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Tennis: Play on the smile

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Andrea, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

Purpose:

Learn correct movement "cutting in" to play shorter balls.

Coach feeds alternately from side to side.

Player must stay inside the throw down lines and learn to move in a "smile" shape around the baseline. Feed in sets of 10-12 balls.

COACHING POINTS

The smile position allows the player to cut in on the court and take time away from the other player. Also if they were further back then they'd have to send the ball further
Aim to hit the ball at the top of the bounce or when it is between the waist and shoulder
Cutting angles and moving through the ball
Making big steps to the ball
Recovery with sidesteps, crossover steps back

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Over the Shoulder:

Players stand on the base line, with one player in front of another.

Player two (the player without the ball) has their back to their partner.

Player 1 can throw the ball when they like. As soon as player 2 sees the ball coming over their head they must react and move to catch it (preferably its second bounce) and then return to their partner in order to repeat.

Movement

Quick Change:

Coach stands in front of the player and feeds random balls (Forehand, Backhand, Low, Short, Deep etc). Player has to react and adjust to incoming balls.

Movement

Line and Drop:

Coach feeds a long ball across the court.

Players have to run across the court to play the ball deep down the line and then across to the net to play a short drop shot down the line.

Each player hits the 2 shots and then go to the back of the queue.

Movement

Recovery Habits - Backhand:

This drill teaches how to achieve good positioning on the court. Coach tosses balls to the one side, and the player hits the ball and recovers to the proper spot. If the shot is cross court (yellow cone), player recovers to the closer (yellow) cone. If the shot is down the line to the red cone, player has to go to the further (red) cone.

Movement

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