The player serves wide from the deuce side and the coach throws the ball close to the deuce sideline. The player runs and hits forehand down the line on the run.
Modern game is getting quicker and quicker so players have much less time to execute the shots than players 10 years ago. Adding the fact that many tournaments are played on fast hard-courts players don't have enough time to run, stop and hit. That's why working on strokes in dynamic balance is important to meet today's game demands.
In this drill the player works on a tactical pattern that incorporates running forehand down the line. Many players hit great cross-court returns from wide serves so we have to be able to respond effectively under the time pressure. Hitting on the run requires good positioning to the ball as also precise point of contact so many attempts are needed to develop this skill. The coach can adjust the speed and placement of the toss to the player's ability to bring faster improvements.
Indoor courts give players less time and less room. Help them sharpen their split step, shorten their swing and stay calm, and winter becomes a season of real progress.
A tiebreak is a short sprint where every point is worth the same as a break of serve. The players who win them are rarely the ones who hit hardest. Here is how to coach the patterns, habits and scoreboard thinking that win the big points.
Most club players practise the serve on its own and then have no idea what to do with the ball that comes back. Serve plus one is the pattern that turns a good serve into a won point.