Hi everyone!

Here’s a solo drill to work on attacking short balls on the forehand side – a key situation to take control of the rally and impose your game.

The goal of this exercise is to train yourself to identify a short ball and turn it into a controlled attacking shot that puts your opponent under pressure.

How to run the drill:

Set up the ball machine at the back of the court and adjust it to feed short, slightly topspun balls that land from left to right around the service line.

Program an interval of 5 to 6 seconds between each ball.

Start behind the baseline in a ready position. On each ball, move quickly forward, adjust your footwork and unleash an offensive forehand, powerful but controlled, aiming either deep cross-court or down the line.

After the shot, recover quickly back to your ready position behind the baseline and prepare for the next ball.

(Image created with the ETDM software – Download it here)

This drill helps you improve your ability to turn neutral balls into attacking opportunities and develop changes of pace in your game.

Pro tip: On a short ball, step into the court to hit the ball at the ideal height, stabilise your stance before contact, and fully engage your body to generate both power and precision.