Correcting the first serve toss before the final match

The situation

They had been struggling with their first serve, landing only a fraction of them in during recent matches. The coach identified that the ball toss was drifting right and low on most missed serves, which was confirmed by practice video. This issue needed to be addressed before the upcoming final match. They wanted to improve their serve to increase their chances of winning the title, especially after a previous injury. A strong first serve was crucial for their game, and they valued winning cleanly. They had experienced the importance of a good serve in previous matches, where lost serve games had decided the outcome. With the final match approaching, they needed to find a way to correct their serve toss. They considered various options to improve their serve, including practicing more or changing their technique. They decided to focus on fixing the toss with a daily drill, as this would directly address the issue without putting unnecessary strain on their shoulder. They chose this option because it targeted the root cause of their problem and could be done consistently without requiring a lot of time or effort. They planned to start by chalking a target on a wall and practicing their toss every morning, aiming to land the ball within the target. They would measure the success of this drill by tracking the number of first serves that landed in during their next few matches, aiming for a significant improvement. The goal was to land most of their first serves in, which would give them a better chance of winning the final match. They were determined to be ready for the match and were willing to put in the practice needed to achieve their goal.

What they weighed

• Fix the toss with a daily drill

  Chosen

• Hit harder to force errors

• Serve more baskets each week

What they decided

Fix the toss with a daily drill

Why

The misses come from a toss that drifts right and low, and a daily drill fixes that without straining the shoulder. They wanted to improve their serve without risking injury, and this method allowed them to practice consistently and target the specific issue. By fixing the toss, they hoped to increase the number of first serves that landed in, giving them a better chance of winning. They believed that a strong first serve was essential for their game and that correcting the toss would make a significant difference.

The first step

Chalk a target on the garage wall and toss fifty balls at it every morning

How they would know it worked

Most of their first serves landing in across the next few matches

How it turned out

Not known yet. The result is added here when it comes in.