Purpose:
Teaches players when to keep ball in the same direction and when to change and that players need to recover position towards centre of court.
Players rally 4 balls crosscourt from either corner. Then the point is "live". Play to 11 points
Court is longer crosscourt (82.5ft compared to 78ft)
Net is lower in centre (3ft compared to 3ft 6 in)
Therefore playing crosscourt will give you longer to recover if the opposition has put you out of position
Crosscourt gives the opportunity to build width and depth to then hit down the line.
Players need to know when to pick the down the line 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.