DrillS List
Hit and run (Lots of running)*
Warm up your drives and practice both forehand and backhand.
This drill will certainly get the blood flowing! Starting at the baseline, Player 1 hits the ball down the sideline to their counterpart, who returns a shot to the opposite corner. The first player then has to cross the court to return another shot down the sideline, and so on.
Player 1:
Drive, Footwork
Reset an offensive wide *
Practice defending against wide, tough dinks.
Players are positioned across from each other at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line.
Player 1 (Feeder):
Defensive Play
Defensive Dink Drill*
Practice resetting the ball from an offensive dink to neutralize the point.
Both players are positioned at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line, facing each other.
Player 1 (Feeder):
Defensive Play
3rd shot “drip"*
Practice an offensive 3rd shot drop to create opportunities that enable an efficient advancement to the NVZ
Player 1 feeds the ball from the NVZ line, while Player 2 practices their 3rd shots with an offensive focus.
Feeding and Positioning:
Drop
Non-Dominant Hand (Literally) Drill *
Improve the consistency and strength of your two-handed backhand.
Develop consistency and strength in your backhand by practicing with your non-dominant hand from the NVZ, midcourt, and baseline.
Both players start at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line, facing each other.
Back Hand
Dink, Dink, Lob Combo!*
Develop the ability to combine dinks with a strategic lob to catch your opponent off guard.
Both players start at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line, facing each other.
Dinking:
Dinking
Dink along the NVZ*
Warm up your dinks, enhance footwork, and practice defensive dinks.
Both players start at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line at opposite sidelines. They begin dinking cross-court and, little by little, move together from one sideline to the other without stopping the dinking.
Start at Opposite Sidelines:
Warm up
Slinky Third Drop*
Warm up and improve your third shot drop, transition drop, and dinks through progressive movement and controlled play.
Both players start at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line and begin by dinking the ball back and forth.
Progression for Player 1:
Warm up, Drop
Double-Triple Drive*
Practice an offensive transition from the baseline to the net using consecutive drive shots.
Player 1 stays at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line and serves cooperative balls, simulating a return to serve. Player 2 starts at the baseline and simulates a drive third shot.
Net Player (Player 1):
Offensive Play, Drive
Come Up Drill*
One player practices transitioning to the net while the other practices keeping their opponent from reaching the net.
Player 1 stays at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line and serves cooperative balls, simulating a return to serve. Player 2 starts at the baseline and simulates a third shot. After Player 2 returns the serve, the ball is live.
Net Player (Player 1):
Defensive Play, Offensive Play, Transition
Fireball Drill*
Develop aggressive serving and strategic returns to control court positioning.
In this drill, Player 1 hits a hard drive serve with as much pace as possible directly at Player 2, who is standing at the non-volley zone (NVZ) line. The goal is for Player 1 to practice powerful serves and for Player 2 to work on keeping their opponent at the back of the court.
Player 1 serves a hard drive at Player 2, positioned at the NVZ line. Player 2 returns the ball to the back of the court, aiming to keep Player 1 from approaching the NVZ. This drill emphasizes aggressive serving and strategic returns to control court positioning. The players engage in a rally scoring game to 11, with only one player serving. The drill can be played cross-court to add variety and challenge to the exercise.
Serve