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Tennis: short balls

short balls DRILLS
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1 High 1 Low - Backhand

In this exercise, the coach feeds all the balls to one side. The player's goal is to alternate shots with higher and lower trajectory over the net, firstly hitting a high shot, followed by a low shot, and this is repeated.

Attacking

1 High 1 Low - Forehand

In this exercise, the coach feeds all the balls to one side. The player's goal is to alternate shots with higher and lower trajectory over the net, firstly hitting a high shot, followed by a low shot, and this is repeated.

Attacking

1 in 1 out

The coach stands in front of the player and throws 1 short 1 deep ball to the backhand side. Player's goal is to hit backhands moving inside and outside of the baseline. Proper footwork is crucial if we are thinking about effective tennis play. Many mistakes are made because of improper legs' work so that is why players have to spend more time on drills that are based on intense footwork. Having strong legs and being quick are 2 skills that make us play better as also increase our self-confidence because we know our capabilities.

Backhand Drills

Add Some Variety

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

Forehand Drills

Cope With Low Volleys

The player begins by standing on the service line, with the coach tossing short balls to the backhand side. The player must move across and backhand volley the ball down the line.

Backhand Drills

Different winners Different points

2 players play points against each other. 3 zones are set on one side of the court. Zone 1 is the deepest one, zone 2 is the medium one, and zone 3 is the closest one to the net. Winners from different zones have different bonus points. Winners from zone 1 are for 1 point, from zone 2 for 2 points, and from zone 3 are for 3 points. Drill specifications: 2-3 points and switch The main emphasis should be put on hitting winners so players have to put maximum effort and focus on each stroke. Waiting players can work on their strength with medicine ball drills to improve their chances for hitting powerful winners especially from the short and medium-long balls.

Forehand & Backhand Drill

Killer Doesn't Always Mean Power

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

Attacking

React and finish

The coach stands and the net. The player and coach rally together in cross-court direction. After few good shots the coach hits the next volley short. The player has to react, move quickly forward and finish the ball offensively in down the line direction.

Forehand Drills

Respond to Drop Shot

Coach tosses low and short balls really close to the net. Player sprints and responds with counter drop shots.

Agility & Fitness

Start deep, finish short

The coach serves to the T from deuce side. The player hits deep backhand return cross-court and the coach feeds shorter ball to the deuce side. The player then finishes with forehand drop shot down the line.

Forehand & Backhand Drill

Forehand Deep / Short Forehand...

Dead Ball Drill<br />Players start off in backhand corner (doubles Alley)<br />Players move out to play first forehand along the baseline and then moves forward to play a short ball inside the service box for a winner down the line

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

Short Ball Groundstrokes Foreh...

Players start off on centre of court and move forward towards service line and hit balls down the line.

General

Tennis: Forehands Deep / Short...

<b>Drill Set-Up:</b><BR>Players start off in backhand corner (Doubles alley).<BR>Players move out to play first F.H. along baseline and then moves forwards to play short ball inside service box.<BR><b>Topic of Emphasis:</b><BR>Players should split step after first forhand and then move off for second shortball.<BR><b>Variation</b><BR>Players can alternate direction for both shots.<BR>If the ball is too low on the second ball it should be hit cross court, if high it should be hit down the line.

General

Killer Doesn't Always Mean Pow...

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

General

Backhand Deep / short Backhand...

Coach is stationed at position 2 while players start off forehand alley corner moves and executes first shot near middle baseline and second shot mid-court short ball.

General

Add Some Variety Forehand Dril...

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

General

Short Opportunity Attacking - ...

Coach feeds first ball deep to the forehand side.Player hits deep forehand down the line.Coach feeds second ball short to the backhand side.Player quickly runs around and hits offensive forehand inside in.

General

Respond to Drop Shot Movement ...

Coach tosses low and short balls really close to the net. Player sprints and responds with counter drop shots.

General

Start deep, finish short Foreh...

The coach serves to the T from deuce side. The player hits deep backhand return cross-court and the coach feeds shorter ball to the deuce side. The player then finishes with forehand drop shot down the line.

General

Backhand Can Finish The Point ...

Player starts on the baselineCoach alternates feeding low and high short balls to the backhand sidePlayer moves forward and hits offensive backhand into side zones from different points of contact<br>

General

1 in 1 out Backhand Drills - T...

The coach stands in front of the player and throws 1 short 1 deep ball to the backhand side. Player's goal is to hit backhands moving inside and outside of the baseline.Proper footwork is crucial if we are thinking about effective tennis play. Many mistakes are made because of improper legs' work so that is why players have to spend more time on drills that are based on intense footwork. Having strong legs and being quick are 2 skills that make us play better as also increase our self-confidence because we know our capabilities.

General

Forehand/Backhand/Short Foreha...

Coach, 4 players, and a basket of tennis balls. <p class="p1">Player 1 starts off on the centre of the baseline. <p class="p1">Coach feeds ball 1 to the corner of the singles court for player 1 to play a cross court forehand. <p class="p1">Coach feeds ball 2 to the opposite side of the court just in front of service box for player 1 to run on to and play a backhand down the line. <p class="p1">Coach feeds ball 3 down the centre of the court for player 1 to run on to and play a short cross court forehand. <p class="p1">Player 1 joins the queue. <p class="p1">Drill repeated with player 2/3/4.

General

Cope With Low Volleys Volley D...

The player begins by standing on the service line, with the coach tossing short balls to the backhand side. The player must move across and backhand volley the ball down the line.

General

Attacking forehand slice Foreh...

Coach feeds short ball to the forehand side.Player moves inside the court, hits attacking forehand slice deep down the line and takes proper position at the net.

General

Play on the smile Movement - T...

Purpose:Learn correct movement &quot;cutting in&quot; to play shorter balls.Coach feeds alternately from side to side.Player must stay inside the throw down lines and learn to move in a &quot;smile&quot; shape around the baseline. Feed in sets of 10-12 balls.

General

4 Zones Forehand Drills - Tenn...

Coach feeds balls to the deuce side.Player hits 4 balls aiming at 4 different zones.Player hits deep cross-court, deep down the line, short cross-court and short down the line.

General

Short Move Backhand Drills - T...

The player starts by standing close to the net. The coach feeds balls to the backhand side, with the player hitting backhand volleys in return, emphasis on using short movement of the racquet. The net prevents the player from taking any follow through, so they learn to use a short movement.

General

Approach and smash Smash Drill...

<BR>-2 feeding players, with a basket in the middle.<BR>- Feed a short ball followed by a lob.<BR>- After the approach shot the player smashes the lob.

General

Deep and Short Movement - Tenn...

Coach feeds an easy ball to the advantage side. Player runs around and hits forehand inside out. Player runs forward to take proper position at the net. Coach feeds another ball to the deuce side. Player finishes with forehand drop volley cross court.

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

Short rally with footwork Back...

Coach and player rally together using backhand strokes from service line.Player has to run around the cone after every hit.

General

9 spots to AD Forehand Drills ...

Cones are set in the ad corner.Coach feeds 3 kinds of balls: deep, medium and short in 3 directions: deuce, middle, ad.Player hits offensive shot to the ad and recovers back to the middle after every shot.

General

Approach On the Run Movement -...

Coach stands inside the court and feeds challenging short ball.Player runs and hits forehand approach shot on the run.

General

Deep and short Forehand Drills...

Cones are set on the deuce side (deep and short). The player stands on the service line and the coach feeds high ball to the forehand side. The player executes forehand drive in the air deep cross-court and moves forward, before the coach feeds another ball to the backhand side.The player finishes with backhand drop-volley down the line.

General

Tennis: Forehand x 3 Moving Ac...

Coach, 4 players, and a basket of tennis balls. Player 1 starts off on the centre of the baseline. Coach feeds 3 balls across the court from the players left to right, for the player to run on to and play 3 deep forehand returns. Player 1 joins the queue and player 2 steps on for the drill to be repeated. Drill continues until all 4 players have had a turn. Repeat the drill.  

General

Move Forward & Back Movement -...

Player stands on the baselineCoach stands in front of the playerCoach alternates feeding short and deep balls to the backhand sidePlayer hits backhand slice alternating loading front and back leg before the hit

General

React and finish Forehand Dril...

The coach stands and the net. The player and coach rally together in cross-court direction. After few good shots the coach hits the next volley short. The player has to react, move quickly forward and finish the ball offensively in down the line direction.

General

Alternate Short Forehand/Volle...

Drill is continuous. Drill takes place witin the service box on each side of the net. Coach feeds the ball, player returns short forehand, a rally then continues with the player alternating between a short forehand and volley. Coach to make use of all the service box.

General

short balls SESSIONS
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Get comfortable inside the court

Federer, 36 years old and still one of the best on tour. It?s because he moves so well around the court and varies his lengths and shots to dictate the play. It?s time your players did the same!

Responding to Drop-shots and Short Angles under pressure

Have your players mastered the dark art of the Drop-Shot and do they know how to spot a disguised Drop-Shot themselves? Find out in this tennis coach plan
short balls ANSWERS
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Can you suggest drills for the swing volley

Ask a question and have it answered by Coaches from around the world and Sportplan's team of Experts.Can you suggest drills for the swing volley

kevin baker Coach, England

What is the best way to teach the backhand volley to?

What is the best way to teach the backhand volley to mini reds age 5-7 years? Do you encourage seperation of nondominant hand on contact 'fly'?

Karen Atkinson Coach, England

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?

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