Basic Techniques – Diagonal to the Left

Basic Techniques – Diagonal to the Left

Have you just started playing Bailongball or do you feel your playing technique is not as smooth as you like? In our series of videos “Basic Techniques – …”, we show you six moves that enable you to return almost any ball.

For fast and rather low balls coming towards you on your left hand side, try this diagonal variant. As with all balls, you “copy” the trajectory to receive the ball. Rather than staying on the same spot throughout the move, with the diagonal you receive the ball on one side and release it on the other side, spinning on your body’s axis in the process. For this move imagine one are aligning yourself to a compass.

This is how you hold your racket:

• Imagine you are looking at a frying pan
• Now, take the pan at its handle
• Your thumb rests on the handle, while the ofther fingers encompass it
• The racket stays in your hand like this while you are swinging

This is how you swing and pass the ball:

• You face your partner – the ball is coming from West
• As the ball approaches your left side, you turn towards it, performing a 90° turn. While turning, you position your racket to receive the ball at an angle of about 45° – you are now facing South. Your free arm forms a natural extension, pointing upwards at an angle of about 135°.
• With the ball now on your racket, shift your weight to your right leg, so your left foot can turn outward on its heel. Now begin turning your body and start raising your „racket arm“, at the same time begin lowering your other arm.
• Your right foot circles to your left foot at about an 45° angle. At the same time, your racket reaches shoulder level, at an angle of 90°, while your “racket free arm” lowers to shoulder level as well. Your „racket arm“ is now pointing East, while your other arm is pointing West.
• Shifting your weight to your right leg once more, you continue the rotation, your left foot turning outwards. The „racket arm“ keeps moving upwards, while the free arm keeps moving downwards. It’s in this phase, when the ball leaves the racket.
• Shifting your weight to your left leg, your right foot circles to the position it started out when you received the ball. Your „racket arm“ reaches its highest point at about 135°, while your other arm reaches ist lowest position at about 45°. At this point your racket points North and your free arm points South.
• To complete your rotation and to aid the accuracy of your play, your left foot pivots into the position it was in when you received the ball. Simultaneously, your racket arm lowers to shoulder level, pointing West, while your free arm raises to equivalent level, pointing East.
• In the final phase, your “racket arm“ moves to an angle of about 45° downwards and your free arm extends to an angle of about 135° upwards – the exact position you started out when receiving the ball.

And there you are – ready to return a fast and low ball 🙂

Xiaofei Sui
Bailongball Instructor

Mike Ritz
Bailongball Trainer