Set up two sets of cones around 1metre inside the service line, either side of the coach who stands in the centre of the court.
The coach then feeds balls to the player so he/she has to hit either and backhand or forehand down the line shot.
The player must execute all strokes in down the line direction aiming for between the cones.
In this drill, the player works on reaction and hitting down the line.
By feeding random balls the coach will force the player to make quick adjustments and work on placement and consistency.
For less advanced players, alternate balls to forehand and backhand to help player focus on direction without any additional distractions.
Make the space between the cones smaller as players get more skilled at hitting the shot.
Indoor courts give players less time and less room. Help them sharpen their split step, shorten their swing and stay calm, and winter becomes a season of real progress.
A tiebreak is a short sprint where every point is worth the same as a break of serve. The players who win them are rarely the ones who hit hardest. Here is how to coach the patterns, habits and scoreboard thinking that win the big points.
Most club players practise the serve on its own and then have no idea what to do with the ball that comes back. Serve plus one is the pattern that turns a good serve into a won point.