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Tennis: Step In, Step Out Cross-Court

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Andrea, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

Cones are set on the ad side.
Coach alternates feeding short and deep balls to the ad side.
Player steps in and hits offensive backhand cross-court off short balls and moves back and hits neutral topspin backhand cross-court off deep balls.

COACHING POINTS

In this drill player works on proper footwork connected with tactical awareness. This exercise builds offensive mindset while getting short balls so players understand that easier responses have to be used to put pressure. On the other hand moving back behind the baseline creates more risk so player should rarely look for offensive solutions in this situation. Neutral or defensive ball with good clearance over the net is the best response so players have to perform many reps to make this tactical habit automatic.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Strategy from the first ball:

The player serves wide from the deuce side and the coach feeds high ball back. The player finishes with backhand in the air cross-court.

Backhand Drills

Stable Point of Contact:

The coach stands behind the player keeping the band in hands. Resistance band is attached to the player's racquet and long enough to allow player to get to solid point of contact. The player imitates backhand stroke with emphasis on point of contact.

Backhand Drills

Stable Wrist:

The player inserts a ball between the grip of the racquet and their wrist. While the ball is in place, a player or coach hits balls to the player who hits backhand volleys back, with the wrist in the correct position, assisted by the ball.

Backhand Drills