Better at Beach
3 mistakes keeping you from spiking with power
Approach, arm swing and contact point.
Adult training · Week of September 28
Attacking night
Mondays and Thursdays, 6:30 – 7:30 pm at Elevate in Bonita Springs. Same plan both nights — come to one or both.
Week of September 28 · one-hour session
Attacking night
Power & approach mechanics week: lock in the 3-step approach, add torque to the arm swing, then finish with hard swings against a live defense.
Sessions
Monday, September 28
Thursday, October 1
Time
6:30 – 7:30 pm
Where
Sports Challenge America (Elevate), 28120 Race Track Road, Bonita Springs
0:00 – 0:05
Skill explanation
Scoring in the sand is shot selection plus a repeatable swing. Tonight we clean up the approach and arm path, then add the cut and the high line so the defense has to cover the whole court.
- Consistent approach footwork and take-off point
- High contact, elbow leading, wrist finishing the shot
- Look at the defender before you swing
- Two shots minimum, so nothing is predictable
The hour
Session plan
No warm-up — we start on the ball. Three drills, fifteen minutes each, then we compete.
- 6:30 pm – 6:35 pm5 min
Attacking — coach explanation
Scoring in the sand is shot selection plus a repeatable swing. Tonight we clean up the approach and arm path, then add the cut and the high line so the defense has to cover the whole court.
- 6:35 pm – 6:50 pm15 min
Approach + Standing Swings
Intermediate · 1 ball per pair, Cones for approach start lines
Why: Lock in the 3-step beach approach and a full high-contact arm swing.
- Approach: left-right-left (right-handed). Toss → 3 steps → jump → swing. 5 reps each then switch.
- Coach emphasis: Contact the ball at full reach — high point, not in front of the chest.
- 6:50 pm – 7:05 pm15 min
Learning Torque with Swings
Intermediate · Cart of balls, Net
Why: Apply the scoop-throw torque pattern to live swings off a tossed ball.
- Hitter takes 8–10 swings focusing only on hip/shoulder sequencing. Partner watches and calls 'arm only' or 'torque' on each rep. Switch.
- Coach emphasis: If the swing is arm-only, the rep doesn't count.
- 7:05 pm – 7:20 pm15 min
Open Net Power Game
Intermediate · Cart of balls, Cones / sand line
Why: Train the deep-court hard swing against a 3-defender formation — no blockers.
- Attacking side (other side of net) receives easy free balls from coach: pass-set-hit HARD into the deep court. Short half is out of bounds. Attackers rotate every point. Defense scores on hitting errors OR a dig + catch by a teammate. Offense scores when defense cannot dig and catch. Games to 7, rotate positions.
- Coach emphasis: Deep court is the target. Hard swing, smart placement.
- 7:20 pm – 7:30 pm10 min
Queen & King of the Court
Every session ends the same way: continuous Queen & King of the Court. Challengers serve in, winners hold the King/Queen side, losers rotate off. Competitive reps that put the night's skill under real pressure.
- Challenger side serves; winner of the rally moves toward the King/Queen side
- Lose on the King/Queen side and you rotate off to the back of the challenger line
- Points only count when you win on the King/Queen side
- Play until time — highest score wins the night
Watch before you play
Attacking videos
Two minutes of video before practice makes the drills click faster. Press play right here.
Better at Beach
The secrets to a perfect cut shot
The highest-percentage shot on the beach.
The McKibbin Brothers
The batter's box attacking tip
Where to be so every shot stays available.
Other weeks