Around the World
Why this drill
The classic big-group game: everyone circles the court, each player hitting one ball and running on. It keeps six, eight, ten players moving and laughing while quietly drilling the skill under all of it — arriving at a moving ball on balance and putting it back in play.
Setup
One court, at least four players (the more the better), split into two lines behind each baseline. One ball in play; a feeder starts each rally with a friendly ball down the middle.
The drill
First player in line hits one ball, then sprints around the outside of the court to join the far line while the opposite player returns it and does the same — the whole group orbiting as the rally lives. A player who misses collects a letter; three letters and you owe ten split-steps at the kitchen line before rejoining (nobody sits out — benches teach nothing). As the group thins to the strongest two, they play one point head-to-head for the round. With smaller groups, run it at the kitchen line with dinks only and walking instead of sprinting: same orbit, all touch.
One thought to take on court
Arrive, then swing — the run is over before the stroke starts, even when you're hurrying.