Firefighter

Sooner or later on the way to the line, a hard ball comes at your feet in the transition zone. The firefighter’s job is to take the pace off it and land it in the kitchen instead of hitting back hard.

Setup

• The firefighter stands in the transition zone, a few steps behind their own kitchen line.
• The attacker stands at the kitchen line on the other side, straight across.

How it works

1. The firefighter feeds a soft ball the attacker can attack.
2. The attacker speeds it up, aimed low, at the firefighter’s feet.
3. The firefighter resets: paddle down early, soft grip, and the ball lands in the attacker’s kitchen.
4. Keep it going while the resets stay soft. Ten balls, then swap jobs.

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1. 1P1 is the firefighter, in the transition zone. P2 is at the kitchen line. P1 feeds a soft ball to start.
2. 2The feed: a ball P2 can attack.
3. 3P2 speeds it up at P1's feet.
4. 4Paddle down early, soft hands: P1 takes the pace off and lands it in the kitchen.
5. 5P2 goes again, now at the other foot.
6. 6Another reset into the kitchen. Ten balls, then swap jobs.

Turn the dial

Easier: the attacker hits at three-quarter pace, and always to the forehand side.

Harder: the attacker mixes in a soft dink now and then, so the firefighter can’t guess, and the firefighter scores a point for each reset that lands in the kitchen.