Grooved Returns
Why this drill
Before a return can be aimed it has to be automatic. Friendly fed serves in high volume let a newer player groove the whole return habit — early turn, contact out front, finish deep, first step forward — without the scoreboard watching.
Setup
Feeder at one baseline with a pile of balls; returner diagonal at the other. A towel laid in the back third of the feeder's court as the depth target.
The drill
The feeder serves easy, consistent serves to the middle of the service box — this is feeding, not competing. The returner hits fifteen forehand returns, then fifteen backhands, aiming every ball past the towel line. Count returns that land in the back third; ten of fifteen per side is the goal. After each return, take one step into the court and split-step — the habit of following the return forward gets built now, before points make it scary. Then swap roles.
One thought to take on court
Turn early, swing simple — a long flat push through the ball beats a big swing every time.