The exercise is played in Short Tennis over a short distance as a cooperative Forehand rally. The incoming ball is first controlled and slowed down with the racket. To do this, the racket face is opened slightly and the ball is taken with a soft touch instead of being played back directly. This is followed by the control stroke: the ball is deliberately laid up once more, bounces, and is then played back to the partner with a soft, controlled Forehand. There the same sequence begins again. This creates a calm rally of stop – control stroke – bounce – Forehand.
Training Goal
The exercise develops above all Feel for the ball, racket control and contact point awareness. When stopping the incoming ball, you experience how the ball’s speed can be influenced through the position and guidance of the racket. Slightly opening the racket face helps to slow the ball down in a controlled way.
The following control stroke creates extra time to prepare the Forehand. The ball is deliberately placed into a suitable position so that distance, contact point and stroke movement can be organized. The focus is therefore not on playing back quickly, but on control over the entire action chain.
At the same time, the exercise remains rally-oriented: both sides are responsible for creating a controllable situation for the next action.
Coaching Keys
- Slow the incoming ball down softly with a slightly open racket face.
- When stopping, do not hit against the ball, but absorb its speed in a controlled way.
- Control the control stroke so the ball lands in a favorable Forehand position.
- After the control stroke, wait for the bounce and actively organize the contact point.
- Play the Forehand with calm, soft acceleration to the partner.
- Choose a tempo that allows a stable cooperative rally to develop.
Possible Corrections
The ball bounces too far away from the racket when stopping:
Reduce the racket movement and take the ball more softly. Also check whether the racket face is opened too much. The goal is a controlled deceleration directly in front of the body.
The ball drops down immediately when stopping:
The racket face can be opened a little more and the movement better adapted to the incoming ball. The ball should be controlled without the action turning into a hard block.
The control stroke lands too close to the body:
Place the ball more deliberately in front of and to the side in the desired contact point. At first, this can be practiced without a follow-up stroke: stop, lay up and control the ball’s position.
After the control stroke, hectic movement appears:
Allow more time between actions. The control stroke is meant precisely to make it possible to organize the next contact point calmly.
The final Forehand is played too quickly:
Reduce tempo and stroke length. A good ball in this exercise is one that can be stopped again in a controlled way on the other side.
Progressive Increase
1. Only stop
The ball is fed and slowed down solely with the racket. The focus is on racket face control and feeling for the incoming speed.
2. Stop and control stroke
After stopping, the ball is laid up once in a controlled way. Still without a return, it is checked whether the ball bounces in a suitable Forehand position.
3. Stop – control stroke – Forehand
The full sequence is performed. After the bounce, the ball is played softly to the partner.
4. Build a cooperative rally
Both sides perform the complete sequence. The goal is the longest possible series with consistent control.
5. Reduce the control stroke
As confidence grows, the control stroke becomes smaller and more functional. The preparation for the following stroke happens faster.
6. Transition to a direct rally
Phases with a control stroke alternate with directly played Forehands. This gradually transfers the acquired ball and racket control into a normal Short Tennis rally.
