Beginner training plan
Your first lessonWork on basic technical fundamentals of ground strokes (serve, return, dink, forehand, backhand) from the different zones of the court (zone 1 = non volley zone (nvz), zone 2 = transition zone, zone 3 = baseline to establish a baseline from which to build on development using applicable progressions.
🎾 Establish Serve Baseline Metric for measuring progress over time: Provide Serve Test
Pass: 20/30 legal serves (66%)
Requirements:
From behind baseline, underhand continental grip
Paddle contact below waist
10 deep serves (past NVZ line)
10 short serves (kitchen landing)
No foot faults, all diagonal/crosscourt
💡 Reinforcing Tips:
Focus on consistent contact point and smooth follow-through. Practice both power and placement.
🏓 Establish Ground Stroke Baseline Metric for measuring progress over time: Provide Groundstroke Rally Test
Pass: 10 rallies of 4+ shots
Requirements:
Progression 1: Hand feeds drill: Alternate forehand/backhand drives from baseline
progression 2: Live ball drill: Keep ball in play, one bounce each side
Aim crosscourt for consistency
No unforced errors (double-hits, long, wide, net)
💡 Reinforcing Tips:
Stay behind the baseline, use continental grip, focus on placement over power.
🍃 Establish Dink Baseline Metric for measuring progress over time: Pass Dink Rally Test
Pass: 30+ shot rally without faults
Requirements:
Student at kitchen line
Soft dinks only (no volleys)
Ball must land in coach's kitchen, below net height
Sustain rally for 5 minutes
💡 Reinforcing Tips:
Use soft continental grip, minimal swing, focus on placement and patience.
🎯 Game Simulation
Play one game to 11,
Demonstrate proper positioning (move to kitchen after return)
Show basic strategy (attempt third-shot drop)
No rules disputes
💡 Reinforcing Tips:
Focus on consistency and following basic strategy.
Lesson 2-3Second lesson - emphasize work in zone 1 to include basic dink (dead) straight ahead, forehand crosscourt (plain, topspin, backspin), backhand cross court, ( one handed slice (backspin), two-handed roll dink (topspin), forehand roll, backhand roll, backhand flick.
