The groundstrokes are the heart of the game. They are the foundation of tennis.
In this section you will find a great variety of exercises to help you improve your baseline game. Most of the drills can be modified into forehand or backhand drills.
You can search for terms like "forehand" or "backhand" to get drills specific to each stroke or select a fiter below.
Changing Hands
The coach tosses a tennis ball to the student. The player has an extra ball in his hand, which he does not throw back but has to change from hand to hand in order to catch the coach's ball with one hand after one bounce. To ge...
The Two-Shot Passing Shot
This basket drill focuses on a two-shot passing shot. Player 1 plays a forehand to the feet of the coach. The ball should bounce just before the coach. This is followed by a backhand with a diagonal track. To get access to the...
Control Stroke Game
Two players play points in the small field (without double field). Each player must first bump the ball in a controlled manner before it is played across the net into the opposing field. What is needed is good footwork, a feeling for the...
Rotational Throws for Points
In this game, the players have to move well and muster power from the upper body and legs. This exercise is ideal for warming up before exercise. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here f...
Drop shot Game with Recovery
Two players face each other in the service boxes. The players have to play a drop shot just over the net. After each drop shot, they sprint and touch the middle line with their foot and sprint back to the ball. To get access t...
Drop Shot Battle
Two players face each other in the min tennis court. The players have the task to play a ball just over the net as a drop shot. After each drop shot, they sprint back to the service line, touch it with their foot and sprint back to the b...
Attached Team Mini Tennis
This is a fun drill to warm up and work on communication and coordination. The players on the team are holding a towel that maintains them attached. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register her...
Mini Tennis – Slice Game with one Racquet per Team
Two doubles teams play each other in the service boxes. Only slices are allowed and each team only has one racquet. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a...
Forehand on the Run after Forehand Feed
Our u16 club players are in the following starting position: a female player on the very outskirts of her forehand side (at the level of the alley), with the goal of playing the ball cross. To get access to the videos and p...
Two Against One with an Overhand Feed
In this game there are 3 girls u16 in club training on the court. The single player makes starts the point overhad. and an play anywhere on the court. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register ...
High Bouncing Balls – A Tough Decision
Many times it is difficult for players to decide if they should hit an overhead or a forehand on high bouncing balls in the middle of the court. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here fo...
Footwork with Medicine Ball
This is a great drill to work on footwork and can be used as a warm up, as a way to strengthen or as a tool to improve the anaerobic capacity of a player. A bouncing medicine ball is ideall for many drills requiring catching and throwing...
Shadow Forehands with Recovery
The player moves sideways along a line of cones. He shadows a stroke every two cones and recovers one cone. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of...
Hand Feeding Forehand and Backhand
The coach alternates tossing to the forehand side and to the backhand side. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain“, the great t...
Hand Feeding Wide Groundstrokes
The coach tosses balls to the player who hits groundstrokes over the net. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain“, the great tra...
Inside Out Forehand Tossing Drill
The coach and the player face each other on the middle of the baseline. The coach hand feeds to the backhand side and the player runds around to hit a forehand. Pay attention to the movement cycle. To get access to the videos ...
Split-Step over Hurdle plus Shadow Approach Shot
The player jumps over a hurdle on command and runs to a cone at the intersection of the sideline and the service line to execute a shadow swing. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here fo...
Tossing Drill – The Inside out Forehand
The coach and the player face each other on the middle of the baseline. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain“, the great train...
Footwork on the Baseline to the forehand side with Resistance
For this drill the player start on the middle of the baseline and runs to the singles sideline as if going to hit a shot. He then recovers back to the middle. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here,...
Shadow Swings with Resistance
A resistance elestic band is an excellent way to overload the muscles while the player performs his/her normal strokes and footwork. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free tri...
Footwork with Resistance in different directions
Footwork training is essential in tennis and using elastic resistance is an effective way to improve speed, agility and strength. Here we see an elastic belt in action. To get access to the videos and premium media, just log...
Tossing Drill to Work on Diagonal Sprinting
The drill focusses on short diagonal sprints forwards and backwards with quick changes of direction. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „T...
Basket Drill with Focus on Footwork Technique
Since the timing of the split step depends on the contact point of the opponent, practicing the movement cycle is usually more effective in a live ball format. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, r...
Sprint to the Corner with High Five
The players will shadow the run without a ball to understand what they have to do. The high five is used to force a recovery. Once the player understands how to move, the coach will feed wide balls and the player will return them. ...
Movement Drill – Same Distance to the Bounce
A nice exercise to work on your adjustment skills is to rally and try to hit the ball at the same distance to the bounce. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or bec...
Sprinting Across the Court to Hit a Stretched Backhand
The coach plays a low ball diagonally in the direction of the opposite alley. The player sprints behind the ball, stretches to reach it and tries to return it with a backhand. The goal is to keep the ball in play at any cost. ...
Sprinting Across the Court to Hit a Stretched Forehand
The coach plays a low ball diagonally in the direction of the opposite alley. The player sprints behind the ball, stretches to reach it and tries to return it with a forehand. The goal is to keep the ball in play at any cost. ...
Aggressive Backhand: Following the Coach to the Net
A player starts on the baseline. The coach stands in front of him with four balls in the hand. The coach tosses the balls up with high frequency while moving backwards toward the net. To get access to the videos and premium m...
Aggressive Forehand: Following the Coach to the Net
The coach tosses the balls up with high frequency while moving backwards toward the net. The player should follow the coach, let the ball bounce and execute aggressive topspin forehands. To get access to the videos and premium...
Coordination – Sliding
The players can first develop a feel for sliding, stopping, pushing off and doing the cross-over step, before they later implement this on court. The coach has an excellent opportunity to focus on correcting movements. To get...
Wide Forehand and Backhands Tossing Drill
The coach hand feeds 6 balls alternating wide forhands and backhands. Make sure the player executes the movement cycle correctly. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free tria...
Magic Triangle with Jump
The player jumps over a hurdle as if splitstepping and runs to the side to shadow a forehand. Then he runs to the opposite side and shadows a backhand. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register ...
Hitting Groundstrokes with Resistance
In this drill the player has a resistance band attached to her waistand and stands on the middle of the court at the baseline. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or...
Place and Pick up
Players play mini tennis in the service boxes. They have to hit the ball with slice and are not allowed to hit the ball hard. In addition, each player starts with a ball in the non-dominant hand. After each hit each player will either pl...
Cross Game
The game is played in the two cross-court service boxes. Here is how to play: One player serves underhand from the service line. The other player is positioned at the service line. The server approaches the net immediately, and from this...
Crosscourt Slice Backhand
Players play a game crosscourt in the service boxes. Players can only use backhand slice. This drill can be used as a warm up or to develop the technique and feel for the backhand slice. Scoring Play to 8 serving underhand (7-7 the next...
Crosscourt Topspin Backhand
Players play a game crosscourt in the service boxes. Players can only use topspin backhands, and they can hit the ball as hard as they want to as long as it lands in the service box. This drill can be used as a warm up or to develop the...
Crosscourt Topspin Forehand
Players play a game crosscourt in the service boxes. Players can only use topspin forehands, and they can hit the ball as hard as they want to as long as the ball lands in the service box. To get access to the videos and premi...
Drop Shot Game
Players play a game hitting drop shots in the alley. The players have to try to hit the ball over the net as close as possible to the net, always landing in the alley. The players have to run and touch the middle service line after each ...
Warming up: Alternating Volleys and Groundstrokes (Short Court)
Changing direction is a key issue for tennis players. This exercise focuses on moving forwards and backwards to hit. Here, both players have specific tasks to complete in the forecourt. One moves forward, alternating between a volley and...
Warm up strokes: Crosscourt and Down the line using the Alley
First of all, players start hitting from the baseline. The four players pair up and hit down the line, keeping the ball alive (comfortable tempo with plenty of net clearance). Players should pay attention to their footwork and aim to hit...
Warm up strokes: Offensive and Defensive Groundstrokes
Changing from offensive to defensive strokes, in other words, consciously altering the spin and tempo and executing a change of pace, is a key ability that good players must possess. Warm up strokes in one half of the court are ideal for...
Warming up at the Net
Here, the focus is on warming up strokes with one player hitting groundstrokes and one hitting volleys. However, there is a small, yet vital change. The baseline player should stand slightly within the baseline. In general, a volleyer te...
Warming up: 2 Hits and Change
Four players on the court, two at the net, two on the baseline. The coach feeds the first shot. All four players play with one ball. After two ball contacts, the players have to switch position. The active player always moves to the fron...
Volley in Motion – Rhythmic approach – Groundstroke and volley
Four players on court One player at the centre of the baseline One player in the middle of the forecourt Two players in a waiting position at the back of the court The coach feeds the first shot. To get access to the videos an...
Warming up: Z Drill
Players play from the baseline trying to keep the ball in play. One player hits only down the line and the other player only crosscourt. Players should change roles after a few minutes. The objective of the drill is to practice technique...
Half Court Points: Attacking Down the Line
Players play on half the singles court. The rally starts with a feed from the coach to one of the players anywhere the coach chooses. The player hits the first shot back to the coach. The coach volleys back to the side where the point wi...
Half Court Points with a Crosscourt Approach Shot
Players play on half the singles court down the line. The rally starts with a feed from the coach to one of the players into the playing area. The player hits the first shot crosscourt back to the coach. The coach volleys down the line. ...
Half Court Points from Offense to Defense
Players play on half the singles court down the line. The rally starts with a deep feed from the coach to one of the players into the playing area. The player hits the first shot crosscourt back to the coach. The coach volleys short into...
Wide Forehand and Backhands Tossing Drill
The coach hand feeds 6 balls alternating wide forhands and backhands. Make sure the player executes the movement cycle correctly. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free tria...
Crosscourt – Down the Line Plus 3
wo players play a 30 ball crosscourt down the line. The coach feeds a ball in immediately after a mistake. As soon as they finish the rally, they play 3 points cross court. To get access to the videos and premium media, just ...
Slice Approach Shot
Each player hits three shots: A backhand cross court, a forehand down the line and a slice approach backhand down the line. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or ...
Blind Game
Two player on the baseline and one at the net line up. The player without partner hits one groundstroke left of the net player, one at the net player and one right of the net player. To get access to the videos and premium m...
Backhand Slice on the Run
Points to 11 without serve The point starts with a running slice backhand. The slice player starts in the forehand corner. After the slice, the point is played out on the whole singles court. To get access to the videos and pr...
Hitting Groundstrokes with Resistance
In this drill the player has a resistance band attached to her waistand and stands on the middle of the court at the baseline. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or...
Learn how to Lob Against an Overhead
We believe - no, we know - that one of the main reasons girls have a difficult time learning to hit overheads is due to the fact that their training partners are usually not able to control the feeding. To get access to the vi...
Points Starting with a Defensive Backhand
The player sprints from the middle of the baseline to the intersection of the service line and the sideline and touches the ground with the racquet. His opponent sprints laterally, parallel to the baseline, and touches the doubles sideli...
Complex Training – Agility Ladder on Court
If a player wants to run around a shot and hit an optimal forehand, then precise and well coordinated footwork is a must. As a right-hander, the player runs around the shot from right to left between the rungs on the ladder. T...
Complex Training: Backhand and Rotational Throw
The players should stand about three to four meters apart. To start with, they should adopt the open stance. The player should then hold the medicine ball with both hands and bring it so far back behind the body that it is behind the lin...
Complex-Training: Forehand with a Rotational Throw
Rotational throw with the medicine ball The players should stand about three to four meters apart. To start with, they should adopt the open stance. The player should then hold the medicine ball with both hands and bring it so far back b...
Playing Points – Topspin Backhand on the Run
The first shot is the running topspin backhand. The player hitting the backhand starts in the forehand corner. The opponent feeds the ball to the backhand side. The point is played out after the running backhand. To get access...
Crosscourt Backhand with Option to Change to Down the Line
The player starts the point with a cross court underhand feed. Players alternate starting the point. As long as the players are hitting cross court, they are only allowed to use their backhand. Any other shot (Forehand, drop shot, volley...
Crosscourt Forehand with the Option to go Down the Line
The rally starts with a crosscourt underhand feed. As long as both players are hitting crosscourt, they can only use their forehand. Any other stroke (Backhand, drop shot, volley, forehand down the line) starts the point, even if the pla...
Open Rally from the Baseline
Feed an easy shot to the opponent, aiming at the center of the court. The players should alternate feeding, since the player feeding has the advantage of being the first one allowed to attack. The opponent hits the ball back to the feede...
Tactics: Running around the Backhand
The feed is underhand and to the opponent’s backhand. The feed should be slow enough to allow the opponent to run around the backhand. The players should alternate feeding. The opponent has to play a forehand to start the point. He can...
Down the Line Backhand Drop Shot
Description The coach sets up the mini net in the forecourt, parallel to the net. The players then have to play the following combination of shots: Backhand cross-court (to the coach) Forehand down the line (to the coach) Backhand drop s...
The Angle Backhand Drop Shot
The coach sets up the mini net in the forecourt, at an angle to the net – forming a corridor for an angled shot. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a me...
Disguised Forehand Drop Shot
The coach sets up the mini net in the forecourt, parallel to the net. The player practices the disguised (feinted) forehand drop shot To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free tr...
Higher, Deeper, Farther: Training with the Mini Net
The coach places two mini nets in the forecourt, parallel to the net (just in front of the service line). One player practices the deep, neutral ball (forehand and backhand) over the mini nets . The other player keeps the rally going. ...
Good Angle: Crosscourt with the Mini Net
The coach places two mini nets in the forecourt, diagonally from the left and right side lines to the middle of the net, creating the ideal corridor for short, cross-court shots. Each player should practice the forehand and backhand shor...
Direction Control in the Alley – Alternating Groundstrokes
Alternating Forehands and Backhands (From the baseline in the alley) After some practice close to the net, things become serious. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial,...
Groundstrokes in the Alley – Baseline
Ground strokes in the alley (baseline)– Improving the contact area Same drill but from the baseline. The players try to keep the ball in the alley. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register h...
Alternating Forehands and Backhands (Mini Tennis in the Alley)
The goal is now to alternate forehands and backhands and keep the ball in the alley. Players may have to run around a stroke in order to achieve this. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register ...
Groundstrokes in the Short Court Alley
Ground strokes in the alley (mini tennis) Improving the contact area Players try to keep their shots in the alley. The player is trying to hit the forehand precisely down the line. The player in the back plays down the line backhands. ...
Controlling Speed and Length
Very often we find that inexperienced players are not able to control the speed or length of the ball, even when we know they are technically capable of doing so. This is a great drill to practice hitting the ball softly and with differe...
Place and Pick up from the Baseline
Players rally from the baseline. They have to hit the ball to each other slowly, with control. In addition, each player starts with a ball in the non-dominant hand. After each hit the player will either place the ball on the ground or pi...
Baseline Rally – Crosscourt to Down the Line
Players play from the baseline trying to keep the ball in play. The rally starts crosscourt and continues crosscourt until one of the players hits the ball down the line. The opponent will play the down the line shot crosscourt to start ...
Slice One Crosscourt, One Down the Line
Players play in the service boxes. Only slice is allowed. One player will hit the ball only down the line and the other player only crosscourt. Players should change roles after a few minutes. The objective of the drill is to practice th...
Stroke Training: Backhand Down the Line Winner
The players hit three shots: Backhand to the coach (cross-court), Forehand to the coach (down the line), Backhand down the line winner. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free ...
Stroke Training: Forehand Inside In
Each player hits three consecutive shots. First, a cross-court backhand to the coach then a forehand down the line to the coach finally a forehand winner from the backhand corner. This forehand should be played “inside in” away from ...
Stroke Training: Forehand Inside Out
Each player hits three consecutive shots. First, a down the line backhand to the coach then a forehand cross-court to the coach finally a forehand winner from the backhand corner. This forehand should be played “inside out” away from...
Points: Crosscourt Forehand
Play to 11 feeding underhand. Players play points crosscourt on half the singles court. Only forehands are allowed. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a m...
Points: Alternating Forehands and Backhands
Two singles players play points alternating one forehand and one backhand. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain“, the great tr...
Points: Master of Slice
Slice (half the court vs. topspin (whole court). You start the point with a feed to the backhand-side of the court after that the point is played out slice vs. topspin. You are not allowed to hit drop shots or to come to the net. ...
Points: Backhand Crosscourt Rally
Players rally cross court on half the singles court and play the point out. To get access to the videos and premium media, just login here, register here for a free trial, or become a member of „Tennis2Brain“, the great t...
Using Body Rotation on the Forehand
The coach tosses a ball and the first player hits a forehand (cross-court) and then moves immediately to the back of the queue via the middle of the court. The players should jump and rotate during the stroke. Players often make mistakes...
Tossing to Practice Half Volleys from the Baseline
Two players stand at the baseline, one behind the other one. The coach stands in front of them about two feet from them. Each player hits several half volleys back to the coach Goal of training Practicing the technique and footwork of th...
Using Body Rotation on the Backhand
Three players stand in line on the baseline. The coach tosses a ball and the first player hits an offensive backhand stroke (cross-court) and moves immediately to the back of the queue via the middle of the court. The players should atta...