One of the most difficult plays in tennis is changing the direction of an incoming crosscourt shot and hitting it down the line. To improve at this, it’s best to start small with what I like to call the Ping drill. Here’s how it works.
Both players start behind the baseline. Player A feeds the ball crosscourt to Player B (1) and then takes one step to the left (2). Player B hits the ball back to Player A’s new position (3) and then takes one step to the left (4). Both players continue to hit the ball right to each other, taking a step to the left after every shot. Once the players reach the opposite sideline, they continue the drill in reverse, taking steps to the right.
The key to this drill is to keep the ball in play for as long as possible at high speeds while incrementally changing the direction of the ball. This builds up your ability to hit an aggressive shot—a down-the-line forehand or backhand blast from your opponent’s crosscourt return—in the safest way possible.
Focusing your attention on changing the direction of the ball at small angles can help you organize your mind by minimizing your options. Doing so allows you to play the percentages while using the geometry of the court to your advantage.