Cone is set near the player on the backhand side. The player imitates backhand stroke, and the player's goal is to lower the racquet's head and hit the cone while shadowing.
Hitting with topspin is a necessity to achieve consistent level of play. It is impossible to develop more advanced skills without an ability to hit comfortably with topspin. Players who hit flat backhands can struggle against decent opponents so coach should teach this skill to everyone.
In this exercise, the player learns how to apply topspin in backhand stroke. By trying to hit the cone, the player can simply execute proper motion of the racquet. The coach should emphasize to lower the racquet head before the hit to add spin to the ball. The coach should feed some balls to see the player's transition from shadowing to more challenging opportunity.
On-court coaching is now fully legal, technology continues to advance, and the ATP calendar evolves. Here's what tennis coaches need to know for 2026.
Tennis demands a unique combination of endurance, power, agility, and flexibility. Physical preparation determines how long careers last and how players perform when it matters most.
Ecological dynamics is transforming tennis coaching. This constraints-led approach develops adaptable, creative players who can solve problems in competition, not just execute drilled patterns.
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