Figure 8 Dinking Drill and Erne Technique

Key Points

• Figure eight drill with 1 person going crosscourt and 1 down the line
• Continue to work on the shuffle step across the kitchen or “crab walk”, holding your ground behind the line
• Focus on keeping the ball low while you move your partner across the kitchen
• Constantly be working on your recognition of the ball: ‘is it coming deep’; ‘does it have spin’; ‘is my opponent attacking’; ‘can I attack’
• Keep your feet right on the kitchen line, not giving up ground - reach and take the ball out of the air if it’s higher
• When going for an “Erne”, make sure you don’t touch the kitchen line
• Take a long leap forward, jumping outside the sideline, making sure not to land back inside the kitchen
• If you don’t execute the Erne, you can’t pass the net or you’ll lose the point; if you do execute the Erne and you hit the shot, you are allowed to pass the net