video is for players who are learning how to hit the dropshot, who want to use the drop shot more often in their matches and for players who want to learn when to hit the dropshot and in what situations.
Coach Lewit showcases his vast level of expertise and experience in this instructional video and his teachings can really help players advance their game to the next level!