Singles Drills
The drills in this first section are ideal for two or three players to practice in a rotation. Remember that in match play you can take nearly 30 seconds between points. Rotations allow for players to practice going through between point rituals as well.
Please also keep in mind that even if the server misses hitting the Mini Champ part of the time, he or she will be practicing with more focus than usual, since practicing with specific visual targets have been proven to raise playing level during actual match play.
This first drill has dozens of variations in and of itself. While watching, consider that the Mini Champ can be moved to any number of positions in both service boxes, and also set at various angles in each position to simulate a player returning serve to various parts of the court. In other words, it can return to your forehand, your backhand, or straight up the middle.
In this example our players are rotating through, and are allowed one serve each. They score one point if their serve rebounds off the Mini Champ back over the net. Then they receive an additional point by volleying the return over the net and into the singles court. Then they can receive a third point if they also hit one of the two targets we have set up on the side T.
Another variation is to let the return from the Mini Champ bounce and then attack it by hitting a groundstroke. Of course, this same exercise can be focused on doubles by just playing the point in the doubles half court and taking away the second side T target.
The second theme of this section is the approach and attack sequence. In this first example the players are fed a short ball that they hit into the Mini Champ, like the last set of exercises. You can create a game by awarding one point for hitting the wall, another point for volleying the rebound, and then a third point for hitting the angle target with the volley.
You can also feed deeper and hit a deep attacking groundstroke. In this situation they get in the habit of moving forward in anticipation of a weak return. Get one point for hitting the wall, a second point for hitting the short groundstroke into the open court, and the third point for hitting a cross court winner, into the newly formed target circle.
If you don't have a feeder, you can also have players self bounce their for shot, A technique that forces them to improve their racquet acceleration; an important skill for the improving player in today's world of tennis.
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