The depth drill: finding the back third of the court

At every level of the game, from junior tennis through to the professional tour, consistent depth on the groundstrokes is one of the most effective ways to put an opponent under pressure. The ball that lands in the back third of the court changes the geometry of the rally in the hitter's favour. The problem is that most practice does not specifically reward depth.

The zone scoring system

The court is divided into three zones between the service line and the baseline. Zone one, closest to the service line, scores one point. Zone two, the middle section, scores two points. Zone three, the section nearest the baseline, scores three points. The working player rallies cross-court or down the middle and accumulates points based on where the ball lands.

For more advanced players, a penalty of minus one for every missed shot raises the stakes and prevents the player from simply swinging freely without regard for consistency.

Setting a target

A target of one hundred points provides a clear endpoint. Even for a player who consistently finds zone two and zone three, reaching one hundred takes sustained effort. The exercise tests consistency, stamina and the ability to maintain technical form under mild but persistent pressure.

The feeding partner's role

The hitting partner should not be making this easy. Their job is to rally with good depth and realistic pace, practising their own groundstrokes purposefully. If the feed is too kind, the exercise loses its connection to match play. Both players benefit when the drill feels like a real rally with a scoring overlay.