Four-corner one-ball pattern

Link straight and diagonal groundstrokes so all four players share one predictable pattern.

Cooperative drill · Crosscourt · Down the line · Doubles teamwork · 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 = targetOne ball follows A near left to C far left, C to B near right, B to D far right, then D to A. Near players hit straight and far players diagonally; swap ends after four sequences.Starting positions are schematic; follow the written setup.

Purpose & setup

Link straight and diagonal groundstrokes so all four players share one predictable pattern.

A and B occupy the near-left and near-right baseline corners; C and D occupy far-left and far-right. Use one ball and singles width, with plenty of space between partners.

How to play

A drop-feeds straight to C. C returns crosscourt to B; B returns straight to D; D returns crosscourt to A.
Repeat A → C → B → D → A after one bounce, keeping the ball comfortable for the next player.
A miss, wrong receiver, out ball or second bounce ends the sequence. Retrieve and reset before restarting.
After four sequences swap near and far team roles so the straight hitters become diagonal hitters. Finish the current sequence at time.

Scoring or success

Count complete four-shot circuits after the feed. Aim for two circuits with every player contributing before increasing depth.

Rotation & roles

Swap ends after four sequences, walking around the net. Alternate the first feeder A/B each sequence and mirror the circuit when B feeds.

Make it easier

Start at the service lines with higher, slower balls.

Add a challenge

Move behind the baselines and aim every shot beyond the opposite service line.

Mixed levels

Use asymmetric distances so each hitter can send the next player a comfortable ball.

Safety & spacing

Use one ball and fixed halves. Partners call any middle ball and stop if an unexpected direction would cause a crossing chase.

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.