This drill allows several children to practice with a ball machine using a simple two-line setup.
Each child hits four forehands, then joins the backhand line. On the next turn, the child hits four backhands before returning to the forehand line.
This rotation increases the number of shots, reduces waiting time, and keeps all the children active throughout the session.
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📌 DRILL AT A GLANCE
🧒 Audience: children, beginners, or intermediate players
👥 Recommended group size: 4 to 10 players
⏱️ Duration: 10 to 15 minutes
🎾 Themes: forehand, backhand, consistency, and recovery
🔁 Setup: two lines and an eight-ball cycle
🤖 Main equipment: ball machine
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🎯 DRILL OBJECTIVES
✅ Stabilize the forehand and backhand strokes.
✅ Learn to hit several consecutive shots.
✅ Improve positioning in relation to the ball.
✅ Develop small adjustment steps.
✅ Recover correctly between shots.
✅ Improve consistency and ball control.
✅ Encourage children’s independence and concentration.
✅ Learn to follow a group rotation.
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🧰 EQUIPMENT NEEDED
🤖 One ball machine
🎾 Balls suited to the children’s level
🔺 Two cones to mark the lines
🎯 Target areas if you want to work on accuracy
For younger children, red or orange balls are recommended, along with a reduced machine speed.
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📍 ON-COURT SETUP
Place the ball machine on the opposite side of the net, approximately in the center of the court.
Divide the children into two lines behind the baseline:
🔴 One line on the forehand side
🔵 One line on the backhand side
Program the machine to deliver an eight-ball cycle:
🔴 Balls 1 to 4: four forehands
➡️ Change player and line
🔵 Balls 5 to 8: four backhands
➡️ Change player and line
For right-handed children, the forehand area is to the player’s right and the backhand area to the left. Adjust the positions for left-handed children.
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▶️ HOW TO RUN THE DRILL
1️⃣ The first child in the forehand line enters the playing area.
2️⃣ The child plays four consecutive forehands.
3️⃣ After the fourth shot, the child leaves the playing area by moving behind the baseline.
4️⃣ The child then joins the backhand line.
5️⃣ The first child in the backhand line plays the next four balls with the backhand.
6️⃣ After the fourth shot, the child joins the forehand line.
7️⃣ The rotation starts again with the next players.
🔁 ROTATION TO REMEMBER
4 forehands ➡️ backhand line ➡️ 4 backhands ➡️ forehand line
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🗣️ INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE CHILDREN
✅ Start in the ready position before the first ball.
✅ Hold the racket in front.
✅ Prepare the racket as soon as the ball leaves the machine.
✅ Use small steps to adjust positioning.
✅ Try to contact the ball in front.
✅ Follow through to the end of the stroke.
✅ Recover between every shot.
✅ Play with a safe margin over the net.
✅ After the fourth ball, join the other line by moving behind the other players.
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🏆 SUCCESS CRITERIA
The child completes the drill successfully when able to:
⭐ Return at least three balls out of four into the court.
⭐ Maintain a controlled stroke.
⭐ Position correctly in relation to the ball.
⭐ Recover between the different shots.
⭐ Follow the machine’s rhythm.
⭐ Change lines quickly without crossing the hitting area.
For beginners, stroke quality remains the priority. There is no need to look for power immediately.
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🧩 ADAPTATIONS FOR BEGINNERS
To make the drill easier, you can:
🎾 Use red or orange balls.
🐢 Reduce the machine’s feed speed.
⏳ Increase the interval between balls.
📍 Move the children closer to the service line.
2️⃣ Begin with two forehands and two backhands.
🎯 Use a large target area that is easy to reach.
🙌 Allow an additional bounce for younger children.
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✨ POSSIBLE VARIATIONS
🎯 VARIATION 1: ADD TARGET AREAS
Place a large target area in the opposite court. Each ball that bounces in this area earns one point.
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🤝 VARIATION 2: THE GROUP CHALLENGE
All the children play together against the machine.
For example, the group must land 20 shots in the court before making 5 errors.
This variation creates a shared objective and encourages the children to support one another.
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↗️ VARIATION 3: PRACTICE DIRECTIONS
Ask the children to play:
✅ Crosscourt
✅ Down the line
✅ Toward a large central target area
✅ One crosscourt ball, then one ball through the middle
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👣 VARIATION 4: ADD RECOVERY
After each shot, the child must return to touch or move around a cone placed near the center of the court before playing the next ball.
This variation develops movement and recovery to the ready position.
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➕ VARIATION 5: INCREASE THE NUMBER OF SHOTS
For more experienced players, gradually increase the series from four to six consecutive shots.
Make sure that good technical quality is maintained.
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⭐ VARIATION 6: THE INDIVIDUAL TARGET
Each child chooses an objective suited to their level:
⭐ Beginner: make two balls out of four
⭐⭐ Intermediate: make three balls out of four
⭐⭐⭐ Advanced: make four balls out of four in the designated area
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💡 COACHING TIPS
Stroke quality must remain the priority.
If the children are rushing their shots, slow the machine’s feed rate or reduce the number of balls.
Allow enough time between balls for players to recover and prepare their strokes correctly.
With a group containing both right-handed and left-handed players, you can adjust the hitting areas or temporarily group the children by handedness.
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🛡️ SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
⚠️ Only one child may be in the hitting area.
⚠️ The other players must remain behind the baseline.
⚠️ Players must always change lines behind the other players.
⚠️ No child may cross the court during a series.
⚠️ No balls may be collected while the machine is running.
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🎾 CONCLUSION
This drill is particularly well suited to group sessions and tennis schools that use a ball machine.
The two-line setup provides many repetitions while keeping the children active and focused.
Alternating between forehand and backhand series gradually helps young players stabilize their strokes, improve their positioning, and become more consistent.