This simple but effective drill idea is from the 3rd Toad tennis blog. Its purpose is to get players comfortable with coming in to the net. Works for both singles and doubles. Also great for fitness and footwork.
Two players rally from the baseline cooperatively. After the third rally, one player moves in to the net and point is played out competitively.
For more than two players, divide players into more or less equal groups and have them rotate in after every point. Continue until all players have had a chance at both positions.
Variation: baseline player who wins point trades places with net player.
Showing posts with label doubles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label doubles. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Tuesday, August 12, 2014
Nine Lives
I found this game on the Tennis Resources site. They had it in a doubles format, but I can see
using it in a variety of ways.
Teams start out with nine points each. Coach feeds in the first ball. Players play out the point. Losing team loses a 'life'. Play continues until one team is out of lives. Play best two out of three, with coach feeding a different team each round.
How about this singles variation, especially if you have odd numbers or a larger group: One player is on one end alone; all others are at the other end. One by one, they take on the singleton. All players begin with 9 Lives, losing one each time they lose a point. Player with the most lives when someone gets down to zero is the new singleton.
Teams start out with nine points each. Coach feeds in the first ball. Players play out the point. Losing team loses a 'life'. Play continues until one team is out of lives. Play best two out of three, with coach feeding a different team each round.
How about this singles variation, especially if you have odd numbers or a larger group: One player is on one end alone; all others are at the other end. One by one, they take on the singleton. All players begin with 9 Lives, losing one each time they lose a point. Player with the most lives when someone gets down to zero is the new singleton.
Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Net Gain
Net Gain is my name for Alejandro Ciffoni's series of net drills in the May/June 2014 issue of
TennisPro Magazine. You will need at least four players.
Two players are at net. The other two are across the net at the service line. Goal is to rally 8-12 times with the player straight ahead of you. Net player is aiming for a spot (real or imagined) in the middle of the service box. Net player should attempt to hit a variety of shots to the returning player's backhand and forehand. Once rally goal is met, players switch spots.
When all players have met the first goal, move returners location to halfway between service line an baseline. Net player is now aiming for service line area. Repeat exercise until all players have had a chance at both positions.
Finally, move returners to baseline. Net players are aiming for the mid-court area.
Remind your players this is a cooperative activity to achieve the rally goal, not an opportunity for the net player to blast winner after winner.
If your players are not to the level where they can return these volleys effectively and maintain a rally, set up a generous target for them to aim at instead and make it a target goal rather than a rally goal.
Two players are at net. The other two are across the net at the service line. Goal is to rally 8-12 times with the player straight ahead of you. Net player is aiming for a spot (real or imagined) in the middle of the service box. Net player should attempt to hit a variety of shots to the returning player's backhand and forehand. Once rally goal is met, players switch spots.
When all players have met the first goal, move returners location to halfway between service line an baseline. Net player is now aiming for service line area. Repeat exercise until all players have had a chance at both positions.
Finally, move returners to baseline. Net players are aiming for the mid-court area.
Remind your players this is a cooperative activity to achieve the rally goal, not an opportunity for the net player to blast winner after winner.
If your players are not to the level where they can return these volleys effectively and maintain a rally, set up a generous target for them to aim at instead and make it a target goal rather than a rally goal.
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Forbidden Zone
This doubles drill is from OnCourtOffCourt. It can easily be adapted to work on a variety of shots and singles as well.
Mark off the middle third of the court from net to baseline. This is the Forbidden Zone. Play doubles. Any shots landing in the middle third mean a point for the opponent. This version will help players work on hitting angled shots.
Now change the rules so that the middle zone is the preferred zone and the outside thirds are forbidden. Keeping the ball in the middle of the court can be a sound strategy in both singles and doubles.
Overall, it is important that players are able to control direction, the third layer of our tennis skills pyramid.
Mark off the middle third of the court from net to baseline. This is the Forbidden Zone. Play doubles. Any shots landing in the middle third mean a point for the opponent. This version will help players work on hitting angled shots.
Now change the rules so that the middle zone is the preferred zone and the outside thirds are forbidden. Keeping the ball in the middle of the court can be a sound strategy in both singles and doubles.
Overall, it is important that players are able to control direction, the third layer of our tennis skills pyramid.
Wednesday, April 30, 2014
Battle Spots
Battle Spots is a target activity similar to Battle Cones posted here previously. My students and I have a few modifications that we believe improves the game. I saw the original while I was taking the CoachYouthTennis online training sessions.
In both games, the object is to hit your opponents' spots/cones with your ball. I like the Spots version of this game because they are lower profile and less of a trip hazard for younger players. But they are also harder to hit. When we played straight-up Battle Spots with no modifications, it was almost impossible to eliminate all spots. As Ken DeHart has suggested, better to try to be the first player to hit ANY spot, and win. Another problem I had with this game is that players tended to park in front of or on top of their spots to protect them, and would not move to go after balls and play out the point because there was no benefit to winning the point - the motivation was stronger to protect the spots. However, with one simple modification suggested by one of my green ball students, a version of Battle Spots can be played where the first player/team to lose all spots, loses, and everyone is motivated to both play out the point as well as protect their spots.
Here's a recent lesson progression that worked great in orange, green and yellow ball classes recently.
I used a mini-tennis version of Battle Spots for our ball warm-up as follows.
For added fun and a fitness component, I had both teams playing this game in relay style: player 'hits and gits' - hit one ball, go to end of team line, next player plays next ball. This avoids the dreaded waiting in line syndrome and keeps everyone moving.
After the mini tennis version was completed, we took a water break. I moved the spots back to the T area and we played it again from the baseline.
We played this as relay singles, but it could easily be played as doubles.
In both games, the object is to hit your opponents' spots/cones with your ball. I like the Spots version of this game because they are lower profile and less of a trip hazard for younger players. But they are also harder to hit. When we played straight-up Battle Spots with no modifications, it was almost impossible to eliminate all spots. As Ken DeHart has suggested, better to try to be the first player to hit ANY spot, and win. Another problem I had with this game is that players tended to park in front of or on top of their spots to protect them, and would not move to go after balls and play out the point because there was no benefit to winning the point - the motivation was stronger to protect the spots. However, with one simple modification suggested by one of my green ball students, a version of Battle Spots can be played where the first player/team to lose all spots, loses, and everyone is motivated to both play out the point as well as protect their spots.
Here's a recent lesson progression that worked great in orange, green and yellow ball classes recently.
I used a mini-tennis version of Battle Spots for our ball warm-up as follows.
- An equal number of spots are put down on each side of the net. I put them about in the middle of the forecourt.
- Divide players into two teams.
- Teams take turn bounce-feeding and playing out the point.
- Object is to be the first team eliminate all of your opponent's spots.
- Spots may be eliminated either by being hit by opponent's ball, OR - here's the modification - whenever a team earns three points. Note: if one team gets three points, other team removes a spot. Team earning three points is reset to zero points. Team removing spots DOES NOT reset to zero and retains however many points they had when opponent got their three. This creates a fun, equalizing see-saw effect.
For added fun and a fitness component, I had both teams playing this game in relay style: player 'hits and gits' - hit one ball, go to end of team line, next player plays next ball. This avoids the dreaded waiting in line syndrome and keeps everyone moving.
After the mini tennis version was completed, we took a water break. I moved the spots back to the T area and we played it again from the baseline.
We played this as relay singles, but it could easily be played as doubles.
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
Center Field
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| photo from here |
Four players take regular doubles position on court. Fifth/sixth players stand behind baseline. These baseline players' only job is to play any lobs or feed lobs to start point. If you only have five, coach is sixth player behind baseline, starting each point with a lob. If six, one of the two lob/baseline players starts the point with a lob.
Scoring strategy of your choice. First to X, best two out of three works well for most court drills.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Six Pack Swinger
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| Let's just say I had lots of options when Googling an image to go with this post |
One at a time, players begin at the T. Coach is across the net feeding them six high balls/lobs in succession. First ball must be a swinging volley approach shot. Next four should be volleys alternating forehand and backhand. Last ball should be taken as an overhead.
Monday, October 14, 2013
Double Trouble
Double Trouble originally was a ball machine drill suggested in TennisPro Magazine by Inaki Balzola, PTR's International Director. It's a great doubles drill for large groups. Players should be able to rally.
One player is at ad side baseline; coach is at same baseline on deuce side. All other players are at the net post. Coach feeds first ball to first player waiting at net post. This player volleys the ball back toward the coach. Coach feeds second ball cross court; same player must run and volley toward player waiting at baseline.
Player at baseline lobs this volley over net player. Net player runs down the lob, returns it with a lob of their own, goes to end of player line. Note baseline player does not have to play this ball. Coach then stars the process all over again with next player waiting in line.
Continue for a set time or until X amount of lobs have been hit by either player; then rotate a different player into the baseline position.
Variation
Eliminate first fed volley; volleying player only gets one ball fed before baseline player returns it with a lob.
One player is at ad side baseline; coach is at same baseline on deuce side. All other players are at the net post. Coach feeds first ball to first player waiting at net post. This player volleys the ball back toward the coach. Coach feeds second ball cross court; same player must run and volley toward player waiting at baseline.
Player at baseline lobs this volley over net player. Net player runs down the lob, returns it with a lob of their own, goes to end of player line. Note baseline player does not have to play this ball. Coach then stars the process all over again with next player waiting in line.
Continue for a set time or until X amount of lobs have been hit by either player; then rotate a different player into the baseline position.
Variation
Eliminate first fed volley; volleying player only gets one ball fed before baseline player returns it with a lob.
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
Smashmouth
This is such a fun game from PTR Master Professional Daniel Breag. Simple and action-packed. Plus, I like the name.
Four players at service lines. One starts the point with a bounce feed. Point is played out. Ball must stay within service boxes. Each player serves 4 times. Team with most points after 16 serves is the winner.
Full disclosure: Daniel said a couple different times that this was a 32 point game, so either my math skills are lacking (likely) or I misunderstood his instructions (also likely). In any case, this activity is great for a warm-up, great for quick hands, great for working on volleys and using the continental grip.
If you have more than 4 players but only one court, divide them into teams and have them rotate after every 4 points/feeds.
Variations
Four players at service lines. One starts the point with a bounce feed. Point is played out. Ball must stay within service boxes. Each player serves 4 times. Team with most points after 16 serves is the winner.
Full disclosure: Daniel said a couple different times that this was a 32 point game, so either my math skills are lacking (likely) or I misunderstood his instructions (also likely). In any case, this activity is great for a warm-up, great for quick hands, great for working on volleys and using the continental grip.
If you have more than 4 players but only one court, divide them into teams and have them rotate after every 4 points/feeds.
Variations
- Make it harder by restricting strokes - all volleys, all backhands, etc.
- Start play with a 'drop' ball - feeder places ball on racquet, then gently rolls it onto other side of net to begin point.
Tuesday, October 8, 2013
Spiders and Snakes
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| So apparently the 1973 Skylab mission has a tennis connection |
www.ncacoach.org
Two players are designated 'spiders' and are stationed at the net. All others ('snakes') are lined up at the opposite baseline. Snakes play against the two Spiders one vs. two. Coach feeds first ball to Snake #1. Snake #1 cannot lob the first ball. Players play out the point. If Snake wins, Snake moves up to T and gets second ball fed. If Snake wins second point, he/she takes place of one of the Spiders, who now is one of the Snakes. When game is over, Snakes pick up all balls.
Original instructions did not specify which Spider is replaced by Snake who won 2 points in a row. Suggest the Spider who made the error is the one who is now a Snake.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
The Greatest Doubles Drill Ever Created
Dontcha love the name of this drill? I found it in an article by Greg Moran in TennisPro Magazine. If
you have been reading this blog any time at all, you know I sometimes tinker with the original names of the drills I find. But this one is so confident, how dare I?
You will need at least four players. Two are in traditional doubles receiving position (one at service line, one at baseline). The other two are at the net. Coach is off to the side and begins point by feeding a ball to one of the non-net players. First ball should be hit cooperatively to one of the net players. They are then asked to hit back to the baseline player.
To recap: the first three shots (feed, return of feed, return of return) should be cooperative.
Once the third ball has found its way back to the baseline player, anything goes and things get interesting.
Baseline player should be working on avoiding hitting anything to the net players that may end the point in their favor. Lobs and topspin forehands come in handy here.
Net players are working on moving together as well as anticipating baseline player's shots. Most shots should go back to the baseline player unless they have an opportunity to end the point.
Service line player is in the 'hot seat'. Net players may be targeting them so they need to be alert and focused across the net. Look for an opportunity to poach.
Play to a set number of points and rotate so that all players have a chance to work on all positions. Coach feeds a variety of balls including lobs to start the point to better simulate live doubles play. If you want to include serve practice, have the player at the baseline position serve, and returner must follow ball in to restore the preferred starting setup of having two players at the net on their side.
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| Is this drill the GOAT?? |
You will need at least four players. Two are in traditional doubles receiving position (one at service line, one at baseline). The other two are at the net. Coach is off to the side and begins point by feeding a ball to one of the non-net players. First ball should be hit cooperatively to one of the net players. They are then asked to hit back to the baseline player.
To recap: the first three shots (feed, return of feed, return of return) should be cooperative.
Once the third ball has found its way back to the baseline player, anything goes and things get interesting.
Baseline player should be working on avoiding hitting anything to the net players that may end the point in their favor. Lobs and topspin forehands come in handy here.
Net players are working on moving together as well as anticipating baseline player's shots. Most shots should go back to the baseline player unless they have an opportunity to end the point.
Service line player is in the 'hot seat'. Net players may be targeting them so they need to be alert and focused across the net. Look for an opportunity to poach.
Play to a set number of points and rotate so that all players have a chance to work on all positions. Coach feeds a variety of balls including lobs to start the point to better simulate live doubles play. If you want to include serve practice, have the player at the baseline position serve, and returner must follow ball in to restore the preferred starting setup of having two players at the net on their side.
Tuesday, October 1, 2013
Net Rush
Net Rush is a direct rip-off of another Jorge Capestany drill. He calls it Triples. I have taken the liberty of renaming it,and Jorge I hope you don't mind. The game I know as Triples is nothing like this. It features three players per side and is already posted here.
Net Rush is a drill designed to improve a doubles player's ability to play the first ball coming back to them after their own serve. It is a hybrid of Rush and Crush and All Position Doubles. Great for four or more players.
Four players take up regular doubles positions on court. One of the baseline players bounce feeds the first ball and point is played out. Feeding player MUST follow the ball in to the net.
After each point, players rotate positions with net players advancing to opposite baseline.
It's virtually impossible to use an individual scoring method with this game (believe me, I've tried). So probably best to just run this on a timed interval with plenty of coaching in between points.
Net Rush is a drill designed to improve a doubles player's ability to play the first ball coming back to them after their own serve. It is a hybrid of Rush and Crush and All Position Doubles. Great for four or more players.
Four players take up regular doubles positions on court. One of the baseline players bounce feeds the first ball and point is played out. Feeding player MUST follow the ball in to the net.
After each point, players rotate positions with net players advancing to opposite baseline.
It's virtually impossible to use an individual scoring method with this game (believe me, I've tried). So probably best to just run this on a timed interval with plenty of coaching in between points.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Set at the Net
This drill is from an article in TennisPro magazine by Jorge Capestany, PTR and USPTA Master Professional. I have been fortunate to attend a few of Jorge's presentations at PTR conferences. He knows a ton of great drills and I have included many of them in previous posts.
One player is at the net, playing against two players at the baseline. Coach is also at the baseline safely tucked out of the way, feeding the first ball to net player. Players play out the point, complete a set, and rotate a different player over to the net. This is a great way to work on fitness as well as net play.
Variations
One player is at the net, playing against two players at the baseline. Coach is also at the baseline safely tucked out of the way, feeding the first ball to net player. Players play out the point, complete a set, and rotate a different player over to the net. This is a great way to work on fitness as well as net play.
Variations
- If you have more than 3 players in clinic, run multiple courts with extra players who are not in the game (yet) feeding from behind the baseline.
- Full set too long? Try a short set, pro set, or tiebreaker format.
- Only 2 students or small group semi-private? Coach plays in.
Thursday, May 23, 2013
Dynamite Defense
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| This is my current boomstick. What's yours? |
Four players take the court; two up, two back. The two up should be slightly staggered. Coach feeds the first ball and players play out the point. No winners, please! Defensive team (team playing back) goal is to keep everything in play. Any shot is allowed by the defensive team. Goal is to strengthen the defensive game, avoid giving the offensive team an easy putaway, or force an error by the offense.
Couple fun aspects of this game:
Scoring fun: any ball touched saves point for team touching it. In other words, if someone can get a racquet on the ball, no point is awarded. Encourages effort! Touch must occur before second bounce.
Positional fun: if defensive team hits a great lob and offensive team gets pushed off the net, teams' positions are reversed and defensive/baseline team may take the net as they push their opponents back with a well-placed lob. So this game could swing back and forth depending on ball placement and team movement.
Coach Helle didn't say in the video so let's just add our own scoring strategy here. First to 7, first to 11 by 2, whatever suits your fancy (and your students!).
Friday, April 26, 2013
1-2 Hustle
This game was also at optimumtennis.net but was a little hard to decode so I hope I am explaining it
right. If not, at least I understand my own explanation. :) They did not give it a name so I took the liberty. I like it for its flexibility and requirement for players to hustle. You will need 2 or more players for this to be any fun.
Coach is on one end of court; all other players on the other. First player serves, then hustles up net diagonally from wherever they served. Meanwhile second player hops in to first player's spot at baseline. This must occur quickly because Coach will be returning the serve cross court to the second player. Player 2 returns Coach's shot. Coach then hits to net player. Coach continues alternating shots until point ends. Player 2 then serves and runs up to net diagonally that Player 1 has just vacated, and Player 3 steps into Player 2's spot.
This game should move quickly. If you want to add a scoring aspect, give all players a set number of points and subtract one for every error. Last player standing, wins.
UPDATE: Sorry to report this was an epic fail when I tried it with my intermediate green ball class. They could not get in a rhythm. Serving player on way to net kept wanting to hit the ball I was returning deep to second player. Oh, well. Maybe try again in future.
right. If not, at least I understand my own explanation. :) They did not give it a name so I took the liberty. I like it for its flexibility and requirement for players to hustle. You will need 2 or more players for this to be any fun.
Coach is on one end of court; all other players on the other. First player serves, then hustles up net diagonally from wherever they served. Meanwhile second player hops in to first player's spot at baseline. This must occur quickly because Coach will be returning the serve cross court to the second player. Player 2 returns Coach's shot. Coach then hits to net player. Coach continues alternating shots until point ends. Player 2 then serves and runs up to net diagonally that Player 1 has just vacated, and Player 3 steps into Player 2's spot.This game should move quickly. If you want to add a scoring aspect, give all players a set number of points and subtract one for every error. Last player standing, wins.
UPDATE: Sorry to report this was an epic fail when I tried it with my intermediate green ball class. They could not get in a rhythm. Serving player on way to net kept wanting to hit the ball I was returning deep to second player. Oh, well. Maybe try again in future.
Thursday, April 25, 2013
Crazy 8
Eight players are needed for this game. Pair them up into four doubles teams. Each team is responsible for half of the court. They play against the team diagonally across from them, SIMULTANEOUSLY. So two balls are going at the same time.
Scoring
- If you have exactly 8 players, have them play to a certain number, for example team first to 7 wins. Then have a championship match with winners vs winners and runners-up vs runners-up.
- If you have more than 8 but fewer than 16, divide extra players evenly onto each team and have one player per team rotate out after every point.
- Or, have all extra players waiting in line at net post. You can organize a large full court rotation after every point, or have a player go it for whichever player makes the error on the previous point.
- If you have a smaller group, just play 2 v 2 using only half of the court.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Opportunity Knocks
Play begins with one doubles team at net and the other at baseline. Coach feeds first ball to baseline team. When baseline team is at baseline, they may only lob - no passing shots. If their lob is successful, they should move forward to exploit their opportunity as their opponents are moving back to retrieve and play the lobbed ball. First team to 21 wins.
Adapted from The Tennis Drill Book by Tina Hoskins
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Peg-Leg Doubles
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| Peg-leg-asus aka Black Beardy the 'Buck'aneer You never know what you are going to find when Googling for 10U10S graphics |
For more advanced players, have them play out a set in this fashion. For younger or less advanced players, you may find a couple of throw down spots will come in handy to remind players which parts of the courts are 'legal'.
Adapted from The Tennis Drill Book by Tina Hoskins
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Drop Out
Drop Out is a combination of Squirrel Crossing and Hot Pepper. The goal is to improve volley skills, good hands, recovery, and reaction time. Players should be able to volley so advanced beginners and up. Five players or more is best. If you only have 3 or 4, restrict play to one half of court either straight ahead or diagonally.
Four players begin facing each other across the net. First ball is fed. Point is played out. Ball must not hit the ground. When point ends, whomever has made the error is out and a new player comes in.
From The Tennis Drill Book by Tina Hoskins.
Four players begin facing each other across the net. First ball is fed. Point is played out. Ball must not hit the ground. When point ends, whomever has made the error is out and a new player comes in.
From The Tennis Drill Book by Tina Hoskins.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Attack and Smack
Serve and volley in singles play was endangered for a while. It is definitely down but not out - you still see it occasionally. Like the lob, it is a rare event in professional tennis. But to the 99% of us who don't play professionally, and the majority of aging players trending into doubles, it can be useful. So put this drill in your tool box. If players are not using S&V, we don't want it to be because their coaches never taught it to them.
Serve and volley just means you pair a serve with charging into the net to play the next ball from there. Sure, you are taking a risk by leaving the back court open, which is why you want to deploy this at the proper time. But worrying about the 'when' is for another lesson. Attack and Smack is more about the basics of getting into the mindset of moving in behind your serve. This is so often an anomaly to players who are trained to recover and maintain a baseline position.
Your players will need to be advanced beginners or beyond. The concept is simple: server must serve and volley after every serve, or serving team loses point. End of story. Note it is easy to forget the serve and volley aspect until you have played out a few points. We are all so focused on point outcome, and rightly so. But for this game, make sure all players understand the point is lost if the server does not serve and volley, regardless of who actually wins the point.
From The Tennis Drill Book by Tina Hoskins.
Serve and volley just means you pair a serve with charging into the net to play the next ball from there. Sure, you are taking a risk by leaving the back court open, which is why you want to deploy this at the proper time. But worrying about the 'when' is for another lesson. Attack and Smack is more about the basics of getting into the mindset of moving in behind your serve. This is so often an anomaly to players who are trained to recover and maintain a baseline position.
Your players will need to be advanced beginners or beyond. The concept is simple: server must serve and volley after every serve, or serving team loses point. End of story. Note it is easy to forget the serve and volley aspect until you have played out a few points. We are all so focused on point outcome, and rightly so. But for this game, make sure all players understand the point is lost if the server does not serve and volley, regardless of who actually wins the point.
From The Tennis Drill Book by Tina Hoskins.
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