The exercise is performed on the mini tennis court with two players per team. The game is played mostly with soft slice balls to the Forehand and backhand. After each stroke, the racket must be handed immediately to the partner so that they play the next ball. This creates a continuous alternation between stroke action, movement and racket handover. To keep the flow of play going, the balls should be played in a controlled way and with plenty of Feel into the open areas of the mini tennis court. At the same time, the waiting partner must attentively follow the rally and keep moving constantly like a shadow so that the racket handover can be carried out without any loss of time.
Training Goal
This coordination exercise combines ball control, anticipation and teamwork. The players learn to dose their strokes consciously, organize the rally together and continuously adapt to the playing situation in an active forward-backward movement. At the same time, communication, timing and reaction speed are trained.
Load Management
- Game format: Which team reaches 8 points first?
- If rallies are short or play is fast, the game can be extended to 11 points.
- Duration: approx. 10–15 minutes
- Court: mini tennis court
- Intensity: medium to high, depending on ball speed, rally quality and the teams’ movement activity.
Coaching Keys
- Play the slice in a controlled way and with plenty of Feel.
- Use the corners of the mini tennis court deliberately.
- As the partner, stay in motion at all times and follow the rally.
- Carry out the racket handover as smoothly and without interruption as possible.
- Anticipate early where the next ball will be played.
- Use communication between partners actively.
- Be ready for the next action immediately after each stroke.
Possible Corrections
- Reduce overly hard strokes and consciously control the ball.
- Do not stand still, but keep working with the ball at all times.
- Choose the distance between partners so that the racket handover is possible without delay.
- Hand over the racket securely and in a controlled way, not by throwing it or passing it on hastily.
- Focus your eyes on the ball and partner early to avoid unnecessary running paths.
Progressive Structure
Stage 1 – Basics
- Calm slice exchange on the mini tennis court with racket switch after each stroke.
Stage 2 – Increase precision
- Place the balls deliberately into different corners of the mini tennis court.
Stage 3 – Increase movement
- After each stroke, add an extra forward or backward movement before the racket handover.
Stage 4 – Decision training
- Vary the height, direction and pace of the balls so that the partner has to constantly adjust their running paths.
Stage 5 – Competitive format
- Two teams play against each other. Points are awarded only when rally and racket handover are completed without errors.