Player takes ready position. Coach throws ball to the forehand side. Player doesn't move legs and hits forehand. Player has to use only upper body to hit the ball.
A good tennis stroke requires all body parts to be involved, however many players use only their hitting arm to generate power. Unfortunately that's the first step to a lower quality of shot and will more than likely cause an injury sooner or later. To be able to develop a powerful and consistent forehand, Player has to learn how to use individual body parts and then learn to combine them into one fluid motion.
In this drill, the player works on their upper body. An open stance creates opportunities to deal with fast balls only when angular actions are in place. If the Player doesn't use their lower and upper body correctly, open stance will never be as effective as possible. Coach should explain to Player to focus on a good upper body turn and to generate the power using their strong core muscles. If Player has weaknesses in physical preparation, Coach should immediately point them out to make athlete aware how poor physical performance can stop tennis progress.
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.
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