The Previdi System

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2-4 players

Topic:   Crosscourt Mini Tennis is the first drill and the foundation drill of The Previdi System.  Most of our other drills build directly on this drill. 

EFFECT ON GAME:  In order to be accurate and consistent, we need to be efficient and have a consistent contact point. The sooner we can hit the ball, especially on the return of serve, the lower we can keep it and the more angle we can hit, thus setting us up with the SAL Return. By mastering this drill you will be in a position to hit balls earlier, lower and with more angle and put your opponents consistently in "Jail". 

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

Topic:  The Hourglass Drill is drill #2 in The Previdi System and builds on Crosscourt Mini Tennis to help the player learn how to use and increase the angle of the opponents ball. This drill is especially helpful when working on the SAL Return. 

EFFECT ON GAME:  Mastering The Hourglass Drill will make it easier to open up the court on an outside (wide) ball. Most players haven't ever used this area of the court and the players we teach are often amazed at how many winning shots they can hit using these angles. A related drill is the touch angle volley drill which will be very helpful when hitting a low midcourt volley.

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2-4 players

Topic: Touch is an elusive skill for many, if not most, adult players. Here we show you a progression of drills that will help you to improve or perfect your touch. You can do these with your doubles partner or in a clinic or team practice.   

EFFECT ON GAME:  If you make these drills part of your practice regimen you will improve your ability to hit the ball to areas of the court you couldn't access by hitting hard. You'll be able to play HOURGLASS TENNIS instead of HALLWAY TENNIS!

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2-4 players

Topic: Efficiency and the ability to take the ball early are critical to be a good doubles player, especially on return of serve. 

EFFECT ON GAME: Once you've done this drill on a regular basis, you will be able to take the ball earlier and closer to the net. This allows you to get the ball back more quickly, neutralizing the net player and giving you an opportunity to hit lower and with more angle without hitting in the net. The result will be added consistency and extreme pressure on the server.

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2 - 4 Players

TOPIC: Practicing Serve and volley vs. return and volley 1 on 1 crosscourt can be very helpful in developing patterns of shots.

EFFECT ON GAME: In The Previdi System we want every situation to become instinctive. If you practice one on one crosscourt points you can master the first two shots and learn to read situations better. 

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2 - 4 Players

TOPIC: Many players struggle to help their partner when their partner is serving. The only chance they get to practice proper positioning and movement is during a match and that can be intimidating. It also doesn't give them enough repetitions.

EFFECT ON GAME: If you perform this drill in your clinic or team practice it wlll help you to have better timing, positioning and it will help you build confidence to help your partner hold their serve. 

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2 - 4 Players

TOPIC: Most players aren't proficient at serve and volleying because they don't have the timing necessary. In this drill players get many repetitions in a controlled environment so that they can develop timing, technique, recognition and confidence.

EFFECT ON GAME: In The Previdi System, we feel all players should be able to learn to serve and volley. If you do this and our other drills, serve and volley will become natural and instinctive and you'll be confident.

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2 - 4 Players

TOPIC: The offensive lob return is the complimentary return to the SAL return in The Previdi System. It's important to drill this return and practice a lot of repetitions so we will be consistent in matches.

EFFECT ON GAME: If you and your partner get enough practice at this return from this drill and execute it in matches you will have good variety on your returns and keep your opponents off balance. 

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2 - 4 Players

TOPIC: In The Previdi System, It's imperative that the Hunter and Helper understand where they need to be and where their shots should go. We do drills so that shot selection and positioning become instinctive and permanent. This drill is for the Helper, so that they understand where to hit and when their role can change. 

EFFECT ON GAME: If The Helper can hit set ups and keep the ball in front of the Hunter, and also know when to capitalize on a short ball, they will make it very difficult for their opponents to catch them out of position .

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2 - 4 Players

TOPIC: In The Previdi System, we want the players to understand their roles for positioning and shot selection. This drill helps the Hunter to make good choices and to be in the right position at all times.

EFFECT ON GAME: Once a doubles player masters the Hunter and Helper positions, they will be able to play in any situation and their partner will always know what to expect from them. If a USTA team learned these roles, all players would be interchangeable. 

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: This drill is one of the most important drills in The Previdi System. It gets the server to get comfortable playing in any situation when serve and volleying, even if the don't have a partner. Master this drill and you will hold serve against any team. 

EFFECT ON GAME: Everyone benefits from this drill and all players will develop great instincts from repeating this drill over and over. It complements the One on One Crosscourt Drill drill as well as the 2 on 1 Serving Team vs. Receiver

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: This is another classic Previdi System drill and will help the serving team to work on isolating the receiver (until they can attack the partner). 

EFFECT ON GAME: All players will develop great skills and instincts in this drill (game). When you're in a match playing points you will have great court vision and a sense of what to do next that will be ingrained. No thinking, just reacting!

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  4 Players

TOPIC: A great way to practice serve and volley vs. return and volley is with this drill. It can also be played as a game. 

EFFECT ON GAME: By taking the serve out of the equation, we can get the players to work on getting comfortable with the mid court volley in a real match environment with both opponents coming toward the "server." The next drill or game after this one has the players serving four points each with everything else staying the same as depicted here. Once the players have done this hundreds of times they will get better at reading situations and hitting the appropriate type of shot ( neutralizing or attacking) on the mid court volley.

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2-4 players

Topic:   The "Dipper" is the third return of serve in The Previdi System, after SAL and the Offensive Lob. We can use The Dipper to complement The Chipper (or slice) return in both directions on the court.

EFFECT ON GAME:  The Dipper adds another element to your game. If your opponent has a weak serve, an aggressive net player or you just want to change it up, you can use the Dipper crosscourt to dip it low as it crosses the net. You can also go down the line or inside-in depending on what side you're returning on. You can already hit the Chipper to "Jail" as well as the offensive lob over the net players head. Your opponents won't know what hit them. 

Type:  Drill
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  2-4 players

Topic:   There are many applications for underspin (slice or chip) in doubles. The beauty of underspin is that it is very versatile. Return of serve, volley, drop volley, offensive lob and returning overheads all use the same basic technique.

EFFECT ON GAME: Once you have mastered underspin you will be amazed how much you're using it in a doubles match. It's great for keeping the ball low, reducing the speed of the ball and neutralizing power. 

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: In The Previdi System, the dipper is the third return we teach our players.  It puts the server on the defensive and keeps the net player off balance. It's nearly impossible to poach on and is a great complement to the SAL and Offensive lob returns. Follow the progression in this video to master the Dipper!

EFFECT ON GAME: The Dipper will keep your opponents off balance and add another element to your doubles arsenal. Now you have a nice variety of slower returns as well as faster returns. 

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

TOPIC: The First Rule of Doubles is:  Keep the ball low so that your opponents are always hitting up and if you can't keep it low, lob.

EFFECT ON THE GAME:  My college coach taught me that rule many years ago and it still holds up today. 

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

Topic:  The most effective return of serve in The Previdi System is the SAL return. Short, angled and low. It is equally effective against servers who stay back and those who serve and volley. It minimizes the opponents ability to lob, hit aggressive passing shots and forces the volleyer to hit up with a large opening between the opposing partners. The area the SAL return is hit to is called Jail. This the saying you will often hear us and our players say, "Put 'em in jail!"

EFFECT ON GAME:  Once you've mastered the SAL return you will be putting the server under a lot of pressure and keeping their partner out of the action. We complement this return with the Offensive lob return which goes over the net players head and must be retrieved by the server as well. All the returns in The Previdi System are complementary and set up the others to form a cohesive game plan.

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

Topic:  The average doubles point lasts fewer than four shots. if you and your partner want to win every match you play , get great at the first two shots of a point.

Effect On Game:  In The Previdi System, everything we work on is based on mastering the first two shots of every point. Serve and the second shot or return and the second shot. Shot selection, positioning, consistency and accuracy!If you and your partner can be accurate and consistent at these two shots you will dominate your matches and you will still be battling when the point lasts longer than four shots.

Type:  Tip
Level:  2.5 - 5.0
Participation:  None

Topic:  In The Previdi System, the doubles partners have different roles and different names. The Hunter is directly in front of the ball when it's on the opponents side and The Helper is always crosscourt from the ball. The Hunter is always closer to the net and The Helper is always farther from the net so we're in a staggered formation.

EFFECT ON GAME:  Once a doubles team has mastered the roles, positioning and shot selection for Hunter and Helper, their teamwork will be seamless. There are no overlapping responsibilities so confusion is eliminated. We will effectively neutralize the most damaging shots the opponents can hit. Crosscourt lobs can't get over our heads, we have opportunity and responsibility on middle balls instead of confusion and we take away crosscourt angles. Stay tunes for more about Hunter and Helper in future videos!