In this section, you will discover tennis drills for coaching three players.
Practice strokes technique, footwork, accuracy, and consistency.
You’ll also find drills for players to improve their singles and doubles skills specific to their needs and level of play.
Broken Wall
There are three players on the court: player A is at the baseline, deuce side; players B and C are on the other side of the net: B at the baseline, C at the net (see graphic below).
Drill:
Player A will begin the rally by feeding a ball (or serving) to B who will return cross-court. The two players (A and B) will rally (baseline vs. baseline) until each hits three balls over the net (6 shots total).
The rally then continues with A rallying against C who will volley down the line (baseline vs. net) – six balls over the net (three each).
The pattern continues with A versus B, and then again with A versus C.
After every 5 minutes, players switch places clockwise so that every player gets to practice from the single position rallying alternating deep then short.
Notes:
– this is a good drill for the single player who gets a challenging workout and groundstrokes practice;
– play can continue with single-player on the ad side;
– to keep the rally going, a coach can feed the ball as soon as a mistake is made (ball into the net or out).
Approach and Play
There are two players (B and C) on one side, covering the doubles court, from the baseline; on the other side, beginning at baseline, the single player (A) covers only the singles court.
The coach is just outside the doubles alley, the same side as the doubles team.
Drill:
The coach feeds a short ball; the single player moves up towards the net, hits an approach shot, and plays the point out at the net against the two players.
After each point, the single player moves back to the baseline and the cycle repeats with the coach feeding another short ball for him.
The first side to win 5 points, then players rotate one spot clockwise.
Note:
The coach should alternate feeding the short balls so that the single player approaches hitting one forehand and then one backhand.
Serve and Volley – 2 on 1
This drill begins in the following formation: player A at the baseline ready to serve (from the deuce side), player B is at the net (ad side) – these two are a team covering the full court (alleys included); player C is ready to return serve, opposite side from the previous players, at the deuce baseline – covers only half of the court (including the alley).
Drill:
For each point, player A will serve and move up to the net. They play it out as C returns and rallies against the opposing two players at the net.
First side to win 5 points then everyone moves one spot clockwise so that each player practices the respective court positioning and play.
Note:
– After a complete rotation has been made, they can continue with the serving player from the ad side, net player in the deuce service box and receiver on the ad side.
– This drill is recommended for intermediate and advanced players who are comfortable moving up to the net and sustaining a solid rally.
Access many more tennis coaching drills for three players inside the Tennis Drills and Lesson Plans for Coaches program!