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Tennis: Ripping it!

Thank you very much for the marvellous site.

Nick, Tennis coach

DESCRIPTION

The coach feeds each player 5 easy balls anywhere inside the service boxes.

The player must 'rip' every single ball, with 100% intensity, swinging freely and keeping the racquet head speed fast through each and every ball.

These are 'put away' balls, the last shot of a rally and must be buried into the court to give the opponent no chance of getting to it.

COACHING POINTS

Players can be encouraged to take the ball at the top of the bounce, however it is useful for more advanced players to learn the skill of 'holding'.

This involves the player setting their feet once in the right position for the ball, and holding until their opponent has made a move to one side of the court before they hit it to the other.

The ball must be at a comfortable contact height to do this.

Players can aim at the targets as they wish, they are simply on the court as a guide.

The drill can be made competitive by the player with the highest number of targets hit being the winner.

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OFTEN USED WITH...

Run and smash

Every player with a ball each. They have to run to the net while bouncing the ball on their racket. when they get to the net they throw up the ball and smash it across the net after which they have to run back.

First one back is the winner

Smash Drills

smash volley smash

Coach feeds the ball from the backhand side of the court in no mans land.
The first feed is for a smash and the second one is for a volley then one more smash and the player moves to the back of the queue and the next player touches the net with their racket.

Smash Drills

Overheads

1) In this drill there are two hitters, two shadows, and the remaining students wait in the alley.
2) The drill starts with the hitters hitting the net.
3)The teacher then hits a lob for hitter 1 to smash.
4)While hitter 1 goes for smash, hitter 2 and both shadows, shadow his movements.
5) The teacher hits the second lob to hitter 2. Once again, the other 3 hit the net and shadow movement back for smash.
6) This is repeated twice. Each hitter hits 2 smashes.
7) After his second smash the hitter goes to the end of the waiting line of students. His shadow moves to the hitting position, and a waiting student becomes the shadow.
8) Smashes should be hit cross-court, away from teacher!!
9) Emphasis should once again be on control and movement.

Smash Drills

volley smash volley smash

Coach feeds the ball from the backhand side of the court in no mans land.
The first feed is for a volley and the second one is for a smash then one more time and the player moves to the back of the queue

Smash Drills

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MORE Smash Drills

Approach and smash

-2 feeding players, with a basket in the middle. - Feed a short ball followed by a lob. - After the approach shot the player smashes the lob.

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Backhand Smash

The coach feeds lob into the air for the player to hit back using the backhand smash. The player hits the smash down the line and joins the back of the line.

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Lateral overheads backwards (dead ball)

Players move across from doubles alley and play 2 smashes moving backwards.

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1 air, 1 bounce to ad

The player stands at the net, with cones set up in the ad corner. The coach feeds lobs to the player, who alternates hitting overheads in the air and after the bounce deep to the ad side.

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Catch and hit

The player stand at the net, with cones set up in the deuce corner. The coach feeds a lob - the player moves to the ball, catches the ball in the hand, throws the ball up and hits overhead deep to the deuce corner.

Smash Drills

Consistency & Confidence

Player stands at the net. Coach stands behind the baseline. Coach hits 2 regular balls and 1 lob. Player hits forehand and backhand volley back to the coach and finishes the overhead to the side.

Smash Drills

Consistency is a key

The player stands at the net, whilst the coach stands behind the baseline in the deuce corner. The player and coach rally together, with the coach hitting lob balls. The player hits regular overheads to the deuce side.

Smash Drills

Continuous overhead

Player stands at the net. Coach quickly feeds high balls in a row. Player executes overhead after overhead without too much time between them.

Smash Drills

Corner to corner

Player stands at the net, and the coach feeds a high ball. The player hits overhead back to the coach to the deuce side. The player hits the lob back who then finishes with overhead to the ad side.

Smash Drills

Cross court pattern with smash and backhand volley

The player stands at the net, with cones set up in the ad corner. The coach feeds a lob, and the player hits overhead back to the coach to deuce side. The coach then hits the ball back to the ad side, and the player finishes with deep backhand volley cross court.

Smash Drills

Deal with the tough one

Player starts from the cone and the coach feeds the ball behind the player's head. The player moves back, jumps, and hits defensive overhead.

Smash Drills

Don't Miss The Overhead

Player stands at the net. Coach stands on the baseline on the deuce side and they rally together. Coach hits all the balls up and the player hits overheads back to the deuce side.

Smash Drills

Forehand Smash Drill

Coach, 1 player, and basket of balls. Player starts by running forward and touching the net. At this point the coach feeds a high ball towards the T junction of the service box. Player back peddles to be in a position to play a forehand smash, then runs forward, touches the net, and the drill is repeated. Drill is continuous.

Smash Drills

Forehand Smash x 2 Players

Coach, 2 players, and basket of balls. Players are in a service box each, and start by running forward and touching the net. At this point the coach feeds a high ball towards the back of each service box. Players back peddle to be in a position to play a forehand smash, then run forward, touch the net, and the drill is repeated. Repeat the drill

Smash Drills

Forehand Smash x 2 Players

Coach, 3 players, and a basket of tennis balls. Coach hits a high feed to player 1 to play a forehand smash. Coach then feeds 4 quick feeds for the same player to play 4 volleys. Player 2 steps in and the drill continues. Then player 3.

Smash Drills

Forehand/Backhand Various Shots

Coach, 3 players, and a basket of balls. Players 1,2 and 3 line up on the baseline. The coach feeds 3 balls. Players 1 and 2 play deeps forehands, and player 3 a deep backhand. Coach feeds 3 balls. Players 1 and 2 play a mid court forehand, and player 3 a mid court backhand. Coach feeds 3 balls. Players 1 and 2 play a forehand volley, and player 3 a backhand volley. Coach feeds 3 high balls for all players to play forehand smashes. Players rotate positions and return to starting point. Drill continues.

Smash Drills

Hit & Follow

Players stands close to the net. Coach feeds a lob ball. Player hits overhead to the ad side and quickly runs to the net (deuce side). Coach feeds another ball to the deuce side. Player finishes with forehand stop volley down the line.

Smash Drills

In or out?

Player stands at the net and the coach feeds high balls. The player has to decide if the ball is going in or out. If the ball is going to be in, the player hits an overhead. If the ball is going to be out, the player leaves the ball.

Smash Drills