Short, Crosscourt Return

Short, Crosscourt Return
In order to take away the advantage from a serve and volleyer, your doubles players will have to learn to return serve crosscourt and low. This takes the server’s partner out of the point, and takes away the ability of the server to hit down on the ball.

Players must practice like they play, or they’ll play like they practice, so it’s necessary to set up drills which include target areas and pressure, just as your players will in a match.

 

Teach your players how to return crosscourt and low with the following drill. Step #1 — Player A serves second serves to player B, who practices returning the ball short and crosscourt, in front of the service line. Player A begins by serving 10 balls down the middle, 10 balls down the center of the service box, then 10 balls wide, so Player B can get into a groove. Step #2 — Player A serves another 10-12 second serves, mixing up serves wide, down the middle and down the center. Step #3 — Player A begins to serve first serves. Player B must return the ball crosscourt, in front of the service line. Each time he does so successfully, he wins the point. Each time he misses, Player A wins the point. First Player to reach 21 points wins. Step #4 — Player A and Player B switch roles. Step #5 — Player A and Player B switch roles, and run the drill from the opposite court on which they started (ad or deuce). Step #6 — Player A and B switch roles, so that each player has practiced from both ad and deuce courts.  Scroll down for second drill (below).

 

Serve and Volley – 2
In order to successfully serve and volley, players must learn to serve down the middle, hit their first volley deep and crosscourt, and close the net, angling the second ball away for a winner.

Have your players practice this three-ball progression, with the server initially practicing second serves, and the receiver returning balls back to the server (cooperatively) in order to help the server practice her ability to execute this three-ball progression.

Coach may make this drill more competitive by having servers serve first serves, with returners trying to win the point (all returns must be crosscourt, however).

Teach your players how to return crosscourt and low with the following drill.

Step #1 — Player A serves second serves to player B, and comes in behind the serve. Player A should serve down the middle, forcing Player B to hit inside out, and taking away the severe, crosscourt angle.

Step #2 — Player B returns a playable ball to Player A to help the server practice the three-step progression.

Step #3 — Player A split-steps as Player B makes contact, in order to be able to cover a ball hit to the left, right or lobbed. Player A hits first volley deep and crosscourt.

Step #4 — Player B returns a playable ball to Player A to help the server practice the three-step progression.

Step #5 — Player A split-steps as Player B makes contact, in order to be able to cover a ball hit to the left, right or lobbed. Player A hits second volley short and angled off the court..

Step #6 — Player A and B switch roles, so that each player has practiced from both ad and deuce courts.

As servers begin to groove the three-step progression, coach may allow returners to begin going for winning returns and groundstrokes (crosscourt only).