Two athletes come to me for a lesson. Athlete one is ranked on the pro tour. Athlete two is a C player who wants to play tournament.
Both athletes start the lesson portion after warmups the same way. Athletes one and two gets my stationary drop and hit drill on the forehand and backhand side.
Why? I want them to learn how to hit with their lower body, not their upper body. Some teaching pros throw in a step but I do not. It is easy to step, shift your weight forward, and hit a shot. It is also easy to step all over the place and therefore become inconsistent at using your lower body.
Coach, Say what?
Athlete one, the pro gets the same treatment as a C player? Yep, the touring pro has to start in the same place for a “checkup” to make sure they are fundamentally sound. It does not take long for old habits to come back no matter the level an athlete competes at.
From drop and hit we progress to more movement, and from movement to competition. Competing builds skills once skills are taught.
Last comes simulating competition. I strive to put my athletes under pressure in some practices. They are going to have to deal with it in competition so we might as well ramp it up in practice.
How do I do that? Secret sauce–hahaha–but one way is to call out percentages of perfect shots. For example, the player hits a drive serve and it is short.
I announce “O for One”, in an annoying voice. I continue this in sets of ten serves. Then I point out their percentages and if I know the athlete well enough, I might even get more annoying! Such as, “You play this level and serve at this %?”
Good players get better and great players thrive under these drills in pressure practices.