Angle-to-Attack Live Ball Drill

This live-ball drill helps players establish rally rhythm before learning how and when to attack. By restricting play to one side of the court initially, players are forced to maintain consistency and discipline. The rally can only open up once a player creates an angle by hitting a shorter ball into the service box. From there, the full court is in play and the point becomes competitive. This structure trains patience, awareness, and decision-making, while reinforcing the importance of choosing the right time to shift from neutral play to offense.

Setup

• Two players start on the same half of the court (ad side or deuce side)
• The coach feeds the first ball to begin the rally
• Play is restricted to one side of the court until a player hits an angle ball into the service box

Rules & Objectives

• Coach feeds a ball to start the rally
• Players rally cooperatively on one side of the court, keeping the ball deep and consistent
• A player may “open the court” only by hitting a short angle ball that lands in the service box
• Once an angle ball is struck, the point becomes live and the entire court is in play
• After the rally ends, repeat with players switching sides or rotating in if more are available

Repetition

• Alternate sides (deuce and ad) to practice from different angles
• Include doubles alleys as part of the playable area for advanced players
• Vary the feeds so points can begin with different placements

Coaching Points

• Develops patience and rhythm in rallies
• Trains players to recognize the right opportunity to attack
• Reinforces accuracy when creating angles with shorter balls
• Builds tactical awareness by transitioning from neutral play to offense

Drill Tutorial