Continental Grip & Short Ball Recognition Drills

Key Points

• Continental Volley-to-Finish Drill

  • Players rally with touch volleys at the baseline using continental grip

  • Movement and soft hands are key – keep the ball alive with control

  • One player bumps the ball short; the other moves in and puts it away

  • Trains:

    • Continental grip comfort

    • Short ball recognition

• Short Ball Recognition Rally Drill

  • Coach at the net mixing forehands and backhands to the players at the baseline

  • Coach feeds a short ball at random (into the ground) – player must identify it and finish down the line

  • Encourages:

    • Clean ball striking under control

    • Quick reaction and footwork

    • Adjusting to spin on shorter balls

• Absorb-Then-Hit Groundstroke Drill

  • Players start in continental grip, absorb the bounce like a volley, then switch grip and hit a groundstroke

  • Can be done cooperatively or competitively

  • Great for:

    • Developing touch and grip changes

    • Building soft hands and adjusting to bounces

    • Practicing volley-like feel within baseline rallies

  • Variation: No balls allowed in service box – adds precision + competitiveness

• Mini Tennis + Volley Warmup

  • One player alternates between a mini tennis groundstroke and a volley

  • Encourages:

    • Transition skills from baseline to net

    • Footwork and body control

    • Volley form in a low-pressure setting

  • Effective match-specific warm-up to get comfortable attacking and approaching the net