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Ben Loeb's Best High School Tennis Practice 3-pack

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TND-05964A:

with Ben Loeb, Ed.S.,
Rock Bridge High School (MO) Head Boys' & Girls' Tennis Coach;
Sport Psychology Teacher;
His tennis teams have won over 1,000 dual meets, 19 state championships, & 40 final four appearances;
Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) member;
American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology member

Creating the best possible practice for your players that helps them develop both technical aspects of their strokes, as well as tactical work, can be a challenge for every coach. Effective practice organization and drills can help your players develop at a much greater rate and lead to even more success on the court.

Coach Loeb takes you through his ABCs of Tennis Basics that he integrates into all of their practices, including in his three different types of warm-up phases to start practices that will help your players develop improved consistency and get them ready for practice. He runs players through a variety of drills from simple rally and volley drills at different lengths to serve and return variations, including his Serve +2 Each drills for serve and return to help players start points strong.

Drills to help your players practice playing to their style of play and against other styles of play.

Learn how to use a variety of drills and games to help your players develop and practice strokes that match their primary and secondary styles of play, as well as playing against any style of play. Coach Loeb shows you how you can utilize different rally drills and competitive games that isolate specific shots and patterns that each style of play would utilize. He firmly believes that players should be prepared to utilize multiple styles of play, as well as be prepared to play against all styles of play. Coach Loeb accomplishes this with drills like:

  • Feed +2/+3 shots that will help players develop counter-punchers and consistency of play.
  • The aggressive baseliner drill to help players develop both offensive and defensive styles of play.
  • The approach game and 1-back, 1-back game to work on developing players with an all-court game.

Coach Loeb shows a variety of unique ways to score each of these games to further emphasize the style of play he wants his players to work on in practice.

Drills and games to help your players develop different patterns of play that they can utilize in matches!

Coach Loeb feels that it is important to practice and develop simple patterns of play that players can utilize in matches to be more consistent and learn to look for opportunities to take control and finish off points. He does this with a variety of drills that focus on and isolate several common patterns of play. You can learn drills that help your players develop and master these same patterns of play with games like:

  • Feed +2 Cross-court Game that helps your players develop the ability to play consistently cross-court, but also gain confidence in attacking down the line.
  • An inside-out forehand version of the Feed +2 Cross-court Game to work on running around your forehand to develop a more attacking mindset.
  • Heavy Lob Feed/Return Game to help your players work on attacking with high deep lobs to force your opponent into a weak return.

Coach Loeb also shares two games that will help your players develop the ability to attack their opponents by pulling them wide off the court.

Simulating match-like competition in practice sessions!

Coach Loeb knows how important it is for players to experience match-like pressure in practices to help them stay relaxed and confident during the crucial points of matches.

He has tremendous success with his teams by playing games with unique scoring systems or rules to help players better adapt and practice those situations.

One game that he uses in practice is the Same Corner Start and Opposite Corner Start games, where both players start behind the baseline in a corner on either the same side of the court or the opposite side of the court. The ball is fed and then players play out the point having to work from a defensive start to get into control of the point.

Coach Loeb does a tremendous job of breaking down each phase of practice, explaining the importance of why each area is important to work on and what things to focus on with your team, and showing you drills and games to help you reinforce and strengthen these areas with your players. If you are looking to run a more efficient and productive practice that will take your practices, and your players development, to the next level, this video is for you!

If you are looking to develop more efficient/effective practices that work on specific areas of the game with players that are already capable of consistency in a rally, this would be a good video for you. A very detailed breakdown of various phases of a practice ...he does a great job of framing them in with little scoring or rule tweaks that help work on very specific situations/styles. Really made me think about how I could tweak some of my own drills and games I already use to be more effective with them - I would highly recommend.
-Customer Review

50 minutes. 2022.



TND-05964B:

with Ben Loeb, Ed.S.,
Rock Bridge High School (MO) Head Boys' & Girls' Tennis Coach;
Sport Psychology Teacher;
His tennis teams have won over 1,000 dual meets, 19 state championships, & 40 final four appearances;
Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) member;
American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology member

Creating a practice plan that effectively builds both the shots and tactics that your players need to be successful in doubles matches can be a difficult task . A systematic approach that incorporates shots, tactics, and situations into the warm-up, drills, and games, can help your players develop at a much greater rate, develop a deeper understanding of tactics, and lead to even more success on the court!

Coach Loeb takes you through his systematic approach to doubles that he integrates into his practices, including the warm-up phase to start practices that will help your players develop shots that are utilized in a doubles match, as well as numerous types of serve and return that are most beneficial to doubles. He runs players through a variety of drills and games from simple 1 on 1 games to work on specific shots, to 2 on 1 drills and games to isolate specific positions in doubles, to 2 on 2 drills and games that work on specific situations or tactics. He also addresses alternative formations for serve and return and when to utilize these formations.

Warm-up progressions to help your players develop doubles specific shots and serve/return!

Learn a warm-up progression to help your players develop and practice strokes that are utilized in doubles matches, as well as specific serve and return situations. Coach Loeb shows you how you can utilize different rally drills, as well as serve and return variations, that isolate specific shots and patterns that are necessary for successful doubles. He firmly believes that players should be prepared to utilize multiple types of serves and return of serves in a doubles match.

Coach Loeb accomplishes this with drills like: Serve + 1 Drill to work on specific serves and returns, as well as transitioning to the next shot, Serve + 2 Drill to work on the follow up shots to each type of serve or return and more! Loeb shows a variety of different serve types and locations, as well as a variety of returns and locations that can be utilized in doubles matches.

Drills and games to help your players develop tactics and patterns of play that they can utilize in doubles matches!

Coach Loeb feels that it is important to isolate and practice different shots, roles and tactics that can be utilized in doubles matches, both defensively and in looking to be aggressive and finish points off. He does this with a variety of drills and games that focus on and isolate several roles, situations, and tactics. Loeb also shares two alternative formations for the serving team and one alternative formation for the return team and how to incorporate these into your practices and matches.

Coach Loeb feels it is important to isolate specific partner roles on a doubles team and work on the little details of positioning and shot placement, especially with the players at the net. One such way he does this is with his 2 on 1 series of drills that look to isolate one or both of the net players in specific situations.

Coach Loeb does a tremendous job of breaking down each phase of practice, clearly explaining the situations and tactics associated with each drill or game and how each is important to work on and what things to focus on with your teams you look to reinforce and strengthen these areas with your players. If you are looking to develop better doubles players and want a more productive systematic approach to practicing doubles that will take your practices, and your players' development, to the next level, this video is for you!

If you're looking for a way to improve upon how you practice doubles with your team, just need some new fresh ideas for doubles drills and games, or want to find ways to better teach the finer details of doubles tactics and situations, you'll find something in this video for you - I would highly recommend.-Customer Review

53 minutes. 2022.



TND-05964C:

with Ben Loeb, Ed.S.,
Rock Bridge High School (MO) Head Boys' & Girls' Tennis Coach;
Sport Psychology Teacher;
His tennis teams have won over 1,000 dual meets, 19 state championships, & 40 final four appearances;
Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) member;
American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology member

In this video you will learn about on-court mental performance practice and strategies. This video will be beneficial for individuals and teams looking to improve their pre-match preparation and to be able to adjust within a match and to work on being more competitive in practice simulating match-like conditions. Coach Loeb does a great job going through his different mental performance strategies and explaining drills that he uses to help his players be successful in competitive situations.

Planning for the opportunities where mental performance training and preparation will be called into action

Coach Loeb takes you through his approach pre-point, during the point and between points to help create positive mental imagery that will lead to increased performance on the court. He has his players go through a shadow tennis exercise to highlight his ideas of Response, Ready, and Re-Invest which emphasizes mental and physical cues before the point and during the point. He talks about body language, breathing techniques, and the release of positive energy to help re-gain control, focus and trust during a match. This is important because you have to have a plan during the match, a plan for how to adjust during the match and a plan for what to do if things aren't going well during a match.

In this video you will learn 10 different competitive games that will help players apply these mental performance techniques to their tennis. These drills are competitive (which players love), during practice and will help you simulate different scenarios that might come up during a match like being down 2 sets, having only 9 serves to win a game, starting games of 15-30 or 30-15 and more!

These games are important because it puts players in real situations that they might face in a match. Also, beyond these drills, there is no substitute for playing full sets out!

Learning other approaches for the coach to consider with their team

Coach Loeb also devotes part of this video to other techniques that he uses to get the most out of his players. These include asking questions to his players about understanding their true selves. He also creates themes for the day and has players write down responses to these different themes. Lastly, Coach Loeb talks about visualization, taking time for breathing/meditation and being able to stay present and focused within the moment. This is important because you have to be equipped to handle adversity, visualize success and focus on what's important now.

This video is for individuals and teams looking to take their games to the next level. Coach Loeb shares his ideas of attacking the mental side of the game with the same vigor as the physical side of the game. This video features terrific mental performance training strategies and techniques to use before a match, during a match, before points, during points and in-between points. Coupled with the competitive drills shared, this is a video every coach should add to their library!

39 minutes. 2022.




The 'New Tennis Coach' Pack

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TND-03849A: with Lawrence Eyre,
Knox College Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach Emeritus;
former Maharishi School (IA) Head Tennis Coach;
2009 USPTA National High School Coach of the Year;
17 State of Iowa Titles in singles, doubles and team competition and 10 runner-up finishes;
2000 Iowa Tennis Association Coach of the Year;
featured in Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd" and Tennis magazine

We followed 2009 National High School Coach of the Year Lawrence Eyre through two extended practice sessions giving you unprecedented access to every conversation, drill, decision and the layout of his practices.

In addition to live practice footage, Coach Eyre delivers 'spot on' coaching points and explanations that will enable you to take his ideas and blend them into your own style of coaching.

Over the course of these practice sessions, Eyre focuses on strengthening five key areas in order of importance.

  • Consistency and accuracy of strokes and serves (most important)
  • Direction and placement
  • Depth
  • Spin
  • Velocity/speed/power (of least importance)

This DVD provides a myriad of drills and coaching points to ensure that each of your players continues to improve in these areas.

Lawrence Eyre has had great success with several generations of high school tennis players. Now you can implement the drills, techniques and coaching tactics that have led to 16 state championships!

219 minutes (2 DVDs). 2011.

All Access videos are designed to allow viewers from all over the world to see how successful coaches run their practices in a "live" practice setting. All Access videos allow viewers to see the practices un-edited and in real-time. You will see how top coaches run their drills, interact with their team and staff, how they motivate their team, the cue words they use, the atmosphere of the practice and how practices are structured from day to day. Many coaches visit successful colleges and high schools to watch practice. But if you live out of state or out of the country, visiting another coach's practice can be costly. That's why we created the All Access Practice Series of videos -- to bring the practices to you!



TND-03849B: with Lawrence Eyre,
Knox College Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach Emeritus;
former Maharishi School (IA) Head Tennis Coach;
2009 USPTA National High School Coach of the Year;
17 State of Iowa Titles in singles, doubles and team competition and 10 runner-up finishes;
2000 Iowa Tennis Association Coach of the Year;
featured in Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd" and Tennis magazine

The majority of a tennis match takes place between points and sets. If you and your athletes know how to make the most of this time, you will gain a competitive advantage over your opponents.

This unprecedented 'All Access' DVD is an unbelievable teaching tool designed to help coaches maintain the all-important balance between specific, practical feedback and overall motivational encouragement of their players during match play.

COACHING IN PRACTICE
USPTA's 2009 High School Coach of the Year Lawrence Eyre takes you inside a "live" team practice and simulates how he prepares his team for a match. Using an intra-squad match, Eyres demonstrates how he practices watching and coaching his players at changeovers or at the end of sets.

COACHING IN A LIVE MATCH
On Disc 2, you will see Coach Eyre 'on the move' at every opportunity - from court to court - offering observations, suggestions and encouragement to all of his players during their matches. Filmed during an actual high school tennis match, this is a segment you will want to watch again and again. The coaching and the suggestions are terrific!

Get a leg up on your competition this season by mastering your down time during the match!

Eyre-coached teams have played for the State Team Championship 11 times in the past 24 seasons despite being the smallest school in the State of Iowa with a tennis team!

140 minutes (2 DVDs). 2011.

All Access videos are designed to allow viewers from all over the world to see how successful coaches run their practices in a "live" practice setting. All Access videos allow viewers to see the practices un-edited and in real-time. You will see how top coaches run their drills, interact with their team and staff, how they motivate their team, the cue words they use, the atmosphere of the practice and how practices are structured from day to day. Many coaches visit successful colleges and high schools to watch practice. But if you live out of state or out of the country, visiting another coach's practice can be costly. That's why we created the All Access Practice Series of videos -- to bring the practices to you!



TND-03849C: with Lawrence Eyre,
Knox College Head Men's and Women's Tennis Coach Emeritus;
former Maharishi School (IA) Head Tennis Coach;
2009 USPTA National High School Coach of the Year;
17 State of Iowa Titles in singles, doubles and team competition and 10 runner-up finishes;
2000 Iowa Tennis Association Coach of the Year;
featured in Sports Illustrated "Faces in the Crowd" and Tennis magazine

Lawrence Eyre has taught and coached 15,000 tennis players over an impressive career that spans several decades of changing equipment, ideas and facilities. As a result, Eyre knows the challenge of putting together a tennis-specific strength, conditioning and quickness training program that works in the off-season, pre-season and in-season.

This DVD contains a collection of games and drills that can be applied to a wide variety of court conditions, team sizes and talent levels.

From the warm-up to the cool down and everything in between, Eyre shares all of the games, exercises and drills that he uses, with consistent success, to improve his players' fitness levels, prevent the occurrence of repetitive, overuse injuries and keep practices fun and competitive.

You will appreciate Eyre's coaching points throughout the DVD - perfectly timed to eliminate any confusion in how to organize a game or drill and/or why this drill is done, as well as insights on team building, hydration, rest and more.

This excellent tennis DVD also includes a resourceful 'Rube Goldberg Machine' of eight training stations, all operating simultaneously on one court. It includes reaction drills, weight training, running and plyometrics, plus, tennis-specific drills on court - both with and without tennis rackets. Your team will love it!

Eyre-coached teams have played for the State Team Championship 11 times in the past 24 seasons despite being the smallest school in the State of Iowa with a tennis team!

90 minutes. 2011.



TND-04147A: with Eric Wammock,
Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center (Hilton Head Island) Head Tennis Professional; USPTA Elite Professional;
Hilton Head Christian Academy Tennis Coach
(State Runner-up '12, State Semifinals '13);
collegiate All-American, former ITF Professional;
at age 21 was the youngest D-I college head coach ever (VCU);
USPTA South Carolina Pro of the Year ('97)

The most complicated shot in tennis deserves expert instruction and that is what you get from this DVD.

Eric Wammock's many years as a developing player, touring player, college and high school coach and tennis club professional have reinforced to him the importance of teaching the fundamentals and the 'how to' parts of the serve first, and then, and only then, working into the 'where to' parts of taking better aim at specific targets on the court.

You will receive instruction on the grip, the stance, body position, the release, slice or topspin, the rationale and best practices. The final segment covers the return of serve and shares the best practices for position, racquet position and footwork.

Whether you are a coach or an aspiring player, this DVD will reinforce every aspect of creating and developing a consistent serve.

48 minutes. 2012.



TND-04147B: with Eric Wammock,
Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center (Hilton Head Island) Head Tennis Professional; USPTA Elite Professional;
Hilton Head Christian Academy Tennis Coach
(State Runner-up '12, State Semifinals '13);
collegiate All-American, former ITF Professional;
at age 21 was the youngest D-I college head coach ever (VCU);
USPTA South Carolina Pro of the Year ('97)

Because of the simplicity and seemingly unchanged nature of the basic volley over time, this fundamental stroke is often under-practiced and under-studied.

Eric Wammock's many years as a student and teacher of the game have equipped him with the perfect balance of being able to share all the relevant information and the ability to do so in a way that is logical, purposeful and will help you build your player's game to its fullest potential.

The forehand volley, the backhand volley and the overhead are all fully covered from grip to feet to racquet and all of the extra detail that will take your stroke to the next level!

52 minutes. 2012.



TND-04147C: with Eric Wammock,
Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center (Hilton Head Island) Head Tennis Professional; USPTA Elite Professional;
Hilton Head Christian Academy Tennis Coach
(State Runner-up '12, State Semifinals '13);
collegiate All-American, former ITF Professional;
at age 21 was the youngest D-I college head coach ever (VCU);
USPTA South Carolina Pro of the Year ('97)

The detail and the large amount of stellar, useful information included in this video is extraordinary.

Eric Wammock's many years as a player and coach at all levels come shining through as he provides one of the better video lessons on the forehand and backhand we have ever seen.

The basics - such as grip, stance, follow through and point of contact - are all covered. There is a section on shot evaluation, a series of advanced-level shot making, a series of errors and how to correct them and all the while, Coach Wammock's well-presented 'why' for every 'how'.

Learning correct forehand and backhand is essential. This DVD will take your player's understanding of correct form and technique to the next level!

57 minutes. 2012.



TND-04147D: with Eric Wammock,
Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center (Hilton Head Island) Head Tennis Professional; USPTA Elite Professional;
Hilton Head Christian Academy Tennis Coach
(State Runner-up '12, State Semifinals '13);
collegiate All-American, former ITF Professional;
at age 21 was the youngest D-I college head coach ever (VCU);
USPTA South Carolina Pro of the Year ('97)

In this excellent DVD, Wammock shares how your body position, or your position on the court, can create a need for specialty shots. All strokes and shots in tennis are variations of the four major strokes - the volley, the forehand, the backhand and serve. Wammock explores all of the most used (and most useful!) specialty shots, and shows how to practice them and when to use them for maximum advantage.

The Approach Shot and the Put Away Shot are taught in detail for both the forehand and backhand. Also covered are the Lob, the Buggy Whip, the Dropshot, and Angle Volley, a Stab Volley, Slices, a Half Volley, Running Down a Lob and a fun one - the 'Tweener.'

You will be a better teacher and your players will all benefit from this great instruction.

60 minutes. 2012.



Chris Lewit's Tennis Stroke Instruction 4-Pack!

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TND-06097A: with Chris Lewit,
Certified USTA High Performance Coach;
Certified Etcheberry Trainer;
Was a nationally ranked junior and No.1 player at Cornell University;
Competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
Studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite Junior coach)

In this detailed tennis instructional coaching video, Chris Lewit, the highly acclaimed USTA High-Performance Coach, unlocks the secrets to successful and consistent returns. 

Coach Lewit breaks down his video into three parts for how to learn how to rip the return when playing – whether it be in getting extra practice repetitions or in a live-play competitive match.

Breaking down the video into three easily digestible parts, Coach Lewit covers: Teaching, Tactical and Exercises – including information on why the return is the least-practiced shot in all of tennis and how mastering it will provide you with a huge advantage over much of the competition your players will face!

Returns: Footwork & Technique

To begin this video, Coach Lewit discusses the importance of footwork and technique when returning a serve. He talks about different grips you can have with the racket and different stances that players can have when hitting a return. He talks about the differences in utilizing an open stance, a closed stance and a diagonal transfer when hitting the return.

Coach Lewit then emphasizes several points on the importance of not being flat-footed on a return and how to use the split step. 

Mastering each of these stances and grips is critical because a player needs to have proper footwork and technique when hitting a return. Coach Lewit covers a variety of techniques that can be used, but emphasizes how each player has to find what works best for them.

Tactical Positioning & Return Drills

Next, Coach Lewit discusses the importance of tactical positioning when returning the serve. He showcases a variety of different strategies one can use depending on where you choose to return the serve from. He highlights several returning options for positioning – a neutral position, an aggressive position and a deep returning position – as well as the different types of return a player would hit from each position.

This part of the video helps your players to improve positioning when returning a serve and gets them to think about the strategy on the court for the different shots you should hit when returning.

Coach Lewit also talks about the importance of analytics and how a player can track their positioning on the court and their success rates on first and second serve returns, which helps to dictate their positioning and the return game.

Sharing some of his favorite drills and exercises to master the drop shot, Coach Lewit starts with hand feeding, which can be done as a warmup or an initial drill as one is still learning technique for how to hit the return. 

The next progression he covers is called, ‘racket feeding’ where a player can focus on technique and strategy when hitting returns. Coach Lewit also covers live-ball serving drills to work the return and emphasize the safety of serving and returning and limiting a player to no more than 50 serves at a time.

Coach Lewit also shows the live-ball exercises that players can use to help their return game.

This is an excellent video for players who are learning how to ‘rip the return!’ Coach Lewit talks about the importance of technique and footwork first and then the strategy behind the different types of returns a player can hit and ends the video with some live ball exercises to help a player perfect their return game.

85 minutes. 2023.



TND-06097B: with Chris Lewit,
Certified USTA High Performance Coach;
Certified Etcheberry Trainer;
Was a nationally ranked junior and No.1 player at Cornell University;
Competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
Studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite Junior coach)

In this instructional tennis video by USTA high-performance coach Chris Lewit, you will get a first-hand look at hitting great volleys.

To teach the art of hitting and maintaining exceptional volleys, Coach Lewit breaks down his teaching process for volleys while emphasizing proper technique in practice or during a competitive match into three parts: Footwork, Handwork and Drills/Exercises.

Volley Footwork

Coach Lewit begins the instructional session examining footwork and necessary steps players need to take during volleys. He initially talks about sprinting and rising when hitting approach shots to come into the net during volley and stresses the importance of the split-step prior to striking the ball. 

Going over the different footwork that one can use to hit the volley, Coach Lewit then covers the footwork you need to utilize during a volley that is dependent on two different factors – the match situation and the skill level of the player who is hitting the ball. 

The footwork portion of the video is a critically important section, as it is the single most-important aspect that players need to master to improve their ability to maintain a competitive, superior volley technique. 

Racquet Grip During Volleys

Coach Lewit then moves into another important section when discussing the ability to improve a player’s ability to volley at a high level – the appropriate way to hold the racket during a volley. He favors the Continental Grip and more or an open-racket face to create more of a slice volley.

Being heavily trained and influenced by the Spanish-style of tennis, Coach Lewit explains how and why this is their preferred method for hitting a volley. He proceeds to teach the essentials for hitting a low volley by maintaining a stable base and a high volley which is reliant on cutting through the ball and utilizing more of a downward motion. 

This section of the video is especially important because players need to be taught how to hit the volley while utilizing proper handwork and timing. 

Coach Lewit then stresses the importance of maintaining contact point and follow through, while making sure that a player extends through their shot and maintains a firm wrist while hitting the ball before planting the lead foot into the ground.

Volley Drills & Exercises

To finish the on-court teaching lesson, Coach Lewit shares some of his favorite drills and exercises to help players improve and master the volley. He begins with hand feeding which can be done as a warmup or an initial drill to perform while a player is still learning volleying technique or for how to hit a drop shot.

The next progression is racket feeding and then lastly, Coach Lewit shows drill work that utilizes a partner during a live-ball drill. He then highlights several of his favorite live-ball drills which players of all skill-level and ability can perform.

This video is for players who are learning the techniques for hitting volleys, as well as for those who want to improve their volleys or for players who are looking to improve their footwork and technique during volleys. 

Coach Lewit demonstrates his tremendous expertise and experience and does a great job breaking down the different parts of the volley, the footwork to use during volleys, volley handwork and how and when to use the volley to your advantage.

98 minutes. 2023.



TND-06097C: with Chris Lewit,
Certified USTA High Performance Coach;
Certified Etcheberry Trainer;
Was a nationally ranked junior and No.1 player at Cornell University;
Competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
Studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite Junior coach)

In this highly valuable instructional tennis coach video, Chris Lewit, a Certified USTA High-Performance Coach, gives you all the secrets and successful teaching techniques for hitting drop shots.

Coach Lewit breaks down his video into three parts for how to learn, hit, improve and use the drop shot in a live-action competitive match – breaking down breaks the video into three parts: teaching, tactical and drills/exercises.

Hitting Drop Shots: Racquet Grip, Swing Angle & Spin

To begin the lesson, Coach Lewit opens with a discussion on using and hitting drop shots, beginning with the important teaching points for how to hold the racket and the proper grip to use (Continental) to hit the drop shot. 

Coach Lewit goes through the different types of balls a player might hit the drop shot with and the swing path his or her racket should take when hitting these different types of shots – including discussions on swing angle, and how to best use the racket face for hitting high balls and low balls. 

Coach Lewit also talks about different spins you can put on the ball and the importance of ‘disguising’ a drop shot when attempting to use it during a match, which is especially important because players need to be taught HOW to hit drop shots before attempting them against an opponent. 

Building upon a solid foundation of how to hold the racket and how to swing to hit a drop shot are critically important fundamentals that players must learn.

Drop Shot: Footwork & Drills/Exercises

Next, Coach Lewit leads a detailed examination of the footwork required and necessary to hit drop shots – going over all the different types of footwork that one can use to hit drop shots, as well as an outline of the and an array different types of drop shots that players can use depending upon where they are on the court. Coach Lewit examines hitting different drop shots a player can use as he or she moves forward, moves backward and while on the run. There are a variety of different shots that players can hit depending on the situation and their personal level of skill.

This is an important component of the video as it provides the knowledge necessary to help a player with his or her drop-shot development because of the footwork that is necessary for hitting the drop shot and all the different steps required to successfully hit a drop shot.

Lastly, Coach Lewit shares his favorite drills and exercises to help players’ master the drop shot. He starts with hand feeding which can be done as a warmup or an initial drill as one is still learning technique for how to hit the drop shot. 

The next progression of exercises are done with racket feeding and then lastly, some important partner work done in a live-ball drill setting. 

Coach Lewit also discusses patterns of play for how and when to use the drop shot. These strategies are important for high-level players who are looking to improve their abilities during competitive matches. He also briefly discusses hitting drop-shot serves and drop-shot returns.

This video is for players who are learning how to hit the dropshot, who want to use the drop shot more often in their matches and for players who want to learn when to hit the dropshot and in what situations. 

Coach Lewit showcases his vast level of expertise and experience in this instructional video and his teachings can really help players advance their game to the next level!

87 minutes. 2023.



TND-06097D: with Chris Lewit,
Certified USTA High Performance Coach;
Certified Etcheberry Trainer;
Was a nationally ranked junior and No.1 player at Cornell University;
Competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
Studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite Junior coach)

In this instructional tennis coaching video, Chris Lewit, a Certified USTA High-Performance Coach, outlines the teaching techniques and skill-improvement guidelines needed for mastering the transition game by attacking with an approach shot.

Coach Lewit breaks down his video into three parts for teaching players how to improve in the transition game: teaching, tactical and drills/exercises; it includes an examination about how and why the return shot is often the least-practiced shot in all of tennis, as well as providing a wealth of teaching tips on mastering this shot!

Footwork, Techniques & Court Positions

Coach Lewit opens the video talking about how footwork and technique, as well as covering the body position and stance one should use when hitting an approach shot. He also covers highly valuable information about transition and how to best explode forward after hitting the approach shot.

Transition and explosion are especially important because players need to utilize proper footwork and technique when hitting an approach shot and master a knowledge of how to transition to different positions on the court. 

Coach Lewit then breaks into a detailed discussion about tactical positioning when hitting approach shots and transitioning on to three different zones on the court.

ZONE 1, Lewit explains, extends from the service line to the net. ZONE 2 is shown from the service line to just inside the baseline and ZONE 3 extends from the baseline and in the back court. 

Coach Lewit discusses tactical strategy with the importance of knowing when to hit approach shots, when to come into the mid-court and when to come into the net. He also mentions an important strategy regarding pattern-of-play and points out several myths that people believe regarding hitting approach shots (such as, always hitting it to the same place, slice approach shots, hitting it to the middle, etc.).

Approach Shot Strategy & Drills/Exercises

Coach Lewit then leads a helpful lesson on how players think about the game of tennis and their strategy for hitting approach shots and being in transition – with a thought-provoking discussion on thinking about what your opponent might be thinking and how to use variety in the different shots that a player hits. He stresses the importance of pace and topspin, in addition to ball placement when hitting approach shots.

Next, Coach Lewit shares some of his favorite drills and exercises to attack approach shots and to master the transition game. He begins with hand feeding, which is good for focusing on footwork and technique, followed by racket-feeding drills and a variety of single-ball drills, two-ball drills and four-ball drills to help players improve on the transition game and teach them how to attack all three zones on the court.

This highly valuable instructional video is for players who are learning how to attack approach shots and to master the transition game. Coach Lewit highlights the importance of technique and footwork first, followed by the strategy behind the different types of approach shots a player can hit and ends with some terrific live-ball exercises to help a player perfect his or her approach to shot strategy and mastering the transition game.

83 minutes. 2023.



Explosive Movement Training for Tennis Players

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with Richard Woodroof,
ITPA-CTPS, USPTA, NESTA-SAQ / Director Impact Sports Performance

Tennis players change direction every 1.1 seconds. As the speed of tennis has increased, so has the need for efficient pre-shot movements. Using exercises incorporating speed as an element of direction change, ITPA-certified Tennis Performance Trainer Richard Woodroof breaks down a training sequence beneficial to tennis players and coaches of all skill levels.

Movement Exercises

Concentrating on hip muscles, balance and the first step, Coach Woodroof leads you through a progression of stretch band, plyometric and cone workouts that put the body into proper hitting positions. Coach Woodroof explains correct and incorrect posture and procedure for numerous exercises. It's evident during the seven, five and three cone workouts why previous exercises must be done correctly for maximum benefit.

All of these exercises can be done on court during good weather or inside during inclement weather.

Footwork Drills

The Ladder Groundstrokes drill puts a new twist on using a footwork ladder for drills. Emphasizing his focus on hip strength, the drill uses a footwork ladder to move a player forward through the shot with quick explosive movements.

Primarily targeting intermediate players who want to fine tune their footwork to take their game to the next level, many of these exercises and progressions will benefit players of all skill levels.

For coaches of beginning players, this video helps players understand that there's an approach to the game beyond "hit, prepare and hit again" while also being a good general fitness workout. If you have players striving for the next level, you'll be able to show them technical aspects of training footwork that can be the difference between crushing a winner or hitting an off-balance shot into the net.

Whether you are a beginner or a more seasoned player looking to gain an edge, everyone can improve their footwork and become a better player using Coach Woodroof's teachings.

68 minutes. 2016.

Chris Lewit: Rip the Return!

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with Chris Lewit,
Certified USTA High Performance Coach;
Certified Etcheberry Trainer;
Was a nationally ranked junior and No.1 player at Cornell University;
Competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
Studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite Junior coach)

In this detailed tennis instructional coaching video, Chris Lewit, the highly acclaimed USTA High-Performance Coach, unlocks the secrets to successful and consistent returns. 

Coach Lewit breaks down his video into three parts for how to learn how to rip the return when playing – whether it be in getting extra practice repetitions or in a live-play competitive match.

Breaking down the video into three easily digestible parts, Coach Lewit covers: Teaching, Tactical and Exercises – including information on why the return is the least-practiced shot in all of tennis and how mastering it will provide you with a huge advantage over much of the competition your players will face!

Returns: Footwork & Technique

To begin this video, Coach Lewit discusses the importance of footwork and technique when returning a serve. He talks about different grips you can have with the racket and different stances that players can have when hitting a return. He talks about the differences in utilizing an open stance, a closed stance and a diagonal transfer when hitting the return.

Coach Lewit then emphasizes several points on the importance of not being flat-footed on a return and how to use the split step. 

Mastering each of these stances and grips is critical because a player needs to have proper footwork and technique when hitting a return. Coach Lewit covers a variety of techniques that can be used, but emphasizes how each player has to find what works best for them.

Tactical Positioning & Return Drills

Next, Coach Lewit discusses the importance of tactical positioning when returning the serve. He showcases a variety of different strategies one can use depending on where you choose to return the serve from. He highlights several returning options for positioning – a neutral position, an aggressive position and a deep returning position – as well as the different types of return a player would hit from each position.

This part of the video helps your players to improve positioning when returning a serve and gets them to think about the strategy on the court for the different shots you should hit when returning.

Coach Lewit also talks about the importance of analytics and how a player can track their positioning on the court and their success rates on first and second serve returns, which helps to dictate their positioning and the return game.

Sharing some of his favorite drills and exercises to master the drop shot, Coach Lewit starts with hand feeding, which can be done as a warmup or an initial drill as one is still learning technique for how to hit the return. 

The next progression he covers is called, ‘racket feeding’ where a player can focus on technique and strategy when hitting returns. Coach Lewit also covers live-ball serving drills to work the return and emphasize the safety of serving and returning and limiting a player to no more than 50 serves at a time.

Coach Lewit also shows the live-ball exercises that players can use to help their return game.

This is an excellent video for players who are learning how to ‘rip the return!’ Coach Lewit talks about the importance of technique and footwork first and then the strategy behind the different types of returns a player can hit and ends the video with some live ball exercises to help a player perfect their return game.

85 minutes. 2023.

Chris Lewit's Invincible Volleys! World-Class Volley Technique, Grips & Footwork

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with Chris Lewit,
Certified USTA High Performance Coach;
Certified Etcheberry Trainer;
Was a nationally ranked junior and No.1 player at Cornell University;
Competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
Studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite Junior coach)

In this instructional tennis video by USTA high-performance coach Chris Lewit, you will get a first-hand look at hitting great volleys.

To teach the art of hitting and maintaining exceptional volleys, Coach Lewit breaks down his teaching process for volleys while emphasizing proper technique in practice or during a competitive match into three parts: Footwork, Handwork and Drills/Exercises.

Volley Footwork

Coach Lewit begins the instructional session examining footwork and necessary steps players need to take during volleys. He initially talks about sprinting and rising when hitting approach shots to come into the net during volley and stresses the importance of the split-step prior to striking the ball. 

Going over the different footwork that one can use to hit the volley, Coach Lewit then covers the footwork you need to utilize during a volley that is dependent on two different factors – the match situation and the skill level of the player who is hitting the ball. 

The footwork portion of the video is a critically important section, as it is the single most-important aspect that players need to master to improve their ability to maintain a competitive, superior volley technique. 

Racquet Grip During Volleys

Coach Lewit then moves into another important section when discussing the ability to improve a player’s ability to volley at a high level – the appropriate way to hold the racket during a volley. He favors the Continental Grip and more or an open-racket face to create more of a slice volley.

Being heavily trained and influenced by the Spanish-style of tennis, Coach Lewit explains how and why this is their preferred method for hitting a volley. He proceeds to teach the essentials for hitting a low volley by maintaining a stable base and a high volley which is reliant on cutting through the ball and utilizing more of a downward motion. 

This section of the video is especially important because players need to be taught how to hit the volley while utilizing proper handwork and timing. 

Coach Lewit then stresses the importance of maintaining contact point and follow through, while making sure that a player extends through their shot and maintains a firm wrist while hitting the ball before planting the lead foot into the ground.

Volley Drills & Exercises

To finish the on-court teaching lesson, Coach Lewit shares some of his favorite drills and exercises to help players improve and master the volley. He begins with hand feeding which can be done as a warmup or an initial drill to perform while a player is still learning volleying technique or for how to hit a drop shot.

The next progression is racket feeding and then lastly, Coach Lewit shows drill work that utilizes a partner during a live-ball drill. He then highlights several of his favorite live-ball drills which players of all skill-level and ability can perform.

This video is for players who are learning the techniques for hitting volleys, as well as for those who want to improve their volleys or for players who are looking to improve their footwork and technique during volleys. 

Coach Lewit demonstrates his tremendous expertise and experience and does a great job breaking down the different parts of the volley, the footwork to use during volleys, volley handwork and how and when to use the volley to your advantage.

98 minutes. 2023.

Chris Lewit's Deadly Drop Shots! Drop Shot Secrets To Keep Opponents Off-Balance & Guessing

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with Chris Lewit,
Certified USTA High Performance Coach;
Certified Etcheberry Trainer;
Was a nationally ranked junior and No.1 player at Cornell University;
Competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
Studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite Junior coach)

In this highly valuable instructional tennis coach video, Chris Lewit, a Certified USTA High-Performance Coach, gives you all the secrets and successful teaching techniques for hitting drop shots.

Coach Lewit breaks down his video into three parts for how to learn, hit, improve and use the drop shot in a live-action competitive match – breaking down breaks the video into three parts: teaching, tactical and drills/exercises.

Hitting Drop Shots: Racquet Grip, Swing Angle & Spin

To begin the lesson, Coach Lewit opens with a discussion on using and hitting drop shots, beginning with the important teaching points for how to hold the racket and the proper grip to use (Continental) to hit the drop shot. 

Coach Lewit goes through the different types of balls a player might hit the drop shot with and the swing path his or her racket should take when hitting these different types of shots – including discussions on swing angle, and how to best use the racket face for hitting high balls and low balls. 

Coach Lewit also talks about different spins you can put on the ball and the importance of ‘disguising’ a drop shot when attempting to use it during a match, which is especially important because players need to be taught HOW to hit drop shots before attempting them against an opponent. 

Building upon a solid foundation of how to hold the racket and how to swing to hit a drop shot are critically important fundamentals that players must learn.

Drop Shot: Footwork & Drills/Exercises

Next, Coach Lewit leads a detailed examination of the footwork required and necessary to hit drop shots – going over all the different types of footwork that one can use to hit drop shots, as well as an outline of the and an array different types of drop shots that players can use depending upon where they are on the court. Coach Lewit examines hitting different drop shots a player can use as he or she moves forward, moves backward and while on the run. There are a variety of different shots that players can hit depending on the situation and their personal level of skill.

This is an important component of the video as it provides the knowledge necessary to help a player with his or her drop-shot development because of the footwork that is necessary for hitting the drop shot and all the different steps required to successfully hit a drop shot.

Lastly, Coach Lewit shares his favorite drills and exercises to help players’ master the drop shot. He starts with hand feeding which can be done as a warmup or an initial drill as one is still learning technique for how to hit the drop shot. 

The next progression of exercises are done with racket feeding and then lastly, some important partner work done in a live-ball drill setting. 

Coach Lewit also discusses patterns of play for how and when to use the drop shot. These strategies are important for high-level players who are looking to improve their abilities during competitive matches. He also briefly discusses hitting drop-shot serves and drop-shot returns.

This video is for players who are learning how to hit the dropshot, who want to use the drop shot more often in their matches and for players who want to learn when to hit the dropshot and in what situations. 

Coach Lewit showcases his vast level of expertise and experience in this instructional video and his teachings can really help players advance their game to the next level!

87 minutes. 2023.

Chris Lewit's Awesome Attacks! Mastering the Transition Game

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with Chris Lewit,
Certified USTA High Performance Coach;
Certified Etcheberry Trainer;
Was a nationally ranked junior and No.1 player at Cornell University;
Competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
Studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite Junior coach)

In this instructional tennis coaching video, Chris Lewit, a Certified USTA High-Performance Coach, outlines the teaching techniques and skill-improvement guidelines needed for mastering the transition game by attacking with an approach shot.

Coach Lewit breaks down his video into three parts for teaching players how to improve in the transition game: teaching, tactical and drills/exercises; it includes an examination about how and why the return shot is often the least-practiced shot in all of tennis, as well as providing a wealth of teaching tips on mastering this shot!

Footwork, Techniques & Court Positions

Coach Lewit opens the video talking about how footwork and technique, as well as covering the body position and stance one should use when hitting an approach shot. He also covers highly valuable information about transition and how to best explode forward after hitting the approach shot.

Transition and explosion are especially important because players need to utilize proper footwork and technique when hitting an approach shot and master a knowledge of how to transition to different positions on the court. 

Coach Lewit then breaks into a detailed discussion about tactical positioning when hitting approach shots and transitioning on to three different zones on the court.

ZONE 1, Lewit explains, extends from the service line to the net. ZONE 2 is shown from the service line to just inside the baseline and ZONE 3 extends from the baseline and in the back court. 

Coach Lewit discusses tactical strategy with the importance of knowing when to hit approach shots, when to come into the mid-court and when to come into the net. He also mentions an important strategy regarding pattern-of-play and points out several myths that people believe regarding hitting approach shots (such as, always hitting it to the same place, slice approach shots, hitting it to the middle, etc.).

Approach Shot Strategy & Drills/Exercises

Coach Lewit then leads a helpful lesson on how players think about the game of tennis and their strategy for hitting approach shots and being in transition – with a thought-provoking discussion on thinking about what your opponent might be thinking and how to use variety in the different shots that a player hits. He stresses the importance of pace and topspin, in addition to ball placement when hitting approach shots.

Next, Coach Lewit shares some of his favorite drills and exercises to attack approach shots and to master the transition game. He begins with hand feeding, which is good for focusing on footwork and technique, followed by racket-feeding drills and a variety of single-ball drills, two-ball drills and four-ball drills to help players improve on the transition game and teach them how to attack all three zones on the court.

This highly valuable instructional video is for players who are learning how to attack approach shots and to master the transition game. Coach Lewit highlights the importance of technique and footwork first, followed by the strategy behind the different types of approach shots a player can hit and ends with some terrific live-ball exercises to help a player perfect his or her approach to shot strategy and mastering the transition game.

83 minutes. 2023.


Transition Tennis: Approach Shot Footwork and Volleys

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with Nick Carless,
California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) Head Men's Coach;
2x Wilson/ITA Southwest Region Coach of the Year ('14, '17);
2x Big West Conference regular season & Tournament champions;
2x NCAA Tournament appearances

Cal Poly head coach Nick Carless makes his Championship Productions instructional video debut with this clinic presentation on transition tennis. Coach Carless has twice been named the Wilson/ITA Southwest Region Coach of the Year and puts his expertise on display as he takes you through approach shot footwork and volleys to help strong baseline players become more complete in their skill set.

Training Footwork and Balance

Off the bat, Carless addresses the question of when athletes should hit with an open stance vs. a closed stance. His on-court demonstration highlights what players should do when playing from the middle of the court. The most important aspect of hitting from the middle of the court, as Coach Carless explains, is moving through the ball. The first drill he shows to train this skill is the "Midball Toss", which allows coaches to keep an eye on footwork specifically.

The natural transition from the Midball Toss is to go immediately into live toss hitting. Carless wants his players to hit an accurate ball down the line while utilizing the same footwork they used in the initial drill progression. Once the on-court demonstrations are completed, Coach Carless outlines additional do's and don'ts related to this motion and how to teach the correct technique to players. He also shows one final progression that involves varying the toss to add a decision-making aspect to what kind of shot athletes must use.

Improving the Volley

Between drills, Carless expands on his philosophy behind different shots and the mentality that he coaches his players to use on each shot. He breaks down the "Shadow Volley" drill that he worked on a lot as a young player. The drill can be used to train two-step volley footwork and other essentials for the stance.

The "Swing Volley Toss", a drill designed for 3-4 players, has three main goals according to Coach Carless:

  • Big targets.
  • Take time away from the opponent.
  • Hybrid high groundstroke contact point.

The "Tennis Warehouse" drill will train your players to move forward and attack volleys while also incorporating defense and playing from the "hot seat" in doubles. If you have a lot of players working on one court, this drill will be especially valuable because it can incorporate many people cycling through at once. The final exercise shown by Coach Carless is used to train athletes' ability to hit volleys out of the air, further limiting the amount of time opponents have to react and leading to more aggressive play.

Coach Carless has seen what works best in transition tennis and his drills and philosophies are sure to make you or your team better on volleys. Add this video to your coaching library today and win more balls at the net!

41 minutes. 2020.

Peter Smith: Games & Drills for Tennis 2-Pack

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TND-05132A:

with Peter Smith,
Jack Kramer Club (CA) Director of Tennis & General Manager;
University of Southern California Men's Tennis Coach from 2002 through 2019;
5x NCAA Champions, including Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back (2009/2010/2011/2012) titles;
5x Pac-10 Coach of the Year;
2011 & 2014 USPTA National College "Coach of the Year";
2x Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) "Coach of the Year" (2010 & 2012);
Pepperdine Head Coach from 1997 to 2002;
5x WCC Champion, 5x WCC Coach of the Year;

Teaching doubles technique and strategy has become a vital component for team success, from high school up through college. In this video, five-time NCAA championship coach Peter Smith demonstrates the same progression of competitive drills and match play situations that he uses with his team that have allowed them to continue their dominance of the Pac-12.

Coach Smith walks through a warm up, doubles-specific drills, and three-player drills. Each of these drills have variations and progressions to improve doubles play tactically and technically. The video focuses on isolating parts of the court to help players develop skills of serving, returning, volleying and ground strokes. Using a combination of instruction, competition and repetition, Coach Smith's methods will help players at all levels improve their game.

Dynamic Warm-Up

Coach Smith stresses the importance of getting the body warm with a sequence of dynamic stretches that target the legs, hips, and shoulders. Special attention is given to warming up the shoulders and rotator cuff using a resistance band to reduce the chance of injury. This dynamic routine will ensure that your team is prepared physically to hit the court running.

The USC Warm-Up

In this segment, Coach Smith reinforces the importance of shot selection and the smaller details in doubles tennis during their warm-up. He puts his team through a sequence of the following shots:

  • Bounce overheads
  • Defensive lobs
  • Offensive top spin lobs
  • Slice backhands
  • Volleys

Coach Smith stresses hitting a variety of shots as a doubles player, noting that this sequence has helped his players throughout the years learn how to mix it up during match play. Each shot is only hit for 1-2 minutes.

Doubles Drills Series

Practice progresses into a 2-on-2 doubles series - the same series Coach Smith uses with his team immediately before they begin match play. Continually stressing the importance of making each drill competitive (games to 5 or 7), Coach Smith puts his team through the following drills:

  • Poaching - With all four players at the service line, Coach Smith feeds through the middle to emphasize the importance of stepping in. Coach Smith prioritizes moving with the feet (not lunging with the arms) and the importance of keeping the ball out of the net.
  • Poaching, Crossing - This drill simulates the return and the returner's partner crossing. Coach Smith feeds the return to the oncoming server, who returns cross court to get Coach Smith's partner to poach. Coach Smith stresses the importance of moving on an 'L', not on a diagonal.
  • Two Up, Two Back - This drill stresses the importance of closing the net and taking away the middle.

Match Play Drills

Moving from the Doubles Drills Series, Coach Smith takes you through a series of drills that help isolate, focus, and emphasize the importance of the first four shots in a doubles point. As Coach Smith states, 80% or more of doubles points will be decided in these first shots. Each drill gives opportunity for team work, communication, poaching, defending and attacking the ball.

  • Serve and Volley Cross Court - This drill isolates the serve, the return, and the third ball. Every ball is played cross court in a 1-on-1 situation. Coach Smith emphasizes the importance of serving to the body in doubles. Learn the signaling system Coach Smith incorporates with his doubles teams to stress the importance of serve placement and net movement.
  • One Up, One Back - This drill focuses on the importance of, again, stepping in and through the middle. It alternates from the coach feeding the serve to the coach feeding the return.
  • Offense, Defense - This 1-on-1 competitive drill emphasizes the importance of closing the net, as points can only be won at the net.

Group Games

Most tennis coaches deal with managing a large amount of players on one court at the same time. Coach Smith takes you through drills he uses at his academy and during practice play that can help you through large-number situations:

  • Overheads
  • Overheads/Poach
  • Poach Drill
  • Forehand Poaches
  • Approach Shots
  • Live Ball

Three Man Doubles Drills

Learn an innovative approach to working with your doubles teams. By taking away the fourth player, Coach Smith shows you a sequence of drills that again focus on the first shots, which are crucial to doubles success:

  • Serve and Volley
  • Straight Up
  • Modern I
  • Traditional I
  • Straight Up with a Poach or Fake
  • Coach is the Returner
  • Isolation Drill

Tennis coaches of all levels are always looking for new and innovative methods for teaching doubles play. After viewing this video, you will have more than enough tools to help take your doubles teams to the next level!

"I have been looking for a doubles video that gives an intense and efficient way to focus on what really matters in doubles match play, this video is it. Players keep pace and challenge each other to make it pay off on matc

TND-05132B:

with Kris Kwinta,
University of California Berkeley Head Men's Coach;
University of Southern California Associate Head Men's Tennis Coach from 2014 to 2021;
2x ITA Southwest Region Assistant Coach of the Year;
All-American player at UCLA;
former member of the Polish National Team;
represented Poland at the Davis Cup in doubles

At USC, a key component of tennis practice is having drills that are competitive in nature. When drills are competitive and pressure situations are created, tennis players will be more serious and more intense in their approach.

In this video, Coach Kris Kwinta shows his favorite drills for tennis practice. You'll get 16 competitive warm-up, fed, and live ball drills that will add variety to your practices while building skills within a highly competitive structure.

Warm-Up Drills with Competitive Focus

Coach Kwinta guides USC players through a series of unique games and drills that emphasize balance, footwork and touch - all with a competitive angle - that will have your players laughing and sweating at the same time. These drills require the honing of tennis-specific movements out of context, which engages and motivates players. Kwinta includes several non-traditional methods, such as:

  • Utilizing medicine balls in competitive games, which simulates good stroke production
  • A soccer-style game on the court that emphasizes control, balance, movement, and getting behind the ball

By using these drills, players develop good footwork, movement and touch.

Tennis Practice Drills

Coach Kwinta introduces a series of drills using cones and targets to improve accuracy with the ball. Again, all drills are competitive and will keep your players engaged while providing specific objectives. Drills include:

  • Short court drills that develop movement
  • Full court drills for both two and four players that focus on movement and maintaining high intensity
  • Cross-court and down the line cone drills to train court positioning and contact points
  • Game-play drills that simulate pressure situations in a real match
  • Serve and return of serve drills that are fun and competitive

Additionally, Kwinta provides you with different end-of practice set and game scenarios in which players will be placed under pressure and required to use and develop decision-making skills while fatigued.

Coach Kwinta will help you install a competitive focus in your tennis drills. This video is sure to help your players be more focused when the match is on the line.

81 minutes. 2017.



'The Cauldron': Kevin Epley's High-Intensity Approach to Singles Practice

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with Kevin Epley,
University of South Carolina Head Coach;
2019 ITA/Wilson National Women's Coach of the Year;
2019 SEC Coach of the Year;
2019 Elite Eight appearance; 3x Sweet Sixteen appearances ('07, '17, '18);
15 NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 seasons as a head coach (South Carolina, William & Mary, Fresno State);
over 275 career wins;
has worked as a traveling coach for professional players Megan Moulton-Levy, Lindsay Lee-Waters, Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder;
former head coach of the St. Louis Aces (World Team Tennis League);
former U.S. Olympic team assistant coach (2000 Sydney games);
former U.S. Federation Cup team assistant coach (1997-2002)

It can be difficult to get your players to give maximum effort throughout the whole season, or even an entire practice. Thankfully, University of South Carolina's Kevin Epley has a solution to this dilemma: 'The Cauldron.'

In this video, Epley takes his team through series of drills, all built around making them compete by demanding high intensity and quality shot making. He shows you how his methods can be made to work for you and your own team. You'll be given a glimpse into what makes Epley's teams successful in one of the toughest conferences in the country.

'The Cauldron'

Coach Epley starts by discussing 'The Cauldron' and how he shapes his practices. You'll learn why competition is the basis behind his philosophy and how he fosters a competitive atmosphere in each practice session. He also covers the concept of "external cueing" and why it's important when training tennis players.

Live Practice

"The Clijsters" is a competitive drill that Epley uses to develop shot consistency and depth of shot. You'll see his players demonstrate the "Aggressor/Defender Drill along with five variations, which is a main staple of his team's training that promotes consistency and sound decision-making skills.

In the variety section of 'The Cauldron,' Epley introduces the Forbidden Box and the Mix Game. Both of these drills develop player fitness and consistency by challenging them to hit to prescribed areas of the court with point penalties for an inability to do so.

Serving, Volleying, Mental Toughness

Coach Epley includes additional games/drills that train:

  • Serving - Learn to section the serve box and simulate the return's baseline positioning to challenge players' serve consistency and placement.
  • Volleying - Improve the overall volley prowess of your players while building their conditioning with a rigorous exercise.
  • Mental Toughness - Watch as players go through a conditioning session, followed by a 7-point baseline drill which challenges their fitness level and develops toughness through adversity.
  • This is a great video for any coach looking to run a high-intensity practice containing drills and practice methods that will boost the talent level and conditioning of your players! Epley's system will help you see how to get your team playing with greater effort and purpose in the seasons ahead.

    51 minutes. 2020.

Paul Wardlaw's Competitive Drills for Tennis Two-Pack!

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Paul Wardlaw, a successful collegiate coach for over 15 years (3 NCAA Championships at Kenyon College, Division III, Wilson/ITA Coach of the Decade award winner, NCAA Sweet Sixteen for the University of Iowa) has had recognition from tennis authorities as being a leader of innovative, effective practice ideas. The two videos in this latest instructional offering from Wardlaw give coaches and athletes all the competitive drills he uses in his daily practices to prepare his team for the competitive rigors of team tennis. The drills are divided into two videos, singles and doubles.
These two videos will provide coaches and players at all levels with nearly two hours of demanding drills, practice sessions, and warm-ups.

Singles Tennis Strategy: Playing Smart Tennis

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0
with John Officer,
US Naval Academy Head Tennis Coach

This video breaks down the game of tennis into five areas. The categories include defense, rally, dictate, transition, and finishing zone. The DVD explores the correct percentage play from each area. Additionally, the serve, return, passing shots, and counter-attacking shots are included as separate areas bringing the total to nine. There is a tendency for teaching professionals to teach how to stroke the ball but not where to place it. It is crucial that players understand how to set up a point, counter-attack, as well as how to finish.

44 minutes. 2004.

20 Essential Drills for Beginner's Tennis

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0

with Peter Smith,
Jack Kramer Club (CA) Director of Tennis & General Manager;
University of Southern California Men's Tennis Coach from 2002 through 2019;
5x NCAA Champions, including Back-to-Back-to-Back-to-Back (2009/2010/2011/2012) titles;
5x Pac-10 Coach of the Year;
2011 & 2014 USPTA National College "Coach of the Year";
2x Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) "Coach of the Year" (2010 & 2012);
Pepperdine Head Coach from 1997 to 2002;
5x WCC Champion, 5x WCC Coach of the Year;

and Smith's three sons: Tanner, Riley and Colter

In this excellent video, USC's Peter Smith uses the assistance of his three sons to teach you how simple the game of tennis can be! Coach Smith offers a fun and unique way for anyone to learn the fundamental techniques. To demonstrate the ease that tennis can be learned, Smith has his youngest son Coulter, age 4, hit the ball over the net from the base line. You don't have to be old or strong to hit the ball! This video is fun and competitive. The essential skills you will learn in this outstanding demonstration include the backhand slice, ground stroke, closing volley, overhead, cross-court shots and, the most challenging stroke, the serve. Furthermore, he goes over the correct way to hold a racquet, use proper footwork and how to keep score. What makes this video a must-have is that Smith is able to use children throughout the program to illustrate just how easy it is to learn the game of tennis! With the addition of this production to your collection, you will learn the proper techniques, have fun and be successful!

47 minutes. 2006.

55 Dynamic Agility and Conditioning Drills for Tennis

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with Todd Norman,
USC Men's Tennis Consultant;
Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (C.S.C.S.) by the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

"Training with Todd at The Cutting Edge has improved every aspect of my game. My strength, balance, conditioning, and quickness on the court is the best it's ever been. Most of all, I have regained the confidence in my health and fitness, which has developed the foundation for one of the best seasons in my professional career."
- Lindsay Davenport, 3X Grand Slam Singles Champion, 2004-05 Ranked World #1

Todd Norman, founder and owner of The Cutting Edge sports training center (Lake Forest, CA), is an expert in conditioning drills and a consultant for the USC men's tennis program. He is also a legendary figure in the world of speed, strength, quickness and agility training and has figured prominently in the success of several individuals, and teams, in the world of competitive athletics, including the WTA #1 (in 2004-05) ranked player Lindsay Davenport. This superb video encompasses a detailed outline of over 55 drills and exercises devoted to developing your torso, upper and lower body. A series of excellent warm-up drills are followed by some of Norman's most effective and innovative drills on stance mechanics, balance and body control. All of Norman's drills are challenging and rewarding, and each of them is taught in an easy-to-follow/learn, step-by-step method ... perfectly suited for video instruction! The last section on this outstanding video is packed with 20 drills that focus on quickness, base agility and tennis-specific movement training. You can turn up the intensity of any of these drills with the addition of bungee cords, cones, medicine balls and rubber bands. With this video you will learn to work hard, train smart and get the most success from your conditioning program.

78 minutes. 2006.


Becoming a Champion Tennis Player: Doubles Strategies and Techniques

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with Bill Mountford,
USPTA Elite Professional ;
former USTA National Tennis Center Director of Tennis (NTC) and US Open Director of Player Operations,
Founder of the HEAD Junior Tennis Academy (NJ)

Internationally-known for his teaching instruction and uncanny ability to successfully "troubleshoot" tennis players and coaches of all levels and ages on virtually every subject, Mountford has created one of the most useful doubles tennis "clinics on video" every created! On court demonstrations are used to allow aspiring tennis players to see, and then visualize, proper form and technique. Mountford teaches when it is appropriate to use alternative positioning for the server including the "kamikaze", "I-formation", and "server back". He also talks about when to use the "two back" when returning the serve. Mountford demonstrates the effectiveness of hitting deep on the opponent's court, in addition to knowing when to use shots such as the "dump volley" and the "block shot". He also teaches helpful group drills that include the "double hit volley", "service line quick volleys" and the "rotating volley". Not only does Mountford teach proper technique, but he also gives advice on becoming a positive teammate. By following Mountford's time-tested instruction, you will be on your way to becoming a "Champion" doubles tennis player.

55 minutes. 2005.

Kevin Epley's Advanced Doubles: Tactics, Positioning & Volley Drills

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with Kevin Epley,
University of South Carolina Head Coach;
2019 ITA/Wilson National Women's Coach of the Year;
2019 SEC Coach of the Year;
2019 Elite Eight appearance; 3x Sweet Sixteen appearances ('07, '17, '18);
15 NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 seasons as a head coach (South Carolina, William & Mary, Fresno State);
over 275 career wins;
has worked as a traveling coach for professional players Megan Moulton-Levy, Lindsay Lee-Waters, Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder;
former head coach of the St. Louis Aces (World Team Tennis League);
former U.S. Olympic team assistant coach (2000 Sydney games);
former U.S. Federation Cup team assistant coach (1997-2002)

Players often are reluctant to poach in doubles play, and when they do, often they are passed or are out of position even at the advanced level. Coach Kevin Epley addresses this dilemma inside this video. You will learn to run plays off of a partner's serve, how to anticipate where the ball is supposed to go before it is hit by the opponent, and how Epley encourages a proactive mindset in his players so that they are aggressive and fearless in doubles play.

Foundational Drills for Doubles

Coach Epley begins with a wide base volley warm-up with seven variations, in which he goes over the footwork needed to be successful at volleys in doubles. Additionally, his warm-up improves split step timing and developing defensive volley skills.

Proper doubles positioning, which will in turn affect a player's ability to poach at the net, is also covered. Epley introduces the EK Triangle Drill in which athletes work on navigating the one up, one back doubles formation. You'll also discover how Coach Epley teaches ball recognition so player can anticipate and force their opponent's hand in rallies to shift the odds in their favor.

Playbook of Patterns

Next, you'll learn how Epley's doubles team builds a playbook of patterns to run against opponents while serving. He introduces the criteria they use to develop the plays and how they will be used based on factors such as the opponent's tendencies and the location of the serve.

Additionally, Coach Epley explains where the server should stand to have the best chance of success. He covers the correct positioning of the net player for a planned poach, reaction poach from the I position, regular doubles formation and "offset I" formation.

Competitive Games

Coach Epley finishes with competitive games used to hone his team doubles skills. His games are high in intensity, as well as challenging and fun for players. The goal of them all is to get players involved in moving at the net and creating opportunities for their doubles team.

This video is chock full of valuable information to help players become more competent and aggressive doubles players. You'll learn how to develop the skills needed to anticipate opponents' moves on the court and how to cover the court at the net. This is a must-see for all doubles tennis players and coaches!

69 minutes. 2020.

'The Cauldron': Kevin Epley's High-Intensity Approach to Singles Practice

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with Kevin Epley,
University of South Carolina Head Coach;
2019 ITA/Wilson National Women's Coach of the Year;
2019 SEC Coach of the Year;
2019 Elite Eight appearance; 3x Sweet Sixteen appearances ('07, '17, '18);
15 NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 seasons as a head coach (South Carolina, William & Mary, Fresno State);
over 275 career wins;
has worked as a traveling coach for professional players Megan Moulton-Levy, Lindsay Lee-Waters, Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder;
former head coach of the St. Louis Aces (World Team Tennis League);
former U.S. Olympic team assistant coach (2000 Sydney games);
former U.S. Federation Cup team assistant coach (1997-2002)

It can be difficult to get your players to give maximum effort throughout the whole season, or even an entire practice. Thankfully, University of South Carolina's Kevin Epley has a solution to this dilemma: 'The Cauldron.'

In this video, Epley takes his team through series of drills, all built around making them compete by demanding high intensity and quality shot making. He shows you how his methods can be made to work for you and your own team. You'll be given a glimpse into what makes Epley's teams successful in one of the toughest conferences in the country.

'The Cauldron'

Coach Epley starts by discussing 'The Cauldron' and how he shapes his practices. You'll learn why competition is the basis behind his philosophy and how he fosters a competitive atmosphere in each practice session. He also covers the concept of "external cueing" and why it's important when training tennis players.

Live Practice

"The Clijsters" is a competitive drill that Epley uses to develop shot consistency and depth of shot. You'll see his players demonstrate the "Aggressor/Defender Drill along with five variations, which is a main staple of his team's training that promotes consistency and sound decision-making skills.

In the variety section of 'The Cauldron,' Epley introduces the Forbidden Box and the Mix Game. Both of these drills develop player fitness and consistency by challenging them to hit to prescribed areas of the court with point penalties for an inability to do so.

Serving, Volleying, Mental Toughness

Coach Epley includes additional games/drills that train:

  • Serving - Learn to section the serve box and simulate the return's baseline positioning to challenge players' serve consistency and placement.
  • Volleying - Improve the overall volley prowess of your players while building their conditioning with a rigorous exercise.
  • Mental Toughness - Watch as players go through a conditioning session, followed by a 7-point baseline drill which challenges their fitness level and develops toughness through adversity.
  • This is a great video for any coach looking to run a high-intensity practice containing drills and practice methods that will boost the talent level and conditioning of your players! Epley's system will help you see how to get your team playing with greater effort and purpose in the seasons ahead.

    51 minutes. 2020.

Ben Loeb's Best High School Tennis Practices: Dynamic Doubles Training

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with Ben Loeb, Ed.S.,
Rock Bridge High School (MO) Head Boys' & Girls' Tennis Coach;
Sport Psychology Teacher (9 years);
His tennis teams have won over 1,200 dual meets, 19 state championships, & 43 final four appearances;
Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) member;
American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology member;
Author of various articles and 3 books;
website is: benloebcoaching.com

Creating a practice plan that effectively builds both the shots and tactics that your players need to be successful in doubles matches can be a difficult task . A systematic approach that incorporates shots, tactics, and situations into the warm-up, drills, and games, can help your players develop at a much greater rate, develop a deeper understanding of tactics, and lead to even more success on the court!

Coach Loeb takes you through his systematic approach to doubles that he integrates into his practices, including the warm-up phase to start practices that will help your players develop shots that are utilized in a doubles match, as well as numerous types of serve and return that are most beneficial to doubles. He runs players through a variety of drills and games from simple 1 on 1 games to work on specific shots, to 2 on 1 drills and games to isolate specific positions in doubles, to 2 on 2 drills and games that work on specific situations or tactics. He also addresses alternative formations for serve and return and when to utilize these formations.

Warm-up progressions to help your players develop doubles specific shots and serve/return!

Learn a warm-up progression to help your players develop and practice strokes that are utilized in doubles matches, as well as specific serve and return situations. Coach Loeb shows you how you can utilize different rally drills, as well as serve and return variations, that isolate specific shots and patterns that are necessary for successful doubles. He firmly believes that players should be prepared to utilize multiple types of serves and return of serves in a doubles match.

Coach Loeb accomplishes this with drills like: Serve + 1 Drill to work on specific serves and returns, as well as transitioning to the next shot, Serve + 2 Drill to work on the follow up shots to each type of serve or return and more! Loeb shows a variety of different serve types and locations, as well as a variety of returns and locations that can be utilized in doubles matches.

Drills and games to help your players develop tactics and patterns of play that they can utilize in doubles matches!

Coach Loeb feels that it is important to isolate and practice different shots, roles and tactics that can be utilized in doubles matches, both defensively and in looking to be aggressive and finish points off. He does this with a variety of drills and games that focus on and isolate several roles, situations, and tactics. Loeb also shares two alternative formations for the serving team and one alternative formation for the return team and how to incorporate these into your practices and matches.

Coach Loeb feels it is important to isolate specific partner roles on a doubles team and work on the little details of positioning and shot placement, especially with the players at the net. One such way he does this is with his 2 on 1 series of drills that look to isolate one or both of the net players in specific situations.

Coach Loeb does a tremendous job of breaking down each phase of practice, clearly explaining the situations and tactics associated with each drill or game and how each is important to work on and what things to focus on with your teams you look to reinforce and strengthen these areas with your players. If you are looking to develop better doubles players and want a more productive systematic approach to practicing doubles that will take your practices, and your players' development, to the next level, this video is for you!

If you're looking for a way to improve upon how you practice doubles with your team, just need some new fresh ideas for doubles drills and games, or want to find ways to better teach the finer details of doubles tactics and situations, you'll find something in this video for you - I would highly recommend.-Customer Review

53 minutes. 2022.

Kevin Epley's Advanced Doubles: Tactics, Positioning & Volley Drills

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0

with Kevin Epley,
University of South Carolina Head Coach;
2019 ITA/Wilson National Women's Coach of the Year;
2019 SEC Coach of the Year;
2019 Elite Eight appearance; 3x Sweet Sixteen appearances ('07, '17, '18);
15 NCAA Tournament appearances in 15 seasons as a head coach (South Carolina, William & Mary, Fresno State);
over 275 career wins;
has worked as a traveling coach for professional players Megan Moulton-Levy, Lindsay Lee-Waters, Lindsay Davenport and Patty Schnyder;
former head coach of the St. Louis Aces (World Team Tennis League);
former U.S. Olympic team assistant coach (2000 Sydney games);
former U.S. Federation Cup team assistant coach (1997-2002)

Players often are reluctant to poach in doubles play, and when they do, often they are passed or are out of position even at the advanced level. Coach Kevin Epley addresses this dilemma inside this video. You will learn to run plays off of a partner's serve, how to anticipate where the ball is supposed to go before it is hit by the opponent, and how Epley encourages a proactive mindset in his players so that they are aggressive and fearless in doubles play.

Foundational Drills for Doubles

Coach Epley begins with a wide base volley warm-up with seven variations, in which he goes over the footwork needed to be successful at volleys in doubles. Additionally, his warm-up improves split step timing and developing defensive volley skills.

Proper doubles positioning, which will in turn affect a player's ability to poach at the net, is also covered. Epley introduces the EK Triangle Drill in which athletes work on navigating the one up, one back doubles formation. You'll also discover how Coach Epley teaches ball recognition so player can anticipate and force their opponent's hand in rallies to shift the odds in their favor.

Playbook of Patterns

Next, you'll learn how Epley's doubles team builds a playbook of patterns to run against opponents while serving. He introduces the criteria they use to develop the plays and how they will be used based on factors such as the opponent's tendencies and the location of the serve.

Additionally, Coach Epley explains where the server should stand to have the best chance of success. He covers the correct positioning of the net player for a planned poach, reaction poach from the I position, regular doubles formation and "offset I" formation.

Competitive Games

Coach Epley finishes with competitive games used to hone his team doubles skills. His games are high in intensity, as well as challenging and fun for players. The goal of them all is to get players involved in moving at the net and creating opportunities for their doubles team.

This video is chock full of valuable information to help players become more competent and aggressive doubles players. You'll learn how to develop the skills needed to anticipate opponents' moves on the court and how to cover the court at the net. This is a must-see for all doubles tennis players and coaches!

69 minutes. 2020.

Becoming a Champion Tennis Player: The Serve

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with Bill Mountford,
Senior Vice President of World TeamTennis;
former USTA National Tennis Center Director of Tennis (NTC) and US Open Director of Player Operations,
Founder of the HEAD Junior Tennis Academy (NJ)

In this excellent "how to" tennis DVD, Bill Mountford demonstrates over a dozen drills that will help improve your confidence in the "most important shot in tennis," the serve! He begins by explaining the basic guidelines of serving, including proper foot positioning, grip strength, racket head acceleration, and ball toss. With the help of his students, Mountford then demonstrates an arsenal of serving drills which focus on improving individual dynamics of the serve, developing all around coordination, and improving performance in pressure situations and under fatigue. In nearly every situation, Mountford explains the drill to you as a player, and provides teaching tips for coaches - this DVD offers valuable advice and training ideas to tennis players and tennis coaches at all levels.

47 minutes. 2005.

Mega Tennis Drills: Live Ball Drills

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with Eric Wammock,
Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center (Hilton Head Island) Head Tennis Professional; USPTA Elite Professional;
Hilton Head Christian Academy Tennis Coach
(State Runner-up '12, State Semifinals '13);
collegiate All-American, former ITF Professional;
at age 21 was the youngest D-I college head coach ever (VCU);
USPTA South Carolina Pro of the Year ('97)

Eric Wammock has taught tennis at all levels for over twenty five years; we figure he is closing in on about 75,000 hours of tennis teaching! In this exceptional DVD, you will get an exclusive 'inside lesson' from Eric on his favorite Live Ball Drills.

Live Ball Drills simulate what happens in a match; therefore, these are ideally suited for the more advanced and experienced players on your team. Wammock demonstrates each drill with precision, adding teaching points and detailed insight on the purpose of each drill, how to properly teach it and execute it, and then shows what it will look like.

This is the best 'live ball' drills DVD available anywhere!

102 minutes. 2012.

"I've known Eric Wammock for a lot of years. We worked together at Sea Pines Resort. He certainly knows the game very well. I've seen him on the court teaching ... he's even worked with my kids. Any advice Eric gives will be very helpful to anyone who wants to learn the game!"
- Stan Smith, Hall of Fame tennis player

The Volley & the Overhead

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with Eric Wammock,
Palmetto Dunes Tennis Center (Hilton Head Island) Head Tennis Professional; USPTA Elite Professional;
Hilton Head Christian Academy Tennis Coach
(State Runner-up '12, State Semifinals '13);
collegiate All-American, former ITF Professional;
at age 21 was the youngest D-I college head coach ever (VCU);
USPTA South Carolina Pro of the Year ('97)

Because of the simplicity and seemingly unchanged nature of the basic volley over time, this fundamental stroke is often under-practiced and under-studied.

Eric Wammock's many years as a student and teacher of the game have equipped him with the perfect balance of being able to share all the relevant information and the ability to do so in a way that is logical, purposeful and will help you build your player's game to its fullest potential.

The forehand volley, the backhand volley and the overhead are all fully covered from grip to feet to racquet and all of the extra detail that will take your stroke to the next level!

52 minutes. 2012.

David Bailey's Training FootworkTennis Series

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TND-05610A:

with David Bailey,
Founder of The Bailey Method (a research-based, data driver tennis footwork & movement training program);
footwork & movement consultant and trainer to over 21 Grand Slam players;
over 30 years of coaching experience;
USPTA World Conference presenter, writer for TennisPro Magazine and tennisplayer.net

Footwork and movement are vital to success in tennis, yet they are often overlooked when it comes to player development. Many coaches spend too much time on teaching stroke fundamentals and not enough time on the movement necessary to execute them.

Using a five-step progression methodology, David Bailey demonstrates four groundstroke techniques in this video, including the front foot hop, rhythm step down, low spin, and run-around transfer. Coach Bailey provides in-depth technique breakdown during these steps, allowing you to see how fundamentals can be implemented in a medium-to-large group setting.

Five Stages of Footwork Training

You will learn how to use a progressive teaching methodology to break down advanced footwork techniques. Bailey explains the teaching points he emphasizes for each of the four groundstroke techniques:

  • Shadow - Players shadow the movement of the coach, using a template.
  • Shadow the Move - Players shadow the movement of the coach again, this time without a template.
  • Move into Lines - Players move into lines and take turns practicing the moves with a ball thrown by the coach.
  • Remain in Lines - Players remain in lines and take turns practicing the moves, this time with a self-feed.
  • Split into Two Groups - Players split into two even groups and use the same self-drop, only this time they play out the point.

Four Groundstroke Techniques

Coach Bailey begins by teaching players how to use the template (two colored discs) to teach form for the split step - a step that is vital in the sport of tennis. The split step, along with the necessary `ready steps' are emphasized throughout the four groundstroke techniques. Using his five stages of footwork training, Bailey begins teaching the first groundstroke technique: the front foot hop. Using the template, he breaks down the appropriate hip, body, and foot movement necessary to execute proper forehand and backhand technique associated with the front foot hop. Throughout the five stages, Bailey emphasizes ready steps, split steps, and recovery position.

Practice progresses and cycles into the other three groundstroke techniques, all shown through the lens of the five stage progression. As a coach, you will not only get a sound feel for how to demonstrate these shots to your athletes, but you will also get to see how they can be incorporated to teach multiple players at the same time.

One of the more valuable components of this video comes from getting to see how players progress from shadow moves all the way to live ball situations. Throughout the entire video, Bailey uses positive, concise phrasing to reinforce these techniques and provides a stimulating, exciting environment from which the players can thrive.

You will clearly see that Bailey has dedicated his coaching life to mastering the art of teaching footwork and movement to his players. Tennis coaches of all levels will greatly benefit from this video, as you not only learn the intricacies of proper movement, but you learn how to teach them in a way that makes it easy and fun for a group!

45 minutes. 2019.



TND-05610B:

with David Bailey,
Founder of The Bailey Method (a research-based, data driver tennis footwork & movement training program);
footwork & movement consultant and trainer to over 21 Grand Slam players;
over 30 years of coaching experience;
USPTA World Conference presenter, writer for TennisPro Magazine and tennisplayer.net

The best tennis players in the world move elegantly around the court with amazing footwork. All tennis players know the importance of good footwork - it allows athletes to get to more wide balls, hit more powerful shots, and recover more efficiently.

Yet, few players practice footwork consistently. For many, footwork seems too complex and boring to practice. Even experienced tennis coaches have trouble teaching it and getting their students interested in working on movement.

Thankfully, in this video, world renowned tennis footwork and movement training guru David Bailey presents how tennis footwork and movement training can be incorporated into practice. By following progressions that transition from easy to challenging, Bailey demonstrates a fun, dynamic way of learning footwork.

Rallying Footwork

The focus of this video is how to handle balls in baseline rallies. For most players, the majority of shots are hit from the baseline, and it is fundamental to be in an optimum position to handle different types of shots received. Rallying footwork involves maintaining a player's position on the baseline regardless of the speed or spin of the shot received. Coach Bailey guides a small group through four footwork patterns that can be utilized to handle these rally situations:

  • The 2 Foot Pivot - Ideal to handle fast, incoming balls.
  • 1 Foot Pivot - A way to generate a good mix of spin and power when the player has more time.
  • Lateral Hop - Utilized when ball is a few strides away. A great footwork pattern to execute when the player wants to go cross court or short angle.
  • Closed Backhand - The standard footwork pattern for one-handed and two-handed backhands.

Throughout the video, Bailey gives technical quick tips on how to adjust the forehand and backhand for each of the footwork patterns.

5 Stages of Footwork Training

With over 30 years of coaching experience to draw upon, Coach Bailey has developed a fun and effective progressive method of learning footwork. The power of this method is that even beginners can perform the footwork patterns and improve their movement. For each of the four rallying footwork patterns, Bailey demonstrates each stage of his footwork progression:

1. Shadow - This first progression is done without a racket. The player executes the footwork pattern at a slow pace with emphasis on performing quality repetitions for both the backhand and forehand.
2. Shadow the Move - The second progression is done at the baseline with the racket but no tennis ball. The player shadows both the forehand and backhand. The instructor can observe every player in a large group very easily.
3. Lines - In the third progression, the instructor introduces the ball with hand feeds. The player executes the footwork pattern for both forehands and backhands in a slow, controlled manner.
4. Self-Feed - In the fourth progression, the player feeds a ball to themselves and executes the footwork pattern. By this stage, the player will start to become more comfortable with the footwork.
5. Full Court - In the fifth progression, players self-feed and play out points. The emphasis is still on executing the footwork pattern correctly in a live ball situation.

Ideal for Groups

Coach Bailey's Method is perfect for learning in a group. In the early progressions which are done at a slow pace, the instructor can easily observe multiple players and courts executing the footwork pattern and make corrections as necessary. As the ball is introduced, the patterns can be practiced by the group with fun point-play. If the group has been diligent about going through the progressions slowly, each player will quickly experience better footwork and movement by the time they play points against each other.

Contrary to popular belief, footwork can be fun to learn, and, will greatly improve a player's results on the court! Coach Bailey demonstrates a quick and effective way to learn rallying footwork patterns in this great video.

35 minutes. 2019.



TND-05610C:

with David Bailey,
Founder of The Bailey Method (a research-based, data driver tennis footwork & movement training program);
footwork & movement consultant and trainer to over 21 Grand Slam players;
over 30 years of coaching experience;
USPTA World Conference presenter, writer for TennisPro Magazine and tennisplayer.net

David Bailey shares many of the progressions and training tips he uses to teach defensive footwork for tennis players. You'll learn multiple footwork patterns and shots specific to defensive play that will ensure you're never caught off-guard by an aggressive opponent during a match.

Defensive Footwork

The focus of this video is how to handle balls that put the player in a defensive position. Defensive footwork is needed when a player is pushed very wide or back off the baseline by a high, floating ball. Coach Bailey guides a group of players through four footwork patterns that can be utilized to handle these defensive situations:

  • The Mogul Move - The most common method to handle wide balls.
  • The Power Move - A fun footwork pattern to generate more power on wide balls
  • Backfoot Hop - A way to handle balls that push the player back and still generate lots of topspin.
  • Reverse Spin Move - For players who love to hit semi-open and generate a heavy ball - even from a defensive position.

Throughout the video, Bailey gives technical quick tips on how to adjust the forehand and backhand for each of the footwork patterns.

5 Stages of Footwork Training

With over 30 years of footwork and movement training coaching experience to draw upon, Coach Bailey has developed a fun and effective progressive method of learning footwork. The power of this method is that even beginners can perform the footwork patterns and improve their movement. For each of the four rallying footwork patterns, Bailey demonstrates each stage of his footwork progression:

1. Shadow - This first progression is done without a racket. The player executes the footwork pattern at a slow pace with emphasis on performing quality repetitions for both the backhand and forehand.
2. Shadow the Move - The second progression is done at the baseline with the racket but no tennis ball. The player shadows both the forehand and backhand. The instructor can observe every player in a large group very easily.
3. Lines - In the third progression, the instructor introduces the ball with hand feeds. The player executes the footwork pattern for both forehands and backhands in a slow, controlled manner.
4. Self-Feed - In the fourth progression, the player feeds a ball to themselves and executes the footwork pattern. By this stage, the player will start to become more comfortable with the footwork.
5. Full Court - In the fifth progression, players self-feed and play out points. The emphasis is still on executing the footwork pattern correctly in a live ball situation.

There will be times during a match where all players must go on the defensive in order to win points. This video from Coach Bailey will help you shore up your defensive footwork, or teach it to your athletes, so you can emerge victorious in more matches.

58 minutes. 2019.



Chris Lewit Coaching Tennis 4-Pack

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TND-04927A: with Chris Lewit, certified USTA High Performance Coach;
former nationally ranked junior and #1 player at Cornell University;
competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite junior coach)

Certified USTA High Performance Coach and former nationally ranked junior player, Chris Lewit, considers the serve to be the most difficult shot to teach in the game of tennis. Despite the degree of difficulty, Coach Lewit has become a master at instructing the serve, and has included the important concepts, technical aspects and myth busting you need to become a great server in this video. You'll learn Coach Lewit's four favorite drills for teaching the serve in addition to seeing them put into action during two live serving lessons.

Technical Reference Points and Drills

To perfect the serve, you must first understand the mechanics that are behind it. Coach Lewit breaks down the stance and grip that are commonly used, and points out the "L shape" position that players need to be in after they've tossed the ball. Every phase of the serve is covered step-by-step, from the initial stance to the landing after hitting the ball, to ensure that athletes can pinpoint which steps they need to work on to make improvements.

Once every step has been explained, Coach Lewit goes into his four favorite drills for developing the serve: the L Shape Drill, the 5-5-5 Drill, Toss & Check and Jumping Drills. The drills will help you or your athletes improve muscle memory, rhythm of the toss, movement without the ball, balance, coordination, stability and body awareness.

Serve Lessons

Coach Lewit instructs a young boy and a young girl through two separate individual serving lessons. In the first lesson, the player works on driving the back leg and landing after the serve. The second lesson focuses on loading the back leg and trying to get full body extension so that more power can be produced.

No matter what level of athlete he's coaching, Coach Lewit believes in refining the technique until it's as perfect as possible. By introducing simple methods and exercises and treating the serve as a biomechanical movement, you'll quickly be able to teach your students to serve well.

This video is a great resource for a coach or athlete who wants to learn every step of the serve. Coach Lewit's instruction is easy to follow and perfect for all skill levels.

58 minutes. 2016.



TND-04927B: with Chris Lewit, certified USTA High Performance Coach;
former nationally ranked junior and #1 player at Cornell University;
competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite junior coach)

Chris Lewit, certified USTA High Performance Coach, presents a video packed with skills and drills designed to help athletes learn the difficult kick serve. Coach Lewit's three keys to a successful kick serve are the angle, height and spin sound generated by the player. Through a series of three individual lessons, you'll see how Coach Lewit teaches this technique to his athletes, transitioning from a beginning-level player who's never done a kick serve before, to an experienced player that only needs to fine tune the details.

Lesson 1: Starting the Kick Serve

For a beginning player, Coach Lewit begins by moving the athlete closer to the net for the Mini Tennis Serve drill. One of the first points instructed is the importance of tossing the ball slightly to the left (for a right hander), which will put it into the correct spot needed for solid contact.

A challenge for beginning kick servers is learning not to slice. Spin should be put on the ball, but it should be primarily downward, not to the side. Key aspects of the serve include extending the tricep on contact, turning the shoulders and keeping an exaggerated sideways position. Coach Lewit believes that if the player is struggling with the full motion, then breaking the serve down into different steps can help them learn more effectively.

Lesson 2: Technique

Once players have graduated from the beginning phase, then you can begin to teach them more advanced techniques. In this lesson, Coach Lewit teaches an athlete how to add more height to the serve by changing the racket face angle and pushing up more on the contact with the ball. He also goes over how staying sideways can help create the proper angle and maximize spin.

Keeping the lower back straight when executing the kick serve is necessary to prevent a stress injury. Coach Lewit explains how to keep the lower back straight while bending the neck and pushing out the chest to create a slight curve in the upper back. The resulting body position is perfect for players as they execute the kick serve.

Lesson 3: Fine Tuning the Serve

The final phase of the kick serve is working on the small details that can be the difference between a good and great serve. In this lesson, Coach Lewit reinforces keeping an L shape with the elbow on the toss in addition to keeping the head up on the serve. When athletes are consistently hitting good kick serves, Coach Lewit has them begin to work on a "surprise serve" to break out when their opponent begins to cheat too far to one side.

The instruction in this video is perfect for beginning, intermediate or advanced athletes. Coach Lewit's skills and drills are sure to help you or your players improve the kick serve.

84 minutes. 2016.



TND-04927C: with Chris Lewit, certified USTA High Performance Coach;
former nationally ranked junior and #1 player at Cornell University;
competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite junior coach)

Eight years spent traveling and studying tennis instructors in Spain has left Chris Lewit with a wealth of coaching knowledge that he's eager to share. In this video, the certified USTA High Performance Coach explains the philosophies and terminologies that Spanish coaches use to train the footwork of their tennis players. You'll also get drills used by Spanish coaches designed to create world-class tennis players. Once you've seen and heard how footwork is taught in Spain, you'll know why the country produces so many elite players!

Philosophies and Terminology

Coach Lewit discusses the different terms and theories that he's learned from observing some of Spain's best tennis coaches. You'll learn about receiving and sending the ball, what the "support system" is, as well as how the Spanish train balance, footwork, agility and more!

In Spain, footwork is integrated while working on the rest of the body and is rarely isolated. Coach Lewit debunks the myth that Spanish teachings focus on the open stance. Instead, he explains that a closed stance is more common. Coach Lewit has learned that Spanish players are taught to "suffer," or in other words, run and try to hit every ball. Getting behind the ball (getting the body set up to hit) is stressed, making it crucial that players sprint to receive every shot.

Drills

Coach Lewit includes nine of the most common footwork drills that he's seen used by Spanish tennis coaches. Many of the drills force players to move all over the court, improving their conditioning while working on making solid contact with the ball. Being set for every shot and "suffering" in every drill will train your players to dig deep and play at their maximum level on the court.

Resistance belts are introduced for advanced players who have worked a lot on their movement and need an additional challenge. Coach Lewit warns against using bands that are too heavy for younger players, as they'll only hurt the athlete's ability to learn the proper technique. When used properly, these drills will improve the quickness, agility, reaction time and coordination of your players.

Coach Lewit's instruction is both clear and informative. If you or the athletes you coach are looking to improve your footwork and have it mirror some of the best Spanish players in the world, then this is the video for you.

68 minutes. 2016.



TND-04927D: with Chris Lewit, certified USTA High Performance Coach;
former nationally ranked junior and #1 player at Cornell University;
competed on USTA and ITF professional circuit;
studied under Lluis Bruguera (former Spanish Davis Cup coach), Pato Alvarez (former top 10 player and Spanish coach) and Gilad Bloom (former Israeli ATP player and elite junior coach)

Spanish players are known worldwide for hitting a powerful ball, and a large part of that stems from the way Spanish instructors have coached athletes for many decades. Chris Lewit, certified USTA High Performance Coach, has spent time traveling all over Spain to observe how Spanish coaches teach the techniques, theory and exercises that go into a forehand. Now, Coach Lewit is here to pass his knowledge on to you, so you or your pupils can hit forehands the Spanish way.

Drills

Coach Lewit includes six drills that will help you perfect the Spanish forehand: the Racket Acceleration Drill, the Front Racket Speed Drill, the Advanced Acceleration Drill, the Alternating Sides Acceleration Drill, the Low Ball Drill and the Swinging Volley Drill.

The Racket Acceleration Drill is designed to help players accelerate and work the ball as deep as possible to their target. You'll see how keeping a solid base and firing your hip can help the ball jump off your racket and cause problems for your opponent.

As Coach Lewit runs through the steps behind each drill, he also presents common technique mistakes that players make while practicing each shot. An example of this is having the ball drop short while working on racket speed. It's important to hit the ball with great depth on every forehand to make it more difficult for your opponent to complete a return.

Forehand Lessons

Two forehand lessons are included in the second half of the video. The first lesson is with a more experienced player, while the second lesson features a younger, intermediate-level athlete.

In each lesson, Coach Lewit works to analyze where the player's forehand is at. Once he's determined what the athlete needs to work on, he begins to incorporate any of the previous six drills that will help the player improve. Posture, balance, stability, level changing, hitting for depth and spin generation are among the skills taught by Coach Lewit in these lessons.

Everything you need to know about the Spanish forehand is included in this video. This is a great resource for both coaches and players who desire to add some tenacity to their forehand.

63 minutes. 2016.



Ben Loeb's Best High School Tennis Practices: On-Court Mental Performance

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with Ben Loeb, Ed.S.,
Rock Bridge High School (MO) Head Boys' & Girls' Tennis Coach;
Sport Psychology Teacher (9 years);
His tennis teams have won over 1,200 dual meets, 19 state championships, & 43 final four appearances;
Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) member;
American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology member;
Author of various articles and 3 books;
website is: benloebcoaching.com

In this video you will learn about on-court mental performance practice and strategies. This video will be beneficial for individuals and teams looking to improve their pre-match preparation and to be able to adjust within a match and to work on being more competitive in practice simulating match-like conditions. Coach Loeb does a great job going through his different mental performance strategies and explaining drills that he uses to help his players be successful in competitive situations.

Planning for the opportunities where mental performance training and preparation will be called into action

Coach Loeb takes you through his approach pre-point, during the point and between points to help create positive mental imagery that will lead to increased performance on the court. He has his players go through a shadow tennis exercise to highlight his ideas of Response, Ready, and Re-Invest which emphasizes mental and physical cues before the point and during the point. He talks about body language, breathing techniques, and the release of positive energy to help re-gain control, focus and trust during a match. This is important because you have to have a plan during the match, a plan for how to adjust during the match and a plan for what to do if things aren't going well during a match.

In this video you will learn 10 different competitive games that will help players apply these mental performance techniques to their tennis. These drills are competitive (which players love), during practice and will help you simulate different scenarios that might come up during a match like being down 2 sets, having only 9 serves to win a game, starting games of 15-30 or 30-15 and more!

These games are important because it puts players in real situations that they might face in a match. Also, beyond these drills, there is no substitute for playing full sets out!

Learning other approaches for the coach to consider with their team

Coach Loeb also devotes part of this video to other techniques that he uses to get the most out of his players. These include asking questions to his players about understanding their true selves. He also creates themes for the day and has players write down responses to these different themes. Lastly, Coach Loeb talks about visualization, taking time for breathing/meditation and being able to stay present and focused within the moment. This is important because you have to be equipped to handle adversity, visualize success and focus on what's important now.

This video is for individuals and teams looking to take their games to the next level. Coach Loeb shares his ideas of attacking the mental side of the game with the same vigor as the physical side of the game. This video features terrific mental performance training strategies and techniques to use before a match, during a match, before points, during points and in-between points. Coupled with the competitive drills shared, this is a video every coach should add to their library!

39 minutes. 2022.

Ben Loeb's Best High School Tennis Practices: Warm-up, Singles Drills and Games & More!

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with Ben Loeb, Ed.S.,
Rock Bridge High School (MO) Head Boys' & Girls' Tennis Coach;
Sport Psychology Teacher (9 years);
His tennis teams have won over 1,200 dual meets, 19 state championships, & 43 final four appearances;
Association of Applied Sport Psychology (AASP) member;
American Psychological Association (APA) Division 47 Society for Sport, Exercise & Performance Psychology member;
Author of various articles and 3 books;
website is: benloebcoaching.com

Creating the best possible practice for your players that helps them develop both technical aspects of their strokes, as well as tactical work, can be a challenge for every coach. Effective practice organization and drills can help your players develop at a much greater rate and lead to even more success on the court.

Coach Loeb takes you through his ABCs of Tennis Basics that he integrates into all of their practices, including in his three different types of warm-up phases to start practices that will help your players develop improved consistency and get them ready for practice. He runs players through a variety of drills from simple rally and volley drills at different lengths to serve and return variations, including his Serve +2 Each drills for serve and return to help players start points strong.

Drills to help your players practice playing to their style of play and against other styles of play.

Learn how to use a variety of drills and games to help your players develop and practice strokes that match their primary and secondary styles of play, as well as playing against any style of play. Coach Loeb shows you how you can utilize different rally drills and competitive games that isolate specific shots and patterns that each style of play would utilize. He firmly believes that players should be prepared to utilize multiple styles of play, as well as be prepared to play against all styles of play. Coach Loeb accomplishes this with drills like:

  • Feed +2/+3 shots that will help players develop counter-punchers and consistency of play.
  • The aggressive baseliner drill to help players develop both offensive and defensive styles of play.
  • The approach game and 1-back, 1-back game to work on developing players with an all-court game.

Coach Loeb shows a variety of unique ways to score each of these games to further emphasize the style of play he wants his players to work on in practice.

Drills and games to help your players develop different patterns of play that they can utilize in matches!

Coach Loeb feels that it is important to practice and develop simple patterns of play that players can utilize in matches to be more consistent and learn to look for opportunities to take control and finish off points. He does this with a variety of drills that focus on and isolate several common patterns of play. You can learn drills that help your players develop and master these same patterns of play with games like:

  • Feed +2 Cross-court Game that helps your players develop the ability to play consistently cross-court, but also gain confidence in attacking down the line.
  • An inside-out forehand version of the Feed +2 Cross-court Game to work on running around your forehand to develop a more attacking mindset.
  • Heavy Lob Feed/Return Game to help your players work on attacking with high deep lobs to force your opponent into a weak return.

Coach Loeb also shares two games that will help your players develop the ability to attack their opponents by pulling them wide off the court.

Simulating match-like competition in practice sessions!

Coach Loeb knows how important it is for players to experience match-like pressure in practices to help them stay relaxed and confident during the crucial points of matches.

He has tremendous success with his teams by playing games with unique scoring systems or rules to help players better adapt and practice those situations.

One game that he uses in practice is the Same Corner Start and Opposite Corner Start games, where both players start behind the baseline in a corner on either the same side of the court or the opposite side of the court. The ball is fed and then players play out the point having to work from a defensive start to get into control of the point.

Coach Loeb does a tremendous job of breaking down each phase of practice, explaining the importance of why each area is important to work on and what things to focus on with your team, and showing you drills and games to help you reinforce and strengthen these areas with your players. If you are looking to run a more efficient and productive practice that will take your practices, and your players development, to the next level, this video is for you!

If you are looking to develop more efficient/effective practices that work on specific areas of the game with players that are already capable of consistency in a rally, this would be a good video for you. A very detailed breakdown of various phases of a practice ...he does a great job of framing them in with little scoring or rule tweaks that help work on very specific situations/styles. Really made me think about how I could tweak some of my own drills and games I already use to be more effective with them - I would highly recommend.
-Customer Review

50 minutes. 2022.

High Performance Tennis Practice: Bridging, Bonding, Building

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with Steve Bender,
Saint Joseph High School (IN) Head Boys Coach;
NFHSCA 2020 Indiana Boys Tennis Coach of the Year;
2x IHSTECA District 1 Coach of the Year;
3x NIC Coach of the Year;
former Holy Cross at Notre Dame College Head Men's and Women's Coach;
2017 Women's College Tennis Conference Coach of the Year;
former Buchanan High School (MI) Head Boys Coach;
2003 Michigan High School State Title;
2x Michigan High School Tennis Coach of the Year (1995, 2002);
member of the Buchanan High School Athletic Hall of Fame (2015), Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame (2011), Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame (2010), and Albion College Athletics Hall of Fame (1998)

Over the course of his career, veteran tennis coach Steve Bender has identified the best ways to build a tennis program that not only contains good players, but also features a tight-knit culture where athletes enjoy being part of the team. In this video, you'll learn the philosophy that's at the center of Bender's coaching beliefs, while also adding great practice drills and exercises to your own 'bag of tricks.'

Bridging, Bonding, Building

Coach Bender begins by explaining the philosophy that helped his team build a family atmosphere: Bridging, Bonding, Building. This philosophy is centered around the idea that relationships are the most important thing when constructing a championship program. Broken down, each phase means:

  • Bridging - Helping new players transition into the program.
  • Bonding - Creating activities that bring the team closer.
  • Building - Use competition to create pressure for quality improvement.

You'll learn why Bender scores everything his team does at practice to fuel the Bridging, Bonding, Building philosophy.

Practice Session

Coach Bender's practice begins with his Wacky Warm-Up, which is a five-part warm-up that incorporates stretching, footwork, and band work. Once it is over, players pick up their rackets and run through a few more warm-up drills that incorporate hitting.

The Team Ground Stroke Series is the next main phase of practice. The series includes six different games that get athletes moving and improving, and is a great way to practice doubles concepts.

In order to play effective tennis, you must have players that are in supreme physical condition. Bender showcases exercises that will build your athletes' endurance and explosiveness. Between drills, players are served a tennis trivia quiz that is designed to stimulate their brains and increase their knowledge of the game. To close out practice, Coach Bender pushes his athletes through more drills and games that are competitive in nature, increase tennis skills and build team camaraderie.

If you have ever felt like your tennis practices are stale or your players need to get closer as a team, this video from Coach Bender contains some great ideas for making practice engaging for everyone!

95 Minutes. 2021.

Fun Drills & Games for Tennis Practice

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with Steve Bender,
Saint Joseph High School (IN) Head Boys Coach;
NFHSCA 2020 Indiana Boys Tennis Coach of the Year;
2x IHSTECA District 1 Coach of the Year;
3x NIC Coach of the Year;
former Holy Cross at Notre Dame College Head Men's and Women's Coach;
2017 Women's College Tennis Conference Coach of the Year;
former Buchanan High School (MI) Head Boys Coach;
2003 Michigan High School State Title;
2x Michigan High School Tennis Coach of the Year (1995, 2002);
member of the Buchanan High School Athletic Hall of Fame (2015), Michigan High School Coaches Hall of Fame (2011), Michigan High School Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame (2010), and Albion College Athletics Hall of Fame (1998)

Do your tennis practices need a jolt of excitement? Saint Joseph High School head coach Steve Bender has formulated a collection of drills and games for tennis over the course of his 42 year career that are sure to make your players look forward to every practice. Not only will your athletes have more fun - they will compete harder and improve at a faster rate, which will help your program achieve its goals faster than ever!

Drills and Games

The first drill shown is Net Cord, Short Court, which is a great drill to foster creativity and competitiveness. Players compete against their opponents on the other side of the net, but also race to be the first team to seven points across all courts running the drill. After a team has been crowned the victor, the next progression is Net Cord, Long Court, which increases the area of the court that players are allowed to target.

Next up is Beat the Champ, which rewards players for stringing together a streak of points in a row. Two Ball Attack, a half-court game, trains athletes to attack the net and win by being aggressive. A fantastic drill for working on ground strokes is South Bend Shuffle, which is a fast-moving game that features a secondary goal of sprinting to touch the next to receive an extra point.

MORE Drills and Games

As the video progresses, Coach Bender shows you more exciting drills and games, including Davis Cup, Lobster Cup, Replace the Mistake, Tag Team, Five Spot Go For It and more. The last game shown is Tennis Football, which is a great way to end practice. Tennis Football doubles as a great conditioning drill, and promotes moving quickly and making split-second decisions.

Tennis is a game, and games are meant to be fun. Kick your practices up a notch with this great collection of drills and games courtesy of Coach Bender that will bring out the smiles of your entire team as they improve their tennis skills throughout the season.

77 Minutes. 2021.


Skill Development Games for Beginner to Intermediate Players

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with Al Slawson,
USPTA (P-1),
Shaker Heights (OH) Varsity Boys and Girls Tennis,
Shaker Heights Recreation Dept.,
Director of Junior Tennis

Forget about line drills! Forget about complicated explanations of technique! Players want to have fun, compete, and get better. This can be done from the first time hitting a ball to the state championship. Learn how to teach tennis and play tennis with a proven system of competitive games that moves players to increasingly higher levels. More importantly, teach players to " love the game"! High school coaches, tennis professionals, physical education instructors at all levels, and camp directors for recreation programs can use these games to increase enthusiasm for the game and improve skills rapidly. Parents who want to introduce the game to their children in a way that is fun for parent and child, as well as players who want to know how to practice effectively, can also benefit from this video. Slawson has used this system to develop one of the most successful high school and recreation tennis programs in Ohio.

2000. 50 minutes.





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