HOME Tennis Drills Serve and Return

Tennis: Connect the Dots

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DESCRIPTION

Coach serves from Deuce/Ad side. Player returns with forehand cross court. Coach hits the ball back to forehand. Player finishes to the open space.

In this exercise, returner works on basic forehand patterns.

From deuce side, player returns cross court and finishes down the line.
From Ad side, player goes with cross court and finishes with inside in.

COACHING POINTS

Many players miss first shot after the serve/return because they are not used to practicing them. It is a primary goal for any player to learn how to connect one shot with another. Looking at Rafa Nadal and admiring his placement and consistency with returns should make all tennis players aware that this skill can be taught. It is matter of time and repetitions to achieve decent level so players should always try to implement patterns (tactical area) into practice drills.

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RELATED PLANS...

Respond and Return

Break your opponent's serve more often by learning how to respond and where to position your return!

Respond and Return

Break your opponent's serve more often by learning how to respond and where to position your return!

OFTEN USED WITH...

Return Cross Court:

Coach serves from the service line and the player returns the ball cross court.

Serve and Return

Surprise Your Opponent:

Coach serves second serve from Deuce/Advantage side. Player responds with return as a drop shot.

Serve and Return

Cone Serving:

Players serve at the targets shown, taking two balls at a time and serving 1 first serve, 1 second serve at each target.

After a certain amount of time players switch and repeat the same from the other side.

The player with the most targets at the end of the practice wins the drill.

If groups are large, players can take it in turns to serve one after the other, and/or also from the doubles serving positions.

Serve and Return

Cross Court and Inside Out Forehand:

Five cones set up at end of the court as shown.

Coach feeds the ball to player A to hit with a forehand cross court shot into the target area. Player A to return to starting position ready for the next feed.

Coach then feeds another ball across the court to the opposite side for Player A to hit an inside out forehand down the line to the target area. Player returns to starting position.

Repeat drill so that Player A hits 4 shots, then joins the queue for Player B's turn.

Forehand Drills

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