To prepare my mind for a match, I have always been a fan of the 2 on 1 drill.
To be guaranteed a high intensity workout, have two players on the baseline in each corner and the focused net player on their service line.
Any player can feed the ball in and the workout begins. To make it that bit harder, the net player must try to push themselves and volley every shot yet still retain their court position around the service line.
This is because the majority of first volleys, whether a serve and volley point or an approach shot, will be played from that area. Therefore, if you practice the harder volleys will be that much easier.
The intensity is a major part of this drill, as every player needs to be on their toes. Be ready to work the net player around the net with a lot of variation and working on the dinks and lobs.
Keeping the rallies alive for as long as possible, the players on the baseline stack their hands and pockets full of balls and feed in when an error is made. The faster the feed, the tougher it is for the net person.
Another tip is for the players on the baseline - Decide who will feed all of their balls first. When they are empty, the other player feeds theirs. This avoids two balls being fed at the same time. Baseliners, your objective is to keep that ball alive. Talk to each other and motivate each other. Scramble as if it is a match point. Do whatever it takes to keep that ball in play.
Keep the intensity up and practice that deep concentration. You will notice that over the session and over the next few weeks, your rallies will get longer and your reactions and results will improve dramatically.
2 on 1 drills are a great way to get a workout not possible with 1 on 1. The rallies are easily more than twice as long as 1 on 1. You can have an awesome workout with people of different standards.
Practice with Purpose!
Pete Tramacchi
