Tennis can be tough to watch for parents and coaches. In pressure situations, kids tend to do what is most comfortable for them. Unfortunately, if what’s most comfortable for them is hitting slice shots, then that’s what they will do. Tell me if this isn’t familiar. You’re watching your kids play, and things are going well. When a big point comes up and next thing you know, your kid has decided they are going to hit a drop shot every third ball and they end up losing the match. The best way to prevent your child from resorting to harmful tactics is to make sure they are comfortable with winning ones. The best way to engrain winning tactics into your child is to have them practice patterns. (A pattern is when kids go out and hit certain shots over and over again such as two forehands crosscourt and then one down the line)
Patterns are an essential part of any one’s regime. They not only help kids work on shots, but they build automatic go-to strategies that they will start to use in matches naturally. In this article, we will go over how to work on patterns when your child is practicing outside of clinics and lessons and go over a few patterns they can use. You can also check out some of our other easy tennis strategies here.
How to practice patterns
There are two ways your child can practice patterns. Either with someone racquet feeding balls to them (someone standing with a basket hitting balls over the net) or with a partner hitting live balls.
With someone feeding
When someone is feeding balls during practice, patterns are simple. You tell the kid/s what they are working on, why they might be working on it, and what balls to hit. You then feed them the balls to work on the pattern. They should continue that pattern for at least 7 or 8 minutes to give them time to internalize it. The longer they practice the pattern, the more likely they will start using it naturally during point play.
With a hitting partner
Having kids do live ball patterns can be a little tricky. You need to make sure the kids can continue the drill at least three times without missing for it to be productive. Due to this, the drills will be simpler and a little easier than what you could do while feeding. The benefit here is that they get in live ball play with the patterns which will make them comfortable with those shots faster.
Patterns
Feeding patterns
Here are some basic patterns you and your child can practice while you’re feeding them balls.
Two balls crosscourt, one ball down the line– (Pick either Forehand or Backhand to work on. Whichever needs more work)
This pattern drill is good for teaching patience and the beginnings of how to structure a point.
One ball crosscourt, one ball down the line- (Pick either Forehands or Backhands to work on. Whichever needs more work)
A pattern like this helps kids become comfortable with changing the direction of the ball.
Backhand Crosscourt, Inside Out Forehand, Inside In Forehand
Teaches kids to run around their Backhand and to be more aggressive
Note- An inside-out forehand is when a shot is hit to your child’s backhand side and they run around the backhand to hit a forehand crosscourt. An inside-in forehand is the same thing except they hit the ball down the line instead.
2 Balls Crosscourt, One Down the line, approach shot
A slightly more complex pattern that teaches kids how to build a point and then come up to the net to finish it.
Hitting patterns
These patterns are meant for two people.
Crosscourt, Down the line
One person hits every ball crosscourt, and the other person hits every ball down the line. Teaching kids how to control the ball even when on the move.
Two balls crosscourt, one down the line
One person hits two balls crosscourt and then one down the line. The other person hits every ball crosscourt. This pattern helps kids learn a little bit of point building, as well as defense while on the move.
Backhand Crosscourt, Inside Out Forehand, Inside In Forehand
One person hits the pattern described above. The other person hits every ball to their partners backhand side. This pattern teaches kids to be more aggressive and to move around the backhand to hit a forehand. Also teaches kids control when on the move.
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