Hi!

Here’s a group drill to help you practice hitting a forehand down-the-line return right off the serve. It’s a strategic shot to break the cross-court pattern and open up the court on the opposite side.

The goal is to work on the forehand down-the-line return, keeping the trajectory deep and penetrating, without taking excessive risks.

Drill execution

• Players A, B, C and D line up behind the baseline on the deuce side.
• Player A steps into the return position.
• The coach, on the other side, stands diagonally and serves with a strong cross-court trajectory (fast or sliced) to induce a down-the-line return.
• Player A must return with a forehand down the line, aiming for a target zone about 1 meter inside the baseline and close to the singles sideline.
• After the return, A goes to the back of the line and player B takes their place, and so on.
• After 6 to 8 rounds, the coach switches sides so that the players work on the return from the opposite side (forehand from the ad side).
• The rhythm stays smooth, with a return every 10 to 15 seconds.

(Image created with ETDM software - Download it here)

This group drill improves accuracy on the down-the-line return, a shot that is not often used but is tactically very effective to get out of the cross-court pattern. It also helps players learn to return under pressure from the very first shot, with a clear intention to destabilize the opponent.

Download this drill in PDF format