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Tennis: Short rally with footwork

Thanks for everything! Sportplan has helped me to improve my tennis...

Andrea, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

Coach and player rally together using backhand strokes from service line.
Player has to run around the cone after every hit.

COACHING POINTS

In this drill player works on consistency and footwork at the same time. By running around the cone player improves speed, strength, endurance and proper focus. Many players are able to be consistent when they are not tired but real tennis demands from players to be able to play well especially at the end of the second or third second. Inability to maintain high quality of backhand while being tired can cost players lost matches because they will lose deciding points in the final set.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Attacking forehands on the move:

Coach feeds three balls per player from the basket.

Players should aim to hit the targets (as in diagram - can use cones to mark out targets).

The aim is to encourage players to progressively attack on the move.

Forehand Drills

Recovery Habits - Backhand:

This drill teaches how to achieve good positioning on the court. Coach tosses balls to the one side, and the player hits the ball and recovers to the proper spot. If the shot is cross court (yellow cone), player recovers to the closer (yellow) cone. If the shot is down the line to the red cone, player has to go to the further (red) cone.

Movement

Short Move:

The player starts by standing close to the net. The coach feeds balls to the backhand side, with the player hitting backhand volleys in return, emphasis on using short movement of the racquet. The net prevents the player from taking any follow through, so they learn to use a short movement.

Backhand Drills