3.5+ Tennis Practice Drills Serve & Returning Serve

NTRP Level 3.5 +

Serve
Middle grip, maybe a bit Eastern.
Pinpoint your feet.
Relax your arm. “Be water, my friend.”
Racquet palm toward you so that a side edge of your racquet “leads.”
(You can see this in the picture)
Load, Lock (Trophy pose), Launch.
Leg drive starts your Launch.

Experiment:
Space your grip fingers more.
Bend your knees to jump higher.

If Sun/eye sight issue:
High forehand slice/volley serve.
Forehand top spin drive serve.
Underhand side spin serve.

Carlos Alcaraz 150+ Aces (14 Minutes)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NUQOAZWwrq0&pp=ygUMQWxjYXJheiAxNTAr**

Macci: Serve, Feet Together (1 Minute)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=_gTFT5Ho2WQ**

Macci: Serve Drill, Legs First (1 Min)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WPIQC3ndrNE&pp=ygUObWFjY2kgYmFja2hhbmQ%3D**

Macci: Serve, Kinetic Chain (1 Min)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xed3lmub3Fo&pp=ygUQTWFjY2kgcG9zaXRpdml0eQ%3D%3D**

Nick Kyrgios Serve, Pinpoint Feet (6 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rS2JGEI-twk&pp=ygUZc2VydmUgdGVubmlzIG5pY2sga3lyZ2lvcw%3D%3D**

Park Tennis Academy
Super Power Serve (15 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WnTHp0q6oik&pp=ygURU3VwZXIgcG93ZXIgc2VydmXSBwkJ2QoBhyohjO8%3D**

Macci: Serve Mechanics (20 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F-r7bpP3psM**

Return of Serve
1st Priority: Hit the ball back over the net.
Think USPS: “Return to Sender”
Forward “split, for better hit.”
Quick, brief backswing.
Generally return cross court.
Consider chip, volley your return.
Consider more lobs.
Experiment singing like Elvis Presley, to induce a more relaxed state of mind and body.

Elvis Presley
Return to Sender (2 Minutes)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=PU5xxh5UX4U&pp=ygUeRWx2aXMgUHJlc2xleSByZXR1cm4gdG8gc2VuZGVy**

Macci: Return of Serve (8 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=phKa3TEolPM&pp=ygUTUmV0dXJuIHNlcnZlIG1hY2NpIA%3D%3D**

Mouratoglou: Return of Serve
Masterclass (21 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vPtNtNi8_NI&pp=ygUbcmV0dXJuIG9mIHNlcnZlIG1hc3RlcmNsYXNz**

Lobs/Overhead & High Ball Volley
Overhead Experiment:
“You, Me, Help”
Point your left elbow at the lob. This induces you to turn while your left hand guides your racquet back.
Left elbow, footsteps, point, hit.
Say, “Elbow, feet, now complete.”
2/3 Speed, controlled placement.
Goal: Make 50+ in a row

Intuitive Tennis
High vs Swing Volley vs Overhead (8 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=sv2ui0iJbFg&pp=ygUaSGlnaCB2b2xsZXkgc3dpbmcgb3ZlcmhlYWTSBwkJygkBhyohjO8%3D**

Ground Strokes
Relax & Focus, Goal: 100+ in a row
Give ‘em a “surprise, hit on the rise.”
Lean toward the net.
Hit the ball higher over the net.
FH: Elbow up, Pet, Legs, Pull/Flip
BH Slice: Major shoulder turn, Knuckles up.
BH Slice: End with eagle wings.

Novak Djokovic
Forehand, Backhand (6 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FmrLQmZ1CVQ&pp=ygUZbm92YWsgZGpva292aWMgc2xvIG1vdGlvbg%3D%3D**

Drop Shot (Dropper)
Delay and say, “Disguise to surprise.”
Lock your wrist, 90 degrees.
For backspin, pull high to low.
Say, “Hit a drop and make it stop.”
Goal: 50+ in a row

33 Forehand Drop Shots by Alcaraz (8 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2nuXv2BCE8w&pp=ygUMMzMgZHJvcCBzaG90**

Roger Federer, Drop Shots (8 Mins)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=syiphi23vmw&pp=ygUYcm9nZXIgZmVkZXJlciBkcm9wIHNob3Rz**

Volley
Racquet head higher than your wrist.
Ready in “U” shape.
Shoulder turn.
High ball: High energy 8, finish point.
Low ball: Less energy 2, finesse/drop.
Aim for sharp angle, “Low and Slow.”
Fast ball: No time, so just BLOCK it.
Half Volleys: “Forward.”

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USTA NTRP Ratings Information:
**https://www.usta.com/en/home/play/adult-tennis/programs/national/usta-ntrp-ratings-faqs.html#tab=tournaments**

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Prerequisite: Proficient NTRP Level 3.5+
RSVP to attend, no walk-ons.
Contribute new tennis balls or
other good and valuable consideration.
Thanks.

Value your time.
You probably won’t get it back.

Today’s practice is not a free lesson with a teaching pro.

Now stop eating sweets, get outside, get it done and get in shape.

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Novak Djokovic & Carlos Alcaraz
Practice (13 Minutes)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Gl-T2dtss&pp=ygUdY2FybG9zIGFsY2FyYXogcHJhY3RpY2UgcGFyaXPSBwkJwQkBhyohjO8%3D**

Macci: Overhead, Elbow (1 Min)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9SRQmIzLnsE&pp=ygUQbWFjY2kgb3ZlcmhlYXJkIA%3D%3D**

Macci: Overhead, Turn (1 Min)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8ZNwSE2ttZ8&pp=ygUQbWFjY2kgb3ZlcmhlYXJkIA%3D%3D**

Macci: Overhead, Edge (1 Min)
**https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=OcAZvEfT4kA&pp=ygUQbWFjY2kgb3ZlcmhlYXJkIA%3D%3D**

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LIABILITY WAIVER: By signing up for or attending this Event, I agree that the Organizers of this Group and any of its Members will not be held responsible for the actions of any participant at this Event. Each tennis player attends Event at their own risk and is solely responsible for any injury or damage to themselves, their equipment, other Persons or Property. Jax