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Tennis: Doubles returning

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DESCRIPTION

-Players are positioned in a doubles formation as seen in the picture.
-The server will serve first and second serves as in a game situation.
-The receiver will hit any of the returns as shown in the picture.
-The players can play out the points after the return.
-After approximately 6-10 serves the players swop round so that each player gets to serve and return and from both sides.

COACHING POINTS

The server should do the same in-between serves routines as they would in a match and not rush through.

The receiver can work on shot selection on returns and should be helped by the coach to understand the most appropriate choice of shot/return to each serve.

The drill can also be used to help all the players understand doubles positioning.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Doubles movement

-Player 2 starts with a second serve to advantage court.
-Returner hits a lob return over player 1s head and follows it into the net.
-Player 2 chases the lob and returns it down the line.
-Player 1 moves to hot seat in the middle.
-Returner hits cross court volley to player 1.
-Player 2 comes to net and the point is played out.
-The same drill can be repeated on the deuce side of the court.

Doubles Drills

The Wall

4 players 2 at the net and 2 at the baseline.

Coach feeds the ball in to the baseliners and the point is played out.

The volleyers can hit anywhere, however the baseliners cannot hit to the same volleyer twice in a row.

After 2 volleys the baseliners are then allowed to lob.

The winner is the first team to 11 points, after this the teams swap over.

Doubles Drills

Attack and Intercept

-Player serves to deuce court towards feeder and comes to the net.
-The first player on the advantage side shadows the server and comes to net.
-Feeder hits a ball to server who returns it cross court.
-Feeder hits towards server again but the shadow server intercepts and hits cross-court winner.

Doubles Drills

Doubles interception

The deep players rally the ball back and forth between one another.

The blue receiver's partner attempts to intercept the ball down the middle.

Once the ball has been intercepted the point is live.

The players rotate clockwise round the court after 6-8 rallies so that each player gets to play in each position.

Doubles Drills

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MORE Serve and Return DRILLS

Advanced progression of Returning drills

Player 1 hits a serve, with player 2Â trying to return between the baseline and the Throw Down Line (lines are placed according to player's level).

Serve and Return

Chip and Charge

Player 1 only has one serve. Player 2 returns and follows it into the net to volley or smash. The server should not be allowed to lob the first shot. Player 2 should aim for either a deep return or cross court. Play out the points and first to seven points is the winner.

Serve and Return

Cone Serving

Players serve at the targets shown, taking two balls at a time and serving 1 first serve, 1 second serve at each target. After a certain amount of time players switch and repeat the same from the other side. The player with the most targets at the end of the practice wins the drill. If groups are large, players can take it in turns to serve one after the other, and/or also from the doubles serving positions.

Serve and Return

3 progressive returns

The coach stands on the service line (ad side), and the player starts from the baseline. The coach serves to the T, so that the players hits a forehand return cross-court. After successful hit into the zone, the player moves forward between service line and baseline, and hits another return. After successful hit into the zone, the player moves forward to the service line to execute another return.

Serve and Return

Accuracy Toss

The player tosses the ball up and leaves the non-dominant hand in the air. Ball should drop into the player's hand.

Serve and Return

Add Your Hips

Coach stands in front of the player with racquet. The player shadows the serve while trying to touch the coach's racquet with their leading hip.

Serve and Return

Answer the serve

Coach serves from the deuce side. The player then hits a cross-court forehand return.

Serve and Return

As high as you can

The player faces the back fence and imitates serving action. The player's goal is to reach with the racquet as high as possible and touch the fence with the top edge of the racquet.

Serve and Return

Backhand return of serve cross court

Coach serves to the player from the deuce side. Player moves into position to hit a backhand return cross court. Cones should be placed in the corner of the deuce side to give the player a target to aim for.

Serve and Return

Backhand Slice Return - Get Back To The Old Times

Player waits for the serve on the ad side. Coach serves wide from the ad side. Player executes deep backhand slice return in cross-court direction.

Serve and Return

Basic pattern for everyone

Player serves wide from the deuce side. Coach throws a ball to the deuce side. Player hits deep forehand cross court and recovers. Coach throws another ball to the deuce side. Player hits deep forehand down the line.

Serve and Return

Be Ready For Deep Return

Player serves from the deuce side. Coach hits a deep return to the middle of the court. Player stays close to the baseline and hits a half volley forehand to the open court.

Serve and Return

Big Power, Big Target

Player serves wide from the deuce side. Coach throws a short and high ball to the deuce side. Player moves forward and hits an offensive forehand drive volley to the center of the court.

Serve and Return

Big serve with drop shot winner

Player serves to the T from ad side. The coach hits the ball back to the player's backhand side. The player finishes with a backhand drop shot down the line. Place cones in the deuce service box for the player to aim for when hitting the drop shot

Serve and Return

Body Serve From The Deuce Side Progression

Player serves to the body from the deuce side, aiming through the cones. The coach then feeds a regular ball to the advantage side, and the player finishes with a deep backhand cross-court volley in between the cones on the other side of the court.

Serve and Return

Body Serve From The Deuce Side

Player serves to the body from the deuce side, aiming through the cones. The coach then feeds a regular ball to the advantage side, and the player finishes with a deep backhand cross-court in between the cones on the other side of the court.

Serve and Return

Bounce Over The Bar

Bar is set on the deuce side. Player serves from the deuce side. Player tries to make the ball bounce over the the set bar.

Serve and Return

Challenging Shot After the Serve

Player serves. Coach throws deep and low ball immediately after player lands on the court. Player quickly moves back and responds with controlled forehand stroke.

Serve and Return

Comfortable Against Deep Return

Player serves from the deuce side. Coach hits a deep return to the middle of the court. Player moves back and hits a topspin shot to the open court.

Serve and Return

Connect the Dots

Coach serves from Deuce/Ad side. Player returns with forehand cross court. Coach hits the ball back to forehand. Player finishes to the open space. In this exercise, returner works on basic forehand patterns. From deuce side, player returns cross court and finishes down the line. From Ad side, player goes with cross court and finishes with inside in.

Serve and Return

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