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Tennis: Target Serve Corner

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DESCRIPTION

4 players, cones or spots, basket of tennis balls.

4 cones set up in each corner of the service box.

Two players take 2 serves each to the relevant service box aiming to hit the cones.

The next 2 players then take 2 serves each.

The drill continues until all balls have been used.

1 point scored for every cone hit.

COACHING POINTS

Correct ball toss - throw slightly in front.

Keep left arm upwards whilst serving.

Use of wrist to control racket face.

Keep front foot still.

Use knee bend at appropiate time after ball toss.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Target Serve Central Line

4 players, Â 4 cones or spots, basket of tennis balls.

4 cones set up in a line along the centre of each service box.

Two players take 2 serves each to the relevant service box aiming to hit the cones.

The next 2 players then take 2 serves each.

The drill continues until all balls have been used.

1 point scored for every cone hit.

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

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

Toss Variety - Kick Serve

Player learns how to toss the ball into the proper spot. Coach stands on the right of the player (slice serve) or on the left of the player (kick serve). Player tries to toss the ball into the coach's hand.

Players have to be able to vary the toss according to the serve they want to execute. Slice, kick serve and flat serves require slightly different tosses to make chances bigger for effective results.

For the kick serve, toss to the left side is a necessity to successfuly deliver the ball with high and unexpected bounce. Hitting from the left to the right will add spin responsible for ball bounces to the right side. Tossing the ball to the left helps also with contacting the ball at lower point (in opposite to any other serve) which has an impact on loopy trajectory of the serve.

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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