Baseline Direction Change Drill

This drill trains players to rally consistently from the baseline while recognizing opportunities to attack. Players start by exchanging crosscourt groundstrokes to build rhythm and control. When a short or attackable ball appears, a player can redirect down the line to change the pattern. Once the direction changes, the point opens to the full singles court and rewards aggressive play with higher scoring.

Setup

• Two players rally crosscourt from the baseline
• The full singles court is used only after a down-the-line shot

Rules & Objectives

• Rally crosscourt only; each rally win counts as 1 point
• A player may change direction by going down the line when the opportunity is right
• After the down-the-line shot, the point continues on the full singles court
• The winner of that rally earns 3 points
• Reset and continue rallying crosscourt until the next opportunity arises

Repetition

• Play for 10–15 minutes or to a set score
• Switch sides so both forehand and backhand crosscourt rallies get practiced
• Adjust scoring to encourage either patience or aggressive decision-making

Coaching Points

• Builds crosscourt consistency
• Improves recognition of short or attackable balls
• Develops point-construction and directional control under pressure

Drill Tutorial