Net play and serve direction
Ready when: Rally consistency and direction (i1) started.
What you are learning
Playing at the net: the volley (a short punch before the ball bounces, one hand on the forehand and two on the backhand), the smash (turn side-on and hit a high ball from above the head), and serving to a chosen corner, with a slower, safer second serve.
Words on this card Grip, Forehand, Backswing, Rally, Serve, Fault, Volley, Smash, Deep, Defend
- Grip
- How you hold the racket, and the part you hold.
- Forehand
- Hitting on your racket-hand side; on the other side; with both hands on the racket.
- Backswing
- Taking the racket back before the hit, in a loop like the letter C, then swinging up through the ball.
- Rally
- Hitting the ball back and forth.
- Serve
- The shot that starts a point; a serve hit after a bounce; from below the waist; from above the head after a toss.
- Fault
- A serve that misses the box; the second try.
- Volley
- Hitting the ball before it bounces, usually near the net.
- Smash
- A hard hit from above the head; a high ball over the other player.
- Deep
- A ball that lands near the baseline, or one that lands near the net.
- Defend
- A safe, high ball when under pressure; a steady deep ball; going for a winner on a short ball.
Show it first for the one teaching
- Stand a few steps from the net, racket up. Punch the ball back with a short swing and a firm grip, weight forward.
- For a lob, turn side-on, point at the ball with the free hand, then hit it from above the head.
- Call a corner of the box, then serve to it.
Your part while they practise
Feed lobs and volleys.
Step by step
- Volleys: firm grip, short swing, weight forward, one hand on the forehand and two on the backhand, not too close to the net.
- Smash: turn sideways, catch the lob with the free hand first, then hit it.
- Serve: call the corner, then serve to it.
- Slow down the second serve.
How much: 10 balls of each 15 min a session 2 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Build and finish
Rally from the back, come in on a short ball and win the point with a volley.
Who plays: 2 players, or 2 against 2; you feed the first ball.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Start each point with a feed from the back
- Rally until a short ball comes
- Move in and try to win the point at the net
- First to 7 points
- Fair play
- A grown-up may only win points at the back.
- Points
- 1 point for each point won; 2 points for a point won with a volley or smash.
- Fouls
- The point goes to the other player
- Touching the net
- Volleying before the ball crosses the net
- A big swing on the volley that sends it out
- Winning
- The first to 7 points.
- 3 points for 1 star
- 5 points for 2 stars
- 7 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
A soft feed.
A mixed feed.
What you will see, and what to say
- the volley swings
Block it, short punch
No backswing. - the smash is late
Turn sideways early
Point, then hit.
Self-check
5 of 10 volleys over the net into the court and 6 of 10 first serves in.
Stop and get a coach when
Pain in the shoulder.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains volleys, overheads, serve.
awiseathlete.com/sports/tennis/tennis-i2