After working separately on the contact point, racket preparation, and adjustment steps, this fourth and final stage in learning how to defend off the glass focuses on reading ball trajectories.
Depending on the direction of the ball and where it hits the glass, its trajectory after the rebound can vary significantly. The player must therefore learn to anticipate how the ball will come off the glass and adjust their positioning in order to find a contact point in front of the body.
This exercise focuses on three situations: a straight trajectory, a diagonal trajectory after the back glass, and a back-glass/side-glass double rebound.
The drill is performed in both directions so that the player learns to read these trajectories from both the left and right sides of the court.