The Method in Action
Let's take a rally and see how the ITGPB player uses the Method.
The Serve
The ITGPB player serves and immediately begins observing.
The opponent's return is deep.
Observe: Read the return.
Anticipate: The ball is going to keep the ITGPB player back.
Act: Wait for the ball and prepare for the third shot.
The Third Shot
The ITGPB player chooses a third-shot drop.
The purpose isn't simply to hit a drop. The purpose is to create an opportunity to move forward.
The drop is slow and has a good amount of arc.
Observe: Read the flight of the drop.
Anticipate: The ball is traveling slowly enough and with enough arc to give the player time to advance.
Act: Charge toward the Non Volley Zone - NVZ.
At the NVZ
The ITGPB player and partner establish their position at the kitchen line.
Now they begin probing.
They aren't trying to hit a winner with every shot. Their purpose is to move their opponents and learn how they respond.
Observe: How are the opponents handling the probes?
Anticipate: What are they likely to do next?
Act: Continue probing until an opportunity appears.
The Opening
Eventually, the probing reveals an opening.
The ITGPB player recognizes that the opponent is vulnerable to a ball behind them.
The player increases the pace of the ball—sometimes a little, sometimes a lot.
The probe has become an attack.
Observe: The opponent's position creates an opening.
Anticipate: A faster ball behind them is likely to be difficult to handle.
Act: Increase the pace and put the ball behind the opponent.
The shot is successful.
The rally is over.
But the Rally Wasn't Won With One Shot
The winning shot was the final action in a series of decisions.
The ITGPB player didn't know when the serve was hit how the rally would end. Each action created information that shaped the next decision.
The drop created time to advance.
Advancing created the opportunity to probe.
Probing revealed the opening.
The opening created the opportunity to attack.
This is the Method in action:
The ITGPB player isn't trying to control every shot of the rally.
They are continually improving their situation until an opportunity appears.