Game version
Rally game: a pair rallies backhands and tries to beat its own longest rally, then swaps feeders.
Backhand Down the Line
Change direction from a cross-court rally to a down-the-line winner.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Rally cross-court for three shots.
Core: Medium. Beat your own longest rally.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 12 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Racket, balls, court, partner or ball machine, cones
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Backhand
The steps
How it works
- Rally cross-court for three shots.
- Take the fourth down the line toward a cone target.
- Recover to the middle.
- Do 12 patterns.
Coaching point
Change direction only on a ball you control.
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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