Trifecta

Most of our drills aim specifically at improving match-play or technical skills. With this drill, we are featuring a fun game which includes competition, match play and teamwork.

The drill pits two players against the rest of the team, who are trying to win three points in a row off them. Any team which wins three points in a row takes the defending pair’s place, and the rest of team tries to dethrone the new pair.

Step #1 — Two players line up on the baseline, with the coach behind and between them, back at the fence, feeding balls to the opposite side.

Step #2 — Two players line up on the baseline on the opposite side of court, with all other players behind them at the fence, ready to come in as teams of two.

Step #3 — Coach feeds in a short ball, and the two opposing players attack and play out the point.

Step #4 — If opposing team loses the point, they go to the end of the line and the next two players take their turn.

Step #5 — If the opposing team wins the first point, coach immediately feeds them a volley, and the four players play out the point.

Step #6 — If the opposing team wins the second point, the coach immediately feeds them a lob, and players play out the point.

Step #7 — If the opposing team wins the third point, they take the place of the defending team, while the coach counts out three seconds for them to make it around the court and get in position before he feeds the next ball.

Step #8 — Players keep track of how many points they win while in the defending position (on the side with the coach). When the practice ends, the two players with the most points are the winners and do not have to pick up balls.

Step #9 — This drill can be played with an odd number of players. Players on the opposing side will then have a different partner each time. Players still keep track of individual points won.

Step #10 — If you have more than 10 players participating in this game, you can run two courts simultaneously, with the coach standing and feeding from between the two courts.

NOTE: MANY points will end with the approach shot, as players try to win the point outright with power. Balls go long, in the net, wide, or straight down the center of the court to the baseline players’ power zones, allowing them to tee off on the approach shot.

Tell players that if they miss their approach shots, they will have to do five push-ups before they get back in line. You will immediately see ball speeds come down, and most approach shots land in!

You may also tell players that if their approach shots don’t land deep (past the service line or 3/4-court) they automatically lose the point.