Player serves wide from the deuce side. Coach throws a ball to the deuce side. Player hits forehand down the line and recovers. Coach throws another ball to the ad side. Player runs around and hits forehand inside in.
Many players have stronger forehands than backhands so this information has to be used to build successful tactical patterns. The goal of this kind of patterns is to avoid hitting with own backhand stroke and force the opponent to hit as many backhands as possible. If we are able to do this from the first shot after the serve we have a great chance to dominate the point and the match.
In this drill player works on tactical pattern. After the serve player puts the first shot after the serve to the opponent's backhand to keep the ball away from his/her strength. Most of the opponents will respond with safe cross-court shot so player has to be ready to run around and be more aggressive with forehand inside in. By placing the balls into 2 different corners player forces the opponent to run and take more risk on the next shots.
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.
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