Soft Third
Four on one court? Only one ball may be hit hard at a time.
Fifteen Soft Drops
B plays balls like a return, and A answers each one from the baseline with a soft drop into the kitchen. 15 balls, then swap.
How to play
- A stands behind the baseline. B stands at the kitchen line on the other side and starts every ball: a flat, medium-deep ball, like a return.
- B mixes where the balls go: to A's forehand, backhand and middle, in a set order (for example forehand, backhand, forehand).
- A moves the feet to the ball and lets it rise and fall: hit it on the way down, after its highest point.
- A plays a drop, cross-court or to the middle: about 45 cm over the net, landing in the kitchen close to B's feet.
- After each ball, A notes silently: good, too high, or into the net. B says nothing.
- 15 balls, then swap roles.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: B plays the balls at real return pace, and after each drop A moves forward and split-steps.
Too hard: B plays slow, medium balls, always to the same spot.
Good looks like: About 12 of 15 drops are good: low over the net and landing in the kitchen.
Three Balls, One Point
A serves deep, B returns deep, A drops into the kitchen. A point counts only when all three balls land right.
How to play
- Mark a strip about 1.2 m deep in front of each baseline, with a shoe or bottle on each sideline. That is the target for serve and return.
- A serves deep into B's strip. B returns deep into A's strip. A plays the third shot as a drop.
- A point counts only when all three land right: serve in the strip, return in the strip, drop in the kitchen.
- At 3 points, swap roles.
- Give the third shot equal time cross-court and straight ahead, because real thirds come from both.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: Keep playing after the third shot: play the point out. Still easy: make the strips narrower.
Too hard: Play cooperatively at low pace, and only think about getting the serve and return deep.
Good looks like: A plays the drop from wherever the return really lands, not from a standing start.
Drive or Drop
A starts at the baseline, chooses drive or drop by the ball, then plays the point out. A needs 7 points, B needs 11.
How to play
- A stands behind the baseline, B at the kitchen line. B starts every rally with an easy, deep ball to A.
- A plays a drive or a drop, choosing by the ball: well balanced and the ball in front of you = drive; stretched, short or off balance = drop.
- After that shot, the point is live: play it out.
- Both score on every rally. A needs 7, B needs 11, because A starts from the baseline. Then swap roles.
- After a rally, B may say whether A's choice fit the ball.
Too easy? Too hard?
Too easy: After every good drop, B attacks actively instead of playing it back.
Too hard: No score. B blocks every ball back easily, and A simply alternates drive, drop, drive, drop. Still too hard: practise only the forehand side, then only the backhand side.
Good looks like: A drives only a ball in front of the body and drops when stretched or late. The choice comes from the ball, not from a plan.
That's 30 minutes.Good rally, everyone.