Short Ball, Move In
Why this drill
Club players lose the points they should win: the short ball arrives, and they either camp behind the baseline or panic-swing. This drill rehearses recognizing the invitation and accepting it with your feet.
Setup
Machine feeding a soft, short ball that lands around the service line. Cone target deep in the down-the-line corner. Start every repetition at the baseline center.
The drill
Move in as the ball leaves the machine, drive the approach down the line past the cone side, and keep coming — close to the net, split-step, and hold a ready volley position for a beat before jogging back. Fifteen repetitions attacking to the forehand side, fifteen to the backhand. Count approaches that land beyond the service line in the target half.
One thought to take on court
Hit approach shots through the ball with your feet still moving forward — momentum is part of the shot.