Players put a hat on their head, while the coach feeds balls to the player. They must execute a forehand volley without the hat falling off their head.
In this drill, the player works on their head stability. Having a hat on the head is a visible indicator of success or failure. Firstly, the player learns how to hit without moving, before potentially adding movement to the drill to make it more challenging.
Having an unstable head is a reason for many mistakes, not only at the net but also when executing strokes on the baseline. Controlling the head is a necessity to improve body control and the effectiveness of the stroke.
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.