Game version
Rally game: a pair rallies backhands and tries to beat its own longest rally, then swaps feeders.
Return Deep Down the Middle
Return hard serves deep through the middle so the server gets no angle to attack.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Mark a deep middle zone with cones.
Core: Medium. Beat your own longest rally.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 15 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Racket, balls, court, partner, cones
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Backhand
The steps
How it works
- Mark a deep middle zone with cones.
- Your partner serves first serves to your backhand.
- Block or drive the return into the middle zone.
- Return 20 and count the ones that land in the zone.
Coaching point
Big target, deep middle.
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
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