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singles DRILLS
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Backhand Stage 1

Coach, 2 players, and a basket of balls. Coach feeds from just inside the t junction of the service box to the corner of the singles court. Player 1 starts off on the centre of the baseline, and moves to meet the feed and hit a deep backhand down the line, then recovers to the start position. Coach feeds 3 balls for player 1 then the players rotate.

Backhand Drills

Backhand Stage 2

Coach, 2 players, and a basket of balls. Coach feeds ball 1 from just inside the t junction of the service box to the corner of the singles court. Player 1 starts off on the centre of the baseline, and moves to meet the feed and hit a deep backhand down the line, then recovers to the start position. Coach feeds ball 2 mid court for player 1 to step into and hit a backhand down the line. Player 2 steps in and the drill is repeated.

Backhand Drills

Backhand Stage 3

Coach, 2 players, and a basket of balls. Coach feeds ball 1 from just inside the t junction of the service box to the corner of the singles court. Player 1 starts off on the centre of the baseline, and moves to meet the feed and hit a deep backhand down the line, then recovers to the start position. Coach feeds ball 2 mid court for player 1 to step into and hit a backhand down the line. Coach then moves backwards along the line, feeds ball 3 just in front of the net for player 1 to move on to and hit a backhand down the court. Player 1 moves to the back of the court, and player 2 steps in and the drill is repeated.

Backhand Drills

Ball roll

Player 1 is feeding from the service box and player 2 starts on the baseline T in the ready position. Player 1 rolls tennis balls along the ground, in a random pattern, one after the other and player 2 must move to each ball, stop it with their hand before it goes outside the singles tramlines or baseline. After stopping the ball player 2 should roll it back to player 1 who can then roll the next ball.

Movement

Fast team work

-Players rally on a full court.-There can be two or more players on each side of the net starting from the baseline.-Using one racket per team the first player hits one shot and passes the racket to the next team player.-Points are won if the opposing side hits the ball outside of singles court or into the net.

Coordination / Fun Games

Forehand/Backhand Approaching Net

Coach, 2 players, and a basket of tennis balls. Player 1 starts off on the centre of the baseline. Coach feeds ball 1 to the corner of the singles court for player 1 to play a forehand down the line. 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. Coach feeds ball 3 to the opposite side of the court halfway up the service box for player 1 to run on to and play a forehand down the line. Coach then feeds ball 4 to the opposite side of the court just in front of the net for player 1 to run on to and play a backhand down the line. Coach has to move backwards along the line to deliver the feeds. Drill repeated with player 2.

Forehand & Backhand Drill

Hitting winners v net player

Coach feeds in a ball to the player on the base line who has to try and hit a passing shot past the player at the net

Passing Shots Drills

One Stands Alone

The coach stands on one side of the court. Students line up. The first student hits ball to the coach and then moves to end of the line. Point continues with students alternating.

Backhand Drills

Returning with Angles

TDL are placed half a metre inside the singles service line The server 2nd serves and the returner aims for the target. Progression - As before however, server plays out the point and the returner gains a bonus point if the returner hit the designated area and eventually wins the point

Serve and Return

Using the middle to defend under pressure (it's the biggest part of the court after all!)

The coach feeds single ball feeds from the basket putting the player under extreme pressure. Starting from the singles tramline the players must try to hit the ball on the run directly back down the middle of the court to the rectangular target. Players can choose whether they slice or hit over the ball depending on how quickly they can get to the ball. Each player hits just one ball at a time so players waiting must be ready immediately for the next feed and after the shot has been played must jog back to the start position at the back of the court in order to keep the drill continuous. Repeat this drill with the coach feeding from the opposite corner.

Passing Shots Drills

For singles and for doubles Se...

The coach serves wide from ad side. The player hits backhand return cross-court and starts the rally in cross-court direction.

General

Knee Serve (single knee) Serve...

Player kneels down, putting one knee on the floor. Player serves from this position.

General

Height Rally Drills - Tennis D...

Purpose:To learn that shots go higher over the net than imagined Variation "A"Cover the net with towels and ask 2 singles players to play up to 11 points.Feed underhand for 2 points alternately Variation "B"Erect badminton nets to create higher target over netCompete as in "A".

General

Backhand Stage 3 Backhand Dril...

Coach, 2 players, and a basket of balls. <p class="p1">Coach feeds ball 1 from just inside the t junction of the service box to the corner of the singles court. <p class="p1">Player 1 starts off on the centre of the baseline, and moves to meet the feed and hit a deep backhand down the line, then recovers to the start position. <p class="p1">Coach feeds ball 2 mid court for player 1 to step into and hit a backhand down the line. <p class="p1">Coach then moves backwards along the line, feeds ball 3 just in front of the net for player 1 to move on to and hit a backhand down the court. <p class="p1">Player 1 moves to the back of the court, and player 2 steps in and the drill is repeated.

General

Forehands only Forehand Drills...

Purpose:Learn to use forehand as a weapon. Move around the backhand each time to hit with forehand only. Coach feeds anywhere in singles court. Players can only hit forehand back to coach's backhand corner (sets of 5-6 feeds only). Variation: After hitting 3-4 forehands player can hit anywhere in singles court.

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

Knee Serve (both knees) Serve ...

Player sits on both knees on the ground. Player executes top spin serve.

General

Using the middle to defend und...

The coach feeds single ball feeds from the basket putting the player under extreme pressure.Starting from the singles tramline the players must try to hit the ball on the run directly back down the middle of the court to the rectangular target.Players can choose whether they slice or hit over the ball depending on how quickly they can get to the ball.Each player hits just one ball at a time so players waiting must be ready immediately for the next feed and after the shot has been played must jog back to the start position at the back of the court in order to keep the drill continuous.Repeat this drill with the coach feeding from the opposite corner.

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

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

Difficult backhand volley Voll...

Player stands close to the center. Coach feeds hard ball close to the sideline. Player tries to hit the ball with backhand volley.

General

Quicker than regular Serve and...

The coach stands on the service line and serves to the deuce side, then the player returns using forehand down the line stroke.

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

One Stands Alone Backhand Dril...

The coach stands on one side of the court. Students line up. The first student hits ball to the coach and then moves to end of the line. Point continues with students alternating.

General

Fast team work Coordination / ...

<BR>-Players rally on a full court.<BR>-There can be two or more players on each side of the net starting from the baseline.<BR>-Using one racket per team the first player hits one shot and passes the racket to the next team player.<BR>-Points are won if the opposing side hits the ball outside of singles court or into the net.

General

Forehand behind the sideline F...

The player starts on the singles sideline. The coach tosses the balls behind the doubles alley and into the alley. Player's goal is to move behind the sideline and use close stance to hit forehand.

General

Tennis: Forehand/Backhand Appr...

Coach, 2 players, and a basket of tennis balls. Player 1 starts off on the centre of the baseline. Coach feeds ball 1 to the corner of the singles court for player 1 to play a forehand down the line. 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. Coach feeds ball 3 to the opposite side of the court halfway up the service box for player 1 to run on to and play a forehand down the line. Coach then feeds ball 4 to the opposite side of the court just in front of the net for player 1 to run on to and play a backhand down the line. Coach has to move backwards along the line to deliver the feeds. Drill repeated with player 2.

General

No winners! Rally Drills - Ten...

Players are working in the full court and take it in turns to feed the ball in out of their hand.They are playing the point out as normal but with the stipulation that they are not allowed to hit a winner to win the point! Players must make their best effort to reach balls, it is up to the coach to decide whether they have done this and whether the ball hit was an outright winner - in which case it will not be counted!Players can play first to 11 points, this can and should take a quite a long time!</div>

General

24 minutes - Rallying rotation...

<div class=&quot;practiceText&quot;>The ball is fed in by the coach, or a waiting player, and players 1 and 2 rally the ball, moving each other around the full court in a co-operative manner.Players are constructing points but at a slightly lessened tempo and with greater control. Players work like this for 2 minutes, before one player is replaced by player 3, for the next 2 minutes.The idea is that players are working in this manner for 4 minutes at a time and resting then for 2 minutes until the 24 minutes are completed.</div>

General

In And Out With The Wall Foreh...

Player stands facing the wall and hits forehand volleys against the wall. After each hit, the player moves forward and closer to the wall. Once at the wall, the player continues to hit the ball against the wall but now moves back to their starting position. The aim is for the ball to not touch the floor.

General

Cross the line with right leg ...

Player stands next to the singles line. Coach feeds ball behind the doubles alley. Player moves to the ball, crosses doubles line with right leg and hits forehand in open stance. Player recovers back and repeats this pattern again while moving forward after each shot.

General

Effective all-court volleys Vo...

Cones (stations) are set on the player's side. The player starts from the first cone and the coach feeds the ball. The player then tries to hit the ball into the deuce zone. If he makes it he is allowed to move to the next station. If he doesn't he tries until he makes a successful shot.

General

Length Rally Drills - Tennis D...

Can use this rally as a progression of &quot;Height&quot; drillPurpose:Understanding the importance of lengthStart with a coach feeding the balls from the other side of the net. Only shots landing deep of service line count as &quot;in&quot;. Progress to a rally with 2 Players full courtPlay up to 11 points.Feed underhand for 2 points alternately.

General

Conscious doubles game Volley ...

The player serves wide to the deuce side and the coach feeds short ball to deuce side. The player hits deep forehand approach shot cross-court and comes to the net. The coach feeds another ball to deuce side and the player finishes with forehand volley cross-court.

General

Ball roll Movement - Tennis Dr...

Player 1 is feeding from the service box and player 2 starts on the baseline T in the ready position.Player 1 rolls tennis balls along the ground, in a random pattern, one after the other and player 2 must move to each ball, stop it with their hand before it goes outside the singles tramlines or baseline.After stopping the ball player 2 should roll it back to player 1 who can then roll the next ball.

General

Ripping it! Smash Drills - Ten...

The coach feeds each player 5 easy balls anywhere inside the service boxes.The player must 'rip' every single ball, with 100% intensity, swinging freely and keeping the racquet head speed fast through each and every ball.These are 'put away' balls, the last shot of a rally and must be buried into the court to give the opponent no chance of getting to it.

General

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singles SESSIONS
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Necessary skills for successful doubles

Get your players working effectively as a duo and improving their doubles game

Returning on a doubles court: keep them on their toes!

Develop and improve your players' doubles game with this tennis communication, strategy and teamwork plan
singles ANSWERS
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What are good basic and fun drills to do with beginner/improvers?

What are good basic and fun drills to do with beginner/improvers in large groups (20-25)?

Lizzie Howard Coach, England

WHAT WOULD BE A KEY SKILL FOR A TENNIS COACH

WHAT WOULD BE A KEY SKILL FOR A TENNIS COACH

Archived User Coach

13 round tennis roster

Hi there Just wondering if anyone has a tip on making a fair tennis player roster for 6 players over 13 rounds Much appreciated

Archived User Coach

Strategy to win senior 70´s tournament singles?

How to win senior 70´s tournament singles? Strategy?

Archived User Coach

Passing shot drill for four or five players.

Is there a drill to involve four or five players to teach a passing shot? Situation would be opponent at or approaching the net and plays a poor approach.

Keith Brown Coach, England

Strategy to win senior 70´s t...

How to win senior 70´s tournament singles? Strategy?

Archived User Coach

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