Ten Classic Finishing Patterns

Here are 10 classic patterns to finish the point in singles and doubles. Practice, rehearse and utilize these patterns in match play to improve your ability to dictate play, finish points and win matches.

Singles

1. Work the forehand or backhand corners with cross-court drives hit with depth and penetration to soften up the court and create an opportunity to finish the point with a redirection down-the-line.
2. Serve out wide with a slice or kick serve (depending on whether you are serving from the deuce or ad sides of the court) and then follow-up with a drive hit to the opposite (and hopefully open) side of the court.
3. Serve out wide with a slice or kick serve (as above) and then wrong foot your opponent by driving the next shot back to the same side of the court.
4. Draw your opponent into the net with an angled drop shot (attempted only if you’re positioned inside the baseline) and then follow-up with a lob hit to the opposite corner of the court.
5. Close into the net with a down-the-line approach shot.  Follow the line of your approach to cover the line (and a potential down-the-line pass) and then finish the point with a cross-court angled volley.

Doubles

1. Lob your serve return down-the-line over the head of your opponent. Close into the net and towards the middle of the court (no closer than the service line) and then finish the point with a volley or overhead.
2. Serve to the middle of the court to allow your partner to drift, cross, intercept and finish the point with a down-the-line volley.
3. Chip and angle your serve return out wide with backspin (drawing the server in and to the outside of the court).  Close into the net and finish the point with a volley hit to the middle of the court.
4. Hit to the feet of your opponents positioned at the net (either with a groundstroke or volley) and then pounce (forward and in) to volley away the anticipated weak and short reply.
5. Serve and follow your serve into the net (serve and volley). Hit your first volley cross-court and deep to isolate the serve returner. Redirect your next volley to the feet of the unsuspecting partner of the serve returner.