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Player practice guide

Forehand Volley: Deep + Crosscourt Drop

15 min PartnerIntermediate–AdvancedForehand

Combine a deep forehand volley with a short crosscourt drop volley.

Best for: net players adding a short crosscourt finish after establishing depth with the forehand volley.

Goal

Place a firm deep forehand volley, then disguise a softer crosscourt drop from the same preparation.

Success today

Complete 5 of 8 deep-then-crosscourt-drop pairs with a balanced recovery after each ball.

Watch before court

Technique reference

How to Hit a DROP VOLLEY - Touch Shot Tennis Lesson: Part 1 · 10:30

Technique reference—not the full drill. Watch the contact height, open racket face and absorption used to control a drop volley.

Open video on YouTube

Arrive ready

Before you go

  • One hitting partner who can feed from the baseline
  • 16+ tennis balls
  • 4 flat cones
  • Approximately 15 minutes of court time

Court blueprint

Set up the court

Forehand deep volley and crosscourt dropUse a compact forehand volley to play deep first, then soften the second similar feed into the opposite short crosscourt target and recover centrally.NETDeep targetShort targetYouPartner

Use a compact forehand volley to play deep first, then soften the second similar feed into the opposite short crosscourt target and recover centrally.

  • Ball direction
  • Recovery
  • Target zone
  1. 01Mark a deep middle target and a short crosscourt service-box target.
  2. 02Start just behind the service line.
  3. 03Ask your partner to send two forehand feeds with similar height.

Step by step

Your 15-minute practice

  1. 0–3 min

    Find the short angle

    • Guide four gentle feeds across the net.
    • Keep the contact in front.

  2. 3–7 min

    Set up with depth

    • Play the first ball of each pair beyond the service line.
    • Return to a neutral net position.

  3. 7–11 min

    Disguise the drop

    • Show the same preparation on the second ball.
    • Soften the hand towards the crosscourt target.

  4. 8 pairs · 4 min

    Complete eight pairs

    • Award one point for both targets and two balanced finishes.
    • Aim for five points.

Remember

Three player cues

  • Contact stays in front.
  • Deep first, soft across second.
  • Return to centre.

Avoid these

Common mistakes

  • Taking the crosscourt ball beside the body
  • Changing grip between the two volleys
  • Closing too tight to the net after the drop

Keep the same purpose

Adjust the challenge

Make it easier

Use a larger short target and feed both balls from inside the baseline.

Make it harder

Hide the deep-or-drop order until the ball crosses the net.

Keep it safe

Keep all spare balls behind the partner and clear the short target after every eight pairs.

Continue later

Related drills

Forehand Volley Touch + Defence15 min · PartnerForehand Volley: Deep + Down-the-Line Drop15 min · PartnerNet Game Volley15 min · Partner