Drill library · Partner

Constraint Sets

PartnerNTRP 3.5–4.020 minstrategy

Why this drill

A set with one rule changed — serve-and-volley every point, one slice per rally, second serves only — forces the shots you avoid into your game where they can finally improve.

Setup

Normal court, short set to four games. Before starting, each player picks a constraint for THEIR OWN game — the thing they know they avoid.

The drill

Play the set with both constraints live. Classic constraints: must serve-and-volley on every first serve; must hit at least one slice per rally; may only win net points; must return everything crosscourt. Honor system, called aloud on violations — a violated constraint loses the point. Rotate constraints next set.

One thought to take on court

Pick the constraint that annoys you most — that irritation is the sound of a weakness being trained.