2-JUNE-2007

Only three boys, Boris, Calvin and Louve(who was late).
Too many old boys came(Covan, Sam, Raymond, Simon...)
Surprised!

At first, Boris and Calvin warmed up. At about nine thirty, we started to do some drills about approach. The approach is not only hard for the boys, also our left-handed old boy, Raymond. We believed that the player found it difficult is that they seldom approach to the net, especially approach by using backhand.

First, we started by the forehand approach, the easiest. The boys did well, but they sometimes hit the ball out. Hitting the ball out or to the net is common error of the appoach, you know, they have to hit the ball when it bounces high. If the ball bounces low, you can't make it as an approach shot and lastly is very difficult for you to move to the net. That's why the ball have to be high enough to hit an approach shot. Later, the drill becomed hard. They have to hit a cross-court fore hand approach. Not easy for them, but they did it.

What's more, we started the backhand appoach. Backhand approach, I advised to use a slice single-handed backhand to approach. Three boys were not good at slice backhand, they used their double handed "powerful" backhand instead of a slice. It's okay, but the fact is they can't control the ball.

Lastly, we did the in-side-out and in-side-in approach. They were good at the in-side-out forehand, maybe they have practised so much their forehand in-side-out at the adv court! However, the in-side-in approach is hard for them at first. They hit the ball to the net. They did well at last and have a very powerful forehand approach.

I would like to comment on the boys volleys.
The boys tried their best in the net, they had the sense of playing volley. Sadly, their volleys are too weak, they just return the ball to the court. We should or we must focus more on their volleys, too weak and without power. I hope, one day, they will have a crispy volley...Fortunately, I think Calvin had improved his net game.