Let’s talk about one of the toughest moments in a game: someone drives a ball right at your body. I hear this question all the time—“How do I manage this shot?” Today, I’m going to walk you through how to reset or block effectively, especially when you’re getting targeted with pace.
Common Mistakes Players Make
One of the biggest mistakes I see is players getting too square and compressed. When your body’s locked up like that, it’s hard to absorb the pace. Another thing I see a lot? Players popping their elbow up and trying to adjust their grip mid-shot with their thumb. That’s just not going to give you the control you need.
Keep It Simple—Think Punch Volley
Your reset block should feel as close to your regular punch volley as possible. You don’t want to reinvent the wheel—keep your technique consistent.
Here are a few key adjustments:
1. Use Your Body to Absorb the Ball
Your body is your biggest asset when absorbing pace. As the ball comes toward you, let your shoulders turn and rotate slightly away. Let the shot come in close. Don’t reach out for it. This gives your body space to take on the impact, softening the ball before it even reaches your paddle.
2. Elbow Down, Paddle Tip Up
Pay attention to your elbow—it should be down, not lifted. This position naturally helps absorb the ball and allows your paddle to work with gravity. With the tip of your paddle slightly up, the ball will drop softly onto the other side of the court. No need to force anything.
3. Stabilize with Your Non-Dominant Hand
Your non-dominant hand is there to stabilize the paddle. It’s not taking over—it’s just keeping things steady. That little bit of support helps prevent your wrist from breaking on contact. Keep it controlled, quiet, and connected.
4. Let the Paddle Do the Work
You only need a one- to two-inch motion. Let the ball come to you. You’re using your opponent’s power against them. It’s not about swinging—just soft hands and letting the ball melt into your paddle.
5. Freeze Tag Mentality
Here’s the mindset I always go back to—remember playing freeze tag as a kid? When you got tagged, you had to stop completely. That’s what you want to feel like when the ball hits your paddle. Be as still and calm as possible. Freeze. Let the paddle absorb. Then let the ball do its thing.
Resetting this way takes a little practice, but I promise—it’s worth it. It’s going to change how you handle pace and help you stay calm under pressure.
