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Tennis: serving

serving DRILLS
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Attacking and dominating with the serve

-Player 1 is serving in shaded area all the time.-Player 2 is not allowed to stand in the tramlines before player 1 serves.-After the return play out the point. -Each pair keeps their score and plays first to 7 points.

Attacking

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

Progression with server and returner

DescriptionServer has to say which area they are serving to. If they serve into correct area and eventually win the point they receive bonus points.

Serve and Return

Return of serve 1

Players position themselves on return line. Coach (2) takes turns serving to both deuce and the court.

Serve and Return

Return of serve 2

Players position themselves half way between baseline and service line. Coach (2) takes turns serving to both deuce and the court.

Serve and Return

Returning with Angles

The player will serve 2nd serves, with the player at the other end will return, and aim for the target area between the side line and throw down line.

Serve and Return

Serving A / B

Player 1 has to tell player 2 whether the are serving into area A or B. Player 1 has two serves, if the serve goes in the correct area and they eventually win the point they get a bonus point. If the serve goes in the unstated area the point is still played out with no bonus points. The first player to 4 points wins.

Serve and Return

Split the 2

Practice serve then player has to play the ball down the line and the player at the net has to try andplay the ball cross court between the two opponents. If the ball is not played correctly opponents can return the ball and try to win the point.

Passing Shots Drills

Total tennis through throwing

-The players only use the service box and play without rackets.-Start with an over-arm throw from behind the service line (as if serving) and play out a rally with normal tennis rules.-When the player catches the ball they can only hold it for 1 second. When the player has the ball they cannot move there feet!-If the ball bounces they must use under-arm throws. If they catch it before bouncing, they can throw over-arm (as if volleying before bounce!)-First player to 7 points wins, as in the tie-break.

Coordination / Fun Games

Use the alley

TacticDetermine the rally with the wide serve. How effective is the serve on a wide serve.DescriptionPlayer A is serving in area A all the time. However player B is not allowed to to stand in the tramlines before player A serves. Then play out points first to 7 points. Player A should be trying to dominate the rally with their serve pulling player B into or beyond the tramlines.

Rally Drills

Target Serve Corner Serve and ...

4 players, cones or spots, basket of tennis balls. 4 cones set up in each corner of the service box. Two players take 2 serves each to the relevant service box aiming to hit the cones. The next 2 players then take 2 serves each. The drill continues until all balls have been used. 1 point scored for every cone hit. 

General

Cone Serving Serve and Return ...

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.</div>

General

Pocket Serve Extras - Tennis D...

Player executes regular serve.Player focuses on bringing the tossing arm to the opposite pocket as well as on moving the hitting arm to the left side of the body.<br>

General

Serving A / B Serve and Return...

Player 1 has to tell player 2 whether the are serving into area A or B. Player 1 has two serves, if the serve goes in the correct area and they eventually win the point they get a bonus point. If the serve goes in the unstated area the point is still played out with no bonus points. The first player to 4 points wins.

General

Serve / Return Point Play Serv...

Player 1 is serving and will play a sequence of 4 points against player 2 as follows:Serving from the deuce court player 1 must serve wide. Player 2 must return the shot to player 1's forehand side.<br /><br />Serving from the deuce court player 1 must serve inside. Player 2 must return the shot to player 1's backhand side.<br /><br />Serving from the advantage court player 1 must serve inside to player 2 who must return the ball to player 1's forehand corner.<br /><br />Serving from the advantage court player 1 must serve wide to player 2 who must return the ball to player 1's backhand side.</div>

General

React After The Serve Forehand...

The player stands on the baseline and serves the ball against the wall. After serving, the player must recover quickly and hit a forehand stroke against the wall.

General

Depth of serve Serve and Retur...

TDL = Throw down lines<BR>Place some TDL 2 feet inside the service line<BR> - Player A only has one serve per point. <BR> - If they serve between TDL and the service line and eventually win the point they score two points but if the serve is short they will only score 1 point.

General

Serve and Recover Serve and Re...

Coach is in front of the player. Coach rolls the ball on the ground quickly after player serves the ball. Player's goal is to recover behind the baseline before ball goes between the legs.

General

Serving feedback Serve and Ret...

The coach stands on the baseline in the deuce corner with racquet stretched to the right side. The player serves wide using slice serve. The goal is to hit the ball inside the service box and avoid the coach's racquet.

General

Serve And Body Ball Movement -...

Player serves the ball, and immediately after serving, the coach tosses a deep ball into player's body. The player's goal is to move back and hit with control.

General

using the serve advantage Fore...

The player serves wide from the ad side, with the aim of getting the ball to land between two cones in the serving box on the opposite side of the court. The coach, standing in front of the player, then feeds him/her the ball to their backhand side. The player then has to run around and hit forehand inside in, with the aim of getting the ball to land between two cones placed in the corner of the deuce side on the other side of the net.

General

Serving Accuracy Toss (part 2)...

Cones are set up in front of the player. Player tosses the ball in the air and tries to make the ball bounce inside this area.

General

Tennis: Attacking and dominati...

<BR>-Player 1 is serving in shaded area all the time.<BR>-Player 2 is not allowed to stand in the tramlines before player 1 serves.<BR>-After the return play out the point. <BR>-Each pair keeps their score and plays first to 7 points.

General

Connect the Dots Serve and Ret...

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.

General

Shadow With The Band Serve and...

You will need a resistance band to perform this drill. The player takes the band and shadows their serving motion. In this drill, the player warms up all the body parts needed for the serving action. The resistance band is great for working the arms as they are separated.

General

Stay stable after the serve Se...

Player performs a regular serves. The goal of this exercise is for the player to land on his/her front foot and maintain balance on one leg after the serve. The back foot should be in the air.

General

Serve and hit the low return S...

The player hits a serve to either the ad or deuce side. The coach, who is in front of the player, then feeds him/her a low ball. The player has to react quickly after the serve and hit consistently low and flat returns over the net.

General

Serve and jump over the cone S...

A cone is placed on the baseline. The player performs regular serve, where the goal is for them to jump over the cone while serving.

General

Hit a perfect 6 Serve and Retu...

Player serves from one of the sides - ad or deuce. The player then has to hit 6 serves from 3 different spots (T, Middle, Sideline). To develop accuracy ask the player to get all 6 serves in the opposite service box.

General

Deuce Pressure Return Serve an...

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. Modification includes coming to the net after returning and finishing with forehand in the air.

General

Serve Placement Serve and Retu...

Divide the box into 3 areas using TDL (Throw down lines)First person to hit each area 3 times on both the deuce and advantage boxes is the winnerProgression - The server has to say which area they are going to serve into if the serve lands in that area and they win the point they get a bonus point

General

One serve - Under Pressure Ser...

Player 1 has only one serve and the score is 30 - 30. The first player to win 3 games is the winner. If player 1 successfully makes the serve and wins the point they win the game. If not they only have 1 serve for the next point. If they win that point the game goes to sudden death.

General

Start the rally with return Se...

The coach serves wide from the deuce side. The player hits forehand down the line return and starts the rally in down the line direction.

General

Tennis: Serve Wide and Punish ...

Coach stands in front of the player. Player serves wide from the deuce side before coach tosses the ball to the player's forehand. Player moves and hits forehand down the line.

General

Serving Accuracy Toss (part 1)...

Player imitates serving action with the ball.<br>Player tosses the ball up and tries to catch the ball in their non dominant hand without moving the feet, or their hand.<br>

General

Left Side Serve and Return - T...

The player imitates serving action, and then takes backswing and touches the back 2 times with the edge of the racquet.

General

Tennis: Serve and return patte...

The player serves from the Deuce side, aiming for the body of the imaginary opponent. The coach then feeds the ball to the player's backhand side. The player then has to hit an aggressive forehand inside out by running around to get into position to hit the shot.

General

3 progressive returns Serve an...

The coach stands on the service line (ad side), and the player starts from the baseline. The coach serves to the T, so that the players hits a forehand return cross-court. After successful hit into the zone, the player moves forward between service line and baseline, and hits another return. After successful hit into the zone, the player moves forward to the service line to execute another return.

General

Accuracy Toss Serve and Return...

The player tosses the ball up and leaves the non-dominant hand in the air. Ball should drop into the player's hand.

General

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serving SESSIONS
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Work on the Tactical Serve

Work on serving patterns with this session, combining the serve with the forehand, to gain the advantage!

Worthy Slice From The Forehand Side

To improve control over the sliced, backspin shot from the forehand side.

Serving wide to create the one two punch

This is the first part of this two-part attacking serving session - serving from the deuce court

Challenge the serve to meet demands!

Make your players tactically aware and ready for their return of serve, hitting shot patterns to go on the front foot

Serving With Confidence

Power up your player's serve and improve their confidence and movement after the serve to help win more points when they have the ball in hand!

Serve and Return - Accuracy and consistency session

Get your players mastering their first and seconds serves while also working on their ability to return a speedy serve!

King Of The Deuce

Teach your players to become king of the deuce side and dominate opponents!

Small Court, Bigger Possibilities

To work on technical and physical fundamentals

The Serve for Juniors

Develop your juniors serve by starting with the fundamentals. As such a vital part of the game, making training effective yet enjoyable is a must, so use this session to get the best from your players.

Dealing with left-handers

Deal with left-handers effectively with this session, helping you adapt on court to tricky situations

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.

Control The Rally With Backhand Shot

Develop different forms of backhand to maintain effectiveness during a match and understand how tactical decision impact technical preparation to make proper adjustments when needed.

Create Challenges From The Point Start

To work on different hitting patterns from the serve and into the first shot after the return.

Serving wide to create the one two punch: Advantage court

Get your players using the flat and kick serve to develop an aggressive serve and first shot combination

Respond and Return

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

React and Win!

Get your players on their toes and reacting quicker than ever before to win those all important points
serving ANSWERS
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What can you do to help a player with their serve?

What can you do to help a player with their serve, when they say they want to get more power on it?

Archived User Coach

how can i correct a slapping forehand

one of my student is playing is forehand , with slapping. pls let me know how to correct it. gana.

Coach, United States of America

Lost confidence in my serve-how can I get my 1st serve confidence back?

Hi, I'm a teenis player (ITF Futures level) I used to do a lot of ace as 30 or 40 % in my first serve. Then, I had an injury (ankle) and I was awhile without training. I started playing again 3 month ago, and now  I don't have any confidence in my serve. For this reason I have to play with second serves almost all matches and practises. I would like to know what can I do. I would appreciate if someone could help me in this case. Thanks.  

Archived User Coach

I'm coaching middle school tennis for the first time. Where to begin?

Coaching tennis to middle school athletes for the first time. How do I begin?

Rhonda R Lang Coach, United States of America

How to run try-outs, getting 50 students down to 32?

There are 50 students, and I need to select 32 of them. How will you plan your try-out? Test for accuracy? Fitness?

Farhad Roshanaie Coach, United States of America

I want to improve my tennis toughness & play more aggressively - any tips?

I used to play on clay court for 20 years, now it's been two years that I've been exposed to hard court. About my game%3A I have a very good technique on all my strokes including volley, good kick serve, I am 192 cm. My issue%3A I was not taught to play aggressively, now in my matches I don't take the net; consequently, in spite of executing a high level tennis, I loose to some players that I never should. I've read some tennis mental toughness books, I teach them, but I don't know how can I change my own mental set. When I hit top spin (groundies), I enjoy and feel secure, even though it results in my loss and sorrow. I'm ready for change but how?

Farhad Roshanaie Coach, United States of America

My player loses games he's winning 0-40 - how can I instill a killer instinct?

my boy 11 years old he is winning 40-0 and he can finished the game easy when he is serving.but when the oponeten serving and my boy is winning 0-40 he cant finish the game and always he is loosing it

adamou christodoulos Coach, Cyprus

lesson plan on serve and return

how do you do a lesson plan for serving and returning while rolling the ball with racket and (tactic) moving the opponent

Bella Coach, South Africa

any drill for serve and volley?

drill for serve and volley?

Larry Chew Coach, United Kingdom

Psychology in tennis HELP! My ...

Psychology in tennis HELP!!! I have a daughter who is an excellent player who only started playing tennis seriously last yr at the age of 13. She is a much better player than all the people she has completed against in matches but always loses due to over hitting and getting upset if the wrong call is made (which happens frequently due to how fast she hits and serves) do we need some sort of psychological help for this. what is the best way to get this... books, councilling ??? any help would be most appreciated thanks

Archived User Coach
serving COMMUNITY DRILLS
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the big dipper (ad side)

Serving game

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Autosave 3347779Autosave 74402356Autosave 63802778

First strike serve/ return points

Cone serving

Live ball serving

King of the court

Golf serving

Serving in a row

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