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Tennis: second serve

second serve DRILLS
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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

Doubles interception

The deep players rally the ball back and forth between one another. The blue receiver's partner attempts to intercept the ball down the middle. Once the ball has been intercepted the point is live. The players rotate clockwise round the court after 6-8 rallies so that each player gets to play in each position.

Doubles Drills

Doubles movement

-Player 2 starts with a second serve to advantage court.-Returner hits a lob return over player 1s head and follows it into the net.-Player 2 chases the lob and returns it down the line.-Player 1 moves to hot seat in the middle.-Returner hits cross court volley to player 1.-Player 2 comes to net and the point is played out.-The same drill can be repeated on the deuce side of the court.

Doubles Drills

Doubles returning

-Players are positioned in a doubles formation as seen in the picture. -The server will serve first and second serves as in a game situation.-The receiver will hit any of the returns as shown in the picture.-The players can play out the points after the return.-After approximately 6-10 serves the players swop round so that each player gets to serve and return and from both sides.

Doubles Drills

Interception at the net

-Players start in regular doubles positions.-The service is hit down the centre and the return diagonally.-Servers are given up to 4 attempts to get the ball in.-The net player attempts to intercept the return and kill it down the middle.

Doubles Drills

Queen/King of Depth

-Both players have cones approx 2 meters in front of base line (depending on players skill level.-Players gain a point each time they hit between the cone and the base line. -First player to 11 points wins the game.To make the drill easier it can be played on one half of the court and later progressed to full court. The game can also be started with with a second serve.

Rally Drills

Rewarding depth

-Lines of cones are placed as seen in the picture above.-To make the drill easier it can be played on one half of the court and later progressed to full court.-If the ball lands in the service box a point is deducted.Ball landing between the 2 lines of cones = 1 point.Players gain 3 points for shots hit into the last quarter.-First player to 11 points wins the game.-The game can also be started with a second serve.

Rally Drills

Taking the ball early

-Both players have cones approx 2 meters in front of base line (depending on players skill level.-Players gain a point each time they hit between the cone and the base line. -One of the players has to stay on or inside the baseline. -With more advanced players both have to play on or inside the baseline.-First player to 11 points wins the game.-To make the drill easier it can be played on one half of the court and later progressed to full court. -The game can also be started with a second serve.

Rally Drills

Return With Courage Serve and ...

Coach delivers easy second serve. Player attacks with forehand to the backhand corner. Coach hits the ball short and player finishes to the other side.

General

Attack and finish Forehand & B...

The coach serves second serve from the ad side and the player hits offensive forehand return to the ad side. The coach defends and hits easier ball back. The player finishes with deep forehand to the deuce side.

General

Surprise Your Opponent Serve a...

Coach serves second serve from Deuce/Advantage side. Player responds with return as a drop shot.

General

Doubles returning Serve and Re...

<BR>-Players are positioned in a doubles formation as seen in the picture. <BR>-The server will serve first and second serves as in a game situation.<BR>-The receiver will hit any of the returns as shown in the picture.<BR>-The players can play out the points after the return.<BR>-After approximately 6-10 serves the players swop round so that each player gets to serve and return and from both sides.

General

Return With Courage Attacking ...

Coach delivers easy second serve. Player attacks with forehand to the backhand corner. Coach hits the ball short and player finishes to the other side.

General

Cone Serving Serve and Return ...

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.</div>

General

Doubles movement Doubles Drill...

<BR>-Player 2 starts with a second serve to advantage court.<BR>-Returner hits a lob return over player 1s head and follows it into the net.<Br>-Player 2 chases the lob and returns it down the line.<BR>-Player 1 moves to hot seat in the middle.<br>-Returner hits cross court volley to player 1.<BR>-Player 2 comes to net and the point is played out.<BR>-The same drill can be repeated on the deuce side of the court.

General

Target Serve Corner Serve and ...

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. 

General

3 progressive returns Serve an...

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.

General

Tennis: Backhand return of ser...

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.

General

Queen/King of Depth Rally Dril...

<BR>-Both players have cones approx 2 meters in front of base line (depending on players skill level.<BR>-Players gain a point each time they hit between the cone and the base line. <BR>-First player to 11 points wins the game.<BR>To make the drill easier it can be played on one half of the court and later progressed to full court. <BR>The game can also be started with with a second serve.

General

Rewarding depth Rally Drills -...

<BR>-Lines of cones are placed as seen in the picture above.<BR>-To make the drill easier it can be played on one half of the court and later progressed to full court.<BR>-If the ball lands in the service box a point is deducted.Ball landing between the 2 lines of cones = 1 point.Players gain 3 points for shots hit into the last quarter.<BR>-First player to 11 points wins the game.<BR>-The game can also be started with a second serve.

General

Chip and Charge Serve and Retu...

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.

General

Interception at the net Double...

<BR>-Players start in regular doubles positions.<BR>-The service is hit down the centre and the return diagonally.<BR>-Servers are given up to 4 attempts to get the ball in.<BR>-The net player attempts to intercept the return and kill it down the middle.

General

Serving feedback Serve and Ret...

The coach stands on the baseline in the deuce corner with racquet stretched to the right side. The player serves wide using slice serve. The goal is to hit the ball inside the service box and avoid the coach's racquet.

General

Pattern II: Move your opponent...

The coach kneels down on the player's side. Players serves to the T from deuce side, and the coach throws first ball to the deuce side. The player hits forehand cross-court, and the coach then feeds second ball to the ad side. The player runs around and hits forehand inside out.

General

Serve and recovery Serve and R...

The player performs regular serve. After the serve, the player recovers behind the baseline as fast as possible.

General

Weak Server Serve and Return -...

Coach serves to the ad side.Player hits an offensive forehand cross-court.Coach hits the ball back in a cross-court direction.Player finishes using backhand down the line.

General

Progression of Serve and Volle...

<B>Description</B><BR>same as t30031 however if server can make 1st volley a winner they score 2 extra points.

General

Hit a perfect 6 Serve and Retu...

Player serves from one of the sides - ad or deuce. The player then has to hit 6 serves from 3 different spots (T, Middle, Sideline). To develop accuracy ask the player to get all 6 serves in the opposite service box.

General

Connect the Dots Serve and Ret...

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.

General

Shadow With The Band Serve and...

You will need a resistance band to perform this drill. The player takes the band and shadows their serving motion. In this drill, the player warms up all the body parts needed for the serving action. The resistance band is great for working the arms as they are separated.

General

Accuracy Toss Serve and Return...

The player tosses the ball up and leaves the non-dominant hand in the air. Ball should drop into the player's hand.

General

Recovery Volleys (Second Posit...

Players are positioned just inside centre service line. Player then moves forward for forehand volley then recovers around cone for backhand volley

General

second serve ANSWERS
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Lost confidence in my serve-how can I get my 1st serve confidence back?

Hi, I'm a teenis player (ITF Futures level) I used to do a lot of ace as 30 or 40 % in my first serve. Then, I had an injury (ankle) and I was awhile without training. I started playing again 3 month ago, and now  I don't have any confidence in my serve. For this reason I have to play with second serves almost all matches and practises. I would like to know what can I do. I would appreciate if someone could help me in this case. Thanks.  

Archived User Coach

How can I improve the consistency of my serve?

Does anyone have any drills or tips for improving the consistency of a player's serve?

Timothy Hutton Coach, Australia

How can I improve the consiste...

Does anyone have any drills or tips for improving the consistency of a player's serve?

Timothy Hutton Coach, Australia

Lost confidence in my serve-ho...

Hi, I'm a teenis player (ITF Futures level) I used to do a lot of ace as 30 or 40 % in my first serve. Then, I had an injury (ankle) and I was awhile without training. I started playing again 3 month ago, and now  I don't have any confidence in my serve. For this reason I have to play with second serves almost all matches and practises. I would like to know what can I do. I would appreciate if someone could help me in this case. Thanks.  

Archived User Coach

My player loses games he's win...

my boy 11 years old he is winning 40-0 and he can finished the game easy when he is serving.but when the oponeten serving and my boy is winning 0-40 he cant finish the game and always he is loosing it

adamou christodoulos Coach, Cyprus

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