HOME Tennis Drills Serve and Return

Tennis: Serve body + volley

I have used many of the tennis drills and as a result my two High...

Linsent, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

Player A executes serve into the body. Player B hits the return. Player A finishes the point with a volley.

Drill specifications:

1 repetition per set

To make this drill really dynamic players should switch after one point at the serving side. Returning players can switch after few points to guarantee good consistency and more opportunities for the servers to work on the pattern. Waiting players should perform sprints next to the court to improve the speed that is really helpful while running to the net after the serve.

COACHING POINTS

Serve and volley is an effective tactical pattern that all players should feel comfortable while executing. Feliciano Lopez and Roger Federer are great examples of players who use this combination to surprise the opponent, shorten the point and win the rally. Too many juniors believe that modern tennis is a groundstroke game so they forget to work on offensive game including volleys after the serve. Adding this aspect to the player’s game can make a big difference because player will have more options to pick during own serving gems.

In this drill players work on offensive tactical pattern based on serve and volley. Hitting the serve into the body is a real test for the opponent so only real athletes will be able to effectively answer the ball. Most of the returners will be harmed with this kind of shot so players have to follow to the net to punish the next easy ball. Coach should explain to players to run as fast as possible to achieve the best possible position at the net. If players are behind the baseline they will be vulnerable while playing against good opponents. Only position inside the baseline can guarantee offensive execution on the next shot. Coach should give freedom according to the direction and power of the volley to see player’s decisions but players have to be encouraged to play a lot of balls on the run to hit the ball as close to the net as possible. Stopping too early and hitting statically will give much more time for the opponent to recover so it can negatively affect the final result of the action.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Serve and Volley

Player 1 serves a 1st Serve and follows it in to hit a volley. If returner is finding it hard then serve a 2nd serve. Serve volley behind the returner i.e. to the same direction that the ball came from to wrong foot the opponent.

Serve and Return

Serve and Volley

-Player serves diagonally to returner / feeder who hits cross court.
-Server moves forward and volleys back to returner / feeder.
-Returner / feeder hits a short low ball to the net players feet.
-The returner / feeder then plays out the point.
-Lobs are only allowed after a minimum of two volleys.

Serve and Return

Serve and return pattern with forehand

The player serves from the Deuce side, aiming for the body of the imaginary opponent.

The coach then feeds the ball to the player's backhand side.

The player then has to hit an aggressive forehand inside out by running around to get into position to hit the shot.

Serve and Return

Serve Placement

Divide the box into 3 areas using TDL (Throw down lines)

First person to hit each area 3 times on both the deuce and advantage boxes is the winner

Progression - The server has to say which area they are going to serve into if the serve lands in that area and they win the point they get a bonus point

Serve and Return

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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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