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.
š¾ 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
š” Reinforcing Tips:
Focus on consistent contact point and smooth follow-through. Practice both power and placement.
š 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)
š” Reinforcing Tips:
Stay behind the baseline, use continental grip, focus on placement over power.
š 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
š” Reinforcing Tips:
Use soft continental grip, minimal swing, focus on placement and patience.
šÆ 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
š” 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.
