15 days of tennis training for my brother

[Gogol]

Hi,

I would like to ask the coaches (and experts) of this forum a question. I have 15 free days in front of me and I would like to improve my brother's game as much as possible. What kind of training schedule would you recommend? We can train daily for as long as we want. His level is average to above average. My level is more advanced (I am not a pro of course). I have a tennis basket, but no ball machine. I also have a camera to record and analyze his game (if needed). I would like to cover every aspect of the game the best way I can. What exercises would you suggest? How would you divide training time? Assume that all aspects of his game are more or less equal in level.

Thank you in advance

 

[TennisCJC]

I would drill most of the time and play 1 practice set per day or 2 10-point tie-breakers per day.

Basic drills:

1. Hit FH ground strokes CC - assuming 2 righties, this would be FH to FH. Only the R half of the court is good.
2. Hit BH ground strokes CC - same as #1 but BH to BH and only L half of court is good.
3. Hit straight into alley. Line up on an alley and try to hit straight groundstrokes into the alley - FH to FH and then BH to BH.
4. Both players just inside of service line and do co-operative volleys will you try to keep the ball going in the air as long as you can.
5. Using 1/2 the court width, do drill #4 but play out points - cannot win on the feed. You can call this "hi and die" because if you float it high, the other player should step in and kill you with their put away volley.
6. One player at baseline, one player at net with heels on service line. Baseliner feeds to net player so feed is in the air. Net player moves forward to hit an approach volley deep. Baseliner tries to pass and net player tries to end point on next volley. Make sure net player moves forward on diagonal to intercept volleys and doesn't linger on service line or wait for ball to come to them.
7. Warm up overhead and do drill 6 but baseliner can lob after the feed. Note, I said "can" lob and not must lob.
8. If these drills are not working, a good 3 ball feed drill your brother starts at baseline, you feed 1 deep ball and he hits a groundstroke, next feed is short and he hits approach shot and follows it in, 3rd feed is a volley. You can add a 4th feed for overhead. Alternate, FH and BH sides. Do a basket of these at a quick pace for a good workout.
9. Place baseline games to 11. Anything that lands inside of the service line is out and loses the point. No winning points on the feed.
10. You stand 3 to 4 feet behind the service line and serve to your brother. You don't hit 100% pace. Brother works on ROS with good split step and compact backswing. At first work on FH ROS for a few balls, then BH. Then mixed it up and your partner must react to FH, BH or body serves.
11. Hit 60 serves per session. 8-10 warm-up, 20 hard spin, 20 2nd serves, and 20 flat.

 

[Bendex]

You could improve his overall game 2%, or you can focus on building a forehand weapon... feed short balls for hours and have him rip them. It depends on how willing he is to suffer.

 

[TennisCJC]

But the FH is the 3rd most important shot. Serve is 1st and ROS is 2nd. You aren't going to get to showcase your killer FH, if you cannot serve well enough to set it up or ROS well enough to keep server from keeping you on defensive.

 

[Ash_Smith]

OP - What is the end goal of the 15 days? What will success look like?

 

[Bendex]

But the FH is the 3rd most important shot. Serve is 1st and ROS is 2nd. You aren't going to get to showcase your killer FH, if you cannot serve well enough to set it up or ROS well enough to keep server from keeping you on defensive.

There's only so much serve practice you can do in a session, before your nerves and tendons get inflamed. Obviously he will continue to practice serve over the 14 days.