Session 1 — Straight Length and the T — drill poster

Drill 1: Straight Rail Drives

Setup

2 players, one feeder one hitter. (3-player adaptation: third player rotates in as feeder every set of 8–10 reps, so the hitter faces fresh feeds while feeders share the rest; rotate the hitter role every 2 sets. 4-player adaptation: run two simultaneous feeder/hitter pairs, one drilling the forehand-side wall and one the backhand-side wall at the same time, then swap sides halfway through the block.)

Pattern

Feeder feeds cross-court onto the front wall so the ball rebounds into the hitter's corner. Hitter drives it straight down the same side wall (a rail), aiming to land behind the service box and hug the wall. Feeder retrieves and re-feeds. Run a set of 8–10 reps on the forehand side, then switch to the backhand side, then swap feeder/hitter roles and repeat both sides.

Coaching points

• Contact point out in front of the body, racket face closed to keep the ball tight to the wall.
• Recover toward the T after every shot — don't stand and admire it.
• Feeder: consistent, repeatable feed height and pace, not a race.

Success criterion

8 of 10 rail drives land behind the service box and within a racket-length of the side wall.

Regression

Feeder tosses/underarm-feeds instead of hitting; widen the target to the whole back third of the court.

Progression

Hitter must fully recover to the T and pause there before the next shot; feeder varies feed depth to force an adjustment.

Duration

20 min.

Drill 2: Length & T-Recovery Combo

Setup

Same pair, straight-down-the-line feed this time (not off the front wall) — deliberately different from Drill 1's pattern so the group sees two distinct looks at the same theme. (3-player adaptation: add a Waiting role and run the classic 3-on-court rotation — Feeder, Hitter, Waiting — where the Waiting player rotates in as a fresh Hitter every 4–6 reps, so nobody is stuck resting for long: Feeder → Hitter, Hitter → Waiting, Waiting → Feeder after each rep. 4-player adaptation: run two simultaneous Feeder/Hitter pairs on the same line, each working the pattern independently, and swap which pair is active every 8 minutes.)

Pattern

Feeder feeds straight down the line to the Hitter's corner. Hitter drives it for length back down the same line, then immediately touches the T with their racket foot before recovering wide.

Coaching points

• Split-step before moving to the ball.
• Touch the T with the racket foot specifically, not just "somewhere near it."
• Quick, purposeful recovery — not a lazy jog back.

Success criterion

Hitter touches the T within about a second of contact on at least 8 of 10 reps, and length drives land in the back quarter of the court.

Regression

Widen the "T zone" the hitter needs to reach rather than the exact marking; feeder feeds slower and shorter.

Progression

Feeder randomly varies the feed to forehand or backhand side — hitter must read and adapt on the move.

Duration

20 min.