AIMS To practice the return and planned approach tactic; to make the returning team dominate the point; to develop coordinated movement at the net; to improve communication and teamwork between partners. LEVEL Intermediate to advanced DESCRIPTION The doubles team sets up in the normal one-up/one-back returning posi­tion while the coach stands on the opposite baseline […]

This drill can be done with either singles or doubles. AIMS To practice the return and groundstroke attack; to make the returner select the best return and second shot option; to make the returner (or returning team) dominate the point. LEVEL All DESCRIPTION the returner (or returning team) has to win the point within three […]

DRILL 2.1 Developing the Middle Return AIMS To develop the middle return; to neutralise the threat of the strong first serve. LEVEL All DESCRIPTION The coach (or practice partner) serves a variety of first serves to a player who must return down the middle of the court into the target area. The player keeps score […]

the effectiveness of the return can be measured like that of the serve. Doing so will provide valuable feedback to both player and coach. By analysing her performance in this way, the player can set more realistic and specific goals for her return of serve in the future. For example, the statistics may show that […]

Using the return as an approach can be used as a planned tactic as well as an instinctive one. this means that the returner commits herself to approaching the net with her return, regardless of how effective her oppo­nent’s serve and her own return is—making it a slightly more risky tactic. this differs from the […]

Using the return and sneak tactic is another way of applying pressure on an opponent by not giving her enough time to recover from her serving posi­tion. In this situation the returner hits an aggressive return and then looks for the opportunity to ‘sneak’ in to the net. The sneak, like the drive volley, is […]

The return and drive volley is an exciting tactic that has recently been established in the women’s game. Instead of allowing this ball to bounce, and possibly losing her dominant position, the returner instinctively chooses to play this shot out of the air as a drive volley. An early, aggres­sively hit second serve return can […]

Often during a match the returner will want to maintain her dominance over the server without having a planned shot to hit after an aggressive return—usually when the opponent has defended deep down the middle of the court. Instead, she will try to prevent the server from regaining a neutral position by hitting a sequence […]

Waiting for the kill is extinct now. Now you have to take advantage of every ball you have. —Nick Bollettieri, tennis coach whose tennis academy has helped develop nine World Number 1 players Statistics prove that the female server will generally lose more than half of the second serve points she plays. table 2.1 illustrates […]

The return of serve is probably the most underpracticed shot in the game. Returning practice often becomes too static if the server keeps missing the serve! Also, it is difficult for the coach to serve to the player and watch her returning technique at virtually the same time. Coaches, therefore, need to work hard at […]