Machine Counter-Attacks
Why this drill
Blocking a speed-up keeps you alive; countering it wins the point. The machine firing at your chest on a metronome gives you what no partner safely can — unlimited attacks to counter, with nobody's reflexes but yours on the line.
Setup
Machine at the opposite non-volley-zone line aimed at your chest-to-paddle-shoulder zone, firm pace, quick interval — the honest speed-up simulation. You at your kitchen line, paddle up in the ready block position. Cones or a towel in each far kitchen corner as counter targets.
The drill
First set of ten: pure blocks, dead paddle, balls dying in the kitchen — the baseline you're upgrading from. Next three sets of ten: counter every ball — a compact punch redirected at a corner target, forehand or backhand as the ball dictates, never a backswing. Count counters that land at or near a target: six of ten per set is strong at full machine pace. If your counters spray, the fix is nearly always the same — contact drifted behind your body. Finish with one mixed set: odd balls blocked, even balls countered, because choosing is the real game.
One thought to take on court
Counter in front of your chest — short punch, firm wrist, and let the machine's pace do the damage.