Assessment Criteria for Specialty Shots

The criteria will be given on a 9 point scale. The criterion applies to both backhand and forehand strokes.

Category	Area of play and Criteria	Teaching Pointers
(1) – (2)	Short court Show ability to lob the ball from partner feed by hitting ball high over the net to land in defined court.	As for drives except: · On contact with the ball angle racket face upward. · Lift racket during follow-through.
(3)	Full size court Execute a lob in a rally to clear opponent at the net. Use as a defensive shot to get the ball deep. Hit smash off partner feed, 50% success in court.	Maintain balance. · Keep racket head above wrist. · Watch ball onto racket. · Use service grip & action to hit smash. · Prepare early and position yourself under ball. · Place non-racket hand under falling ball. · Throw racket head at ball with full extension of arm.
(4)	Long and narrow court Hit smash in rally and competitive game. Show use of offensive and defensive lobs in a competitive game. Perform the drop shot from partner feed. Dropshot should land within 3 meters of the net with 70% success.	Early preparation with good footwork to position body under ball. · Choose target for smash. · Prepare for next shot after smash. · For dropshot perform volley shot except absorb pace of the ball. · Action ‘like turning a key in a door.’ · Aim to get ball to land near net and die.
(5)	Full tennis court Perform drop shot appropriately in a competitive game. Demonstrate the use of passing shots to hit the ball past an opponent at the net, and lob to reach spaces on base-line Show appropriate use of the approach shot. 50% success rate with all shots in a game.	· Use dropshot sparingly. · Hit across court reduce pace. Topspin lob without height. · Under-spin to keep ball low. Hit from high to low through ball. · Shoulder turn early and hit with continuous movement into net · Backhand us slice. · Forehand try to hit flat with slice shot. · Aim down the line.
(6)	Full tennis court Perform Topspin lob to clear opponent and land near the baseline. Demonstrate an angled drop shot. Show ability in a game to hit a smash away using power and accuracy. 60% success with these shots.	· Prepare with racket below height of the ball. · Brush up rapidly on contact with ball · Use an up and through action. · Select dropshot target and position early · In smash feet balanced, weight transferring forward and hit. · Follow through across body back to ready position.
(7)	Full tennis court Show the ability to hit a topspin lob at the correct time in a game. Demonstrate a drop shot in a rally from the baseline to win or set up a point. Maintain a high percentage (90%) of effective smashes in a game. Show consistency in hitting passing shots.	· Opponent crowding net. · Opponent committed in movement forward. · Use only when opponent is out of position, or well back. · Hit under ball and lift. · Try to move back to enable step into smash. · Reduce pace concentrating on accuracy and control.
(8)	Full tennis court Use all the specialty shots sparingly but effectively and constructively in game situation. 90% successful application of these shots in the game. Correct technical model of shots in practice.	· Early shot selection. · Plan point with game strategy. · Use shots according to game conditions.
(9)	Coach the relevant shots when the person has the appropriate game understanding to use the skill. Coach smash and volley drill.	· Simplify the skill. · Simplify the environment to practice the skill. · Develop games that focus on the skill.