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Tennis: Deep position returns

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Bill, Newly qualified coach

DESCRIPTION

The player stands deep behind the baseline, with the coach on the service line (on the player's side of the court).

The coach then feeds the ball to the player so he/she has to hit a defensive forehand back over the net.

Once the player is able to hit forehands successfully ask them to return using a backhand stroke.

COACHING POINTS

A low position is necessary to control the ball, so the coach should tell players to bend their knees as low as possible and stay in this position throughout the whole shot. A player should not rise too early because it will change the point of contact.

The most important skill in defense is control; power we can get from the opponent. To make this particular drill more challenging, coach can stand closer to the baseline or hit the ball harder/deeper.

PROGRESSION

To make this drill more challenging, the coach can stand closer to the baseline to shorten the player's reaction time or hit the ball harder/deeper.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Side to side safe defense returns:

Hitting on the run is a skill that has to be practiced often because players must learn to control the distance between the body and the ball and how to hit the shot while still moving.

In this exercise, the player aims for the middle of the court because it is the best defensive tactical return. This is because there is more court to aim for and the middle of the net is lower.

Players should also know that hitting on the run forces them to lose time as they stop, change direction and recover.

So tell your players to aim high over the net to gain additional recovery time while the ball is in the air.

Forehand & Backhand Drill

Depth on the run:

The coach feeds 4 balls from the basket , alternating with a forehand and a backhand feed.

Player 1 must sprint across the court to play each of the shots on the run, defending them as deep as they can, looking to hit beyond the line.

The coach shouts out at the end of the four shots how many made it into the target zone, before the next player comes in.

The first player to 20 points wins!

Forehand & Backhand Drill

Returning a drop shot down the line:

Coach stands close to the net and feeds balls close to the net on the player's side of the court to mimic a drop shot.

Starting at the baseline the player has to run and hit a return drop shot down the line. Cones should be set out to give the player a target to aim for.

Movement