HOME Tennis Drills Movement

Tennis: Returning a drop shot down the line

Thank you very much for the marvellous site.

Nick, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

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.

COACHING POINTS

Many players practice hitting a drop shot but they don't spend enough time on learning how to return an opponent's drop shot.

Running from the baseline to the net and hitting with control are skills, just like any other, that have to be trained consistently.

In this exercise, the player responds to an opponent's shot with drop shot down the line. This direction is dictated by tactical positioning at the net by your opponent. Knowing how to hit a down the line drop shot will help players get back into position quick enough to be able to hit the next shot.

READ MORE

READ LESS

RELATED PLANS...

Responding to Drop-shots and Short Angles under pressure

Have your players mastered the dark art of the Drop-Shot and do they know how to spot a disguised Drop-Shot themselves? Find out in this tennis coach plan

Defensive Skills and Tactics - Responding to Pressure

Take the sting out of attacking shots with this defensive skills and strategies plan - to help your players return smashes, hit on the run and keep the point alive

OFTEN USED WITH...

Respond to Drop Shot:

Coach tosses low and short balls really close to the net. Player sprints and responds with counter drop shots.

Movement

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

Return and drop:

The coach serves wide from the ad side and the player hits deep backhand cross-court return. The coach feeds another ball to the ad sidem and the player finishes with backhand drop shot down the line.

Backhand Drills