Serve toss onto a towel

What you need

Players

1 player

Time

3 to 5 min

Level

Beginner and intermediate

Equipment

Ball, Target (towel or basket)

Ball fed by

Not needed

Space

A yard or driveway

Ages

9+

Setup

1. Lay a towel on the ground just in front of the front foot, on the hitting-arm side.
2. Serving stance: opposite foot forward, ball in the non-hitting hand.
3. Toss without hitting and watch where it lands.

How it runs

The toss decides the serve. The player stands in a serving stance, lifts the ball up in front of the hitting shoulder and lets it drop without swinging. A towel on the ground marks where a good toss lands: just in front of the front foot, on the hitting side. Ten in a row on the towel and the serve gets much easier.

Time and reps: 2 rounds of 10 tosses.

Coaching points

• Lift the ball and let the arm stop at eye level.
• Toss a little above where you can reach.
• In front of your hitting shoulder, every time.
• Hitting arm up and back, ready, while you toss.

Ways to change it

• Easier: toss and catch with the same hand.
• Harder: shrink the target to a hand towel or a chalk circle.
• Next: toss and serve at a wall or a towel target.

Make it easier or harder

Make it easier

• Toss and catch with the same hand before letting it drop.

Make it harder

• Fold the towel in half, then in half again.

Safety at home