Legends Best Shot
WPH Press, Tucson, AZ, 9/9/23
The WPH is thrilled to bring you the Race 4 Eight Legends Corner, your chance to hear from the Race 4 Eight’s legends that have shaped the most exciting handball tour in the sport.
On Edition 4, our Race 4 Eight Legends will discuss their best shot, how they developed the shot and when they used the shot in matches.
Race 4 Eight Legends Corner Edition 1: Hardest Shot to Learn HERE
Race 4 Eight Legends Corner Edition 2: Hardest Opponent HERE
Race 4 Eight Legends Corner Edition 3: Favorite Race 4 Eight Stop HERE
Race 4 Eight Legends Best Shot
Every Race 4 Eight legend had their best shot, with most Race 4 Eight fans being able to identify the legend’s best shots with remarkable accuracy. On Edition 4 of the Race 4 Eight Legends Corner, our Race 4 Eight legends reflected on what they thought was their best shot and explained how they developed their most dangerous weapon.
4-Time R48 Finalist and R48 #2 Naty Alvarado, Jr.
After watching a three-hour semifinal battle between John Bike and Danny Bell at the Big C Athletic Club in Concord California, I realized then I would need to perfect the V pass shot to set myself up for offensive opportunities. Along with learning the V pass, I also realized that I would need to increase endurance/conditioning in order to extend rallies to end rallies.
The V pass can be considered a defensive shot. I personally feel that it is an offensive shot to end rallies or act as set up to end a rally on the next/final shot decision.
The V pass is a great weapon when it comes to repositioning your opponent on the court. Removing your opponent from the front side of the handball court gives you control of the center court. If you watch any handball match, controlling the center court should be your main objective. It has long been said that winning a handball match usually goes to he/she who holds the center court the longest.
Practicing the V pass has always been one of my favorite handball drills. You should be using a full body movement with a proper swing technique that gives you a repetitive clearing motion. Watching the handball off the front wall 4 feet high to the angled sidewall, gives you a sense of the defense/offensive opportunity that arises with moving the opponent backwards or sideways in retreat.
This shot is one of the most important handball shots any handball player should possess.
WR48 NYAC Finalist and Former WR48 #2 Tracy Davis
In 1-Wall, my best shot was any shot in front of myself or near my body. Unlike 3 or 4-Wall, you’re allowed to hit the ball near your body and take away your opponent’s ability to see the shot clearly or at all. It was also very effective for my low serve. I developed my shots watching and playing with Dori Ten and Barbara Canton. We’re all about the same height, and they are masters of the technique, especially in doubles.
In 3-Wall, my best shot was my overhand drive. I was a hard hitter, and I loved 3-Wall because I could hit shots harder than I was allowed in 1-Wall because of the court dimensions. I also loved hitting the ceiling, and unlike 4-Wall, hitting a strong ceiling shot was a great shot.
In 4-Wall, my best shot was my passing shot to the right. I was pretty consistent with hitting it down the wall and I was able to do it on the fly.
R48 Simple Green U.S. Open Champion and WPH #1 Allan Garner
My best shot was the backwall kill shot with either hand. I do believe that it was the one shot that never really let me down; it was a fixture when other areas of my game were inconsistent at best.
I learned the proper form from David Chapman, whom many (including me) consider to be the best backwall player that ever lived. He stressed the importance of proper setup, getting behind where you predict the ball to be, moving with the ball as you are setting up to hit it. This is opposed to just predicting where the ball will be in your strike zone and moving to that exact spot; proper form eliminates guesswork.
One of my goals in handball was to be able to hit the same shot with either hand, so I put an equal amount of work (if not more) in with my left hand until it was where I wanted it to be.
Two-time R48 Champion and R48 #1 Mando Ortiz
My best shot in the game would have to be shooting deep with my left. Shooting the corners from deep was difficult for me until I semi-mastered it. I had to put the time inside the court in order to be precise, from drilling for hours and doing extra outside the courts. For example, I used to play with a door knob to get my spins right and grab a light baseball bat in order to get my strength. The back wall is my favorite shot, I love unloading with my left and shooting it.
WR48 Simple Green U.S. Open Champion and WR48 #2 Aisling Reilly
My favourite executed shot would be the revolving door coming around the back wall in the left corner and shooting down the right with the odd return slipped back down the left or a pass.
I would practice that shot a lot because it would give so many different opportunities of a return and I would be so relaxed taking it off the back wall too.
Do you have a question for the legends? Email me at David.fink@wphlive.tv
Stay tuned for more Race 4 Eight Legends Corner throughout 2023
David Fink
WPH Senior Writer