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Tennis: overheads

overheads DRILLS
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Centre Mix

Coach and player rally together. Coach hits different balls (left, right, high, low). Player responds with volleys/overheads to the centre.

Volley Drills

Difference in the Air

The coach feeds an easy high ball, and the player hits forehand in the air to the deuce side and moves up.The coach hits a lob back, with the player finishing with overhead to the ad side. Many players don't play too many shots in the air because they have poor ball-tracking skills. The coach should implement different varations of drills that consist of drives and overheads to make players more comfortable with hitting without a bounce.

Volley Drills

Lateral overheads backwards (dead ball)

Players move across from doubles alley and play 2 smashes moving backwards.

Smash Drills

Like A Wall

Players play up to 11 points. Player A can hit only lobs. Player B can hit only overheads.

Rally Drills

Lob Awareness

Coach stands in front of the player. Coach throws balls behind the player. Player has to react and hit the overhead with control.

Lob

Net game to deuce

Cones are set in the deuce corner, whilst the player stands at the net. The coach feeds random balls, with the player hitting a volley/overhead to the deuce side.

Volley Drills

Overhead Volley

The coach feeds 20 balls from the basket alternating between an overhead and a put-away volley. The players aim the overheads at the deeper targets and the volleys at the shorter targets, hitting cross-court and closing the net down as they do so. The coach can feed forehand volley then backhand volley alternately after the smash but they should also vary this and change the pattern - so maybe they will get another forehand volley instead of the backhand that they were expecting. Once the player has completed the 20 ball set they go around the far end of the court to pick the balls up, and the next player has their turn. Up to 5 sets of 20 can be repeated in this way.

Volley Drills

Overheads

1) In this drill there are two hitters, two shadows, and the remaining students wait in the alley.2) The drill starts with the hitters hitting the net.3)The teacher then hits a lob for hitter 1 to smash.4)While hitter 1 goes for smash, hitter 2 and both shadows, shadow his movements.5) The teacher hits the second lob to hitter 2. Once again, the other 3 hit the net and shadow movement back for smash.6) This is repeated twice. Each hitter hits 2 smashes.7) After his second smash the hitter goes to the end of the waiting line of students. His shadow moves to the hitting position, and a waiting student becomes the shadow.8) Smashes should be hit cross-court, away from teacher!!9) Emphasis should once again be on control and movement.

Smash Drills

Pick the Corner

Coach feeds high balls. Player picks the corner and hits all overheads to the same side.

Forehand Drills

Snap It Down

The player stands at quite a distance from the wall and hits only overhead forehand smashes against the wall. The player should aim to make the ball bounce as close to the wall as possible. This will help the ball bounce high ready for the next shot, with the player doing the same thing continuously.

Smash Drills

Like A Wall Rally Drills - Ten...

Players play up to 11 points. Player A can hit only lobs. Player B can hit only overheads.

General

2 versions of overhead Volley ...

Coach feeds lob ball.Player hits overhead after the bounce back to the coach.Coach hits another lob.Player finishes with overhead deep to the ad side.

General

Overheads Smash Drills - Tenni...

1) In this drill there are two hitters, two shadows, and the remaining students wait in the alley.<br />2) The drill starts with the hitters hitting the net.<br />3)The teacher then hits a lob for hitter 1 to smash.<br />4)While hitter 1 goes for smash, hitter 2 and both shadows, shadow his movements.<br />5) The teacher hits the second lob to hitter 2. Once again, the other 3 hit the net and shadow movement back for smash.<br />6) This is repeated twice. Each hitter hits 2 smashes.<br />7) After his second smash the hitter goes to the end of the waiting line of students. His shadow moves to the hitting position, and a waiting student becomes the shadow.<br />8) Smashes should be hit cross-court, away from teacher!!<br />9) Emphasis should once again be on control and movement.

General

Pick the Corner Forehand Drill...

Coach feeds high balls. Player picks the corner and hits all overheads to the same side.

General

Overhead Volley Volley Drills ...

The coach feeds 20 balls from the basket alternating between an overhead and a put-away volley.The players aim the overheads at the deeper targets and the volleys at the shorter targets, hitting cross-court and closing the net down as they do so.The coach can feed forehand volley then backhand volley alternately after the smash but they should also vary this and change the pattern - so maybe they will get another forehand volley instead of the backhand that they were expecting.Once the player has completed the 20 ball set they go around the far end of the court to pick the balls up, and the next player has their turn.Up to 5 sets of 20 can be repeated in this way.

General

2 versions of overhead Volley ...

Coach feeds lob ball.Player hits overhead after the bounce back to the coach.Coach hits another lob.Player finishes with overhead deep to the ad side.

General

Continuous overhead Smash Dril...

Player stands at the net.Coach quickly feeds high balls in a row.Player executes overhead after overhead without too much time between them.

General

Don't Miss The Overhead Smash ...

<span style=&quot;background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 50, 50);&quot;>Player stands at the net. <span style=&quot;background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 50, 50);&quot;>Coach stands on the baseline on the deuce side and they rally together. <span style=&quot;background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 50, 50);&quot;>Coach hits all the balls up and the player hits overheads back to the deuce side.

General

Tennis Ball Overhead Catching ...

The aim of the drill is to develop a high ball over head catch with tennis balls

General

Consistency is a key Smash Dri...

The player stands at the net, whilst the coach stands behind the baseline in the deuce corner. The player and coach rally together, with the coach hitting lob balls. The player hits regular overheads to the deuce side.

General

Know the Direction Forehand Dr...

Coach feeds high balls into random spots. Coach moves to one of the sides. Player hits an overhead into the open court.

General

Corner to corner Smash Drills ...

Player stands at the net, and the coach feeds a high ball. The player hits overhead back to the coach to the deuce side. The player hits the lob back who then finishes with overhead to the ad side.

General

Snap It Down Smash Drills - Te...

The player stands at quite a distance from the wall and hits only overhead forehand smashes against the wall. The player should aim to make the ball bounce as close to the wall as possible. This will help the ball bounce high ready for the next shot, with the player doing the same thing continuously.

General

Catch and hit Smash Drills - T...

The player stand at the net, with cones set up in the deuce corner. The coach feeds a lob - the player moves to the ball, catches the ball in the hand, throws the ball up and hits overhead deep to the deuce corner.

General

Tennis: Cross court pattern wi...

The player stands at the net, with cones set up in the ad corner. The coach feeds a lob, and the player hits overhead back to the coach to deuce side. The coach then hits the ball back to the ad side, and the player finishes with deep backhand volley cross court.

General

Lob Awareness Movement - Tenni...

Coach stands in front of the player. Coach throws balls behind the player. Player has to react and hit the overhead with control.

General

Net game to deuce Volley Drill...

Cones are set in the deuce corner, whilst the player stands at the net. The coach feeds random balls, with the player hitting a volley/overhead to the deuce side.

General

Move forward and recover Smash...

The player stands inside the service line between 2 cones, and the coach throws the high ball close to the net. The player moves forward, hits overhead and recovers to the cones.

General

Overhead throws Agility & Fitn...

Players perform warm up routines to prepare body for the practice. The main theme of this session is serving, so the warm up exercises should be related to that tennis discipline.

General

Alternate hitting volley and s...

The player stands at the net on the ad side and the coach stands on the baseline on the ad side. Players rally together. The player at the net alternates hitting backhand volley and overhead.

General

In or out? Smash Drills - Tenn...

Player stands at the net and the coach feeds high balls. The player has to decide if the ball is going in or out. If the ball is going to be in, the player hits an overhead. If the ball is going to be out, the player leaves the ball.

General

Deal with the tough one Smash ...

Player starts from the cone and the coach feeds the ball behind the player's head. The player moves back, jumps, and hits defensive overhead.

General

Respond to the lob with contro...

The player stands on the baseline, and the coach is at the net. The player feeds high ball to the coach. The coach hits overhead to the deuce side, whilst the player hits forehand slice lob cross court.

General

Correct technique for overhead...

Teacher demonstrates the correct technique for the overhead shot

General

Consistency & Confidence Smash...

<span style=&quot;background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 50, 50);&quot;>Player stands at the net. <span style=&quot;background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 50, 50);&quot;>Coach stands behind the baseline. <span style=&quot;background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 50, 50);&quot;>Coach hits 2 regular balls and 1 lob. <span style=&quot;background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(50, 50, 50);&quot;>Player hits forehand and backhand volley back to the coach and finishes the overhead to the side.

General

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overheads SESSIONS
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Varying The Depth At The Net

To improve depth perception when coming into the net to hit the ball with precision at various depths on the approach or at the net.

Good Performance Close to the Net

To work on different aspects of volleying and positioning at the net to develop an effective net game.

Advanced Overhead Smash | Tenn...

Top pros make the overhead smash look easy, now your players can too! Build up their technique gradually to make a notoriously difficult shot feel easy.

Smash It! Perfect the Overhead...

Teach your players on how to improve the tricky overhead shot, developing their technique and tactical thinking - don?t tap it, smash it!
overheads ANSWERS
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How do I coach 14 girls (varying abilities) on just 2 courts?

How do I coach 14 girls, all of varying levels from beginner to advanced on just two courts?

Archived User Coach

How to plan 4 progressive lessons?

Hi, I'm on Level 2 Tennis Assistant Coach course, and have a task to plan 4 progressive lessons, explaining the objectives,overall aims and what the players should be able to do before they move onto the next lesson. I did my Level 1 11 years ago, so I'm a bit out of touch. Can any one help please?

Archived User Coach

How do I coach 14 girls (varyi...

How do I coach 14 girls, all of varying levels from beginner to advanced on just two courts?

Archived User Coach

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