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On-court practice

Drill cards

Short, focused drills you can run in a session — serve, return, glass, net play, and pair communication. Each card links to the levels it supports.

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12 drills

Filter by level on the levels page training paths, take the level quiz for suggested drill links, or browse every card below.

  • Wall bounce warm-up

    Glass timing and controlled contact 8–10 min 2–4 (pairs rotate)

    first-timer beginner

    Equipment
    Basket of balls, one court
    Setup
    Both players start on the back glass. Feeder stands at the service line with balls.

    Steps

    1. Feed a medium ball that bounces once before the back glass.
    2. Receiver lets it rebound off the glass, then plays a controlled forehand or backhand to the feeder.
    3. After 8–10 balls, swap roles. Repeat on the backhand side.
    4. Add a second bounce rule only if both players agree — default is one ground bounce before glass.

    Coaching cues

    • Wait for the glass rebound — do not take it in the air off the back wall
    • Brush up for height and depth, not flat power
    • Recover to the centre of your half after each shot

    Common mistakes

    • Swinging early before the ball leaves the glass
    • Standing on top of the glass and blocking the swing
    • Aiming for winners instead of clean contact

    Progression

    Feed wider to the side glass; then rally cooperatively without the feeder catching.

  • Serve to target boxes

    Underhand serve accuracy and variation 10–12 min 2 (one serves, one counts) or solo with ball basket

    first-timer beginner confident

    Equipment
    Cones or towel targets in service boxes, balls
    Setup
    Place two targets: wide to the deuce side and T-side to the ad box (swap for left-handers). Server starts behind the service line.

    Steps

    1. Hit 10 serves to the wide target at 60–70% pace.
    2. Hit 10 serves to the T target.
    3. Alternate wide and T for 10 serves without stopping.
    4. Partner calls in or out; only count serves that bounce in the correct box.

    Coaching cues

    • Contact below waist height — brush up, not slap
    • Aim for depth in the box, not the service line
    • Same routine every serve: bounce, breathe, swing

    Common mistakes

    • Lifting the ball with the non-racket hand above waist on contact
    • Serving flat into the net
    • Same target every point in matches — vary in the drill first

    Progression

    Add a second bounce returner who returns deep; server must recover to net after serve.

  • Return deep to the middle

    Return depth and neutralising the serve 12–15 min 2

    beginner developing confident

    Equipment
    Balls, optional cone at centre back
    Setup
    Server alternates deuce and ad serves. Returner stands one step behind the service line.

    Steps

    1. Server hits 20 serves at 70% pace.
    2. Returner aims every return between the centre service line and the back glass.
    3. Count returns that land past the service line on the full.
    4. Switch roles after 20 serves.

    Coaching cues

    • Short backswing, long follow-through for depth
    • Return cross-court unless you have a clear opening
    • Recover toward the net after a deep return

    Common mistakes

    • Blocking returns that pop up for an easy volley
    • Going for line winners on first balls
    • Staying on the baseline after the return

    Progression

    Server adds body serve; returner must still aim middle with height.

  • Net position hold

    Ready position and basic volley shape 10 min 2

    first-timer beginner

    Equipment
    Balls
    Setup
    Net player at the service line, racket up. Partner feeds from the opposite service box.

    Steps

    1. Feed 10 forehand volleys to the chest; net player blocks back to the feeder.
    2. Repeat 10 backhand volleys.
    3. Feed 10 alternating volleys — net player calls mine before contact.
    4. Finish with 5 slow lobs; net player turns and lets the back player call (shadow if solo).

    Coaching cues

    • Elbows out, racket head above the net tape
    • Step forward into the ball, do not reach across the body
    • Volley to the feet or middle, not the fence

    Common mistakes

    • Racket down until the ball is almost on you
    • Big swings on easy volleys
    • Crowding the centre and blocking the partner

    Progression

    Feeder moves back to baseline and hits one bounce before volley.

  • Glass defensive reset

    Defensive glass exit and height 12 min 2

    beginner developing

    Equipment
    Balls
    Setup
    Defender on back glass. Feeder at the net or service line hits controlled attacking balls.

    Steps

    1. Feed 10 balls that bounce once then hit the back glass.
    2. Defender plays high and deep to the middle after the glass rebound.
    3. Feeder volleys back; defender repeats until 10 successful resets.
    4. Swap roles.

    Coaching cues

    • Absorb pace with a slightly open racket face
    • Height over the net buys time to recover
    • Aim for the middle to reduce angle risk

    Common mistakes

    • Trying winners from knee-height off the glass
    • Hitting before the ball leaves the back wall
    • Staying on the glass after the shot

    Progression

    Add side glass feeds; defender must read back vs side rebound.

  • Volley control feed

    Controlled volley exchanges at the net 10–12 min 2–4

    beginner developing

    Equipment
    Balls
    Setup
    Both pairs at the net on opposite sides, or one pair vs coach at the net.

    Steps

    1. Cooperative volley-only rally: no ground strokes.
    2. Target 15 consecutive volleys to the middle third.
    3. If the ball drops below net height, restart count.
    4. Last player to miss feeds the next round.

    Coaching cues

    • Soft grip pressure on touch volleys
    • Aim between opponents, not at them
    • Split step as partner hits

    Common mistakes

    • Punching every volley hard into the glass
    • Drifting back off the net without reason
    • No communication on who takes the middle ball

    Progression

    Allow one lob per rally; net pair practices call and switch.

  • Lob recovery as a pair

    Lob coverage, switch, and recovery 15 min 4

    developing intermediate

    Equipment
    Balls
    Setup
    One pair at the net, one at the back. Feeder lobs from the net side to the back pair.

    Steps

    1. Back player calls mine or yours on every lob.
    2. Defending pair plays one high ball, then recovers to side-by-side positions.
    3. Net pair lets the lob bounce once, then plays a controlled volley or bandeja.
    4. Rotate who lobs every 6 balls.

    Coaching cues

    • Early call — late calls cause collisions
    • Defending player uses side glass if needed, then resets high
    • After switch, both players stop and re-establish spacing

    Common mistakes

    • Both players running to the same corner
    • Net player smashing every lob regardless of height
    • No recovery after the overhead — stranded out of position

    Progression

    Random lobs to deuce and ad corners; net pair must communicate switch every time.

  • Bandeja feed rally

    Controlled bandeja on high balls 12 min 2

    developing confident intermediate

    Equipment
    Balls
    Setup
    Feeder at baseline lobs high to the ad or deuce side. Receiver at the service line or slightly behind.

    Steps

    1. Feed 10 high balls; receiver plays bandeja deep cross-court.
    2. Feed 10 to the other side.
    3. Rally: feeder lobs, receiver bandeja, feeder volleys back, repeat 5 times.
    4. Only introduce full overhead smashes on balls above shoulder that land inside the court.

    Coaching cues

    • Side-on, contact in front of the body, not behind the head
    • Shape like a controlled tray — depth beats angle early
    • Recover to net after bandeja if the reply is weak

    Common mistakes

    • Smashing every high ball and making errors
    • Leaving bandeja short in the middle
    • No footwork — reaching with the arm only

    Progression

    Feeder adds variety: high lob vs medium high; receiver chooses bandeja or block.

  • Cross-court consistency

    Rally tolerance and placement 15 min 2–4

    beginner developing confident intermediate

    Equipment
    Balls, optional tape zone on the diagonal
    Setup
    Players rally cross-court from the baseline or service line. Mark a target zone on the diagonal.

    Steps

    1. Cooperative rally: 20 shots cross-court only.
    2. Count longest rally; restart on unforced error.
    3. Add rule: every third ball must land in the marked zone.
    4. Play one short set to 11 with cross-court starts only.

    Coaching cues

    • Aim big over the net — margin reduces errors
    • Move the opponent before going down the line in matches
    • Recover to the middle of your half after each shot

    Common mistakes

    • Going down the line too early and opening the court
    • Flat hits into the net under pressure
    • Ignoring partner position in doubles

    Progression

    Allow down-the-line finish only after 5 cross-court shots in a row.

  • Serve plus one

    Serve pattern and first volley as a pair 15 min 4

    developing confident intermediate

    Equipment
    Balls
    Setup
    Standard doubles positions. Serving pair practises serve and first volley.

    Steps

    1. Server targets wide; net player holds line, ready for a weak return.
    2. Play out the point to 7; only count points won on serve or first volley.
    3. Rotate server and net player every 4 points.
    4. Second round: server targets T; net player pinches middle on float returns.

    Coaching cues

    • Server recovers inside the court after serve, not stuck on the baseline
    • Net player calls leave on deep returns
    • First volley to the feet or middle, not the fence

    Common mistakes

    • Server staying back and leaving the net player exposed
    • Net player poaching without reading the return
    • Going for winners on a neutral first volley

    Progression

    Returners play live; serving pair must win 3 of 5 serve games.

  • Communication and switch

    Calls, switch, and side coverage 10 min 4

    developing confident intermediate

    Equipment
    Balls
    Setup
    Feeder lobs over the net pair. Defending pair practises switch calls.

    Steps

    1. Every lob: back player calls switch or stay.
    2. After switch, both players stop and touch rackets at the centre to reset spacing.
    3. Play 12 lobs; count switches without collision or open alley.
    4. Add live point: first ball is a lob, play out to 7.

    Coaching cues

    • Loud, early calls — switch is default on balls over the backhand shoulder
    • Net player takes the overhead only when set
    • After switch, cover the alley your partner left

    Common mistakes

    • Silent play until a crash
    • Both players switching when one could stay
    • Forgetting who owns the next ball after switch

    Progression

    Random feeds to deuce and ad; mandatory call before every shot.

  • Overhead block and redirect

    Defensive overhead when out of position 10–12 min 2

    confident intermediate

    Equipment
    Balls
    Setup
    Feeder at the net smashes or hits fast overheads. Receiver starts slightly off balance on purpose.

    Steps

    1. Feed 10 fast balls; receiver blocks short cross-court only.
    2. Feed 10 balls; receiver redirects soft to the middle.
    3. Play 6 live points: receiver must use block or redirect, no full smash.
    4. Swap roles.

    Coaching cues

    • Short compact swing — defend first, attack later
    • Racket face open on blocks to lift over the net
    • Recover toward the net after a successful block

    Common mistakes

    • Full wind-up on balls behind the body
    • Blocking into the net on reflex
    • No movement back to neutral after the block

    Progression

    Allow one full overhead per set only when the ball is in front and above the shoulder.