Introduction to the Slice
An effective way to help beginners understand the slice is to have swing under the ball with an open racquet after each bounce and seeing how the spin affects the ball and influences the bounce of the ball....
Forehand and Ladder Combo
A forehand to the coach and off through the ladder! 3 girls u10 are playing with the coach (geeen ball). To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of ...
Footwork: Follow the Coach
This is a very popular drill for training racquet-head speed and footwork with competitive players. However, youngsters can also have fun with it too. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register h...
Starting the Point Underhand
One big hurdle kids need to overcome is learning to hit the ball in the square with an underhand motion to start a point. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or beco...
Building a Rally – Keeping the Ball in the Court
Two children hit balls to each other trying to keep the rally going withour mistakes. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain“, t...
Bambinis – Lateral Movement and Recovery – Swiss Ball
Two players start at the side line. The coach rolls a ball to the open court. One player runs, rolls the ball back and recovers to the sideline. The coach rolls the ball again and the process is repeated. The players alternate running ev...
Bambinis – Inside out Forehand Footwork Introduction
Two players start on the sideline on their forehand side. The coach rolls a swiss ball crosscourt to their backhand side. The player has to run, move around the ball, stop it on his/her forehand side and recover to the sideline. The coac...
Minis – Topspins Backhand Introduction with a Swiss Ball
Here is a good way to introduce topspin to young players. The coach will hold a Swiss ball in such a way to allow it to rotate. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial,...
Minis – Forehand Topspin Introduction with a Swiss Ball
The coach holds a swiss ball and instructs the player to try to spin it forwards. The player works on moving the racquet up behind the ball. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a...
Bambinis – Warm up on the Short Court
Players rally trying to keep the ball in the service boxes. The coach should make sure that even though the players are just warming up, they are working hard to get in position and are striving to hit the ball with solid technique. ...
Bambinis – Split Step Work and Underhand Tossing
In this exercises the coach sets some hoops so that the player practices taking a step forward and split stepping. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a me...
Bambinis – Rally with a Pass and a Control Shot
4 players on the court will rally passing the ball to their partners every time. The partners will hit the ball accross the net. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial,...
Bambinis – Rally with Pass
This exercise is designed to work on control and is a fun way to start or end practice. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain“...
Bambinis – Rallying with a Control Shot
A target on the ground helps the players maintain control. Without targets, players tend to hit the ball too hard. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a m...
Minis – Rotational Throws with Recovery and Jump
In this drill young players are introduced to the groundstrokes by practicing rotational throws. They also practice runing laterally and jumping – an introduction to the split step. To get access to the videos and premium m...
Bambinis _ TBall Rally with Small Ball
The smaller the ball the more difficult it is to control. For this exercises players try to rally in the tball with a small ball. Players should work on control and long follow throught. To get access to the videos and premium...
Bambinis – TBall Court no Guards
In this exercises the players rally in the tball court but try to avoid hitting the guards. They work on hitting the ball straight to their partners. Always look for full swings with a complete follow through. To get access t...
Minis – TBall Court – Counting
Players are instructed to rally under control on the tball court with a big balls. The players count how many shots they were able to hit in each rally. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register...
Minis – Players Rally in Tball Court (Big Ball)
The T ball court allows young players to rally with each other successfully since always it keeps the ball within reach. In this exercises players are instructed to rally with each other in control with abig ball. To get acces...
Bambinis – Starting the Rally Forehand
Players practice bouncing the ball and hitting it over the net with a forehand. Make sure the players are tossing the ball in front of their bodies in a good position to hit it. Players tend to toss the ball at their side resulting in a ...
Bambinis – Groundstrokes – Throwing, Bumping, Hitting and Catching (Hand)
Players pair up. One player has a racquet. The player without the racquet throws the ball overhanded to the partner. The partner stops the ball with the racquet and returns it after one bounce. The player throwing catches the ball. The s...
Bambinis – Groundstrokes – Throwing, Bumping, Hitting Catching
Players pair up. One player has a cone and one has a racquet. The player holding the cone throws the ball overhanded to the partner. The parner lets it bounce, bumps the ball up, letss it bounce and hits it over. To get access...
Bambinis – Bounce Hit and Catch
In this exercise one player practices starting a rally, and the partner practices catching and throwing. The player with the racquet bounces a ball and tries to hit is over the net the the partner. The partner (without a racquet) lets it...
Bambinis – Grounstroke Fundamentals – Rolling Backhands
Young players learn the fundamentals of the backhand stroke by stopping and rolling a big ball to their partners. Make sure the players are rolling on the side of the body and are gripping the racquet correctly. To get access...
Bambinis – Forehand – Toss, Hit and Catch with Cone
A nice exercise to practice the forehand is to have two children working together. One tosses a ball over the net to the partner. The partner hits the ball softly back so that the tosser can catch it with a cone after one bounce. The rol...
Bambinis – Forehand Fundamentals – Rolling with the Palm
Here is a great way to introduce children to the forehand. Young players roll a big Swiss Ball to each other pushing with the palm of the hand as if hitting a forehand. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login...
Bambinis – Backhand Fundamentals – Rolling with two Hands
Here is a great way to introduce children to the two handed backhand. Young players roll a big Swiss Ball to each other pushing with both hands mimicking a backhand. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login he...
Bambinis – Groundstroke Fundamentals – Slalom Rolling one Hand Small Ball
Players are introduced to the relationship between ball and racquet by having them roll a ball around a slalom course with their racquet. The smaller ball makes it more challenging and requires careful manipulation of the ball. Make sure...
Bambinis – Grounstroke Fundamentals – Rolling Forehands
Young players learn the fundamentals of the forehand stroke by stopping and rolling a big ball to their partners. Make sure the players are rolling on the side of the body and are gripping the racquet correctly. To get access...
Bambinis – Groundstroke Fundamentals – Slalom Rolling one Hand
Players are introduced to the relationship between ball and racquet by having them roll a ball around a slalom course holding their racquet with one hand. Make sure the players keep the ball on the side of their body and hold the racquet...
Bambinis – Groundstroke Fundamentals – Slalom Rolling Both Hands
Players are introduced to the relationship between ball and racquet by having them roll a ball around a slalom course with their racquet. Make sure the players keep the ball on the side of their body and hold the racquet correctly. ...
Bambinis – Groundstrokes – 3 Backhands to the Coach plus Ladder
he coach feeds three backhands. The player tries to hit the ball back so that the coach can catch it. After hitting 3 shots, the player runs through the agility ladder in a pattern of his/her choosing. To get access to the vi...
Bambinis – Groundstroke Fundamentals – Isolating the Upper Body
A common problem when learning to play tennis is coordinating the different body parts when swinging. The more body parts involved, the harder. In this exercise the coach isolates the upper body by having the player sit on a Swiss ball w...
Bambinis – Groundstroke Fundamentals – Rolling and Throwing
Here are two simple exercise to introduce young players to the groundstrokes. Both exercises use a big ball. For the first exercise, the children roll the ball to each other, stopping it and rolling it back mimicking a forehand or a back...
Bambinis – Forehand and Ladder
In this exercise the coach feeds three forehands to each player. The players try to hit the ball back to the coach so he/she can catch it. After the three shots the players will go through the ladder and try different footwork combinatio...
Bambinis Balance, Drop, Hit (Forehands)
This is a nice drill combining balance, racquet head awareness and groundstroke basics. The players walk towards the net balancing a ball on their strings. Once they get close to the net they let the ball drop and hit it over the net aft...
Minis Stopping and Rolling with the Racquet (Forehand)
The simplest form of a forehand is rolling the ball with the racquet. In this exercise the players stop the ball with the racquet and then roll it to their partners using a forehand. To get access to the videos and premium me...
Minis Rolling with one Hand (Forehand)
Here is an exercise to start creating some familiarity with the forehand stroke. The chidren form a circle and roll two balls around the circle with the palm of their hand, simulating a forehand stroke. To get access to the vi...
Minis Rolling in Circle (Forehand)
Players form a circle and roll the ball to each other with the racquet. Player hold the racquet with one hand and mimic a forehand when rolling the ball. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, registe...
Minis Rolling with Both Hand (Backhand)
Here an exercise to start creating some familiarity with the backhand stroke with very young players. The chidren form a circle and roll two balls around the circle with both hands together, simulating a baclhand stroke. To ge...
Minis Throwing Catching and Rolling to Each Other
Understanding the characteristics of the incoming ball is essential in tennis. Therefore very young players need to experiment with all types of catching and throwing. In this exercise one platey throws a ball overhand, the other player ...
Minis Throwing Underhand to Each Other – Catching with a Cone
n order to continue developing a basic understanding of the flight characteristics of the ball, it is very important that really young players practice throwing and catching as often as possible. In this exercise a cone is used to catch....
Hitting on the Run- Diagonal Running Path
The coach feeds and the players run diagonally forward following the path. Their job is to hit the ball back to the coach’s hand. Therefore, they have to run fast but hit softly over the net. It is a big step towards improving stroke c...
Rallying with the Coach Crosscourt to Down the Line
The coach stands in one corner and moves the player side to side. The player hits back to the coach and changes direction on the last ball. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a f...
In the Air Hand Mini Tennis
Players play mini tennis on one service box, throwing underhanded. The ball is not allowed to bounce. Good for red, orange and green ball players with some adjustments. Training goal: This drill is designed to work on coordination. ...
Introducing the Slice Backhand with the Use of a Swiss Ball Step 1
A large ball is a great tool to teach players about spin. Holding the ball in front of them and having them work on rotating the ball backwards by brushing it, is an excellent way to help them understand what slice is all about. ...
Introducing the Slice Forehand with the Use of a Swiss Ball Step 1
A large ball is a great tool to teach players about spin. Holding the ball in front of them and having them work on rotating the ball backwards by brushing it, is an excellent way to help them understand what slice is all about. ...
Introducing the Topspin Forehand with a Swiss Ball
Using a large ball is an easy and effective way of introducing the topspin forehand to young children. Here is a nice progression: The first step is having the children roll a ball starting at the bottom of the ball and brushing up. This...
Introducing the Topspin Backhand with the Use of a Swiss Ball
Here is a nice progression to introduce the topspin backhand to young children through the use of a large ball. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a membe...
Tossing: Starting the Point
TOSS, AIM, HIT Before starting to familiarize kids with the concept of tennis, you first have to teach them how to put the ball in play. If the goal is to empower the children to rally as soon as possible, as suggested in the ITF’s Pla...
Tossing and Aiming: High and Low
First, the coach should help the kids by guiding their racquet. The children should toss the ball high in front of them. The racquet should be pointing up. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, regis...
Learning the Rotational Throw
This is the Minis' first contact with the rotational throw. They have to learn that they should throw the large ball from the side and not from the front. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, regist...
Swing Timing: From Rolling to Hitting
Hitting a rolling ball. One small methodological building block is addressed in this video. Here, we bridge the gap between returning a rolling ball and hitting back a bouncing ball. To get access to the videos and premium me...
Obstacle Course: The Magic of Hitting a Target
TARGET COURSE Setting up various pieces of equipment and using materials in a varied way often injects new energy into training. The following series, which revolves around a hockey goal, is intended to underline this. In general, incorp...
Counting: 1,2,3; I won!
Nothing is worse than the scoring system descending into chaos at a child's first mini-tennis tournament, with the kids experiencing more frustration than fun. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, r...
Introduction: Backhand on the Run
e introduce our Minis to the backhand on the run. The kids should start from a position outside the singles court from which they can execute a shot on the run. After the shot, the players should run back to their team mate and give him ...
Differentation: Rallies with Different Type of Balls
Here, the children play in the mini-court with the coach – which is of course easier than playing with each other. If the children are able to perform the drill correctly, more advanced balls can be introduced (stage 1, green ball). ...
Minis: Backhand Down the Line at Target
Direction Control on a Short Court It is never too early to start working on opening the court with an angle and finishing the point with a down the line shot. In this drill the coach plays with the student. To get access to ...
The Control Stroke
As tennis requires a great deal of coordination, it can take months or even years before this type of play is possible with children. With the help of "Play and Stay" this time can certainly be shortened by using the right methods. ...
Learning with Rotational Throws
First, our player will learn how far she is able to throw the ball over the net. It should be thrown with a low to high motion. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, o...
Alternating a Lefty Forehand and a Two Handed Backhand
The coach will feed easy balls in the service boxes and the player will alternate hitting a lefty forehand and a two-handed backhand. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free tr...
One Topspin Backhand, One Slice Backhand and One Backhand Volley
The coach will feed three balls to the player in the service boxes. The player will hit a topspin backhand, a slice backhand and a backhand volley. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here...
Alternating groundstrokes and volleys
The coach will feed a short ball and a deep ball in the service boxes. The player hits the first ball after the bonce, comes to the net and volleys. The coach feeds a deeper ball and the player moves back to hit it after the bounce. ...
Backhands on One Foot
The coach and the player try to maintain a backhand rally in the service boxes with the player hopping on one foot. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a m...
Methodological steps with absolute beginners
If you have to coach beginners in their very first tennis lesson, coaches should follow this basic principle: “First play, then explain”. It makes absolutely no sense to explain how a forehand is executed without even knowing what ba...
Introducing the Slice Backhand: Understanding the Racquet Path
The coach explains the racquet path with the continental grip. He rotates the ball in the direction of the player. The racquet head starts on the upper part of the ball.. ….and moves downward, finishing up. To get access to ...
Keeping the Body Sideways on the Slice Backhand
The use of the left hand in the backhand slice. Left hand is on the throat of the racquet. Racquet moves forwards. Left hand moves backwards in a counter movement. This allows the shoulders to stay sideways. To get access to t...
Slice Backhand: Playing Back to the Coach
Backhand Slice with Continental Grip It is easier to introduce the slice close to the player. The coach tosses the ball. The player taps the ball back to the coach trying to stay sideways. The players has to use a very simple motion. ...
Beginner: Footwork of the Backhand Slice
Learning the Cross Over Step Associated with the Backhand Slice. The body and legs are sideways. The left leg moves forwards behind the right leg. The right leg remains still. As the back leg touches the ground, the arm moves forwards. ...
Rallying – Moving the Partner
Two players rally with each other. One player has to move the opponent around the court. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain...