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Tennis: Service box touch

Your tennis drills are extremely useful coaching tools.

Nail, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

Players 1 and 2 stand opposite each other, close to the net, working in the half court service boxes.

Players take it in turns to start the point by holding the ball on top of the net and then release it, letting it fall to whichever side it chooses.

The ball can bounce once or be volleyed. The tram-lines are out and no topspin or pace must be used by either player.

Players play first to 21 points.

COACHING POINTS

Although this is a 'game' players are developing hand skills and racket-head control in the process.

They should be encouraged to work out how to construct the point using angles, dropshots and lobs without the need for pace.

Players should be as intense with their movement in this game as when working in the fullcourt.

If done properly this drill can benefit players physically as the point can become quite long and a lot of lunging and balance work is required.

If there are more players in the practice, the drill can be done with 2 further players working in the adjoining service boxes.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Shot selection:

-Players play in pairs as a team and alternate shots scoring a point each time a shot is hit in the back 1/3 of the court.
-If a ball is hit short the players can attack.
-Attacking shots should also be hit deep (1/3 back of court) and if they are hit as outright winners the team will score an extra 3 points.
-First side to 7 points wins the game.
-The game can also be started with service and then carried on as described above.

Rally Drills

Run Forrest, run!:

The coach feeds a drop-shot from the basket. Players 1 and 2 are at the same end as the coach and are positioned at the net.

Player 3 must run forwards to try to get to the drop-shot and play it up to either of the players at the net.

The players at the net must lob-volley the ball back over player 3's head. Player must then 3 run back to chase the ball hitting it again to either of the players at the net, who then drop volleys this ball.

The point continues in this way until an unforced error is made or player 3 cannot run anymore!

Volley Drills

Running Forehand and Rally:

Player 1 starts on the tramlines opposite the coach.

Coach feeds the ball across the court for player 1 to run on to and hit a deep running forehand to player 2.

A rally continues until a point is won.

After the point is won player 1 retreats to their starting position, player 2 joins the back of the queue, and player 3 joins the drill.

Rally Drills

Rewarding depth:

-Lines of cones are placed as seen in the picture above.
-To make the drill easier it can be played on one half of the court and later progressed to full court.
-If the ball lands in the service box a point is deducted.Ball landing between the 2 lines of cones = 1 point.Players gain 3 points for shots hit into the last quarter.
-First player to 11 points wins the game.
-The game can also be started with a second serve.

Rally Drills

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