Contact Help center
Tennis Tennis
HOME Tennis Coaching Trends SEARCH

Tennis: ready position

ready position DRILLS
View All

50 volleys

2 players stand in services boxes hitting volleys to each other. Play a continuous rally, counting to try to make 50 shots in a row. If they miss or the ball bounces before a shot then they have to start again at 0.

Volley Drills

Ball drop speed drill

Player 1 is feeding and can start halfway between the service line and the net with arms outstretched at shoulder height. Player 2 is working, starting in the ready position on the baseline, but remaining active on the spot. Player 1 must drop either of the 2 balls they have outstretched in their hands. As soon as player 2 sees this they must sprint forwards and try to get to the ball after 1 bounce. They then throw the ball back to player 1 and shuffle their feet moving backwards in a relaxed way to get into the start position for the next feed.

Movement

Ball roll

Player 1 is feeding from the service box and player 2 starts on the baseline T in the ready position. Player 1 rolls tennis balls along the ground, in a random pattern, one after the other and player 2 must move to each ball, stop it with their hand before it goes outside the singles tramlines or baseline. After stopping the ball player 2 should roll it back to player 1 who can then roll the next ball.

Movement

Developing Coordination- Progression 1

Intention: Develop sending and receiving skill through the use of progressive coordination exercises. Players stand facing each other on the inside and outside tramlines respectively (in a ready, athletic, "gorilla position") Players start with one ball and throw the ball underarm between each other. The ball must bounce once before the partner catches the ball. Each player must throw the ball with their right hand and catch the ball with their left. Once the ball has been caught it must be passed between the hands in preparation for the throw. As players master a rhythm, they attempt to increase the tempo.

Junior Tennis

Developing Coordination- Progression 2

Intention: Develop sending and receiving skills through the use of progressive coordination exercises. Following progression 1 Players stand facing each other on the inside and outside tramlines respectively (in a ready, athletic, gorilla position) Players have two balls, one ball each, and throw the balls underarm between each other. The balls must bounce once before the partner catches the ball. Each player must throw the ball with their right hand and catch the other ball with their left. Once the ball has been caught it must be passed between the hands in preparation for the throw and free up the left hand for the catch. As players master a rhythm, they attempt to increase the tempo.

Junior Tennis

Groundstrokes: forehand and backhand

In partners, one person feeds the ball underarm over a net to the forehand side of partner. Partner hits the ball after a bounce back to their partner. Change after 6 goes each. Change to backhands if forehands successful.

Aspire sport videos

Learn to use upper body

Player takes ready position. Coach throws ball to the forehand side. Player doesn't move legs and hits forehand. Player has to use only upper body to hit the ball.

Forehand Drills

Reactional Turn

The player stands in ready position facing away from the coach. The Coach gives a verbal signal and throws the ball. The player's goal is to turn around and catch the ball in the air.

Agility & Fitness

Toss From Behind

The coach stands behind the player. The player takes ready position. The Coach tosses the ball to the backhand side. The player reacts, moves forward and hits backhand.

Backhand Drills

Volley on the 'V'

Purpose: Learn correct movement to volley! Coach feeds alternately from side to side. Players hit volleys and recover position to the middle each time. Must stay inside the throw down lines (cones) Feed is set of 6-8 balls.

Volley Drills

Toss From Behind Backhand Dril...

The coach stands behind the player. The player takes ready position. The Coach tosses the ball to the backhand side. The player reacts, moves forward and hits backhand.

General

Learn to use upper body Foreha...

Player takes ready position. Coach throws ball to the forehand side. Player doesn't move legs and hits forehand. Player has to use only upper body to hit the ball.

General

Be ready for anything! Movemen...

Players are working in pairs with player 1 feeding from just behind the service box and player 2 starting from the baseline area.Player 1 can roll, drop, or throw balls in any order or direction to player 2 and player 2 must react accordingly and return the ball to player 1 in the same way it has been fed.They must reach each and every ball before it goes outside the single tramlines, baseline or in front of the service box. Player 1 can throw the ball straight at player 2 too so they must be ready for anything!

General

Ball roll Movement - Tennis Dr...

Player 1 is feeding from the service box and player 2 starts on the baseline T in the ready position.Player 1 rolls tennis balls along the ground, in a random pattern, one after the other and player 2 must move to each ball, stop it with their hand before it goes outside the singles tramlines or baseline.After stopping the ball player 2 should roll it back to player 1 who can then roll the next ball.

General

Forehand and Backhand Junior T...

Intention: Develop basic forehand and backhand technique.The group is divided into two- "Hitters" and "Fielders".Hitters execute the drill, whilst fielders collect balls. Change roles after each player has 5 turns. Coach feeds simultaneously to the player at the front of each queue. Each player hits five balls (outside shot) and moves off the court and returns to the back of the opposite queue (players will alternate between forehand and backhand on each turn).NB: Coach must continue to reinforce key teaching points.

General

Developing Coordination- Progr...

Intention: Develop sending and receiving skills through the use of progressive coordination exercises. Following progression 2 Players stand facing each other on the inside and outside tramlines respectively (in a ready, athletic, gorilla position) Players have three balls, one player starts with 2 and the other with one, and throw the balls underarm between each other. The balls must bounce once before the partner catches the ball. Each player must throw the ball with their right hand and catch the other ball with their left. Once the ball has been caught it must be passed between the hands in preparation for the throw and free up the left hand for the catch. As players master a rhythm, they attempt to increase the tempo.

General

Weight Transfer Backhand Drill...

The coach throws balls to the backhand side. The player hits backhand and lifts back leg up after the shot.

General

Developing Coordination- Progr...

Intention: Develop sending and receiving skills through the use of progressive coordination exercises.Following progression 3 Players stand facing each other on the inside and outside tramlines respectively (in a ready, athletic, gorilla position)Players have four balls, each player starts with two balls, and throw the balls underarm between each other.The balls must bounce once before the partner catches the ball.Each player must throw one ball with their right hand and transfer the other ball from their left hand to right hand to then receive the other ball from their partner with their left.As players master a rhythm, they attempt to increase the tempo.

General

Basic Forehand Technique- Prog...

<p dir="ltr">Intention: Develop basic forehand technique. Players line up on one side of the net set up on a short court. Coach on the other side of the net. Coach feeds the ball to the first player in the line. Each player hits the ball 3 times. Shot is a forehand played with a neutral hitting stance and the player is to finish balanced on one foot. Those in the line mimic the shot of the player playing the ball. Once the player has had their three shots, they collect three balls to return to the hopper before joining the back of the line. 

General

Ball drop speed drill Movement...

Player 1 is feeding and can start halfway between the service line and the net with arms outstretched at shoulder height.Player 2 is working, starting in the ready position on the baseline, but remaining active on the spot.Player 1 must drop either of the 2 balls they have outstretched in their hands. As soon as player 2 sees this they must sprint forwards and try to get to the ball after 1 bounce.They then throw the ball back to player 1 and shuffle their feet moving backwards in a relaxed way to get into the start position for the next feed.

General

Feed by hand to forehand side ...

Coach feeds the ball from the T to the forehand side of the player. The player runs to the ball to play the shot and retrieves back towards the middle of the base line before the coach feeds the next ball wide. After 3 or 4 shots the next player.

General

Tennis: 50 volleys - Sportplan

2 players stand in services boxes hitting volleys to each other. Play a continuous rally, counting to try to make 50 shots in a row. If they miss or the ball bounces before a shot then they have to start again at 0.

General

Anticipation and reactions Mov...

Player side steps until the coach drops a ball. The player must catch the ball before the second bounce. Players can also start from a stationary position with heels of the ground or hopping on one leg or criss crossing the legs or with player starting with their back to coach and the coach shouting out when throwing the ball.

General

Volley on the 'V' Volley Drill...

Purpose:Learn correct movement to volley!Coach feeds alternately from side to side.Players hit volleys and recover position to the middle each time.Must stay inside the throw down lines (cones)Feed is set of 6-8 balls.

General

Basic Backhand Technique- Prog...

Intention: Develop basic backhand technique.Players line up on one side of the net with the coach on the other side of the net.Coach feeds the ball to the first player in the line. Each player hits the ball 3 times. Shot is a backhand played with a neutral hitting stance and the player is to finish balanced on one foot.Those in the line mimic the shoe of the player playing the ball. Once the player has had their 3 shots, they then collect 3 balls to return to the hopper before joining the back of the line.

General

Forehand recovery Movement - T...

Coach feeds the ball to the forehand side, with the player just behind the baseline.Player runs out, hits one forehand, recovers their position to the middle and runs out for a second and third time. After the third time they go past the middle as though the next shot is coming to their backhand.For the first two shots they hit the ball crosscourt and then the last one down the line.

General

Balance is everything Forehand...

Player stands on balance platforms. Coach feeds balls to the forehand side. Player executes forehand stroke while maintaining balance.

General

Groundstrokes: forehand and ba...

In partners, one person feeds the ball underarm over a net to the forehand side of partner. Partner hits the ball after a bounce back to their partner. Change after 6 goes each. Change to backhands if forehands successful.

General

'X' movement Movement - Tennis...

Purpose:learn to move in an &quot;X&quot; pattern under pressure of movement.Coach feeds the ball in the sequence 1,2,3,4 for each player in turn. Coach feeds high deep balls to points 1,3 and shorter feeds to 2,4.Exact pattern of 1,2,3,4 maintained throughout.Player hits feeds 1,3 deep crosscourt. Feeds 2,4 down the line. Feed in sets of 16 balls.

General

Back and Forth Volley Drills -...

Both players start at service line. Red 1 has to hit a ground stroke and then approach the net and play a volley back to Blue 1 and then return to service line. Repeat 6-10 shots then stop for Blue 1 to continue drill.

General

Waves! Rally Drills - Tennis D...

Players are playing doubles points from the hand in pairs.The pair who wins the point moves to the service line which is their starting position for the next point. Should they win the point from this starting position, players score 1 point and get to stay where there are. Should they lose the point from starting on the service line, they must move back to the baseline.

General

Catch The Racket Movement - Te...

2 players face each other.Players put their rackets vertically on the ground and hold them with one hand.At a given signal, players release the racket and run to catch their partner’s racket.

General

Tennis: 1st and 2nd volley pos...

The coach is feeding from the basket and players hit 2 balls each, a 1st volley and a 2nd volley. Players can start between the baseline and the service-line running forwards and split-stepping as the coach makes contact with the ball. After hitting the first volley down the line, they must move forwards closing the net down and edging to cover the line before they hit the 2nd volley cross-court. The 1st volley must be played deep and the 2nd volley as a shorter angled shot.

General

Control the Point from the Cen...

Cones are set up in deuce and ad corners.Coach feeds balls to the center of the court.Player alternates hitting deep forehands to deuce and ad side from the center.

General

1 air 1 bounce Volley Drills -...

The player stands at the service line. The coach feeds balls to the backhand side. The coach alternates feeds hitting 1 ball into the legs of the player and 1 regular ball. The player alternates hitting 1 backhand half-volley and 1 regular backhand volley in a down the line direction.

General

Forehand to forehand team tram...

Players get into pairs. Each pair plays against another pair rallying inside the tram line. The two players rotate in each team, taking it in turns to hit the ball using only their forehand. Every time the ball stays inside the tram lines they score a point The first pair to score 10 is the winner.

General

1 Minute Rally and Swap. Rally...

Players work in groups of 3. Players 1 and 2 rally for 1 minute after which player 2 steps aside and allows player 3 to tale their place. Players 1 and 3 rally for 1 minute, during which time player 2 walks to the other side of the net, ready to take over from player 1 after the 1 minute is up. Player 2 and 3 now rally for 1 minute.

General

Tennis: Forehand Attacking - S...

Up to 4 players can be involved. The aim is to encourage players to progressively attack on the move. Coach feeds 3 balls to each player diagonally across the court. Feed 1 to the centre of the court, feed 2 slightly wider to the centre of the service box, and feed 3 wider towards the tramlines of the court. Players should use good footwork to get feet in the correct position around the ball to hit an inside out forehand straight back down the court. The drill should be continuous so as player A hits feed 2, player B is hitting feed 1.

General

Unfortunately there were no results for your search! Please try again
ready position ANSWERS
View All

Backhand grip

In Nick Saviano's book, Maximum Tennis, Andre Agassi is said to have a very 'soft' left hand on his backhand, and yet often I hear and read many tips suggesting a very dominant, or active, supporting hand for the two handed backhand. Especially now, with the more semi-open stanced players, what should I suggest when teaching the backhand to developing players?

Archived User Coach

group coaching

I want to design an 8 sessions for 2 beginners players

Asim 0 Coach, Qatar

JOIN SPORTPLAN FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1200+ tennis drills
  • create your own professional coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested plans
LATEST COACHING TRENDS
Smart Courts and Wearable Tech: How Technology Is Transforming Tennis Training

Smart Courts and Wearable Tech: How Technology Is Transforming Tennis Training

From sensor-equipped rackets to AI-powered coaching, technology is making tennis training more precise than ever. Here's what actually works.

March 2026
|
Sportplan Coaching
On-Court Coaching: Making the Most of Your 90 Seconds

On-Court Coaching: Making the Most of Your 90 Seconds

On-court coaching is now fully legal. Here's how to deliver advice that actually helps during those crucial 90-second changeovers.

February 2026
|
Sportplan Coaching
6 Things Changing Tennis in 2026

6 Things Changing Tennis in 2026

On-court coaching is now fully legal, technology continues to advance, and the ATP calendar evolves. Here's what tennis coaches need to know for 2026.

January 2026
|
Sportplan Coaching
VIEW ALL COACHING TRENDS
Tennis POPULAR SEARCH TERMS
doublesgamesbackhandsliceservevolleymini tennisforehand drillsdrop shotbeginnerfootworkconsistencylesson plansbackhand drillsservingkidswarm upforehanddoubles drills

What our users have been saying...

Coaches from around the world look to Sportplan for coaching confidence.

Sportplan has been very helpful in guiding me through my first year as a High School Coach.

Bill O'Neill Newly qualified coach, America

Your tennis drills are extremely useful coaching tools.

Nail Tennis coach, Bangalore

Thanks for everything! Sportplan has helped me to improve my tennis lessons, making them more interesting and fun.

Andrea Tennis coach, England

Wow what a great website, I have found sportplan an important tool for me when planning my netball sessions with my netball team. There are alot of very helpful tips/ideas/skills that I can learn and teach to my team. Thank you sportplan I hope to continue to use your helpful tips and to learn more about improving my teams netball skills. Thanks again....keep it up....

Monique New Zealand

I have been using Sportplan now for 3 years and can honestly say that I have never repeated the same session twice. My girls are always focused and are improving every year. Thanks Sportplan.

Debbie Cross Australia

What a fantastic tool. The Chalkboard and session tools make an unbelievable difference in making training plans in both time and organization. I will be instructing all of my assistant coaches that this tool must be used for all sessions during the season, so that we may build a club coaching resource library.

Wes Campbell Rugby Coach Canada

I can't get enough of the Sportplan, It has given me back the enthusiasm i was starting to lose. My girls are so keen and are ready at 14 to take the next up in their game. Sportplan will help no end.

Cornel Basketball Coach, South Africa

SIGN UP NOW FOR FREE

  • search our library of 1200+ tennis drills
  • create professional tennis coaching plans
  • or access our tried and tested tennis plans

Sportplan App

Give it a try - it's better in the app

SPORTPLAN USES COOKIES

Sportspeople like cookies too! By continuing to browse, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. More info

Privacy Policy
We are committed to privacy and support current industry initiatives to preserve individual privacy rights on the Internet. Protecting your privacy on-line is an evolving area and this website will constantly evolve to meet these demands.


Cookies
Some of our web pages utilise "cookies". A "cookie" is a small text file that may be used, forexample, to collect information about web site activity. Some cookies and other technologies may serve to recallPersonal Information previously indicated by a web user. Most browsers allow you to control cookies, includingwhether or not to accept them and how to remove them.

Some cookies are necessary for the operation of our website, if you choose to block them some aspects of the site may not work for you. Non necessary cookies are only set when you have given your explicit consent to their use. Such cookies included those set by our statistics package Google Analytics.

We use cookies to personalise content and ads, to provide social media features and to analyse our traffic. We also share information about your use of our site with our social media, advertising and analytics partners who may combine it with other information that you've provided to them or that they've collected from your use of their services.

More info
Tennis POPULAR SEARCH TERMS
approach backhand backhand drills badminton beginner donkey doubles doubles drills drills drop shot football footwork forehand forehand drills games kids lesson plans lob mini mini tennis search serve serving short slice smash tennis volley volley drills warm up
YOUR SESSION IS STARTING SOON... Join the growing community of tennis coaches plus 1200+ drills and pro tools to make coaching easy.
LET'S DO IT