Baseline Rally Switch Drill

This drill emphasizes rally consistency and accuracy from the baseline. Players sustain groundstroke exchanges while learning to maintain focus under pressure. Missed shots trigger quick role changes, adding movement and accountability to the exercise. The drill encourages concentration, rhythm, and tactical discipline during extended rallies.

Setup

• Two players start at the baseline on opposite sides
• The coach stands ready to feed balls to begin rallies
• Each player keeps an extra ball in their pocket for variations

Rules & Objectives

• The coach feeds a ball to start the rally
• Players rally from the baseline, keeping the ball in play as long as possible
• If a player misses, both players switch sides immediately
• The coach feeds a new ball to restart the rally
• Variation: After a miss, the player can self-feed an extra ball from their pocket to continue the rally

Repetition

• Continue until each player has completed several side switches
• Make the drill competitive by keeping score of longest rally length or total successful shots
• Practice both straight-line rallies and crosscourt rallies

Coaching Points

• Reinforces accuracy and consistency from the baseline
• Improves concentration and rally endurance
• Adds movement and recovery through side switching
• Builds rhythm and tactical awareness for sustained point play

Drill Tutorial