Drill to Win

Second Shot Pass
Practicing a Two Shot Sequence

by Jim McLennan

The scenario: your opponent has approached the net and you must respond. What do you do? Rip a winner, topspin lob, play the ball deftly at the feet, the answer depends on the relative positions of the approacher and the passer. If the approacher comes in behind a crosscourt approach, the down the line pass is the obvious play. If the approach shot is struck down the line, deep into the corner, the lob might be the best counter because the approacher is in better position, and passing options are reduced.

The passer must move the volleyer off center with the first shot creating a lane

But what if the approacher comes in down the middle, with you centered on the baseline and the approacher centered on the service court dividing line. Creating a "passing lane" from that position would be difficult at best. If you rip the ball and the volleyer responds at all you won't have time to recover.

After the initial volley (off center) the passer hits into the open court with the second shot pass

Here is a drill to help in this situation. It can be done with a student and a coach, or with two practice partners. The approacher feeds the initial ball to the center of the baseline and the passer tries to work the ball so the first shot moves the volleyer "off center" creating a passing lane. After the volley is made (off center) the passer can thread the needle into the open court with the SECOND SHOT PASS. The volleyer must assume the role of sparring partner, agreeing to keep the volley in play so the passer can practice.

This drill is deceptively difficult, for the passer must react to the volley and smoothly stroke the ball into the open court. Often the passer is tempted to look up before the hitting at the open court and bungles the shot. Note, when the volleyer plays off the center line of the court and volleys crosscourt, the passer has far easier options. When the volleyer plays from off the center line and volleys slightly down the line the passer has a more difficult job.

Finally, as you rehearse this drill, note how many times the volleyer misses the first volley (which spoils the second shot pass) but also reinforces the fact that tennis is a game of errors and you can actually be calm and collected when your opponent is at the net.

A footnote. What did the championship point in the Wimbledon finals where Agassi defeated Ivanisivec have in common with the match point in the recent Davis Cup where Courrier defeated Rusedski. In both instances the receiver (Agassi and Courier) chose to return heavy and down the middle to the incoming volleyer. With the centered return the volleyer has more difficult angles to find, and in such a huge situation the volleyer will feel more pressure in this centered position. Take a page from Connors book, as coached by Segura, "On all the big points Jimbo, rip the return down the middle and make them play."