Tennis: Open the court and finish down the line

DESCRIPTION

2 players rally together in cross court direction. Player A picks the right moment to hit angle shot and opens the court up. After successful angle shot player finishes the next ball down the line.

Drill specifications:

1 point and switch

Only 2 players can play at one court so quick change after the point is the best way to keep all players hitting. While waiting for own turn players should perform specific fitness drills that will lead to the improvements in their games. Jump rope or footwork on the ladder are quick and dynamic exercises that can be used to achieve these goals.

COACHING POINTS

Many coaches teach players to focus on depth while rallying from the baseline. It is one of the strategies used by many professional tennis players but we have to realize that it is not the only way to succeed. Modern offensive players start to use the angle shots more often because they can get control over the point by putting the opponent into a really difficult position. Agnieszka Radwanska is a good example from the top who shows that offensive shots can be really successful without using so much power.

In this drill players work on tactical pattern based on angle shot. By performing this scenario over and over again players start to understand the concept of connecting the shots. Firstly, player wants to keep the opponent behind the baseline to get the easier ball. Secondly, he wants to place the ball closer to the sideline to put the rival outside the sideline and open the the court up for the next shot. The last factor that player has in mind is to finish the point with an offensive down the line ball. Coach should teach players that amount of power of the down the line shot is totally dependent on the previous effectiveness of the angle and opponent’s position.