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Practice Drills

This is an excerpt from Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Handbook 2nd Edition With HKPropel Online Video by Nick Bollettieri.

Following are illustrations of several drills of each type discussed previously.

Fed-Ball Drills

Warm-Up Drill

Objectives

• Establish an all-business mind-set for a productive practice session.
• Establish early preparation and timing for the contact point.
• Warm up the foundation and focus on good technique repetition.
• Hit to targets with high net clearance to promote depth.

Procedure

• The feeder hits two balls from the service line to alternating sides of the court.
• The student hits both balls down the line to the target area.
• The student rotates to the back of the line.
• All students move their feet.

Variations

• Add more balls to each rotation.
• Hit four, pick up four - the student hits four balls, then picks up four balls.
• Change direction to crosscourt patterns and short angles.
• Move students in to hit approach shots and volleys.

Windshield-Wiper Drill

Objectives

• Bring the group together to establish discipline, focus, and teamwork.
• Work groups of 8 to 12 students, all gaining benefit at once.
• Students warm up and focus on good technique repetition.
• Students hit to targets with high net clearance to promote depth.

Procedure

• The feeder hits two balls from the service line to alternating sides of the court.
• Students form one line at the baseline (curl the line around if there is not room behind the court).
• Students hit down the line to the target area and shadow on the other side.
• Students pick up balls, observe safety procedures, and rotate to the back of the line.
• All students shadow in time with the front two hitters.

Variations

• Add more balls to each rotation.
• Change direction to crosscourt patterns.
• Move students in to hit approach shots and volleys.
• When students hit from in the court, lines can go straight back.

Run-Around Forehand Drill

Objectives

• Develop the mind-set of using a weapon.
• Learn aggressive positioning in the court to take advantage of a big forehand.
• Learn to control the point through aggressive positioning.
• Hit to the target with power and accuracy.

Procedure

• The feeder hits one ball from the service line to the student's backhand side.
• The student is to run around the backhand and hit an inside-out forehand to the target.
• The student rotates to the back of the line.
• The feeder must build the confidence and willingness of students to "just hit the ball."

Variations

• Add a forehand down the line and then position yourself for an inside-out forehand.
• Change direction to an inside-in forehand (down the line).
• Approach the shot and finish with a volley to the other corner.

Run-Around Forehand and Short-Ball Drill

Objectives

• Develop a mind-set of returning every ball.
• Develop shot combinations around the inside-out forehand.
• Learn to close in and continue to attack the short ball.
• Hit to targets with power and accuracy.

Procedure

• The feeder hits the first ball from the service line to the student's backhand side.
• The student runs around the backhand and hits an inside-out forehand (see figure a).
• The feeder hits the second ball from the service line to the student's forehand side short.
• The student closes in and hits the approach down the line to finish the point (see figure b).
• The feeder must build confidence and willingness of students to "just hit the ball."

Variations

• Add a volley or overhead to the combination.
• Change direction to inside-in forehand (down the line).
• Students play out the point after the approach.

Learn more about Nick Bollettieri's Tennis Handbook, 2nd Ed.

More Excerpts From Nick Bollettieri’s Tennis Handbook 2nd Edition With HKPropel Online Video

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