Zones and Target Training

Key Points

• Use mini-tennis line sets to create your zones
• Hit a high percentage of your shots to the “big” zones on the court
• Hitting to “small” zones is low percentage
• Your mini-tennis line is halfway between the centre line and the inside tram line
• Create another zone halfway between the service line and the baseline for deep shots down the middle
• Deep shots down the middle can rush your opponent and take away their angles
• Create zones for the forehand and backhand
• When hitting with your player, try and keep a high intensity with your footwork and energy so they can mirror you
• Start off with your player hitting to the deep zones down the middle
• If the player is making too many mistakes, then you can focus more on technique or slow down the tempo of your shots so they can stay consistent
• Zone training and drilling helps a player build confidence in their accuracy
• Many players are using patterns such as 2 cross and 1 line, when their crosscourt shot hasn’t pulled their opponent wide enough to change direction
• Zone training can teach players how to construct points in the right way
• Set up the target a meter or so either side of the service line, and a meter from the inside tramline, and have the player aim for this target before changing direction
• “Moving coach” is where the player hits to the coach wherever he moves on the court