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Tennis: offensive

offensive DRILLS
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1/2 Court lob start

One player starts on the base line with the other players at the net. The point starts with the player on the base line hitting a lob over the player who is stood at the net. The net player must recover by running around the ball and play the ball back into the opposition's side of the court. Point is now live.

Lob

Add Some Variety

Coach feeds short balls to the player. Player alternates offensive shot and drop shot.

Forehand Drills

Aggressive Forehand

Coach stands on the player's side of the court and feeds the ball with the racquet off the ground. Player moves forward and hits an aggressive forehand.

Attacking

Backhand on the rise

Coach stands in front of the player between the service boxes. The player stands close to the baseline. The coach feeds the ball from their own side to the backhand side of the player. The player needs to move and respond with a backhand around shoulder height

Backhand Drills

Deuce Pressure Return Progression

Coach serves wide from the deuce side, and the player hits a forehand cross-court return, aiming for the ball to bounce in the coned area. The coach then hits a ball again from the deuce side, and the player must come forward and hit a forehand cross-court volley into the coned area.

Forehand Drills

Forehand inside in

The coach feeds balls to the player's ad side from the opposite end of the court. Starting from the centre of their baseline the player, who stays on the balls of his/her's feet, moves into position and hits forehand inside in between two cones placed in one corner of the opposite end of the court.

Forehand Drills

Killer Doesn't Always Mean Power

Coach feeds short balls to one side. Player alternates between aggressive drive and drop shot.

Attacking

Learn How To Attack

Player stands close to the net. Coach feeds easy ball to the forehand side, and the player hits it aggressively without touching the net with the racquet.

Attacking

Return With Courage

Coach delivers easy second serve. Player attacks with forehand to the backhand corner. Coach hits the ball short and player finishes to the other side.

Attacking

Take It From Your Legs

Coach stays at the service line. Coach feeds balls to the backhand side. Player slices the ball with an objective to make it bounce inside the service line.

Backhand Drills

1 Offense 1 Defense Forehand D...

2 players rally together in cross court direction. Player A hits all the balls aggressively. Player B hits all the balls defensively. After the point both players switch roles and play another rally.Drill specifications:5-10 min per sideWith more players on the court coach can use this drill strictly for the learning process or to make it really competitive. For learning purposes, players switch after few points to have a time to work on their shots as also to spend some time on different skills. For competitiveness, coach should put players into teams and play cross court points with clear defensive/offensive goals.

General

Offensive Running Volley Attac...

Player starts on the service line.Coach stands close to the net and feeds the ball off own side.Player sprints forward and hits finishing angle volley on the run.

General

Angle it aggressively Forehand...

Coach feeds an easy ball to attack. Player runs and hits aggressive angle shot.Drill specifications:1-5 repetitions per set This drill suits individual lessons as also can be successfully used with more players on the court. When coach is working only with 1-2 students more repetitions can be used to allow players correct own mistakes by looking at the previous shots. Group lessons will be more effective with players switching after one shot because it guarantees good pace of the drill as also all the players will be learning from others all the time.

General

Offensive response to high bal...

The player stands on the baseline and the coach feeds high ball. The player moves forward and hits forehand in the air to the ad side.

General

Aggressive Forehand Forehand D...

Coach stands on the player's side of the court and feeds the ball with the racquet off the ground. Player moves forward and hits an aggressive forehand.

General

Add Some Variety Forehand Dril...

Coach feeds short balls to the player. Player alternates offensive shot and drop shot.

General

Slice and cut it down the line...

Player A executes wide slice serve from the deuce side. Player B hits forehand cross court return. Player A moves diagonally forward and finishes with offensive down the line shot.Drill specifications:1 repetition per setTo make this drill really dynamic players should switch after one point at the serving side. Returning players can switch after few points to guarantee good consistency and more opportunities for the servers to work on the pattern. Waiting players should perform some footwork activities including quick diagonal movement to gain bigger improvements while moving to the ball after the serve.

General

Step In, Step Out Cross-Court ...

Cones are set on the ad side.Coach alternates feeding short and deep balls to the ad side.Player steps in and hits offensive backhand cross-court off short balls and moves back and hits neutral topspin backhand cross-court off deep balls.

General

Bonus for good positioning For...

2 players play points against each other. Each player has a chance for additional points if he/she moves inside the baseline after a good offensive shot that forces the opponent to play defensively.Drill specifications:1-2 points and switch2 players compete with each other. With more players coach can set up specific footwork drills to improve movement or let players watch the points and pay attention especially to moving inside the baseline after a good offensive shot. This drill can work as a competition where players work individually or in teams.

General

Attack and finish Forehand & B...

The coach serves second serve from the ad side and the player hits offensive forehand return to the ad side. The coach defends and hits easier ball back. The player finishes with deep forehand to the deuce side.

General

Finish in 3 shots Forehand & B...

2 players play points against each other. Player A has to finish the point in 3 shots to win.Drill specifications:2-3 points and switchPoints are short so players can play few rallies in a row before they switch. With more players on the court waiting players should perform physical activities to improve footwork or they can observe other players to learn different tactical approaches.

General

Attack it or drop it Forehand ...

Player stands on the baseline. Coach feeds an easy ball and stays on the baseline or moves far behind it. Player has to make proper decision according to the coach’s position. If the coach is on the baseline player should attack the easy ball with a powerful groundstroke. If the coach moves far behind the baseline player should hit a drop shot.Drill specifications:4 repetitions per setSmall number of repetitions is required to achieve quality work. Peripheral vision is one of the skills that is necessary to effectively execute offensive strokes. Waiting players should work on making quick decisions after the visual sign so coach should prepare physical drills based on quick reaction.

General

Change the pace Forehand & Bac...

Coach feeds the ball to one side. Player alternates aggressive and regular down the line shots.Drill specifications:2-6 repetitions per setThe minimum number of repetitions is 2 but it can go up to 6. It all depends of how many players we have on the court. With less players more repetitions are recommended while with more players less reps will be a better option to keep all students hitting. Coach can set up 2 lines of players to work on forehand and backhand down the line shots at the same time.

General

Tennis: Backhand regular + For...

Coach feeds first ball deep to the ad side. Player hits deep backhand cross-court. Coach feeds another ball short to the deuce side. Player moves inside the court and attacks down the line using forehand stroke.

General

Attack + play points inside th...

2 players play points against each other. Player B feeds an easy ball. Player A attacks it and the point begins. Player A has to play the point all the time inside the baseline. Drill specifications:2-3 points and switchPoints are short so players can play few rallies in a row before they switch. Playing inside the baseline requires great footwork skills and many shots played in low position so lunges can be performed by waiting players to improve legs’ strength and become more natural while playing shots in really low position.

General

Serve body + volley Serve and ...

Player A executes serve into the body. Player B hits the return. Player A finishes the point with a volley.Drill specifications:1 repetition per setTo make this drill really dynamic players should switch after one point at the serving side. Returning players can switch after few points to guarantee good consistency and more opportunities for the servers to work on the pattern. Waiting players should perform sprints next to the court to improve the speed that is really helpful while running to the net after the serve.

General

Open the court and finish down...

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 switchOnly 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.

General

Dominate with two solutions Fo...

Coach feeds first ball shorter to the ad side. Player moves inside the court and hits offensive forehand inside out. Coach feeds another ball short to the deuce side. Player finishes with forehand drop shot cross-court.

General

Tennis: Kick wide + Forehand i...

Player A executes wide kick serve from the ad side. Player B hits backhand return cross court. Player A runs around and hits offensive forehand inside in.Drill specifications:1 repetition per setTo make this drill really dynamic players should switch after one point at the serving side. Returning players can switch after few points to guarantee good consistency and more opportunities for the servers to work on the pattern. Waiting players should perform specific footwork drills focused on the running around the backhand to improve this aspect while hitting after the serve.

General

Inside the court rally Backhan...

Player stays inside the court on the ad side.Player maintains rally with coach using only backhand down the line.Player can't move back behind the baseline.

General

Confident Topspin Lob Lob - Te...

Player starts the drill by hitting easy high ball to coach.Coach hits offensive smash to the deuce side.Player tries to hit forehand topspin lob down the line.

General

Rally cross-court and surprise...

2 players rally together in cross court direction. Player A picks the right moment to surprise the opponent and hits the drop shot down the line.Drill specifications:1 minute and switch4 players can work on forehands and backhands at the same time so 1 minute periods for switching are appropriate. Waiting players can perform some footwork exercises on the ladder to keep the feet active or they can imitate drop shot to get more comfortable with disguising the shot and changing the grip right before the point of contact.

General

Rally with 3 zones Forehand Dr...

2 players rally together in cross court direction. 3 zones are set on each player’s side (Red, Yellow, Green). Player has to hit particular shot according to the opponent’s balls placement. If the ball lands in the red zone player hits defensive/neutral shot. If the ball lands in the yellow zone player hits neutral/offensive shot. If the ball lands in the green zone player has to attack it.Drill specifications:30-60 seconds and switch4 players can work on the court at the same time while others can have different duties. Coach can put 2 players next to the net post and let them say “stop” when the ball goes over the net. This is the signal for the player and feedback at the same time of their perception time. If there are more players on the court coach can make them do some fitness drill or put them far behind the hitting players and work on ball perception on their own.

General

Killer Doesn't Always Mean Pow...

Coach feeds short balls to one side. Player alternates between aggressive drive and drop shot.

General

6 spots with one result Foreha...

The coach feeds an easy ball to the deuce side and the player hits offensive approach shot to the deuce side and comes to the net. The coach feeds the ball to the backhand side and the player then finishes with backhand volley to the deuce side. The player repeats this pattern from middle of the court and from the ad side.

General

All forehand to deuce corner F...

Cones are set in the deuce corner. The coach feeds random balls. The player has to use forehand from the all court and hit the balls to the deuce corner.

General

Attack easy balls Forehand & B...

Player stands on the baseline. Coach faces the player. Coach throws random balls to keep player in neutral/defensive position. Coach adds easier balls from time to time that player should attack.Drill specifications:1 set and switch1 player is working with the coach so other players have to perform other activities to keep improving while not hitting. Because ball perception is strongly connected with a reaction players should work on these skills while waiting for own turn. Simple cooperation where player A stands few meters away from player B and drops the ball that has to be caught after the one bounce is beneficial and can improve players effectiveness on the court.

General

Point of contact Forehand Dril...

Coach feeds an easy high ball. Player tries to hit the ball over the shoulder.Drill specifications:6-8 repetitions per setOther players imitate the shot to develop muscle memory and gain faster improvement while waiting for own turn.

General

Always in the same spot Foreha...

Cones are set in the ad corner. The coach feeds 9 balls. 3 to the deuce side (deep, middle, short), 3 to the centre (deep, middle, short) and 3 to the ad side (deep, middle, short). The player hits all forehands to the ad side.

General

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offensive SESSIONS
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Adapting to Different Points of Contact

To work on the forehand in different situations that require varying points of contact. To understand the necessity for technical adaptation when dealing with low, medium, and high balls.

Learning to take the ball early and inside the court

Get your players to take the ball at the top of the bounce, making the shot easier for themselves while simultaneously giving their opponent less time!

Match Ready - Backhand Stroke

To work on technical and tactical aspects of backhand stroke from different areas on the court

Mid Court Shot Execution

Develop weapons that will allow for successful performance in the mid court area.

Punchy Volleying With Accuracy and Intent

Put some punch in your players' volleys and have them closing down the angle to put pressure on their opposition as they go on the attack!

Mix the Game Up Using the Drop Shot

Add an extremely useful weapon to your players arsenal by teaching them how to perfect the drop shot!

Multi-Dimensional Practice

Coach your players to use a variety of shots on court and play in a multi-dimensional style, with this attacking session

The Beginning of the Point

To work on different aspects of the serve and return and to engrain shots that players could call upon at the start of the point.

Keep Constant Pressure On Your Opponent

To understand how to put pressure on the rival and work on specific patterns behind and inside the baseline.

Solid game based on fundamental principles

To work on players baseline game focusing predominantly on reactions but also technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects of building and winning a rally.

Let's Drive It - Attack with your Tennis

With this session, get your players hitting down the line more with the powerful drive shot and playing more attacking tennis.

Avoid the Danger Zone: Using the Whole Court

Don't play an easy mid-court return - Teach players to go on the offensive by aiming for the far corners and hitting the lines

Attacking forehand tactics and technique plan

The shot is a forehand that goes down the line on what would be the backhand side of the person hitting the ball.
offensive ANSWERS
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How do you beat someone who is clearly inferior but?

How do you beat someone who is clearly inferior but just keeps the ball in play?

Archived User Coach

What is the most effective serve in racquetball?

What is the most effective serve in racquetball?

Archived User Coach

How do I persuade a player to try my tactics?

I have a left hand player who is very aggressive at the baseline, but he doesn't really want to go to the net. I think if he comes to the net he will improve a lot, so what can I do with players to get them to try new ideas?

Archived User Coach

Use The middle of The court

How to best use The middle of The court?

Costel Coravu Coach, Romania

How do I persuade a player to ...

I have a left hand player who is very aggressive at the baseline, but he doesn't really want to go to the net. I think if he comes to the net he will improve a lot, so what can I do with players to get them to try new ideas?

Archived User Coach

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