In this drill, Player works on a challenging first shot after the serve. An accurate, deep return is the most difficult option for server to respond effectively; so coaches have to spend significant amount of time to teach players how to get out of troubles without losing the point. When the return is solid and deep, Player has to quickly react with proper movement and remember to focus just on control - not on the power. Coach, who throws the balls from a short distance, forces Player to quickly react after the serve and adapt both physically and technically to hit an effective shot.
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.
Wimbledon has just crowned another champion, and if you watched closely you saw the same thing every year: the best returners quietly won the tournament. Here is how to coach a return that pressures the server rather than just surviving it.
Wimbledon arrives at the end of June and the grass court swing transforms how the game is played. Low bounces, slippery footing, and rewards for forward play demand a different tactical mindset. Here is how to coach it.
Register for FREE and get coaching tips, top drills, session and more every week!
