Tennis · Drop shot & touch

Drop shot and touch

Disguise a drop shot off a short ball, land it close to the net, then close in for the reply.

P1P2
Start / 5
Time
12 min
Players
2–6
Age
U12+
Area
Full court
Equipment
12 balls4 cones

Setup

  1. Cones along both service lines mark the drop zone between the net and the service line.
  2. Players start on the centre mark of each baseline.

How it runs

  1. Rally from the baselines; a drop shot may only be played off a ball landing inside the service line.
  2. After a drop shot, the hitter moves forward to cover the reply; play the point out.
  3. A drop shot that bounces twice before the service line wins 2 points; other points win 1.
  4. First to 11, then swap ends.

Coaching points

  • Same early preparation as a drive so the opponent can't read it.
  • Continental grip, open face, slide under the ball for backspin.
  • Soft hands and a short finish towards the target.
  • Aim to clear the net by half a metre and land the ball close to it.

Common mistakes

  • Playing the drop shot from behind the baseline.
  • Chopping down steeply so the ball pops up high.
  • Staying back after the drop shot and leaving the court open.

Say it: “Disguise, soft hands, close in.”

Make it harder

  • Allow drop shots from any ball, not just short ones.
  • Only drop shots bouncing three times before the service line score 2.

Make it easier

  • Coach feeds a short ball for every drop shot.
  • Play drop shots from the service line with a partner at the net.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.