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Decision-Making drills

Drills you can run at practice.

Team drill
Doubles Serve Signal Drill
Run at practice

Decision-Making

12 minutes
Doubles Serve Signal Drill
Decision-Making
Legend
Player
Ball
Player movement
Ball path
How It Works

Introduce doubles net signal communication by teaching partners to use hand signals behind the back to coordinate net player positioning before each serve.

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What You Need
tennis rackettennis ballscourt
Your Focus

Hand signals are the foundation of effective doubles teamwork at every level, and learning them early builds a communication language that partners can use throughout their...

1
Set Up

Coach explains and demonstrates two signals: closed fist = stay, open hand = poach.

2
Run The Rep
A.
Net player holds signal behind their back while server prepares; server peeks at signal and nods to confirm.
B.
Server serves and net player executes the agreed action (stay or poach); play the point out.
3
Check It

Signal before the toss, not during it

Goal

You've got it when your partner reads your signal correctly every time and there's no confusion about who's covering what, one signal, one plan, no hesitation.

Helpful Cues
Signal before the toss, not during itServer, always check the signal, never assumeA good poach starts with a good signal, not a good instinct
UPLVL IT

Add a third signal (one finger = I fake a poach) and require the team to decide their signal combination before the service game begins.

Source: USTA Net Generation Player Development
Team drill
Doubles Positioning and Poaching Drill
Run at practice

Decision-Making

12 minutes
Doubles Positioning and Poaching Drill
Decision-Making
Legend
Player
Opponent
Ball
Player movement
Ball path
How It Works

Develop tactical doubles positioning, including net player movement, poaching timing, and communication between partners.

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What You Need
tennis ballstennis racketfull court3 additional players
Your Focus

Doubles tactics — particularly net player positioning and poaching — are often underdeveloped because most practice time is spent on singles patterns.

1
Set Up

Play full doubles points starting with a serve; before each serve, net player signals poach (cross hand signal) or stay (hand signal).

2
Run The Rep
A.
If poach is signaled, net player moves diagonally across after the serve; server covers the cross.
B.
If stay is signaled, net player holds position and looks for a high, crossable ball to intercept.
3
Check It

Signal before the serve, no surprises for your partner.

Goal

You're there when the poach is timed by what your partner's signal told you, not by guessing, coordinated, not lucky.

Helpful Cues
Signal before the serve, no surprises for your partner.Poach when the returner looks away or sets up cross-court.Commit to the poach, halfway is worse than not going.
UPLVL IT

Receiving team also signals their return direction, creating a tactical battle between both teams' pre-point plans.

Source: USTA Net Generation Player Development
Team drill
Mid-Match Tactical Adjustment Drill
Run at practice

Decision-Making

12 minutes
Mid-Match Tactical Adjustment Drill
Decision-Making
Legend
Player
Opponent
Coach
Ball
Ball path
How It Works

Train advanced players to read an opponent's pattern, identify a tactical weakness, and consciously adjust their game plan mid-match.

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What You Need
tennis ballstennis racketfull courtopponentscore trackertactical card set
Your Focus

The ability to adjust tactics during a match is what separates advanced players from those who are technically equal but tactically rigid.

1
Set Up

Play a 6-game practice set under standard scoring rules.

2
Run The Rep
A.
After 3 games, coach stops play and asks you to identify one observable pattern of their opponent (e.g., 'they always go cross-court on the second ball from the backhand').
B.
You selects a tactical card from the set (e.g., 'attack to the backhand early,' 'serve wide and poach,' 'draw to backhand then go inside-out forehand') and commits to that tactic for the next 3 games.
3
Check It

Observe first, adjust second.

Goal

It's real when you notice a pattern in how your opponent is playing and consciously change your game to exploit it, within 2-3 games, not 2-3 sets.

Helpful Cues
Observe first, adjust second.What did they do MOST often? That's where you start.Stick to the plan for 3 games, give it enough data before you change again.
UPLVL IT

Opponent is told mid-set to change their pattern, requiring you to identify the new pattern and re-adjust tactics within the same set.

Source: USTA Net Generation Player Development
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