10 – Controls with fixed Directions
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Description:
The players will mantain a rally on the direction the coach has instructed.
Objetive:
This Method mainly helps to work on the most common Directions of the baseline strokes (Forehands and Backhands, Cross-Court and Down-the-line). The depth of the strokes is one of the most important aspects in this Method; the Coach can set up cones or lines in order to make the target areas clear and visible for the players.
Session plan:
The coach has to make the objective of the exercise very clear to all players. For example ask to mantain a rally forehand to forehand cross, aimming at a target, playing with big margins over the net and finding contacts between hip and shoulder.
Session development:
Controls with Fixed Directions can be worked 2 ways: A- Without movement (adjusting the footwork to hit the ball but Not Recovering positiion to the center of the baseline) B- with movement, Recovering position to the center of the baseline. The A way, the player can emphasize working on the proper Tecnique, good balance and control of the Directions when hitting the ball. The B way, the player has to hit the ball after moving, in forced positions, and possibly off balance..
Practical examples
Controls with Fixed Directions; Forehands Cross-court and Backhands Cross-court:
For players at higher levels, it is very important to recover the center of the baseline after every shot. For players of average levels, it is more important to learn to control well the directions of the shots, more than hitting in forced positions.
Variants: if there is an opportunity to step inside the court (moving forward diagonally) the player can hit a “Winner” shot Down-the-line/Cross-court (opening the court wide), or a drop-shot to finish the point.
Controls with Fixed Directions; Forehands Down-the-line:
In this exercise there is not much movement, but the players have to focus on Control of the Direction of the shots.
Variants: “Controls with Fixed Directions; Inside-Out Forehands Cross-court”. It is important that the players try to recover the center of the baseline, even if it is only a few steps.
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