Player practice guide
Extreme Crosscourt Backhand to Down-the-Line Finish
15 min Coach / feederAdvancedBackhand
Pull the opponent wide with an extreme crosscourt backhand, then convert the next ball down the line.
Best for: players with a stable backhand who want to open the court before changing direction.
Goal
Pull the ball sharply crosscourt, recover, then redirect the next suitable backhand down the line.
Success today
Complete 6 of 10 two-ball patterns with the first ball in the crosscourt target and the second beyond the service line down the line.
Watch before court
Technique reference
Novak Djokovic Backhand Technique - Slow Motion Analysis · 10:20
Technique reference—not the full drill. Watch the preparation, contact spacing and recovery that support controlled backhand direction changes.
Open video on YouTubeArrive ready
Before you go
- One coach or capable feeder
- Basket of 24+ tennis balls
- 6 flat cones
- Approximately 15 minutes of court time
Court blueprint
Set up the court
Receive two backhand feeds, use the first into the extreme crosscourt target, recover, then redirect the second into the deep down-the-line lane.
- Ball direction
- Feeder ball
- Recovery
- Target zone
- 01Mark a short crosscourt backhand target and a deep down-the-line lane.
- 02Place a recovery cone behind the baseline.
- 03Ask the feeder to send two backhands: one wider, then one more central.
Step by step
Your 15-minute practice
0–3 min
Separate the two shapes
- Hit easy crosscourt and line feeds as separate shots.
- Keep the preparation similar for both.
3–7 min
Build the crosscourt opener
- Aim outside the singles centre while keeping safe net height.
- Recover before the second feed.
7–11 min
Add the line finish
- Take the second ball in front and direct it beyond the service line.
- Aim a metre inside the sideline.
10 patterns · 4 min
Score ten patterns
- Count only patterns with both targets and a recovery between them.
- Aim for six complete patterns.
Remember
Three player cues
- Open the court first.
- Recover before redirecting.
- Meet the line ball in front.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Forcing the line before the crosscourt ball creates space
- Using a lower net margin on the first ball
- Skipping the recovery between contacts
Keep the same purpose
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Use a larger crosscourt target and hand-feed the second ball to the same contact height.
Make it harder
Let the feeder decide whether the second ball is suitable for the line and play crosscourt again when it is not.
Keep it safe
Keep both target lanes clear of spare balls and allow the player to recover before the second feed.
Continue later