Training Exercises

Exercise 1

Warm-ups 15 mins

  • X’s and H’s Controlled knocking-up

Training Ex1

A)

  1. C to middle/BH regular. P plays BH/FH
  2. C one/two to BH, 1 to middle
  3. C one/two to BH, then middle or FH
  4. C 1/2 to BH, 1/2 to middle or FH

B)

  1. FH to FH corner, C plays angle
  2. FH to FH, C plays to middle or random angle
  3. C anywhere in FH half, random angle play

C)

  1. Fast serve, no spin, from BH to FH/middle/BH
  2. P controls with slow returns. Examine alternatives

D)

  1. Games to 11 up.

Excercise 2 Warm-ups 10 mins

Knock-up 3 ball 1BH - 1FH 2BH - 1FH 3BH - 1FH
control from the 1BH - 2FH 2BH - 2FH 3BH - 2FH
BH corner 1BH - 3FH 2BH - 3FH 3BH - 3FH

Training Ex2

A)

  1. P topspins 2 straight, C plays to the BH, P straight, C to the FH, continue
  2. After P plays BH straight, C to initiate free play
  3. C switches anywhere after first 1 - 2 FH topspins from P and initiates free play

B)

  1. BH to BH slow/fast, long/short
  2. As 1. but C short to FH at random, play free
  3. As 1. but C at random plays anywhere short, free play

C) Backspin serve short

  1. BH to FH or middle
  2. FH to middle or BH
  3. All returns - push short/long, play free

D)

  1. Games to 11 up, starting from 5 - 5

Exercise 3 Warm-ups 15 mins

Training Ex3

  • Control exercise straight, narrow channel, 10 - 15 cms

A)

  1. Line play to P’s BH, C switches to FH and sometimes angles ball. 2 to BH and 1 to FH
  2. 2 or 3 line balls, then 1 to FH
  3. 2 to 5 line balls, 1 or 2 to FH
  4. Line play 2 - 5, switch, then free play

B)

  1. Backspin or float serves, short or half-long. Use same action but different parts of the racket
  2. Flick/open or drop short, play free

C) Games to 15 up, three serves each

Exercise 4 Warm-ups 10mins

Training Ex4

  • 4 Ball, BH, middle, BH, FH

A)

  1. BH - BH slow/fast,long/short + angle
  2. As 1) 3 times, short/long to FH, play free
  3. As 1) 1 - 3 times, to FH short/long, free

B)

  1. BH - BH variation, mix topspin,chop/sidespin block, experiment to find what suits you.
  2. BH - BH 1 - 3 balls, chop-block, spin to FH, play free

C)

BH Serve - variations

D)

Games to 11 up starting from 7 - 8 and serving

Exercise 5 Warm-ups 15mins

Training Ex5

  • X’s and H’s
  • 4 Ball, BH, middle, BH, FH

A)

  1. C plays BH/middle, BH/FH
  2. First 3 one ball, last to FH 1 or 2
  3. BH/middle 1 or 2, BH/FH 1 or 2
  4. BH 1 or 2, middle or FH

B)

  1. Topspin to block
  2. Blocker hits/forces right ball

C)

BH serve, high throw, side, topspin or chop

D)

Games to 11

Exercise 6 Warm-ups 15mins

  • Control 5 ball
BH FH BH FH BH FH BH FH BH FH
1 1 2 1 3 1 4 1 5 1
2 2 2 2 2
3 3 3 3 3
4 4 4 4 4
5 5 5 5 5

Training Ex6

A)

  1. Reverse Falkenberg - small
  2. And large
  3. FH middle, 1 or 2 from FH, BH from BH
  4. As 3. but 1 or 2 from BH

B)

  1. Backspin serve short/half-long, push long to BH, open
  2. Same serve, push long to FH, open
  3. Push return to FH/BH, open

C)

Games to 11 up, from 8 - 8

Exercise 7 Warm-ups 10 mins

Training Ex7_1

  • Control 5 ball, BH/middle/FH/middle/BH

A)

  1. BH/middle, BH/FH. Control with FH, P plays BH/FH alternately.
  2. First 3 one ball, to FH 1 or 2
  3. BH 1 or 2, middle, BH 1 or 2, FH 1

B)

  1. Start with drive, loop to loop or drive FH from deep
  2. As 1. but random ball to BH side

Training Ex7

C)

FH axe serve with both top and backspin (+ side)

D)

Games to 11 up from 5 - 5

Exercise 8 Warm-ups 10mins

  • Control 5 ball
Knock-up 3 ball 1BH - 1FH 2BH - 1FH 3BH - 1FH
control from the 1BH - 2FH 2BH - 2FH 3BH - 2FH
BH corner 1BH - 3FH 2BH - 3FH 3BH - 3FH

Training Ex8

A)

  1. Falkenberg - small 3A
  2. Falkenberg - large 3B
  3. Either small/large

B)

  1. Small F, spin first FH from BH, drive next from middle
  2. 1 - 3 to BH corner, then into Falkenberg small/large
  3. Large F, play second FH free

C)

Smash to lob

D)

Long, fast serve, play free

E)

Games from 8 - 8 to 11 up

Exercise 9 Warm-ups 15mins

  • Knock-up - X’s and H’s play 2 diagonal before switch

Training Ex9

A)

  1. P plays 2 FH’s from BH corner, C plays straight to P’s FH
  2. As 1. but C plays 1 - 2 to P’s FH
  3. C plays 1 - 3 to P’s BH, then 1 - 2 to FH
  4. C plays 1- 3 to P’s BH, then to middle/FH and free play

B)

  1. C - short serve to FH
  2. P - long push or flick straight
  3. C - slow topspin with FH/BH straight twice
  4. C - fast topspin or drive to P’s BH
  5. P - straight, free play

C)

  • Reverse spin serve, long to BH/middle, or short to middle/FH

D)

  • Games to 11 up

Exercise 10 Warm-ups 15mins

  • Knock-up 5 ball 1BH - 1-5FH, 2BH - 1-5FH, 3BH - 1-5FH, 4BH - 1-5FH, 5BH - 1-5FH
  • Control

Training Ex10

A)

  1. C short serve, middle or BH. P returns half-long to FH. C topspins/drives wide to P’s FH side, free play
  2. As 1. but C topspins/drives to P’s BH, free play
  3. As 1. but C plays anywhere, free play

B)

  1. C - one ball to middle, 1 to FH, then middle and BH
  2. C - alternate balls to the middle then to BH/FH
  3. C - alternate balls to the middle then 1 - 2 to BH/FH
  4. C - 1 - 2 to middle then 1 - 2 to BH/FH

C)

  • Sidespin, float or chop serve with FH. Work at variation with same action

D)

  • Games to 7 points, only one serve each

Exercise 11 Warm-ups 10mins

  • Control - FH/FH from FH to middle, then FH from BH to the middle

Training Ex11

A)

  1. P topspins 4 - 5 slow with FH to block on BH diagonal
  2. As 1. with control to varied block
  3. After 4 balls C plays to P’s FH, free play
  4. C plays to FH at random, free play

B)

  1. P topspins fast 2 - 4 FH to FH, C drives later with control
  2. P topspins fast 2 - 4 FH to FH, C drives 1 - 2 then counter-topspins
  3. As 2. but C topspins down line, free play
  4. As 3. but C topspins down line, then wide to FH, free play

C)

  • Reverse spin serves - test both arcs

D)

  • Games to 11 up, 3 serves each

Exercise 12 Warm-ups 15mins

  • Control 3 ball, but BH from BH corner, FH from FH corner

Training Ex12

A)

  1. P topspins BH straight, C blocks
  2. As 1. but C uses varied blocks
  3. Any time after 2nd topspin, C plays to FH and P continues straight to C’s BH.
  4. As 3. but free play after C plays to FH

B)

  1. P spins and drives with BH to block
  2. As 1. but C mixes returns, block, drive and spin
  3. Either player switches to FH then free play

C)

  • Axe and reverse axe serves, with backspin, topspin and sidespin

D)

  • Games to 11 up from 9 all, both as server and receiver

Exercise 13 Warm-ups 15mins

  • Control FH from middle to BH, then middle to FH

Training Ex13

A)

  1. FH/FH topspin to block, after 3 balls C plays line, P diagonal, C straight, repeat
  2. As 1. then free play
  3. After P plays diagonal BH, C plays either to FH/BH, then free play

B)

  1. Short or half-long serve, C drops short or pushes long to FH. P opens or pushes short or long
  2. As 1. but C short or long to BH
  3. C short or long to BH or FH

C)

  • Short play training, from short serve situation both players play several short balls in succession

D)

  • Matches to 13 all, short backspin serve to FH/middle or long, fast serve to middle/BH. 3 serves each

Exercise 14 Warm-ups 10mins

  • Control straight, short and long

Training Ex14

A)

  1. C short serve to BH
  2. P flick/push to BH
  3. C FH slow spin diagonal twice
  4. P then blocks straight
  5. C slow topspin to FH 2 - 3 times, switches middle/BH, free play

B)

  1. C short serve to FH
  2. P drops short or flicks to C’s FH
  3. C topspins 2 - 3 slow to FH or flicks then topspins
  4. C then topspins slow to P’s BH
  5. P blocks diagonally to C’s BH, free play

C)

  • Short backspin/float serves to the middle or FH, flick return

D)

  • Games to 11 up

Exercise 15 Warm-ups 10mins

  • 1 BH from BH,1 FH from FH
  • 2 BH from BH, 2 FH from FH/Middle
  • 3 BH from BH, 3 FH from FH/Middle/FH
  • 4 BH from BH, 4 FH from FH/Middle/FH/Middle
  • 5 BH from BH, 5 FH from FH/Middle/FH/Middle/FH

Training Ex15

A)

  1. Drive play BH/BH 2 to 4 balls, C topspins FH line, P returns to middle, C topspins to BH. Repeat
  2. As 1. but play free after P's return to middle
  3. Reversed, C topspins to P's BH, P returns to middle, C topspins to P's FH, P straight, repeat.
  4. As 3. but free play after P returns straight
  5. As 3. but free after C topspins to P's FH

B)

  1. Long serve to the middle, return to BH, 3rd ball to BH
  2. Long serve to BH, return to BH, 3rd ball to middle
  3. Serve either to BH/middle, return FH, 3rd ball to corners
  4. As 3. but 3rd ball to the body

C)

  • Fast serve float/spin to body or corners

D)

  • Games to 15 up. Three serves

Exercise 16 Warm-ups 15mins

  • Control 1BH - 1FH from FH, 2BH - 1FH from FH, 3BH - 1FH from FH
  • 2BH - 1FH from FH, 2BH - 2FH from FH, 2BH - 3FH from FH
  • 3BH - 1FH from FH, 3BH - 2FH from FH, 3BH - 3FH from FH

All BH's from BH, all FH's from FH

Training Ex16

A)

  1. P FH topspin from BH corner to BH/middle/FH
  2. Same from FH corner
  3. To 3 areas from BH then from FH
  4. Emphasis on CONTROL

B)

  1. From BH to BH and middle then random to FH
  2. From BH to FH and middle then random to BH
  3. From BH to BH and FH then random to middle
  4. From FH to BH and FH then random to middle
  5. From FH to FH and middle then random to BH

C)

  • FH serve with chop, sidespin and float

D)

  • Games to 11 up

Exercise 17 Warm-ups 10mins

  • C to BH/middle then to BH/FH. Control from FH

Training Ex17

A)

  1. FH topspin/drive from middle to FH/BH
  2. As 1. but 1 - 2 to BH and 1 - 2 to FH
  3. As 2. but random ball to body

B)

  1. FH topspin to counter-topspin training
  2. FH topspin to drive counter (both players in mid-area)
  3. FH topspin to BH counter on diagonal from back
  4. FH topspin diagonal, random switch to middle
  5. FH topspin diagonal to BH, random switch to middle

C)

  • BH serve to middle or FH, short or half-long, drop short, flick or push long (Examine differing timing points)

D)

  • Games to 11 up from 7 all

Exercise 18 Warm-ups 15mins

  • From middle with FH to middle/FH then middle/BH

Training Ex18_1

A)

  1. FH topspin or drive alternately from FH/BH to middle
  2. C 1 or 2 to FH and 1 to BH
  3. C 1 or 2 to BH and 1 to FH
  4. C 1 or 2 to BH or FH

Training Ex18_2

B)

  1. Chop defence v loop or drive

Explore differing methods of attacking, loop, slow or fast, drive, punch, sidespin etc. Also look at different timing points and the option of dropping short.

C)

  • Serve training - short to FH/middle, long to corners/middle

D)

  • Games to 11 up

Exercise 19 Warm-ups 15mins

  • BH/middle, FH/middle, FH/BH control from BH

Training Ex19

A)

  1. FH to FH, C plays 2 balls, P topspins line, C blocks on diagonal, P drives straight, repeat
  2. Start FH/FH but between 2 - 4 balls, then continue as 1.
  3. FH/FH 2 - 3 balls, P topspins down line 1 - 2, continue as 1.
  4. Play free after 1,2 or 3.

B)

  1. Receive training - against sidespin serves with backspin and topspin, train to play with and against the spin. Work also to leave the server’s spin on the ball at times and return it to him or her

C)

  • Games to 11 up, only the receiver can win points. If he wins on receive he carries on receiving, if he loses then he must serve

Exercise 20 Warm-ups 10mins

  • FH to FH/middle, then BH/middle, then BH/FH

Training Ex20

A)

  1. C to middle/FH 3 times, switch straight, P diagonal, C straight, repeat
  2. C switches 2 straight, continue
  3. C switches 1 or 2 straight, continue
  4. P plays 1 or 2 diagonal, continue
  5. C plays any number to middle/FH, then switches into exercise
  6. Any time after first or 2nd switch, free play

B)

  1. Varied serves and spin - BH, axe, FH and reverse, short and long. Work at differing timing against the short serves and to play with, against or return the spin. Against the long serves train to play positively but do not overlook the control element and the value of playing the slower ball at times with less pace.

C)

  • Games to 11 up but only the server can win points. The server carries on serving as long as he/she wins the point

Exercise 21 Warm-ups 10mins

  • Diagonal control, alternately short/long

Training Ex21

A)

  1. C/P drive or spin on BH diagonal between 2 - 6 balls
  2. P plays FH on BH diagonal, then FH straight
  3. C plays diagonal and P straight. Repeat.
  4. P plays 1 or 2 diagonal, continue
  5. At any time after 1, 2 or 3 free play

Training Ex21_2

B)

  1. FH/FH P loops to block 3 - 6 balls. C then drops back and counter-topspins
  2. As 1. but after 2 - 3 counters C plays to middle/BH then free play
  3. As 1. but C topspins alternately to BH/FH
  4. As 1. but C topspins 1 - 2 to BH, 1 - 2 to FH
  5. As 1. but C topspins to BH or FH, then free play

C)

  • Short serve to middle or angles, long to corners

D)

  • Games from 8 - 8, 8 - 9 and 8 - 10 and serving

Exercise 22 Warm-ups 15mins

  • Control FH from middle to BH, then middle to FH

Training Ex22

A)

  1. C topspins 1 chops 1 on FH diagonal, P blocks 1 and topspins 1, C blocks and P chops and so on (both play with control and keep changing).
  2. Same on BH diagonal
  3. C topspins on FH diagonal, P blocks straight, C chops on BH diagonal, P topspins straight, C blocks on FH diagonal, P chops straight etc.
  4. C straight, P on diagonal

B)

  1. High throw BH serve from middle, with sidespin or side and chop to FH short or long. Same serve with topspin long to the BH corner

C)

  • Serve games from 8 -8, only server can win points