Coaching the boast

What is a boast?

A boast is a shot that hits the side wall before reaching the front wall. It can be used defensively (to recover from difficult positions) or offensively (to move your opponent forward and expose space behind them). The boast can be used from the front, middle and back of the court. Use it to:

• Reverse pressure to reset the rally.
• Move an opponent around court, forcing them to cover more ground.
• Add deception - boasts can look like a drive before angling into the side wall.
• Set up an attacking opportunity by forcing a weak return from the opponent.

Coaching points

• 2 wall boast: Get the player to imagine they are hitting the middle of the front wall next door (attacking).
• 3 wall boast: Get the player to imagine they are hitting the far front corner of the court next door (defence).
• Follow through: Maintain a smooth swing and follow through towards the target.
• Throw: Hold the ball gently to release upwards.
• Weight transfer: Shift body weight into the shot for control and accuracy.

Potential challenges

• Ball gets behind the player: Track the ball early and try and keep their body behind the ball.
• Hitting down: Encourage players to hit under the ball to avoid hitting the ball into the tin.
• Predictable use: If overused, opponents will anticipate it. Encourage variety and work on disguising the shot until the last minute.

Watch it in action