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serves DRILLS
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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

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

Serving A / B Serve and Return...

Player 1 has to tell player 2 whether the are serving into area A or B. Player 1 has two serves, if the serve goes in the correct area and they eventually win the point they get a bonus point. If the serve goes in the unstated area the point is still played out with no bonus points. The first player to 4 points wins.

General

Deuce Pressure Return Serve an...

Coach serves wide from the deuce side, and the player hits a forehand cross-court return, aiming for the ball to bounce in the coned area. Modification includes coming to the net after returning and finishing with forehand in the air.

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

Serve and Recover Serve and Re...

Coach is in front of the player. Coach rolls the ball on the ground quickly after player serves the ball. Player's goal is to recover behind the baseline before ball goes between the legs.

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

Serve and Volley Serve and Ret...

Player 1 serves a 1st Serve and follows it in to hit a volley. If returner is finding it hard then serve a 2nd serve. Serve volley behind the returner i.e. to the same direction that the ball came from to wrong foot the opponent.

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

Start the rally with return Se...

The coach serves wide from the deuce side. The player hits forehand down the line return and starts the rally in down the line direction.

General

Serve and jump over the cone S...

A cone is placed on the baseline. The player performs regular serve, where the goal is for them to jump over the cone while serving.

General

Pocket Serve Extras - Tennis D...

Player executes regular serve.Player focuses on bringing the tossing arm to the opposite pocket as well as on moving the hitting arm to the left side of the body.<br>

General

Return Cross Court Serve and R...

Coach serves from the service line and the player returns the ball cross court.

General

Quicker than regular Serve and...

The coach stands on the service line and serves to the deuce side, then the player returns using forehand down the line stroke.

General

Return and Volley Pattern Serv...

Coach serves from the deuce side to the T. Player hits backhand deep return cross court and comes to the net. Coach feeds the next ball to the deuce side. Player finishes with forehand deep volley cross court.

General

Tennis: Attacking and dominati...

<BR>-Player 1 is serving in shaded area all the time.<BR>-Player 2 is not allowed to stand in the tramlines before player 1 serves.<BR>-After the return play out the point. <BR>-Each pair keeps their score and plays first to 7 points.

General

Serve / Return Point Play Serv...

Player 1 is serving and will play a sequence of 4 points against player 2 as follows:Serving from the deuce court player 1 must serve wide. Player 2 must return the shot to player 1's forehand side.<br /><br />Serving from the deuce court player 1 must serve inside. Player 2 must return the shot to player 1's backhand side.<br /><br />Serving from the advantage court player 1 must serve inside to player 2 who must return the ball to player 1's forehand corner.<br /><br />Serving from the advantage court player 1 must serve wide to player 2 who must return the ball to player 1's backhand side.</div>

General

using the serve advantage Fore...

The player serves wide from the ad side, with the aim of getting the ball to land between two cones in the serving box on the opposite side of the court. The coach, standing in front of the player, then feeds him/her the ball to their backhand side. The player then has to run around and hit forehand inside in, with the aim of getting the ball to land between two cones placed in the corner of the deuce side on the other side of the net.

General

Slice and cut it down the line...

Player A executes wide slice serve from the deuce side. Player B hits forehand cross court return. Player A moves diagonally forward and finishes with offensive down the line shot.Drill specifications:1 repetition per setTo make this drill really dynamic players should switch after one point at the serving side. Returning players can switch after few points to guarantee good consistency and more opportunities for the servers to work on the pattern. Waiting players should perform some footwork activities including quick diagonal movement to gain bigger improvements while moving to the ball after the serve.

General

Tennis: Backhand Slice Return ...

Player waits for the serve on the ad side.Coach serves wide from the ad side.Player executes deep backhand slice return in cross-court direction.<br>

General

Split the Box Serve and Return...

Service box is divided into 2 halves. Player's goal is to make 2 consecutive balls into the each half.

General

Serve with Opening Forehand & ...

Player serves from one side. Coach feeds random ball as a return. Player reacts and hits the next shot to the open space.

General

Challenging Shot After the Ser...

Player serves.Coach throws deep and low ball immediately after player lands on the court.Player quickly moves back and responds with controlled forehand stroke.

General

Knee Serve (both knees) Serve ...

Player sits on both knees on the ground. Player executes top spin serve.

General

Attack and Intercept

-Player serves to deuce court towards feeder and comes to the net.-The first player on the advantage side shadows the server and comes to net.-Feeder hits a ball to server who returns it cross court.-Feeder hits towards server again but the shadow server intercepts and hits cross-court winner.

Doubles Drills

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 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

Returning with Angles

The player will serve 2nd serves, with the player at the other end will return, and aim for the target area between the side line and throw down line.

Serve and Return

Returning with Depth

Place Throw down lines (TDL) 1m inside the baseline on the servers side The server 2nd serves and the returner is trying to return the ball between the TDL and the baseline. Play out the point after the serve and if the returner hits the depth area and eventually wins the point they get a bonus point. Advanced progression - returner receiving both 1st and 2nd serves inside the baseline or close to the service box.

Serve and Return

Round the World 2

-Pick two teams, one team are the hitters, the other the runners.-The hitters take it in turns to hit the ball over the net, back to the feeder or to a designated area.The coach has to choose the target according to players level of ability. -The team scores a point each time a shot is hit to the agreed target.-The runners take it in turn to run around the outside of the court, back to the team like relay race.-Once all of the running team have done a round they shout stop, and the points of the hitting team freeze.-The teams then swap sides and the new hitting team has to beat their score.

Coordination / Fun Games

Use the alley

TacticDetermine the rally with the wide serve. How effective is the serve on a wide serve.DescriptionPlayer A is serving in area A all the time. However player B is not allowed to to stand in the tramlines before player A serves. Then play out points first to 7 points. Player A should be trying to dominate the rally with their serve pulling player B into or beyond the tramlines.

Rally Drills

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serves SESSIONS
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Improve Your Groundstrokes

Build your power, hone in your accuracy and develop into the best grinder in the game with flawless groundstrokes.

Serving wide to create the one two punch: Advantage court

Get your players using the flat and kick serve to develop an aggressive serve and first shot combination

Approach and Win at the Net

Keep your opponents guessing by mixing up when you approach the net. Use this session to teach your players about the tactical opportunities available when in close at the net!

Respond and Return

Break your opponent's serve more often by learning how to respond and where to position your return!

Develop serving variety to your game

Develop your players' variety of serve and ability to connect it with the second shot to create tactical opportunities to hit point winning shots.

How To Return A Big First Serve

Develop your players? ability to return the first serve of their opponent by minimising backswing, teaching them about tactical shots and simplifying their stroke to make it more effective against powerfully hit shots.

Attacking and Defensive Cross Court Shots

By keeping it simple and hitting cross court shots your player will avoid unforced errors and manipulate their opponent into returning the ball so they can hit their favourite point winning shot

Training tips for taller tennis players

Teach players to use their natural advantage with this tactics and technique plan - covering everything from how to get more power in your serve to dominating from the baseline
serves ANSWERS
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Catapult serve is a good learn...

I coach 4-7 year olds, and when I'm teaching serves I usually start with the throwing technique without a racket, before introducing the ball toss. Someone has suggested I teach a catapult serve as a part of the learning process. I personally think this would teach bad habits as there is no toss up. Any opinions on this? Thx

Mike Childs Coach, England

Psychology in tennis HELP! My ...

Psychology in tennis HELP!!! I have a daughter who is an excellent player who only started playing tennis seriously last yr at the age of 13. She is a much better player than all the people she has completed against in matches but always loses due to over hitting and getting upset if the wrong call is made (which happens frequently due to how fast she hits and serves) do we need some sort of psychological help for this. what is the best way to get this... books, councilling ??? any help would be most appreciated thanks

Archived User Coach

What is the most effective ser...

What is the most effective serve in racquetball?

Archived User Coach

How do you beat someone who is clearly inferior but?

How do you beat someone who is clearly inferior but just keeps the ball in play?

Archived User Coach

How do I give my player the winning instinct?

To Marieke Das (who answered my previous question)%3A The 16-year old male loves tennis, and loves winning. It's just that he cannot carry his good game from practice to match. His shots become shorter, and with less pace. Even his net game suffers. I fear he is afraid to fail. What should I try?

Archived User Coach

how can i make a 4 week plan for preparation for tennis?

how can i make a 4 week plan for preparation for tennis tournament i'll play

Archived User Coach

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

My player loses games he's winning 0-40 - how can I instill a killer instinct?

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

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

First time Coaching

It's my first time coaching I need some advice?

steven chiriboga Coach, United Kingdom

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