The player at the front receives a series of shots after the coach passes the ball, and the players behind imitate the run and hitting movements. This is also suitable for students of different playing levels. The question here for the juniors: “Where’s the backhand?” The expert saw it right away: our junior here plays forehand on the right and left.

In youth tennis, enhancing players’ footwork is crucial. This drill utilizes a large ball that players must roll back and forth using both hands on their forehand and backhand sides. Reacting swiftly to the ball and stopping and rolling it back with both hands engages the entire body, aiming to boost players’ athleticism. This exercise, is suitable for large groups and can be easily executed even with eight players on a single court.

This coordination exercise during the warm up strokes is extremely effective to promote rotation on groundstrokes. After each stroke, the kids perform a full 360-degree body rotation. The goal is to make the rotation part of the swing and not hit and then rotate.

In this partnership game, the aim is to tap the ball gently, pass it in a targeted manner and catch it safely – a calm exercise that promotes ball skills, responsiveness and cooperative teamwork.

How it works:
This game is all about getting the ball moving and developing a good feel for “sending and receiving” at the same time. One child gently taps the ball on the floor and passes it to their partner. The partner lets the ball bounce once and catches it with both hands. The ball is then rolled back sideways across the floor. After three attempts, the players switch. The goal is to pass the ball so that your partner can catch it easily.

Learning objectives:

• Improving eye-hand coordination
• Promotion of cooperation and social interaction
• Development of reaction speed
• Training movement in space (adapting to the direction of the ball)
• Strengthening two-handed motor skills through two-handed catching
  

Coaching Keys:

• Pay attention to soft passes – the ball should be easy to catch
• Ask the children to move slightly to reach the ball better
• Change after three balls so that both children remain active
• Praise specifically to promote confidence and motivation
• If necessary, adapt the exercise with lighter balls or shorter distances
  

In this exercise, the children balance the ball on the racket, turn it or even bounce it on the frame – a fun challenge for ball feeling, coordination and body control.

Learning objectives:

• Improving ball control and feel for the ball
• Training hand-eye coordination
• Development of balance and body control

Coaching-Keys:

• Start running with the ball on the racket and then take a stroke.
• Keep your distance: Ensure sufficient distance between players to avoid injury.
• Simplify: Initially grip the racket shorter at the heart of the racket.
• Variations: Bounce the ball on the ground while turning the racket.ehen.

“Color chaos on the court” is a dynamic and effective way to add variety to tennis training and improve players’ skills in a fun way.

This is how it works:

For this game, you will need several tennis balls in different colors (e.g. yellow, red-yellow, orange-yellow, red). One player (the “coach”) holds the balls. The other players spread out on the court as if they were expecting a ball.

The coach now drops the balls one after the other. Each color is associated with a specific stroke technique:

• Yellow ball = overhead
• Red-yellow ball = backhand
• Orange-yellow ball = Forehand
• Red ball = Forehand or backhand (free choice)

In addition to the stroke technique, players must perform a split step with every falling ball.

Learning objectives:

• Reaction speed: Players must react to the color of the ball with lightning speed.
• Technical execution: The game promotes the correct execution of the various stroke techniques (Forehand, backhand, overhead).
• Coordination: The combination of split-step and stroke technique trains coordination.
• Concentration: The players must remember the color-technique assignment and stay focused.

Coaching Keys:

• Clear instructions: Explain the color technique assignment clearly before starting.
• Correct execution: Make sure that the players execute the stroke techniques cleanly and do not just concentrate on speed.
• Don’t forget the split step: Keep reminding the players of the split-step.
• Increase: Start with fewer balls and increase the number as the players become more confident.
• Motivation: Praise good actions and motivate the players to improve further.

The rotational movement on a balance plate helps children develop their rotational skills. This tool enables them to pivot their body and release the stroke while taking a step forward to intercept the ball. While younger children may struggle to control their rotation at first, they can still learn the key elements of a modern Forehand stroke, including dynamic footwork.

Tip:

It is apparent that the 6-year-old girl is over-rotating, which can be corrected by instructing her to point the tip of her foot towards the coach or net.

The players stand side by side with enough lateral space between them and prepare for an overhead hit played directly out of the air. The coach feeds a series of high balls, placed so that they can be hit overhead without a prior bounce.

As soon as the flight path is recognized, the players position themselves to the ball and begin their stroke preparation early. The racket head is guided upward and initially stays above the head. It does not drop too far behind the back too early. From this prepared position, the reversal movement can be initiated at the right moment and the racket can be smoothly accelerated to the high contact point. At the start, the overhead is preferably played straight ahead so that attention remains on positioning, contact point and movement sequence.

Training Goal

• Coordinate positioning and stroke movement
• Develop early stroke preparation for the overhead
• Improve the timing of the reversal movement
• Organize a high contact point above the body
• Stabilize a fluid overhead movement without a “backpack”

Coaching Keys

• Recognize the flight path of the fed ball early.
• Position yourself in good time under or behind the ball.
• Begin stroke preparation while still positioning.
• Turn the body sideways to the ball.
• Lift the free arm upward for orientation.
• Bring the racket head up early and hold it above the head at first.
• Do not let the racket drop too far behind the back too early – no “backpack”.
• Initiate the reversal movement passend to the incoming ball.
• Accelerate the racket smoothly upward to the high contact point.
• Play the ball in a controlled way and preferably straight ahead at the start.
• Movement quality and timing take priority over maximum stroke speed.

Possible Corrections

The racket preparation happens too late:
First make the feed higher and slower. The players should bring the racket up while positioning and not react until immediately before the stroke.

The racket head drops behind the back too early:
Consciously establish the high preparation position and have it checked briefly. The racket head initially stays above the head. Only from this position is the reversal movement initiated.

The movement stalls before the stroke:
Make sure that early preparation is not confused with a static posture. Positioning, reversal movement and acceleration should increasingly be linked into a fluid movement sequence.

The contact point is too far behind the body:
Improve positioning to the ball. The players must recognize early whether additional steps back are necessary to allow a high contact point in front of, or slightly to the side of, the body.

The players hit immediately at maximum speed:
Reduce stroke speed and first set a clear direction of aim. Straight overheads make it easier at the start to focus on timing and movement quality.

Progressive Adaptation

Step 1 – High, predictable feeds
The coach feeds slow and precise high balls. The players have enough time for positioning, early preparation and a controlled direct overhead.

Step 2 – Vary positioning
The feeds are varied slightly forward, backward or to the side. This means the players have to actively adjust their position while maintaining the early racket preparation.

Step 3 – Vary feed height and flight curve
Different lobs require faster recognition of the flight path. The players increasingly have to adjust the timing of the reversal movement on their own.

Step 4 – Introduce target areas
After straight overheads at first, different target zones are specified. The technical execution remains, while the hitting direction must also be controlled.

Step 5 – Increase stroke tempo
Once the movement execution is stable, acceleration can be increased. The key remains that early preparation and the fluid transition through the reversal movement are not lost.

Step 6 – Create a decision-making situation
The coach varies the feeds more strongly. The players must recognize whether the ball can be played directly as an overhead and organize positioning, preparation and stroke on their own.

The players start in a starting position near the baseline or in the back court area. The coach stands on the opposite side of the net and plays a lob. As soon as the flight path is recognized, the players move to the ball and line up side-on for the overhead.

During the positioning, the left arm is guided upward under the ball and the racket is taken over the head early. The key factor here is the position of the racket head: the racket tip initially remains above the head and does not drop prematurely behind the back. From this compact preparation, the reversal movement follows, in which the racket head accelerates downward and is then guided upward again to the contact point.

By consciously shortening the backswing movement, the player*s can focus on the timing between ball flight, positioning, reversal movement, and acceleration to the contact point.

Training Goal

• Coordinate positioning for the lob with the stroke preparation
• Develop a compact and functional stroke preparation
• Position the racket tip above the head early
• Avoid the “backpack” position and maintain the flow of movement
• Train the timing of the reversal movement in a targeted way

Coaching Keys

• Recognize the flight path of the lob early and start positioning immediately.
• Align side-on to the ball and create sufficient distance to the expected contact point.
• Guide the left arm upward and use it to orient yourself on the ball.
• Take the racket over the head early.
• The racket tip remains above the head during the preparation.
• Do not take the racket deep behind the back during the preparation – no “backpack”.
• Initiate a clearly recognizable reversal movement from the high racket position.
• Then accelerate the racket upward to the high contact point.
• Connect positioning and stroke preparation and do not perform them one after the other.
• First develop rhythm and timing before increasing stroke speed.

Possible Corrections

The racket drops behind the back too early:
Consciously shorten the preparation. As a guide: in the ready position, the racket tip should still be visible above the head. Only with the actual reversal movement is the racket head lowered.

The preparation starts only after the positioning:
Encourage the players to perform movement to the ball and stroke preparation at the same time. The left arm and the racket should already take their position during the adjustment steps.

The players stand square to the net:
Demand the side-on alignment early. This creates better conditions for shoulder rotation, stroke rhythm, and a dynamic overhead movement.

The ball gets behind the body:
Assess the flight path earlier and work more consistently behind the ball. The goal is a contact point in front of or slightly to the side in front of the body.

The reversal movement is triggered too early:
Start with higher and slower lobs. The players should learn to keep the high preparation short and adapt the downward movement of the racket to the incoming ball in terms of timing.

Progressive Adaptation

Step 1 – Position without hitting
The coach plays a high, predictable lob. The players position themselves and only take the preparatory position: side-on stance, left arm up, racket over the head, and racket tip up. The ball is not hit.

Step 2 – Controlled overhead from a high preparation
After positioning, the reversal movement is initiated consciously and the ball is played with moderate tempo. The focus is on movement rhythm and contact point.

Step 3 – Different lob heights and lengths
The coach varies the feeds. The players must correct their position with additional adjustment steps without losing the compact stroke preparation.

Step 4 – Less predictability
The lobs are no longer always played to the same area. This means flight path, running direction, and positioning must be recognized more quickly and coordinated with each other.

Step 5 – Higher tempo
The time between feed and contact point is reduced. Now it becomes clear whether the compact preparation also works under time pressure and the racket tip does not prematurely fall into the “backpack” position.

Step 6 – Transfer into match play
The coach or a partner plays either a lob or another ball variably from an open rally. The players must recognize the lob, back up, prepare the overhead position, and play the overhead targeted into a predefined zone.

The players stand facing each other at a little distance. Each person holds a ball in the right hitting hand. A fed ball is caught with the left hand and then immediately thrown back with the right hand. Catching and throwing flow seamlessly into each other.

The focus is on the shoulder tilt typical of the overhead movement: during the backswing, the left shoulder is initially higher than the right. As the throwing movement begins, the left arm moves down together with the left shoulder, while the right shoulder and right throwing arm are brought upward. This creates the characteristic shoulder change, which forms an important basis for an economical and dynamic overhead movement.

Training Goal

• Develop shoulder tilt as the basis for serve and overhead
• Improve coordination of the arms and shoulder axis during the overhead movement
• Develop functional shoulder tilt through the interplay of both sides of the body
• Train movement rhythm through the continuous catch-throw exchange
• Gradually automate a fluid movement sequence

Coaching Keys

• Catch the ball securely with the left hand and move into the throwing preparation without any unnecessary pause.
• During the backswing, position the left shoulder higher and the right shoulder lower.
• Actively guide the left arm downward and support the change in shoulder position.
• At the same time, move the right shoulder and right arm upward.
• Do not throw only from the arm – actively involve the shoulder axis in the movement.
• Pay attention to a fluid rhythm between catching, backswing and throwing.
• First perform the movement in a controlled way; precision and movement quality come before throwing speed.

Possible Corrections

The shoulders remain almost horizontal:
Work the starting position out more clearly: left shoulder high, right shoulder low. Then have the conscious change of shoulder position performed.

The left arm stays up after catching:
Focus on making sure the left arm is actively guided downward. This allows the right shoulder to rotate upward more easily.

The ball is thrown mainly from the forearm:
Reduce throwing speed and have the movement performed larger. The shoulder change should happen visibly before or during the arm acceleration.

A long pause occurs between catching and throwing:
Start with a shorter distance. The goal is a steady rhythm in which catching, backswing and throwing are connected.

The movement becomes sloppy at higher speed:
Reduce tempo and distance again. Only when the shoulder tilt is performed stably should the intensity be increased.

Progressive Adaptation

Step 1 – Shoulder tilt without a ball
First perform the movement without catching and throwing. The focus is solely on changing the shoulder position: left shoulder up – right shoulder down, then left shoulder down – right shoulder up.

Step 2 – Controlled catching and throwing
Catch the ball with the left hand and throw it back with the right hand from a consciously prepared position. At first, there may be a short orientation phase between catching and throwing.

Step 3 – Fluid movement sequence
Reduce the pause after catching. Catching, shoulder tilt and the throw are connected into a continuous movement.

Step 4 – Rhythm and higher frequency
The feeds follow each other more quickly. The shoulder tilt must now remain stable even under increased time pressure.

Step 5 – Greater distance and more dynamic throw
Increase the distance between the partners. This requires a more dynamic throwing movement without losing the technical quality of the shoulder movement.

Step 6 – Transfer to the stroke movement
Then transfer the shoulder tilt you have developed into a tennis-like overhead movement – first with controlled serve motions and then with serve or overhead with a ball.

As a methodological introduction to the overhead, the players position themselves side by side just behind the service line. The coach stands on the same side of the court at the net and tosses the ball as a high lob over the players.

The players orient themselves early to the flight path and move into a suitable position under or slightly behind the ball. In doing so, they take up a sideways stance and stretch the left arm diagonally upward toward the ball. This position supports the shoulder tilt that is important for the overhead movement and at the same time makes spatial orientation to the ball easier.

After the bounce, the ball is caught with the right hand at the highest possible contact point and immediately thrown back to the coach. The racket is not used yet. This allows the players to focus fully on positioning, sideways alignment, shoulder tilt and the high contact point.

The exercise is suitable not only for the orange stage, but can generally be used at all playing levels. It is important that the balls used have a sufficiently high bounce. With older or heavily used orange balls, new orange balls or, for this exercise, normal yellow tennis balls can therefore be used.

Training Goal

• Organize a high contact point and actively align to the flight path
• Methodical introduction to the overhead
• Perceive and assess the ball’s flight path early
• Develop timely positioning for the incoming ball
• Prepare a sideways body position for the overhead movement

Coaching Keys

• Recognize the flight path early: Watch the lob from the start and initiate movement to the ball early.
• Move under the ball: Don’t wait for the ball, but continuously adjust the position to its flight path.
• Take up a sideways stance: Align the upper body sideways early and thus prepare the later overhead movement.
• Lead the left arm upward: For right-handers, the left arm points diagonally upward to the ball and supports orientation and shoulder tilt.
• Create shoulder tilt: The shoulder axis is clearly inclined and prepares the typical starting position for the overhead.
• Seek a high contact point: Catch the ball after the bounce with the arm stretched as far upward as possible.
• Smooth transition: Connect catching and throwing back as much as possible into one continuous movement.

Possible Corrections

The players stand facing the net:
Consciously specify the sideways starting position. The coach can initially toss sufficiently high and predictable lobs so that there is enough time for body rotation.

The left arm stays down:
Before catching, consciously point the left hand toward the ball. This supports both orientation to the ball and shoulder tilt.

The players get under or behind the ball:
Have them assess the flight path earlier and work with small adjustment steps. The goal is a position from which the ball can be reached high above with a long arm.

The ball is caught too low:
Explicitly focus on the highest comfortably reachable catching point. The arm should be stretched far upward when catching.

The movement looks hectic:
First feed the lobs higher and more evenly. Only when positioning and body alignment work reliably should the demands on footwork be increased.

Progressive Approach

Position and catch
The coach plays a well-predictable high lob. The players turn sideways, move to the ball, point upward with the free arm and catch the ball at the highest possible point after the bounce. Then it is thrown back to the coach.

Make positioning more dynamic
The lobs are deliberately thrown in different directions and depths. The players must assess the flight path more quickly and adjust their position through active footwork. Sideways stance, shoulder tilt and a high catching point remain the central criteria.

From catching to the overhead movement
Once the basic position is mastered, the racket is added. The positioning worked on beforehand is connected with a simple overhead movement. The coach continues to play controlled, easily reachable lobs so that the quality of the movement remains the focus.

Overhead under game-like conditions
The direction, height and length of the lobs are increasingly varied. The players must independently recognize how to position themselves to the ball and which adjustment steps are necessary. Afterwards, the overhead is played specifically into predetermined or situationally chosen target areas.

In the Stage Orange, tennis technique starts to become clearly more important for the first time. Especially talented players can already reach a level in individual areas that corresponds to Playing Level 3/4 in the TennisGate 4-Level System.

At the same time, at this age it is completely normal that not all technical building blocks have developed equally. Some details still need age-appropriate fine-tuning, while other elements are already surprisingly stable, functional, and close to advanced movement patterns.

That is exactly why a differentiated look is worthwhile: not every technical deviation is automatically a mistake. What matters is which movement patterns are already reliable, which adjustments fit the stage of development, and at which points coaches can work on things in a targeted way.

In the following example, we analyse the serve of a very talented young player, born in 2016, who won the National Youth Tournament in Detmold in 2025. His serve is a very good example of which technical features can already be highly developed in Stage Orange – and where typical age-related development tasks become visible.

ANALYSIS

Starting position – preparation

The stance is set sideways, with the left toe pointing toward the right net post. Our 9-year-old junior has not yet fully completed the important transition from a pronounced Forehand grip to the serve grip and is still not holding the racket with the continental grip, but with a slight Forehand grip (Eastern Forehand).

Notice that the upper body and racket are slightly turned to the left. In this development phase, that is absolutely sensible and technically completely fine. This slight pre-rotation allows the player to start the opening movement more dynamically and with more swing, without the ball toss drifting too far to the right afterward.

Coaching Keys

• Build a stable sideways base stance
• Left toe points toward the right net post
• Align the upper body slightly to the left
• Hold the racket relaxed in front of the body
• Do not force a tense “square-up” position
• Find the balance between looseness and stability
• Develop the throwing motion naturally from body rotation

Take-back – toss start

The serve opening starts with a relaxed swinging motion of the arms. Both arms work in opposition and create rhythm early in the entire serve movement. Before the hands even pass the hip, the throwing arm is already actively moving forward and up, while the hitting arm is guided back and up at the same time.

Coaching Keys

• Develop the movement flow loosely and without hurry
• Start the opening with a relaxed swinging motion
• Arms work rhythmically in opposition
• Guide the throwing arm forward and up early
• Move the hitting arm back and up at the same time

Take-back – Trophy Position

The take-back ends in the key position of the serve: the shoulder tilt, or the so-called Trophy Position. In this position, body tension, balance, and the prerequisites for later acceleration are optimally prepared.

The left arm points straight up and, together with the shoulder axis, forms a diagonal line. This creates a stable alignment upward toward the contact point and at the same time an important preparation for the later rotation of the upper body.

The position of the hitting arm is especially important: the racket head points upward, while the arm forms roughly a 45-degree angle to the ground. This position later makes it easier to accelerate smoothly into the throwing and hitting action.

At the same time, the hips move actively forward. This creates a slight bow tension in the body, acting like a preloaded spring. This exact combination of shoulder tilt, body tension, and stable alignment forms the basis for a dynamic and powerful serve.

Coaching Keys for the Trophy Position

• Build the shoulder tilt actively
• Guide the left arm straight up
• Align the racket head upward in the Trophy Position
• Position the hitting arm at roughly a 45-degree angle
• Push the hips forward actively and create bow tension

Leg movement – rhythm

Bringing the back foot in, or drawing it up, helps the player bring rhythm and dynamism into the serve. Especially for young players, this movement helps make the sequence smoother and better coordinate the weight transfer.

However, it is important that the back foot is moved forward in a controlled way. Many junior players tend to place the back foot next to the front foot. As a result, the sideways alignment is often lost and the stability of the entire serve movement suffers.

The back foot should therefore remain behind, or slightly diagonally behind, the front foot. This allows the player to control the shoulder rotation, bow tension, and later extension movement much better. The goal is not a big step, but a rhythmic support of the movement sequence with stable body balance.

Coaching Keys for the leg movement

• Control balance and rhythm at the same time
• Draw the back foot forward rhythmically
• Keep the sideways body position stable
• Place the back foot behind the front foot
• Do not “open” the stance by bringing the foot in too far

Reverse movement and racket drop

In the reversal phase of the serve, the so-called racket drop, the racket changes from the upward movement into the downward movement. From the highest point of the take-back, the racket is allowed to fall down in a controlled way before the acceleration phase toward the ball begins.

The key here is looseness in the elbow lead. The elbow initiates the movement, while the racket head can sink downward through the relaxed arm and wrist muscles. If the arm is held tense in this phase, the player loses important mobility and therefore also acceleration potential.

Coaching Keys for the reverse movement and racket drop

• Move the elbow loosely and as the lead
• Let the racket head fall down relaxed
• Do not create an active pushing motion downward
• Prioritize looseness over force
• Create a smooth transition into the acceleration phase

Hitting phase: acceleration

In the acceleration phase, the body tension that has been built up is transferred into movement. The legs push actively off the ground and extend powerfully. This so-called Leg Drive forms the basis for vertical energy development in the serve and supports the entire movement chain upward toward the contact point.

The power does not come from the arm alone, but is transferred through the entire kinetic chain. The movement begins in the legs and continues through the hips, trunk, and shoulder into the hitting arm. The sequence is: hips → shoulder → arm. This coordinated transfer of force allows the player to accelerate the racket efficiently.

In the extension phase, the legs are almost fully stretched upward. At the same time, the racket is in a position where it is aligned almost vertically to the ground. This position shows that the energy is developed upward first, not forward. The vertical energy forms the basis for a high contact point and effective racket acceleration.

Coaching Keys for acceleration

• Push actively and explosively off the ground with the legs
• Develop vertical energy upward
• Accelerate the hips before the shoulder and arm
• Use the kinetic chain: hips → shoulder → arm
• Align the racket almost vertically during the extension phase

Hitting phase and start of pronation

In the hitting phase, the serve reaches its highest racket head speed. A crucial part of this movement is pronation, meaning the inward rotation of the forearm. It is often assumed that this movement is created actively and in isolation from the arm. In reality, however, the start of pronation is prepared and initiated by the rotation of the shoulder axis.

The shoulder axis rotates forward and up, transferring the energy of the entire movement chain to the hitting arm. Pronation therefore emerges as a natural part of the acceleration movement and not as a separate hand or forearm action. Players who try to create pronation actively with the hand often lose looseness, timing, and racket head speed.

The goal is therefore to use shoulder rotation as the driving force and let pronation happen as a result of a smooth, dynamic throwing and hitting movement. This transfers energy efficiently into the contact point and reduces the load on the arm and wrist.

Coaching Keys for the hitting phase

• Allow the shoulder axis to rotate forward actively
• Let pronation emerge from the overall movement
• Do not work in isolation with the hand or forearm
• Guide the hitting arm loosely through the movement
• Transfer energy from the shoulder into the contact point

Contact point

In a direct comparison between a 14-year-old player (left) and the 9-year-old Orange player (right), clear differences in body extension and contact point position become visible.

The key difference lies in the better extension of the 14-year-old player. He uses the entire body chain more effectively, reaches greater upward movement, and can therefore contact the ball from a higher position. The shoulder axis stays tilted longer, the hitting arm extends fully toward the ball, and the contact point is high above the body. Here you can also see that the back right hip is responsible for the vertical energy.

For the 9-year-old Orange player, the body is noticeably more bent at contact. At the same time, the contact point is further in front of the body. As a result, the player loses important height and a favorable hitting angle. Instead of developing energy vertically upward, the movement works more forward. This makes it harder to reach a high contact point and to play the ball into the court with an optimal angle.

Differences also show up at the start of pronation. While the older player already combines shoulder axis, arm extension, and pronation more effectively, this development process is still being built in the younger player.

The comparison makes it clear how important good body extension is for a successful serve. More height at contact usually leads to better angles, more safety over the net, and, in the long run, greater serving potential.

Coaching Keys

• Develop vertical body extension up to the contact point
• Keep the shoulder axis aligned upward for longer
• Fully extend the hitting arm toward the ball
• Aim for a higher contact point rather than a more forward one
• Improve height and angle through body extension

Follow through / pronation

The follow through is the natural continuation of the hitting movement after contact. It shows whether the acceleration that was built up earlier was carried through the ball freely and without interruption. A good follow through does not come from a conscious movement after contact, but as a result of efficient arm and shoulder rotation.

After ball contact, the shoulder axis continues to rotate in the hitting direction (international technical term: long axis rotation). The hitting arm follows this movement and swings through in a relaxed way. The follow through makes it especially clear whether the player was able to maintain the necessary looseness in the arm and shoulder. Tension slows the movement down and reduces both speed and control.

Directional control does not end at contact either. The direction of the follow through gives important clues about how cleanly the energy was transferred through the ball. A fluid follow through in the hitting direction supports movement stability and makes it easier to control the trajectory and placement of the serve.

Coaching Keys for the follow through

• Continue shoulder rotation after the contact point
• Allow the hitting arm to follow through loosely and freely
• Do not create an active braking movement
• Maintain relaxation until the end of the movement
• Execute and control the follow through in the hitting direction

Follow through and landing

The landing is the final part of the serve movement and at the same time the transition into the next game situation. After ball contact and the follow through, the player must absorb the forward momentum in a controlled way and prepare quickly for the next stroke.

Balance plays a central role here. A stable landing makes it possible to absorb the energy of the serve movement efficiently and keep the body under control. Players who lose balance after landing often have trouble reacting in time to the next ball.

At the same time, the forward movement of the body should be used. A good serve does not end statically on the baseline, but with a controlled movement into the court. This allows the player to build pressure more quickly or position themselves optimally for the next action.

Coaching Keys for the landing

• Land stably and in control
• Keep balance after ball contact
• Absorb forward movement actively
• Become ready to play immediately after landing
• Start the recovery early for the next stroke

Recovering the court

Immediately after the landing, the recovery begins. The player shifts focus to the next game situation, stabilizes the position, and prepares for the first stroke after the serve. The quality of the landing therefore directly influences the quality of the following rally.

In this analysis, we superimposed the same player on a two-handed backhand in three age groups – 10, 11 and 13. Age-related differences can be clearly seen above all in upper body rotation and leg position. We strongly recommend that the players pay attention to the position of the standing leg and in particular to the position of the toes at an early stage. This detail is often overlooked. However, even at an early age it can not only limit performance, but can also trigger one or the other injury.

Analysis

Backhand Development

Preparation and Backswing

Age 10. In this phase of the backswing, 10-year-old Gina takes the racquet back almost horizontally. The upper body isn’t turned very well yet.

Age 11. One year later the upper body rotation and the extension of the arms are already a unit. This way the upper body is turned much better and the rear part of the shoulders points in the direction of the stroke. Compared to the previous year, the racquet starts higher into the backswing movement. What is noticeable is that the left hand does not hold the racquet grip firmly in this phase.

Age 13. At the age of 13, the backswing looks somewhat more compact from the start. The racquet is lifted slightly but does not go directly backwards. Thus the movement is a little later in time, but gives the player the possibility to adjust the movement if necessary and also to take the pre-tension of the forearm muscles fully into the stroke.

Backswing

Age 10. In the reverse movement phase from the back to the front, the racquet head clearly comes to the ball from below. This is also shown by the fact that the racquet tip is positioned clearly below the wrists.

Age 11. Not too much difference a year later. As expected, the upper part of the body rotates slightly more backwards. You can already see a part of the back, but the front leg is quite parallel to the baseline, which is not optimal.

Age 13. Two years later you see the greater dynamism. The tip of the racquet points far behind the body, despite the slightly delayed backswing movement, as there is sufficient time to use the full range of the backswing. Upper body and shoulder girdle are now even better turned, the right foot tip points slightly forward, so also in this respect an improvement.

Forward Swing and Stroke Phase

The Core action: the contact point

Age 10. No surprise is the clean contact point already at the age of 10 years. The front leg is on the tip of the foot, the back leg begins to swing backwards away.

Age 11. Also here a clean contact point. However, the foot of the standing leg is still quite lateral.

Age 13. As with the forehand, the main action shows the least differences. The variants are mostly in the supporting actions, before and after the contact point.

The Follow Through

Age 10. The dominance of the left arm can be seen in the follow through. The shoulder axis rotates into the stroke, which runs over the right leg, the left one swings backwards to maintain balance.

Age 11. Also here the clear upper body rotation into the ball can be seen. Although the racquet came to the ball from below and once had to assume some forward spin, the racquet and the arms are still in line. A not quite optimal swing behaviour.

Age 13. A strong use of the left arm can also be seen here. In this phase, however, the tip of the racquet is already clearly above the wrists. The swing of the upper body is dissolved beautifully over the arms. Also here the stroke movement runs over the front right leg.

The Follow Through

Age 10. The follow through goes towards the right shoulder. For a two-handed backhand usual, it resembles nevertheless a left-handed forehand. The stroke is fully executed over the right leg, the left leg balances out.

Age 11. Opposite to previous and following picture, Gina jumps at this stroke at this phase. Means: the left leg comes forward during rotation. So she can dissolve the very lateral position of her right foot before still.

Age 13. Also here the punch runs fully over the right leg, the left leg kicks backwards. The left arm swings the racquet towards the right shoulder, the right arm is only passively involved in the shot.

Landing and Balance

Age 10. Here you can see why the core, the trunk muscles are so important. The still very delicately built 10-year-old Gina is not yet able to absorb the energy of her stroke in a stable manner.

Age 11. That looks much better a year later. The torso is stable after the forward rotation and the left leg absorbs the swing by jumping around.

Age 13. This shot is actually similar to the one three years ago, but the significantly improved muscular situation now guarantees a balanced end of the racquet swing.

This video uses a rotational throwing task to introduce and clarify different stances in tennis. Players perform rotational throws from an open stance, alternating forehand and backhand directions, before exploring side-on and closed stances. By rotating the body and throwing upward and forward, players experience how stance influences balance, rotation, and movement flow. The exercise can be adapted with lighter or different balls, making it suitable for younger players and helping them understand the fundamental differences between open and closed stances in a simple, intuitive way.

TRAINING GOALS

• Understand the difference between open, side-on, and closed stances
• Develop body rotation awareness through throwing movements
• Improve coordination between lower body, trunk rotation, and upper body
• Build a foundation for stance selection on forehand and backhand
• Adapt movement concepts to age-appropriate equipment and tasks

COACHING KEYS

• Start the throw from a clearly defined stance position
• Emphasize body rotation, not just arm action
• Alternate directions to link stance to forehand and backhand concepts
• Use lighter balls for younger players to ensure clean movement execution
• Clearly verbalize and demonstrate open versus closed stance positions

The core message of this video is to design drills that consistently link hitting with an active recovery. A frequent mistake in training is using exercises where players run to the ball, hit, and then leave the court, which removes recovery from the learning process. Effective drills should require players to recover back into a functional court position after every shot. By emphasizing hit-and-recover patterns, players develop better positioning, rhythm, and readiness for the next ball.

TRAINING GOALS

• Reinforce the habit of recovering after every shot
• Improve court positioning and readiness for the next stroke
• Develop efficient movement patterns between shots
• Enhance rally continuity and tactical awareness
• Transfer drill behavior more effectively into match play

COACHING KEYS

• Design drills that always include a recovery phase
• Cue players to recover immediately after contact
• Define a clear recovery target or reference position
• Avoid drills where players exit the court after hitting
• Link recovery speed to readiness for the next ball

After the split step, the first movements toward the ball should be explosive adjustment steps. Especially with young players, there is often a tendency to reach for the ball by stretching the arm and racquet instead of moving the feet. This limits balance, timing, and shot quality. In this progression, players first learn to “attack the ball with the legs” through simple catching and throwing tasks. The exercise is then transferred into tennis-specific movements, with a clear focus on moving the body behind the ball and making contact in front of the body whenever possible.

TRAINING GOALS

• Improve explosive first steps after the split step
• Encourage active footwork instead of reaching with the arm
• Develop the habit of getting the body behind the ball
• Enhance balance and stability at contact
• Transfer general movement skills into tennis-specific actions

COACHING KEYS

• Emphasize explosive adjustment steps immediately after the split step
• Cue players to move the legs first, not the racquet
• Use catching and throwing to reinforce leg-driven movement
• Aim to position the body behind the ball early
• Encourage contact in front of the body rather than to the side

Efficient court coverage depends on selecting the correct footwork pattern in relation to ball position. When players are pulled wider off the court, lateral side-steps are no longer sufficient and must be replaced by crossover steps, often combined with a frontal running action. Understanding when to switch between these movement patterns allows players to recover faster, maintain balance, and stay in a stable hitting position. The video demonstrates a coach guiding players through this decision-making process, with a clear focus on moving back effectively using crossover steps when forced wide.

TRAINING GOALS

• Develop awareness of when to use side-steps versus crossover steps
• Improve recovery speed when pulled wide off the court
• Enhance balance and body control during lateral and diagonal movement
• Optimize positioning for the next shot
• Build efficient and repeatable footwork patterns

COACHING KEYS

• Read ball distance early to choose the appropriate step pattern
• Use crossover steps when the distance to cover increases
• Combine crossover steps with frontal running for faster recovery
• Maintain an athletic posture throughout the movement
• Finish with adjustment steps to prepare for the next stroke

This drill focuses on the conscious control of ball speed and ball length. Even technically capable players often struggle to deliberately reduce pace or vary depth. By allowing the ball to bounce multiple times, players learn to accelerate and decelerate the racquet in a controlled manner. The primary objective is to develop better feel, rhythm, and precision rather than match realism.

Players begin by letting the ball bounce twice, then three times. An additional variation follows an up-and-down sequence of bounces (1–2–3–2–1). The emphasis is on controlled execution and intentional modulation of racquet speed.a circle. Great players can accelerate and decelerate the racquet at will, and that is the goal.

Training Goals

• Improve control of ball speed
• Develop awareness for varying shot length
• Learn conscious acceleration and deceleration of the racquet
• Enhance overall shot control independent of pace

Coaching Keys

• Maintain a calm and controlled contact point
• Adjust racquet head speed intentionally
• Focus on clean contact and consistent trajectory
• Use a stable base and compact swing
• Prioritize feel and rhythm over power

Progressive Approach

• Start at short distances with reduced swing speed
• Increase distance while maintaining soft ball contact
• Add the 1–2–3–2–1 bounce sequence for rhythm control
• Introduce target zones to refine depth accuracy
• Transition into situational drills with variable acceleration

This drill combines this High-Intensity Reaction Drill with the “Beat the Bounce” concept to train explosive movement, early positioning, and efficient recovery. Players react to three progressively distant ball feeds, requiring different movement solutions: one step, additional step, and crossover steps.

The focus is on reaching the correct position before the bounce, preparing the swing early, and recovering quickly back to the starting position. By removing the requirement to return the ball, players can fully concentrate on the relationship between ball trajectory and footwork patterns.

Additionally, players learn to adjust ball height to manage recovery time—using higher shots to create more time when covering longer distances. Close coach positioning allows for immediate and precise feedback, reinforcing correct movement execution.

Training Objective

Develop explosive first-step reactions, precise positioning before the bounce, and efficient recovery using adaptive footwork patterns.

Coaching Keys

• Reach the position before the bounce to prepare the stroke early
• Match footwork to distance (1 step, adjustment, crossover steps)
• Explode into the first step—react immediately to the feed
• Recover quickly to the starting position after each action
• Use higher shots to gain recovery time when distance increases

Key Education Factor

Linking ball trajectory with movement decisions
Players learn to adapt their footwork patterns based on distance and time, creating a direct connection between what they see and how they move.

Progressive Approach (Playing Level 2–4)

Level 2 – Structured Movement Patterns

• Fixed feeding to three clearly defined markers
• Emphasis on correct step patterns (1 step / 2 steps / crossover)
• Focus on early positioning before the bounce

Level 3 – Increased Tempo & Recovery Demand

• Faster feeds with reduced reaction time
• Greater emphasis on quick recovery between feeds
• Introduce controlled hitting with focus on ball height

Level 4 – Dynamic & Decision-Based Training

• Randomized ball placement and distances
• Players decide movement pattern independently
• Integrate live ball situations with tactical awareness

We implement the suicide run principle to footwork and the “beat the bounce” rule in this drill. The coach tosses three balls to varying positions, each marked about 1.5 meters apart. The first marker should be reached with a single step, while an additional step is needed for the second marker. Cross-steps are necessary for the third marker.

The kids focus on two key elements: being at the right position and ready to swing before the ball bounces and ensuring they reach reach starting position before the ball bouncers on the other side. They can aid their recovery process by hitting the ball higher when faced with longer recovery distances.

By removing the need to return the ball, this drill enables players to focus entirely on the connection between they ball trajectory and their footwork. With the coach in close proximity, providing effective corrections becomes easier.

The coach tosses the ball to the player, who catches it using a continental grip on their racquet The players returns to the net bouncing the ball up on their racquet and then place it in a box. The players should exclusively use the Continental grip and the coach can vary the difficulty of the drill by tossing farther or forcing the players to do the exercise without letting the ball bounce. This grip is crucial for their serves, volleys, and slices.

The kids should bounce the ball through a slalom course using their newly learned continental grip. They are only allowed to use their forehand side, as this is the underarm rotation they will need for their serve later on.

Beat the bounce, be faster than the ball bounce is a term used in international top-level tennis. Starting with top-level tennis, we break this requirement down and give kids in the green learning level the chance to learn it. A ball is thrown to them on the right and left. They should be at the height of the ball bounce as quickly as possible, catch the ball, and then throw it back. So before the ball bounces, they have to be at the ball, and before the coach catches the ball again, they should have “covered” the space. Through this relatively simple task, they learn a sense of “space-time-position” that gives them valuable tactical feedback.

We compare this with the pros. Where are the players standing when the ball bounces?

We will demonstrate this in an analysis of a match from the Madrid Open between Djokovic and Bautista-Agut. We have marked every ball bounce (ball impact) and drawn a 2-2.5 meter wide corridor behind the player. The top player tries to get to the height of the ball bounce as quickly as possible. Looking at the analysis, we see that the players are almost without exception in and around this space. If they don’t manage to do so, they will have to hit the shot on the run.

Changing positions depending on the situation and adapting them appropriately is an important cognitive topic in the area of tactics acquisition at the green level. In this workshop, instructor Matthias Birkle sets up three marker cones in traffic light colors: yellow directly on the line for the neutral position, green for attack in front of the baseline, and red for defensive position behind the baseline. The children are lined up next to each other at the baseline and are asked to evaluate his feed and move to either “green,” “yellow,” or “red.”