I’m 28M, been playing for about 9 months (~3.0 evel).
From the baseline I’m fine:
- decent serve
- good returns
- feel in control
But at the kitchen line it’s a different story. If someone speeds it up or hits quick volleys, I’m just late every time, like I can't just react fast enough, I either freeze there or flinch. It feels like my brain and body are delayed. I end up backing up just to survive, which I know is bad.
This isn’t new either. Even when I played soccer as a kid, I was always slow to react. So part of me thinks it’s just how I’m wired.
I know people say anticipation matters more than reaction time, but even against beginners I still feel behind.
I do have:
- a ball machine
- a wall
So I’m willing to actually train this.
What I’m looking for:
- specific drills to improve reaction time at the net
- anything I can do solo
- or honest answer if this is something that doesn’t really improve much
Is this fixable with the right drills, or do I just need to accept playing more from the baseline?