Hi!

Here’s a group tennis session for 8 players, focused on learning the lob and the full attacking volley in order to improve both technique and forward movement!

Main objective:

Work on lob technique (defensive and offensive), learn how to handle an opponent’s lob, and quickly follow up with a forward transition to the net to finish with a volley.

Duration: 90 min

Warm-up (15–20 min)

Jog to get the body going – 5 min

• Easy running around the court with active arms.

Goal: raise body temperature and improve spatial awareness.

Skips (high knees) and heel kicks – 5 min

• High skips, then heel kicks.
• Mobilise knees and hamstrings in preparation for quick forward movements.

Side steps + sprint back – 5 min

• 2 × (10 m side steps + 10 m sprint back).
• Simulates lateral movement followed by a quick recovery to the baseline.

Light volleys in pairs – 5 min

• The 8 players are split into 4 pairs (pairs A–B, C–D, E–F and G–H).
• Each pair stands about one metre apart, on the front half of the court (inside the service boxes), facing each other, with no net between them.
• They exchange volleys at short distance, without a bounce.
• Alternate forehand / backhand every 4 shots.
• Strokes should be light, relaxed and controlled: we’re warming up shoulders, not trying to win points.
• Encourage a smooth and continuous rhythm.
• Switch sides after 2 minutes if needed to change visual references.

Break (5 min)

Drills (40 min)

COURT A: The perfect topspin lob (20 min)

The topspin lob is an attacking shot in tennis where the ball drops back down quickly into the court. Here’s how to execute it correctly:

• Use the same grip and preparation as for your topspin groundstrokes. At the end of the preparation, the racket should be almost down at ankle level, with the arm extended and the knees bent.
• Make sure your weight is loaded on the back leg. This gives you a stable base and helps you generate power.
• At contact, push up with the back leg and rotate your upper body upwards. Swing the racket from low to high to create topspin.
• At impact, make sure the strings are parallel to the net. Keep the wrist soft and relaxed so the racket can accelerate.
• Continue the motion by guiding the ball up and forward along a clearly upward trajectory. At the end of the stroke, the racket should finish well above your head.

How it works:

• Player A comes onto the court, receives a ball from the coach and hits a topspin lob cross-court or down the line.
• Once the shot is played, they step out and go to the back of the line.
• Player B takes their place, then C, then D, and so on.
• The rotation continues and everyone takes their turn.

COURT B: Defensive lob + approach to the net – 4 players rotating (20 min)

This drill combines a defensive backhand lob followed by a transition to the net and a winning volley.

How it works:

• Players F, G and H line up behind the baseline on the backhand side.
• Player E acts as the feeder on the opposite side with a basket of balls.
• Each player takes a turn.
• Player F receives a ball to the backhand side and plays a defensive lob.
• Right after the lob, they move quickly up to the net.
• The feeder returns the ball if possible; if not, they send another one, which player F plays as a winning volley.
• Player F (the former feeder) goes to the back of the line.
• Player F then becomes the feeder.
• Player G steps into F’s original spot, and so on.

Coaching points:

The lob must be high and deep to buy time.
The approach to the net must be quick, without waiting.
The volley should be aggressive and well placed to finish the point.

Switch courts after 20 min: players change courts, but the drills remain the same on each side.

End-of-session drill: Hunter vs Pack (30 min)

• On each court: the hunter – one player (e.g. A on court A, E on court B) – plays against 3 opponents: the pack, who rotate after each point.
• The hunter faces 1 opponent at a time, the others wait and rotate after every point.
• Every point won = 1 point; a winning lob = 2 points.
• After each successful lob, the hunter must come to the net on the next point.
• Every 4 minutes, another player becomes the hunter (the lone player).
• Each player has at least one turn as the “hunter”.

Bonus:
If the hunter manages 3 winning lobs in the same round, they stay “hunter” for one more round.
If the 3 opponents beat the hunter 4–0, the hunter has to do a fun “punishment” (e.g. 15 squats or a wolf howl song 😄).

End of session

Download this session in PDF format