Singles Drills: Deeper Game | Volley Game | Half-Volley | Styles
Doubles Drills: No Bounce Doubles| 1 v 1 Doubles | Eye-to-Eye

Deeper Game

This game teaches players to keep the ball high over the net and deep. Both players start at the baseline. One starts the point by dropping the ball and hitting a forehand over the net. The players then rally back and forth.

The object is to keep the ball deep. If your shot goes too deep, the point is simply replayed. But if your shot goes in the net, you lose the point. And if your shot lands short, your opponent can hit an approach shot and come to the net. Once at the net, your opponent can win the point but the best you can hope for is a replay.

In other words, there are only two ways to win a point: 1)Your opponent hits the ball into the net 2) You get to the net and win the point. The first player to 10 wins.

Volley Game

One player works on volleying while the other works on passing shots. The volleyer starts in the middle of the court, just behind the service line. The baseliner starts back near the baseline.

The volleyer starts the point by patting a forehand over the net so that the baseliner can reach it. The baseliner then must hit one ground stroke that the volleyer can touch. If either of these steps are messed up, the point is replayed.

As soon as the baseliner touches the ball, the volleyer may move closer to the net to close out the point. Once the volleyer touches the baseliner's first shot, the point is a live one. Players try to win the point in any way possible. The first player to win 20 points wins. The volleyer and baseliner switch roles every five points.

The baseliner's basic strategy is to keep the first shot low, so that the volleyer can't hit an aggressive first volley. Then, the baseliner can attempt a passing shot or lob. The volleyer's basic strategy is to keep the volley's deep until a winning angle is possible

Half-Volley

Two players compete. Both play from just behind the service line, using only half the court. Either player begins the point by tapping the ball over the net so that the other player may touch the ball. The two players then attempt to half-volley or volley other's feet.

A player wins the point if and only if the other player misses a half-volley or low volley (for example, if the half-volley is hit wide, long, or in the net). If higher volleys or ground strokes go out, the point is simply replayed. Players may not move in closer than the service line during the point, as this would make half-volleys less frequent.

The scoring of this game is not an exact science. But the game provides many half-volleys in a short period of time.

Styles

Styles provides experience at different singles styles. Play begins, and the score is kept, as in any singles match. However, a different style is required for each game.

For the first four games, both players must play from the baseline and outsteady each other. For the next four games, players start from the baseline and attempt to get to the net. For the next four games, the returner must charge the net after returning. And for the last four games, the server must serve-and-volley after the second serve as well as the first serve.

No Bounce Doubles

The key to doubles is getting to the net, and No Bounce Doubles encourages this. The play and the score-keeping resembles a normal doubles match, but one key rule is added. A team that lets the ball bounce on its side of the court, except for the serve, may no longer win the point. The point continues, and the team may prevent the other team from winning the point. If neither team wins the point without letting the ball bounce, the point is simply replayed.

Obviously, the server should come to the net after every serve. After returning serve, the returner should also come to the net.

1 v 1 Doubles

Two players compete diagonally on a court. The object is to get to the net at every opportunity, for eye-to-eye duels. Players may also hit lobs and ground strokes.

An imaginary line runs down the middle of the court, and may be represented with a cone or t-shirt. One player serves to the other. The server covers only the right half of the court, while the returner covers only the left half of the court (doubles alleys included). Shots to the other side of the imaginary line are out.

The next point, server and returner cover the opposite sides. The serving and scoring proceeds as with a normal match. After the first game, the other player serves. The first player to six games wins the set. And so on.

Eye-to-Eye

Two players begin on either side of the net, just behind the service line. Only half the court is used, and the other half is out.

One player serves by tapping the ball over the net such that the other player can touch it. The other player then returns the ball. As soon as the other player touches the ball, the server may move anywhere on the court. In other words, the server can then move closer to the net hoping to finish off the point. After contacting the ball, the returner may also move anywhere on the court.

The eye-to-eye duel continues until either player wins the point. While the object is to practice volleying from close range, players may also lob or hit ground strokes. Either player may then serve.