Description:
Mike Branon
When the ball flows high to the other team and they’re at the kitchen line, it’s time to play defense. This is when it makes more sense to try to neutralize your opponent’s advantage and reset the point by dropping the ball softly at their feet rather than hit a ball hard and hope to get lucky. A reset takes a powerful shot and returns it into the kitchen, forcing the other team to hit up on the ball rather than receive another high ball they can attack.
There are two situations that demand a reset shot. The first scenario is when you’re at the kitchen and your opponent who is also in the kitchen is about to hit a hard shot at you. First, it’s important to anticipate a players shot. You want to get your paddle out in front of you and ready yourself to meet the ball with a slightly open paddle face favoring the backhand. As the ball is hit, you want to keep your body and paddle as calm as possible. Your natural reaction is to tighten up and flinch, but practice doing the opposite. You simply want to soften your grip and move your paddle to block the ball so it lands softly in the kitchen. Think of your paddle as your shield. Keep it in front of you to protect you rather than turning your body and shielding away from the ball, which is actually counterproductive.
Because of the way our body works, the backhand is the most effective reset option at the net because you can cover more area by moving your right elbow away from your body. When you meet the ball with a slightly open paddle face, the open face lofts the ball slightly as it drops into the kitchen like a dink. Your opponent can’t attack that shot and you successfully reset the point. For a forehand reset, you just flip your paddle quickly and again, meet the ball with a slightly lofted paddle face square to the target.
If you anticipate a shot well, it could do more than block the ball. You can hit an aggressive volley and turn the tables on the other team. When you anticipate a high ball that you can handle, mix things up by aggressively counterattacking. It takes experience in practice, but knowing when to reset, punch, and counterattack volleys makes your net game a real weapon. As you gain experience, you will get better at determining which shots to reset at the net and which ones to counterattack.
The only way to master the reset and the counterattack is to practice. Once you put in the time, the shot becomes much easier. But don’t be too hard on yourself when you miss a reset shot. You’re at a disadvantage to start with. Be content to get a decent percentage of these shots back in play.
There are also other reset shots. A common error when trying to reset a ball hit at your feet when you’re in the back court is to hit the ball hard, but that is a low percentage play. The smart move is to take that ball and reset it with a drop shot. Move quickly forward and look for that prime real estate up at the kitchen line. Reset shots are essential tools for senior players since they neutralize power and get you to the kitchen where mobility matters less and skill, placement, and control matter more. Resetting drop shots are the great equalizer. They can turn defense into potential offense.