Inside-out to inside-in forehand

Setup

1. P1 on the baseline at one end, P2 on the baseline at the other.
2. Cones mark two deep targets at P2's end: the inside-out corner and the inside-in corner.

How it runs

1. P2 starts each point with a feed into P1's backhand corner.
2. P1 runs around and hits inside-out forehands to P2's backhand corner.
3. P2 replies crosscourt into P1's backhand corner, so P1 keeps running around.
4. When P2's ball lands short or P2 drifts across to cover, P1 changes to inside-in down the line.
5. Play the point out. First to 7, then swap roles.

Coaching points

• Move early with a big first step and small adjusting steps; get the hip behind the ball.
• Inside-out goes over the low middle of the net with heavy topspin and a big margin.
• Inside-in is the riskier change of direction; only play it from a ball at or inside the baseline.
• Same set-up for both shots so P2 can't read the direction.
• After inside-out, recover to the left of the centre mark; after inside-in, recover quickly to cover the crosscourt reply.

Common mistakes

• Running around a ball that is too wide, leaving the whole forehand side open.
• Changing to inside-in from a deep, defensive ball.
• Opening the shoulders early and showing the direction.