Week 2
June 16–20, 2025
This week I focused heavily on improving my 4th shot game, where I'm getting more comfortable with decision-making on when to let balls bounce versus taking them out of the air, though I still need work handling drives when I'm off-balance.
Brad Douglas
June 24, 2025
Focus Areas
What I Worked On
This week I focused heavily on improving my 4th shot game, where I'm getting more comfortable with decision-making on when to let balls bounce versus taking them out of the air, though I still need work handling drives when I'm off-balance. My dinking has shown progress with more aggressive dinks and fewer pop-ups, but I need to stay more mentally engaged during dink rallies instead of passively watching. The biggest revelation continues to be how structured drilling with Coach Cam's real-time corrections and video analysis is accelerating my improvement—watching footage of my sessions has been eye-opening and shown both the progress and areas still needing work.
What I Learned
4th Shot Decision-Making
I'm developing better instincts for when to let the ball bounce versus taking it out of the air. This feels like a real breakthrough compared to where I was even two weeks ago. The skinny court drills have been challenging, but when we open up to full court play, my comfort level increases significantly.
Aggressive Dinking Progress
I'm slowly developing the ability to hit those "aggressive" dinks that put pressure on opponents without popping the ball up. My pop-up frequency has decreased, and when they do happen, I'm recognizing them faster and getting into better recovery position.
The Power of Deliberate Practice
The combination of structured drilling with Coach Cam's real-time feedback is accelerating my improvement. Having someone correct mistakes immediately rather than developing bad habits is invaluable. For those without a coach, I've discovered that recording sessions and reviewing footage can provide similar insights—it's been eye-opening to see both the good and bad in my game from an outside perspective.
What Still Needs Work
Despite the progress I've made, there are several areas that still need focused attention:
Handling Drives Under Pressure: I'm still struggling with balance when receiving drives with pace. Need to work on getting my feet set earlier and maintaining a solid base position when under pressure.
Mental Focus During Dink Rallies: I catch myself passively watching during dink exchanges instead of staying mentally engaged. Need to eliminate these mental lapses and maintain active anticipation at the kitchen line.
Consistency in Skinny Court Play: While I feel comfortable when the whole court is open, I still struggle with the constraints of skinny court drills. Need to develop more precision and confidence in these tighter spaces.
Pop-Up Prevention: Though improved, I still feel like I'm giving my opponents attackable dinks more than I'd like. Need to continue refining my touch and paddle angle control.
Win of the Week
I stood my ground in hand battles this week instead of retreating like I used to. Found myself on my toes, leaning forward, and actively looking for counter-attack opportunities. Didn't win every exchange—took some body shots that'll leave bruises—but the difference was clear: I wasn't backing down anymore. That aggressive mindset shift feels like real progress, even with the battle scars to show for it.
What's Next
Next week is all about footwork + resets on the run, and starting to build the speed-up/counter game. Cam’s cooking up some pressure drills and I’m ready for the heat.