Half-Court Precision vs. Full-Court Pressure

This drill creates an uneven playing field by restricting one player to half the court while the other covers the full singles court. It challenges each player differently: the half-court player must use angles, placement, and control, while the full-court player works on covering ground and applying pressure with powerful shots. By rotating sides, both players develop complementary skills that directly translate to match play.

Setup

• Two players start at the baseline
• One player is restricted to half of the court plus the doubles alley
• The other player must cover the entire singles court (without doubles alleys)
• Rally begins with an underhand feed

Rules & Objectives

• Players rally with the half-court player confined to their side zone and the other covering the full court
• The half-court player focuses on placement, using angles to move the opponent
• The full-court player emphasizes aggressive groundstrokes and depth to pressure the half-court opponent
• Play continues to an agreed score (e.g., first to 11 points)
• After each game, players switch roles and repeat
• Switch to the opposite side of the court after completing a full set

Repetition

• Begin without drop shots, volleys, or lobs to keep rallies controlled
• Progress to allow volleys, drop shots, and lobs for added difficulty
• Track scores over multiple sets to add competitiveness

Coaching Points

• Half-court player develops precision, angle control, and tactical use of space
• Full-court player builds endurance, defensive movement, and pressure hitting
• Reinforces contrasting styles: control vs. power
• Prepares players for match scenarios by simulating asymmetrical challenges

Drill Tutorial