Tennis: Directional adjustment with backhand volley

Encourage your players to play positive tennis by coming into the net. This plan will develop your player’s ability to volley at the net, plucking the ball out of thin air!

The coach feeds an easy high ball, and the player hits forehand in the air to the deuce side and moves up.The coach hits a lob back, with the player finishing with overhead to the ad side.

Many players don't play too many shots in the air because they have poor ball-tracking skills. The coach should implement different varations of drills that consist of drives and overheads to make players more comfortable with hitting without a bounce.

The player stands on the baseline, and the coach feeds a medium-pace ball to the forehand side. The player runs forward and hits forehand volley down the line.

The player stands at the net,whilst the coach feeds random balls. The player hits forehand/backhand volley into the deep zone (behind the cones).

Player stands on the baseline. Coach feeds a moonball. Player moves inside the baseline and hits a groundstroke drive in the air.

Drill specifications:

1-4 repetitions per set

With less players on the court coach can increase the number of repetitions to allow players to hit few strokes in a row. Waiting players can do figure 8 drill around the cones to work on the important aspect of the forehand in the air - adjustment steps. With more players coach can make them switch after one shot to keep the drill dynamic and improve anaerobic endurance at the same time.