Crosscourt vs. Down-the-Line Drill

This drill is designed for advanced players to sharpen control, accuracy, and point construction by practicing crosscourt and down-the-line exchanges before opening up the rally.

Setup

• Two players positioned on opposite baselines
• A coach feeds the first ball to start the rally

Rules & Objectives

• The coach feeds the ball to one player
• Player 1 must hit every shot crosscourt
• Player 2 must hit every shot down the line
• After four controlled shots (crosscourt → down the line → crosscourt → down the line), the ball becomes live and the players rally freely to finish the point
• After each point, rotate roles so each player practices both crosscourt and down-the-line patterns
• Variations:
• Increase the number of controlled shots before the rally opens up (e.g., 6 or 8)
• Feed from different sides of the court (forehand side vs. backhand side)
• Apply to specific shots (e.g., forehand only or backhand only sequences)

Repetition

Coaching Points

• Builds accuracy in directional hitting
• Reinforces point construction by starting with controlled patterns
• Helps players recognize when to change direction and attack

Drill Tutorial