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Tennis: Basic Match Half Volley

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Bill, Newly qualified coach

DESCRIPTION

Player stands on the service line.
Coach stands on the baseline.
Player rallies with coach.
Coach hits regular topspin balls into the player's legs.
Player executes adeep backhand half-volley to the center of the court.

COACHING POINTS

The player works on their ability to control a half-volley into a deep area of the court.
During the match, the opponent can put the ball into a net player’s legs to have a better chance to hit a successful passing shot at the next attempt.
Tactically it is a smart option to hit the ball deep to the baseline to have time to move closer to the net and also to put the opponent behind the baseline.
Coach should pay attention to the physical and technical details of the player’s stroke and if happy with the consistency, put a tactical target on the court to make the player work to achieve a given number of well-placed shots.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Behind the Baseline and Sideline:

Coach feeds balls to the deuce side.
Player alternates hitting deep forehand cross-court and forehand angle cross-court.

Rally Drills

Anticipation and tactical awareness:

The court is marked out with cones into areas (e.g. red, amber and green). Players try to anticipate which area the ball is going to land in so that they can respond with the most appropriate tactical return.

A buddie coach stands behind the player and tells them which shot they should play (ie. approach the net, lob etc.) depending on the area that they are hitting from i.e. where they are standing/ running on court as they hit the ball.

Players will need to watch the body shape of the coach and the ball contact carefully to anticipate what type of shot is being hit and therefore where it is likely to land.

Rally Drills

Combination 2:

Players line up in Backhand Corner and rally backhands with coach.

Rally Drills

Blackout!:

The idea of the game is to get the feel of the court. All you have to do is cover the whole net with black bin liners so you cannot see the other side of the net. Play the rally out and try to anticipate where the ball is going land and get to know the court.

Eventually play points and games to get a feel of the court.

Rally Drills

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