Split-Court Deep Rally Drill

This drill is designed for high school tryouts and emphasizes depth on groundstrokes. Players compete in singles rallies restricted to one half of the court, with the objective of keeping shots past the service line to pin the opponent at the baseline. Points are played with specific conditions on depth, forcing players to maintain consistency while building pressure through longer rallies.

Setup

• Two players rally in singles format, using one half of the court (down the line)
• Optional: Exclude doubles alleys to make the hitting zone narrower
• Opponents call out short balls that land in the service box

Rules & Objectives

• Players rally within their half of the court, keeping all shots beyond the service line
• If a ball lands in the service box:
• First occurrence in a rally is allowed
• Second occurrence results in an automatic point for the opponent
• Standard point-scoring rules apply: error, net, or ball out of bounds ends the point
• Players continue until one reaches the set score (e.g., 5, 7, or 11 points)
• Winners play against winners and losers play against losers to keep the drill competitive
• Repeat using the crosscourt side for variety

Repetition

• Play multiple rounds with rotating opponents
• Adjust scoring targets to fit practice time
• Narrow the court (removing alleys) for advanced players

Coaching Points

• Trains players to hit with consistent depth
• Builds pressure tolerance in competitive rallies
• Encourages point construction and baseline control
• Simulates tryout-level match intensity

Drill Tutorial