Tennis Drills are skills innovated to sharpen, improve the abilities of players of the game of Tennis. These drills can be practised by any player that simply wants to better at playing the sport. Tennis Drills are one of the basics that any player in the competition should pay keen attention to, especially the beginners.
The essence of Tennis drills is to ender the game to the player such that it is fun and challenging at the same time. Tennis drills make the game look quite natural and challenging at the same time. The right skills and techniques are developed from learning these drills. Practising these tennis drills improves the player’s confidence and consistency.
There is no comprehensive list or an outline for these drills, as it depends on the trainer to choose the ones that he or she deems fit for the beginner. These Tennis drills were created to imprint some necessary skills into the players; the skills include; coordination, court sense, footwork and the likes of it.
The exercises have been made in such a way that they aren’t too energetic or annoying. Instead, they are quite enjoyable and engaging. These drills help to teach how to hit the Ball and to make sure it goes over the net.
Coordination, strength and precision of the hits and several other skills are what the drills entail. Tennis drills for beginners are very important. They can be categorized into three. The aiming drills, the level drills and the consistency drills.
Like it was mentioned earlier, there is no laid out arrangement of these drills. Therefore, it is to be arranged whichever way the trainer deems fit. And this arrangement can be determined by the strength and weakness of the trainees. You should also bear in mind that this review is solely for beginners and so the skills to be discussed are those meant for starters.
Running Lines
Running lines is a drill that involves running the ropes. This Tennis drill for beginners is essential as it serves as a warm-up to the game. It preps the player, and at the same time, he gets to know the names of the lines.
The trainer or coach in charge can decide to switch between double and single tracks. Running lines is a process that is known as the complete drill. Running lines is excellent for beginners as it fun and engaging at the same time.
With this drill, players wouldn’t get tired easily even with adrenaline flowing as they do it. The process is simple. It starts with jogging towards the net, backpedaling to the baseline and then you sidestep to your left close to the sideline and jogging back towards the net. After that, you backpedal to the baseline, sidestep to your right, jog back to the loss. You then backpedal to the court baseline.
Hitting and Catching
This Tennis drill is perfect for beginners and even kids. This drill aims to develop the confidence and accuracy of the players. It goes like this; the player is to hold a cone in one hand, and then stand in the center of the service line in anticipation of a forehand.
While the trainer stands on the center of the service line, with a cone in one hand and a few balls in his pocket. Then the trainer tosses the ball to the player’s forehand, and the player is to respond by hitting the ball back to the trainer who then catches it with the cone. It can be found off the bounce or in the air.
The trainer and player can switch places, so the player can learn both are hitting and catching the ball. The presence of the cone is just to make the drill entertaining. Passing the ball with the funnel is a bit difficult than picking with your hands.
Just like the name of the drill; it is practicing to hit the ball and catch the ball. At this end of this drill, a beginner should be able to run and pass on an average level.
The Frying Pan
The name of this drill suggests cooking or food in general. But this is no way related to that. This drill has to do with the player bouncing the ball on the racket surface. It is a bit similar to dribbling. Dribbling is a drill to be discussed later.
The frying pan drill involves tossing the ball upwards. The player is to position the racket in such a way that when the ball is falling, it island on the surface of the noise and then the ball bounces upwards again.
To practice this drill, the beginner is to move towards the line that has been marked by the trainer. The player is to turn back and return to the original position as soon as he or she gets to the marking line.
All the processes mentioned above is to be continued on the condition that the player doesn’t stop the bouncing process during the turnaround. If the players are more than two, the trainer should divide them into teams and have a series of competitions to monitor the strength and weakness of each player.
Forehands and Backhands
The concept of forehands and backhand is to train beginners on how to take and give shots. To learn the forehand drill, the player is to hold the racket in a semi-western grip and stand correctly, such that the feet aren’t together and the knees can be bent.
The player is also to stand very close to the net. The trainer then is to throw the balls one after the other towards the playing hand of the player. The player is to respond by making a forehand shot; that is hitting the ball. Note, that for this to be a proper forehand shot, the player should ensure the ball doesn’t bounce.
The Backhand drill is similar to that of the Forehand drill, but they are also quite different. This drill involves the trainer throwing the balls towards the opposite side of the court while the beginner is to use a racket to hold the ball or use both hands to catch the ball.
The Service Lesson
This is also one of the essential drills that every beginner should learn. This drill involves making a circle on one side of the net while the player is to hit the ring from the other side. The beginner is to practice hitting the circle without using the racket initially. This is to improve the accuracy and precision of their shots.
After learning to run without the noise, you can start hitting the circle with the racket. Learning to hit the targeted ring, the players can now begin to the practicing tossing of the ball in the right direction. A beginner that knows this serving lesson well will have a clear focus.
The Bouncing Ball or Dribbling
This is also a necessary skill that every beginner must have as it deals with learn how to control your shots and the ball. The process of this drill involves having a set of players lining up behind the baseline. Then they are to bounce the ball with their rackets and march towards the marking point set by the trainer.
The players are to drop the ball, such that when it jumps up, they are to hit it with their rackets. They then march back to the marking line and continue the process. If as a coach, you have several beginners, you can divide them into groups and have competition.
This makes the game engaging and entertaining. The type of tennis racquet the beginners you are training are using would determine how easy it would be for them to choke up on the handle to make the drills less harsh on their forearms and wrists.
Tossing of the Ball
This is a drill that doesn’t need a lot of practice but to be great at the game; you can learn the skill of tossing the ball. The training goes thus; the student stands at the center of the court’s service line.
Then the trainer is to standoff on the side of the court and toss the ball short to the student. Then the player would have to race towards the ball and take a shot, return to the initial to the line before the ball is tossed back. How well the player maintains his stance and at the same time hits the ball when it is thrown determines just how good he is at tossing and catching.
Side-Side Forehands and Backhands
This drill is excellent for beginners that have a bit of confidence in basic forehand and backhand. This is because the trainer is not to directly toss the ball to the player’s backhand or forehand. The player is to alternate the tossing in both the backhand and forehand.
The ready of the player is a crucial element and so should be emphasized. This is because of the preciseness of the backhands and forehands. This drill helps the trainer to just how comfortable the player has gotten with strokes. If this drill is practised and the player knows it well, then the coach can do something different. The something different is not specifying where exactly he is going to toss the ball. This is a bit difficult for a beginner, but if learnt, it would be a plus to the learner.
Volleys
The concept of volleying in Tennis merely is catching the ball as it is in the air before it bounces, the blocking it and tossing it to the opposite side of the court. Volleys involve complex movements, but when explained thoroughly and demonstrated by the right trainer, it can be learnt quickly.
First of all, the player has to be using a continental grip that is the player is holding the racket like a hammer. After that, ensure the player stands on the service line some feet from the net. Then the coach is to stand at the center or fee feet of opposite position to the player in the court. Ensure you go over the basic Movement for a forehand volley.
The basic Movement is that you are in the proper start position, racket head at eye level, knees bent slightly, then toss! The coach is to let the player know that volleys are not to be swung. To prevent turning at salvos, the player should have the hands released, step the opposite foot forward across the body. Note that, the racket should remain in front so the ball can be punched well.
Essential skills and Movement
Several drills have been discussed above but never forget some movements and skills that are necessary. One of these skills includes the hand to eye coordination. This is a skill that some talented players don’t even have, yet it is essential to be taught and learnt. The dribble is also very important as it works hand in hand with the side to eye coordination. Both of the skills will help boost the confidence of players, especially beginners and kids.
Conclusion
Although this review is specifically about Tennis drills for beginners, any player that is lacking one or two essential playing skill can learn from it. You should also note that this review doesn’t have all the drills there is, you can do well to read up on others. Adjustments can be made to the exercises, depending on the needs of those in training.
As a trainer or coach, make sure to keep your spirits high and that of your students also. Do not pressure your students in learning too. These will determine how well and early what you are teaching is grasped. As earlier mentioned, a series of competitions can be conducted as that serves as the evaluation of your students.
As a beginner, do not feel pressured or undue tension, make sure to take it at an average speed. Don’t be too slow or too fast, so you do not get injuries and blisters. You wish you all the best as you embark on the journey of Tennis drills and the game itself!
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