Groundstrokes
The groundstrokes provide the foundation for the game and every coach should strive to help their students develop a consistent forehand and backhand with which to attack and defend.
This section is full of technical instruction and drills to help you improve this critical aspect of the game.
- All ()
- Agility ()
- Approach shot ()
- Approach Shot Tactic ()
- Backhand ()
- Backhand Volley ()
- Complex Training ()
- Coordination ()
- Drills ()
- Endurance ()
- Feeding by the Coach ()
- Flexibility ()
- Forehand ()
- Forehand Volley ()
- General Tactic ()
- Green Ball Stage ()
- Groundstroke Introduction ()
- Groundstrokes ()
- Half Volley ()
- Instruction ()
- Live Ball Drill ()
- Lob ()
- Mini Tennis ()
- Net Game Tactic ()
- Off Court Warm up ()
- One-handed Backhand ()
- Orange Ball Stage ()
- Organization ()
- Overhead ()
- Passing Tactic ()
- Power ()
- Rallying Tactic ()
- Red Ball Stage ()
- Regeneration ()
- Return ()
- Return Tactic ()
- Returning Team Tactic ()
- Serve ()
- Serve Tactic ()
- Serving Team Tactic ()
- Slice ()
- Sliding ()
- Speed ()
- Strength ()
- Stretching ()
- Tactic ()
- Technique ()
- Topspin Volley ()
- Toss ()
- Two-handed Backhand ()
- Volleys ()
- Warming up Strokes ()
- Wrist ()
Hitting an Offensive Lob
Instruction, LobThe most important aspect to hit an effective offensive lob is disguise. Ideally you need to be in an offensive position, fake a passing shot and change to a lob at the last second. Your goal is to hit the lob just above the opponent’s...
Complex Training: Backhand and Rotational Throw
Complex Training, DrillsThe players should stand about three to four meters apart. To start with, they should adopt the open stance. The player should then hold the medicine ball with both hands and bring it so far back behind the body that it is behind the lin...
Place and Pick up from the Baseline
Drills, Live Ball DrillPlayers rally from the baseline. They have to hit the ball to each other slowly, with control. In addition, each player starts with a ball in the non-dominant hand. After each hit the player will either place the ball on the ground or pi...
Backhands with High Five
Drills, Endurance, Live Ball DrillThe player hits backhands aiming at a group of cones set on the other side. After each backhand, he has to run back and give his partner a high five. This post is only available to members. Please register or log in.
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Blind Game
Drills, Live Ball DrillThe singles player plays one ball to the net player and one to either side of him. The net player hits a controlled volley back to the baseline player. The player behind the net player plays a neutral shot back, careful not to hit the ne...
Keep your Eyes at Contact
Drills, Live Ball DrillAn effective way to help you track the ball better is making sure that your head stays still until after you made contact with the ball. This exercise will help you understand this concept better.This post is only available to members. P...
Juniors – Forehand Rolling with Movement
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionIn this exercises the players roll the ball to each other, forehand to forehand. The idea is to move the opponent wide, which will give players a chance to work on their lateral movement and recovery. The coach should correct their movem...
Juniors – Figure 8 with Two Hands
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionNovice players roll the ball with two hands on the racquet in a figure 8 pattern to start feeling how the racquet head angle affects the direction of the ball. The recommended grip is Continental with the dominant hand and Eastern Foreha...
Juniors – Rally in the Service Boxes
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionNovice players try to keep the ball in play in the service boxes counting how many times thay can hit it in the square without mistake. The coach should use a ball that allows them to have long ralllies. Players should use a type of ball...
Juniors – Groundstrokes Beginners Control Shot Changind Sides
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionIn this exercise beginners can rally using control shots to set the ball in a position where they can control it better to hit it over the net. The idea of the exercise is to stop the ball on one side, control it with one or more control...
Juniors – Crosscourt Down the Line Rolling
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionTwo players face each other. One is on the service line, the other on the base line. One player will roll the ball cross court every time the other down the line. The players play on half court. The players should try to stop the incomin...
Juniors – Feeding with no Bounce
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionPlayers practice tossing the ball up and hitting it over before the ball bounces. It is important to explain to the players where and how they have to toss the bal (low and in front)l and to use a short backswing.This post is only availa...
Juniors – Feeding after a Bounce
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionPlayers practice tossing a ball up, letting it bounce and hitting it over aiming at targets. Players use different types of balls to learn to adjust. Make sure the players are tossing the ball in front of their bodies.This post is only a...
Juniors – Control in the Service Box
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionPlayers rally in the service box trying to keep the ball in play. The idea is to use very short swings and contact the ball in front of the body. The players should aim high over the net and aim at the middle of the square.This post is o...
Juniors – Groundstrokes – Toss Feed and Hit with Foam Ball
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionThe coach feeds the ball underhanded. The players stand at the service line and hit it back to the coach so the he/she can catch it. The idea is to work on a simple stroke with control. The coach should make sure the players are hitting ...
Juniors – Grounstroke Introduction – Foam Ball no Net
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionThe players stand on the baseline and the coach on the serviceline on the same side of the court. The coach hand feeds a foam ball and the players return it in such a way that the coach can catch it. The players practice hitting with sim...
Juniors – Mini Rally with Control Shot
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionThe coach sets a boundry line relatively close to the net shrinking the court. The players use a foam ball and try to rally on that shrunken court. The players use a control shot before hitting the ball over the net.This post is only ava...
Juniors – Groundstroke Intoduction – Players Tap Foam Ball over the Net
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionThe coach shrinks the court using some plastic lines and placing them a few feet from the net. The players try to rally inside the lines with a foam ball. By keeping the court small, even total beginners can rally.This post is only avail...
Juniors – Backhand Introduction – Rolling a Foam Ball
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionOne player stands on the service line and the other on the baseline. The players roll a foam ball to each other, backhand to backhnad. The players should stop the ball and roll it back. The coach works on the proper technique. A full fol...
Juniors – Introduction to Groundstrokes – Rolling
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionRolling the ball to each other is a good way to introduce the groundstrokes. The coach needs to make sure that the players are bending their knees and keeping their torso erect. He/she should also make corrections about the contact point...
Juniors – Backhand Introduction – Rolling Backhand to Backhand
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionThe players roll balls to each other using a backhand. The players should stop the ball and roll it back making sure they bend their knees and keep the torso upright. The coach should work on the basic technique.This post is only availab...
Juniors – Rolling Figure 8
Drills, Groundstroke IntroductionThe player holds the racquet with one hand (Continental Grip is suggested) and works on rolling a ball in a figure 8 pattern. The player should change the face of the racquet based on the direction that they are pushing the ball. The exe...
Methodology – Backhands Sitting on a Swiss Ball
Backhand, DrillsThe player sits on a Swiss ball and hits backhands. The coach feeds. The drill will force the player to stabilize the lower body and generate pace from the upper body.This post is only available to members. Please register or log in.
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Crosscourt – Down the Line Plus 3
Drills, Live Ball DrillTwo players play a 30 ball crosscourt down the line. The coach feeds a ball in immediately after a mistake. As soon as they finish the rally, they play 3 points cross court.This post is only available to members. Please register or log...
Slice Approach Shot
Drills, SliceEach player hits three shots: A backhand cross court, a forehand down the line and a slice approach backhand down the line.This post is only available to members. Please register or log in.
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Blind Game
Drills, Live Ball DrillTwo player on the baseline and one at the net line up. The player without partner hits one groundstroke left of the net player, one at the net player and one right of the net player.This post is only available to members. Please regist...
A Common Mistake When Lobbing
Instruction, LobA common mistake when lobbing is to look up too early therefore missing the sweet spot on the racquet head. A lob requires precision and a clean contact point. Keep your head still until the ball leaves your racquet!This post is only ava...
Use Under Spin for a Good Drop Shot
InstructionUnder spin will keep the ball from moving through the court and is an essential ingredient of an effective drop shot. Learn how to use it!This post is only available to members. Please register or log in.
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The Correct Finish on the Slice Backhand
InstructionOn the slice backhand the racquet head will start open and should also finish open. Here is more on that.This post is only available to members. Please register or log in.
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How to use Rotation for a Better Two handed Backhand
Instruction, Two-handed BackhandA two handed backhand is much more effective when you involve the whole body. The clip will explain how to use rotation of the body for a more solid two-handed backhand.This post is only available to members. Please register or log in.
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Keep the Head Still!
InstructionA common mistake on groundstrokes is to pull away from the shot as you swing. This always starts with the head. If the head moves, the body moves. This clip will explore the importance of the head when hitting your groundstrokes.This pos...
The Backswing on the Two-handed Backhand
Instruction, Two-handed BackhandThe clip will explain the two acceptable ways to take the racquet back on the two handed backhand: the loop backswing and the straight backswing.This post is only available to members. Please register or log in.
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Catch the Ball Before it gets too High for a Solid backhand Slice
Instruction, SliceIdeally you should always avoid hitting the ball above your shoulders on the slice backhand. A very high contact point is much harder to control. Take a look!This post is only available to members. Please register or log in.
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Hit a Better Slice by Controlling the Height of your Backswing
InstructionA common mistake when slicing the ball is hitting down on the ball. In order to hit a more penetrating shot you have to focus on hitting through the shot. Adjusting the height of the backswing to the contact point will help you accomplis...
The Role of the Non-Dominant Hand on a Slice Backhand
InstructionThe non-dominant hand plays a very important role on a slice backhand. It helps stabilize the racquet on the backswing and more importantly, it helps stabilize the trunk. Take a look at how this is done.This post is only available to mem...
How to stabilize the Body on a One-handed Slice Backhand
InstructionA common mistake on the one-handed slice backhand is opening the body too early. This is especially common when hitting an approach shot. In order to avoid this, players should get comfortable using a carioca step when approaching the ne...
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