Week 14
Sept 15-20, 2025
This week was all about deception and transition zone comfort. I'm finally making Cam work harder in drills, staying lower through my shots, and learning when (and when not) to attack. The biggest lesson? Staying loose - when I tighten up, shots sail; when relaxed, I can put the ball exactly where I want it. That moment when patience, strategy and execution clicked together felt like a glimpse of my 5.0 future.
Brad Douglas
September 23, 2025
Focus Areas
What I Worked On
This week was a rollercoaster with Cam back in town. Monday we battled through 2v1 kitchen drills where I'm finally making him work harder, though I still need that ball to bounce more against his reach. My transition zone comfort is growing—staying low instead of popping up has led to more consistent resets, but I need to keep that grip loose for softer kitchen shots.
Tuesday was all about deception—aggressive backhand dinks with surprise line shots. Two key focus points: turning shoulders toward my opponent for hard cross-court dinks, and holding my paddle position before ripping it down the line. The biggest lesson? Staying loose. When I tighten up, shots pop or sail; when relaxed, I can manipulate the ball exactly where I want it. We also drilled drive + drop sequences where I'm learning not to rush my 5th shots—went 9/10 on kitchen approaches by the end.
With Cam gone Thursday, Dru and I pushed each other through competitive dinking games and transition zone work. Our rallies are getting longer and more intense. Friday brought more gameplay, where my confidence continues to build.
What I Learned
Transition Zone Comfort
This felt like the biggest breakthrough this week.
- I'm finally staying low instead of popping up when hitting the ball
- This is directly leading to more consistent resets
- Need to keep my grip loose for softer kitchen shots
Backhand Dink Deception
Tuesday's work on aggressive backhand dinks with surprise line shots is starting to click.
- Two key focus points: 1) turning shoulders toward my opponent across from me before hitting an aggressive roll dink cross-court and 2) holding that paddle position as long as possible before ripping it down the line. Both moves create that split-second deception that's making a difference.
- The biggest lesson? Staying loose. When I tighten up, shots pop up or sail out; when relaxed, I can manipulate the ball exactly where I want
Drive + Drop Sequences
Still working on consistency here, but seeing real progress.
- I tend to rush my 5th shot after driving, getting sped up in my head
- Cam reminded me I have more time than I think
- Once I reset mentally, my 5th shot drops improved dramatically
- Went 9/10 on 5th shot by the end of our drill session
What Still Needs Work
- Kitchen Bounces: Need to get the ball to bounce more against players with reach like Cam
- Attacks: When attacking balls out of the air from the kitchen line while my opponent is in the transition zone, I need to refine my swings so they are more compact but still generate the pace and spin I need to win the point.
- Consistency: Our dinking games are getting better with longer rallies, but still plenty to master
Win of the Week
There was a moment during cross-court dinking with Cam where I attacked a dead dink, but Cam was completely set and waiting for it. After the point, he reinforced a crucial lesson: attacks work best when your opponent is off-balance, not when they're planted and ready.
Two points later, I got my redemption. Facing a mid-high ball that screamed "attack me," I resisted the urge to go for the kill shot. Instead, I pushed it wide to get Cam moving, then immediately fired an aggressive shot to his feet on the opposite side. The result? A beautiful pop-up that I put away cleanly.
That sequence—patience, strategy, execution—felt like a 5.0 player moment. For just a few seconds, all the training clicked together in real time. I'll take those glimpses of what's possible.
What's Next
Next week, I'm focusing on drive mechanics and footwork discipline. Cam and I will be targeting my tendency to get complacent with positioning during extended rallies. My goal is to maintain proper footwork throughout entire games, especially during high-pressure points when technique typically breaks down. This consistent foundation should help elevate my overall consistency and shot quality.