Straight-and-diagonal figure eight

Coordinate two different directions to rehearse recovery between forehands and backhands.

Cooperative drill · Crosscourt · Down the line · Movement · Minimum 6 minutes

Equipment: rackets, balls
Space: One tennis court with clear run-off space
Suggested block: 12 minutes; allow at least 6

Drill instructions

● Letter = player → Ball ⇢ Movement T = targetA begins near right, B far left. A always hits diagonally and B straight: near right to far left, far left to near left, near left to far right, far right to near right.Starting positions are schematic; follow the written setup.

Purpose & setup

Coordinate two different directions to rehearse recovery between forehands and backhands.

A and B begin behind opposite singles baselines. A hits every return crosscourt; B hits every return down the line. Use one ball and start at a controlled pace.

How to play

A drop-feeds crosscourt to B. B returns down the line, making A move across the baseline.
A returns crosscourt again; B moves across and returns down the line. Repeat the four-corner pattern after one bounce.
A miss, second bounce or wrong direction ends the sequence. Reset the ball and recover before restarting.
After three sequences exchange direction rules: A goes down the line and B crosscourt. Finish the current sequence at time.

Scoring or success

Count complete four-return patterns, excluding the feed. Aim for two complete patterns before increasing pace.

Rotation & roles

Swap the crosscourt and straight roles every three sequences, regardless of length. Both remain active.

Make it easier

Use shorter distances and broad half-court targets.

Add a challenge

Use deeper targets while keeping the same controlled speed.

Mixed levels

The stronger player takes the crosscourt role first and supplies comfortable balls; swap only when both agree.

Safety & spacing

Use controlled depth, keep enough baseline run-off and stop if a player is stretched beyond comfortable reach.

Follow the illustrated instructions. No video has been published for this activity.

Sources & editorial status

Editorial review needed: original practice rules and diagram, not coach-approved. These are optional practice rules, not official competition rules. References support general tennis guidance; they do not endorse this format.

USTA: Tennis tips and instruction — General coaching reference; does not validate these custom games.
LTA: Improve your game — General learning resource; custom rotations and scoring require review.