Baseline-to-Kitchen Ladder
Why this drill
Getting from the baseline to the kitchen line is a sequence — drop, advance, reset, advance again — and most players have only ever practiced its pieces. This drill practices the whole journey.
Setup
Feeder at the non-volley-zone line with a large supply of balls; mover at the opposite baseline. Half court, straight ahead.
The drill
The feeder feeds; the mover drops from the baseline and advances a step or two. The feeder keeps feeding — firm, at the feet — and the mover keeps resetting and advancing only when their last ball was good, holding position when it was not. The rep ends when the mover's toes reach the kitchen line and they win a dink exchange, or when a reset pops up and the feeder puts it away. Count completed journeys; five in a set is strong. Swap roles each set.
One thought to take on court
Split step every time your opponent's paddle meets the ball — advance between shots, never during them.