Game version
Rally game: a pair rallies backhands and tries to beat its own longest rally, then swaps feeders.
Backhand Cross-Court Rally
Keep a steady backhand rally going across the court.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Rally backhand to backhand cross-court with a partner.
Core: Medium. Beat your own longest rally.
- Ages
- 11 and up
- Time
- 12 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Racket, balls, court, partner
- Level · skill
- Developing · Backhand
The steps
How it works
- Rally backhand to backhand cross-court with a partner.
- Aim a racket length over the net.
- Count your longest rally.
- Play for 10 minutes.
Coaching point
Early turn, steady height.
Safety: Use the ball and court for your age: red ball on a short court at 8 and under, orange at 9 to 10, green at 10 to 12. Drink water at every break and rest in the shade on hot days.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a level: Less (soft balls, close), Core (medium), More (cross-court targets). Beat your own longest rally.
Story
You are playing the last rally of a final.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own longest rally. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free tennis week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.