Private Lesson

Level: intermediate/advanced

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Slow jogging, shadow strokes, dynamic stretching, etc.

2. Wide Serve Practice / Warm-Up (7-10 minutes)

The coach divides each service box in two halves (wide and center; see graphic below) using cones lined up from the net toward the service line. The player practices slice, kick or flat serves (technique and placement) aiming them at the outer half of each service box. Suggestion: slice serve to the deuce service box for right-handed, or kick serve for left-handed players; opposite for the ad service box.

3. Groundstrokes Warm-Up and Placement (8-10 minutes)

Drill
Both the coach and player rally from the service line (opposite sides)… the coach plays only from the deuce side while hitting the ball side to side for the player to practice movement and ball control; repeat with the coach on the ad side.
 

Drill (graphic below)
The coach (F) is inside the ad service box, having a basket of balls to feed from; player (A) is on the other side of the net, at the deuce side baseline. Cones, as targets, are placed on the coach’s side, close to the baseline (see graphic below).
The coach feeds a ball to the player. They rally back and forth (coach volleys, player practices groundstrokes).
After player A hits two balls back to the coach, the third will be a put-away shot to the open court (cross-court) aiming deep towards the back-court targets.
Continue this drill for about 3 minutes, then switch sides: coach inside the deuce side service box, player on the ad side baseline.
Note: A good drill for controlled groundstrokes placement.

4. Balls Pick-Up and Water Break (3 minutes)

5. Tactics Following the Wide Serve (15-20 minutes)

Drill (graphic below)
Player A is positioned at the baseline, deuce side, ready to serve; there is a basket of balls behind her. The coach is ready to return serve, opposite side.
A line of cones divides each service box into two halves: wide and center (see graphic below).
Player A practices wide serving (between the line of cones and singles side line); if successful, the coach will return. The player will step into the ball and hit it to the open court on the coach's side.
Do this until 3-5 successful combinations are achieved, then switch to the ad court.
Note:

- To place the serve wide, the player should use slice serves to the deuce side and kick or flat for the ad side, if right-handed; opposite for left-handed.

- Through this drill, the player learns to use the wide serve for opening the court and controlling the groundstroke placement to take advantage of the respective opening.

Drill (graphic below)

Player A is positioned at the baseline, deuce side, ready to serve; there is a basket of balls behind her. The coach is ready to return serve from the other side of the net.
A line of cones divides each service box into two halves: wide and center (see graphic below).

Player A practices serving wide (between the line of cones and singles side line); if successful, the coach will return, then recover to the baseline center. The player will step into the ball and hit it to the court left behind by the coach (same side where the serve landed).
Do this until 3-5 successful combinations are achieved, then switch to the ad court.
To place the serve wide, the player should use slice serves to the deuce side and kick or flat for ad side, for right-handed players; opposite for left-handed.

Note:
- Through this drill, the player learns to use the wide serve for getting the opponents off the court and controlling the groundstroke placement to hit behind the recovering player.

6. Balls Pick-Up and Water Break (3 minutes)

7. Footwork and Speed Drills (5 minutes)
Do any exercises that require quick movement, running-stopping, followed by slow jogging for about 1-2 minutes.

8. Wrap Up and Final Tips (4 minutes)
Give your student suggestions to practice until the next lesson, finishing up with constructive feedback.