Running around the backhand: the Kyrgios forehand fire drill

When a player's forehand is their biggest weapon, the temptation to use it from everywhere on the court becomes a tactical pattern in itself. Running around the backhand to hit an inside-out or inside-in forehand is a hallmark of the modern power game, and few players do it more aggressively than Nick Kyrgios.

The drill

The feed comes to the backhand corner, slightly floated to give the player time and space to get around the ball. The player moves laterally, sets up behind the ball, and hits a forehand from deep in the backhand side of the court. The target is the corners: inside-out to the opponent's backhand, or inside-in to their forehand, depending on the situation.

What it develops

The obvious benefit is building comfort and power on the forehand from non-traditional positions. But the drill also develops the lateral movement and early recognition needed to make the run-around viable in a real rally. If the player reads the ball late or moves slowly, the run-around becomes a liability. Practising it in a controlled setting builds the speed of recognition and the footwork to execute it under match pressure.

Like the Verdasco drill, the emphasis here is on high reps and high volume. The goal is for the forehand to feel reliable and explosive from this position even when fatigue sets in.