Intention: Develop a basic backhand technique.
Players in 2 lines on one side of the net, coach on the other side.
Coach feeds simultaneously to the players in each line.
Each player hits 3 balls and moves around to the other side of the court and collects 3 balls from the other.
Introduce the neutral stance. Demonstrate the ability to step down the court and hit a backhand from a neutral stance.
Demonstrate an active recovery using a side-step.
Ensure players are balanced when hitting the ball.
Players can hit 3 balls with their non- dominant hand and then 3 balls with both hands on the racket.
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.