Tip 11 — Target the back foot during transitions
When opponents charge the kitchen from the transition zone, most players instinctively drive the ball toward their chest or torso. This often results in a pop-up because the strike zone is comfortable and compact. Instead, shift your target downward and hit low at their back foot.
Forcing your opponent to reach down for a volley eliminates their leverage and flattens their reply. A ball dropping below the knee level cannot be driven aggressively over the net. It forces them to lift the ball upward, giving you an immediate height advantage on the next exchange.
Next time you hold the offensive advantage in the mid-court, resist the temptation to aim for empty space in the upper body. Look at the shoelaces. By denying them a clean extension, you dictate the tempo and turn their forward momentum against them.