Drop and Advance, Two-on-Two
Why this drill
The core doubles pattern — one team pinned at the baseline dropping its way in, one team holding the line — practiced as a team of two instead of alone. The closest a drill gets to the real thing while still repeating the exact situation every point.
Setup
Full court. One pair at the non-volley-zone line, one pair at the opposite baseline. Balls with the baseline team.
The drill
The baseline pair starts every point with a drop off a self-feed and tries to advance to the kitchen line together — moving as a unit, advancing behind good drops, holding behind bad ones. The line pair keeps them pinned: volleys deep to the feet, no lobs. Play the point out; the baseline team scores only on points it wins with both players at the line, the net team scores on everything else. First team to 7, then switch ends. Expect the score to feel unfair — getting in is the hard half of doubles, which is why it gets the practice.
One thought to take on court
Advance together and hold together — a staggered pair leaves a diagonal hole that every 3.5 player knows how to find.