The player stands at the net. Cones are set in the middle, on the deuce and ad side. The coach feeds balls to forehand side and the player executes stop-volleys, hitting into different target every time.
Stop-volley is a necessary skill in these days. Modern tennis players are great in moving laterally so it is not a problem for them to chase deep volleys and hit effective passing shots anymore. Knowing that it is smart to use different tactics, hit more volleys short to force typical baseliners to move outside of their comfort zone and check their passing skills while reaching for the ball with slice. This strategy can be also used in doubles where most of the deep shots are covered by 2 players so hitting stop-volleys while poaching is a better option to win the point at the net.
In this drill, the player works on stop-volley. Different targets forces player to change racquet angle according to the direction he wants to hit. This ability is helpful not only while playing volleys but in the overall tennis development e.g serving with different spins, attacking with different trajectory etc. The coach should make sure that player hits the ball up to be able to place the ball really close to the net. Opening the racquet at the point of contact will add spin that can even cause the ball to come back on our side after the shot. To make it really competitive, the coach can give points for hitting each target or get the target out after it is hit.
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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