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Tennis: Challenging Shot After the Serve

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DESCRIPTION

Player serves.
Coach throws deep and low ball immediately after player lands on the court.
Player quickly moves back and responds with controlled forehand stroke.

COACHING POINTS

In this drill, Player works on a challenging first shot after the serve. An accurate, deep return is the most difficult option for server to respond effectively; so coaches have to spend significant amount of time to teach players how to get out of troubles without losing the point. When the return is solid and deep, Player has to quickly react with proper movement and remember to focus just on control - not on the power. Coach, who throws the balls from a short distance, forces Player to quickly react after the serve and adapt both physically and technically to hit an effective shot.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Body Serve From The Deuce Side Progression:

Player serves to the body from the deuce side, aiming through the cones. The coach then feeds a regular ball to the advantage side, and the player finishes with a deep backhand cross-court volley in between the cones on the other side of the court.

Serve and Return

Big serve with drop shot winner:

Player serves to the T from ad side.

The coach hits the ball back to the player's backhand side.

The player finishes with a backhand drop shot down the line.

Place cones in the deuce service box for the player to aim for when hitting the drop shot

Serve and Return

Connect the Dots:

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.

Serve and Return

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.

Serve and Return

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