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Stick it to ‘em
Velcro pads have lots of uses:
1. Serving arm warm-up – In a private or semi-private lesson before serving, each of us puts a Velcro pad on the non-dominant hand. The players and the pro are on opposite sides of the net. We begin with friendly throws that they have to catch in the air. We then throw up lobs, forehand and backhand groundstrokes to each other. Not only are we warming up the throwing arm, we are working on turning our bodies and getting to the ball to make the catch either in the air or off the bounce.
2. Introducing the forehand volley – Make sure you have plenty of the fuzzy balls. Each player attaches the Velcro pad to their dominant hand. The player then turns perpendicular to the net with their arm out in front of their body. The pro or a partner tosses balls to the player who blocks them and tries to get the balls to stick. For every ball caught he can toss it back into the basket with his non-dominant hand for two points. The child with the most points gets a sticker.
3. Shuffle step – Players line up in single file behind the “T” at the service line with the velcro pad on their dominant hand. As the players shuffle from side to side along the service line, the pro rolls or tosses a fuzzy ball to either the forehand side or to the backhand side. The player catches the ball and throws it back to the pro who rolls or tosses another ball as the player shuffles to the opposite side. After four to six catches the next player in line begins to shuffle.
Christie Borne, USPTA
Parker, Colo.
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