Girls’ Groups: Key Aspects

Rowden Fullen (2003)

• Take and create 3rd ball opportunities (to push 2 or 3 then to open is not so effective, it gives the opponent time to think, to plan and to open first).
• Work out how your own serves are returned and how to move into position to attack the 3rd ball and which type of attack to use.
• Use the F.H. from the B.H. corner especially after the serve and on the diagonal. Often you will win the point direct.
• If you can’t open on the B.H. side get round with the F.H.
• The ball after the first topspin is of vital importance – be ready to get in and drive attack but judge the power input carefully.
• You can often even win by thinking differently, blocking short for instance.
• Training to block v topspin and to even hit through loop is vital in the women’s game.
• Control with feeling is important against topspin and if you can force the opponent’s loop then you give them no time to loop again.
• The slower ball and change of pace often win points in women’s play.
• Are you able to return a fast serve with a slow ball?
• Can you create real backspin when pushing on the B.H. and hit hard on the return ball?
• The hard push ball is more often than not returned with a float or slight topspin and is therefore easy to hit hard.