Tennis Directional Change Drill to Break Out of the Backhand Trap A closed drill focuses on controlled patterns and specific technical work, while an open drill adds decision-making and match-like situations to help players apply those skills in real play. Turn defense into offense with this strategic tennis drill focused on directional change, presented by SportsEdTV and powered by the Racquet Sports Professionals Association (RSPA). In this closed-to-open tennis drill, Coach Robert Gomez, director of Tier One Tennis Academy in Coral Gables, Florida, teaches players how to escape from being pinned in a cross-court backhand rally and take control of the point with an aggressive forehand. What This Drill Improves: 1. Directional awareness 2. Defensive patience 3. Forehand transition (inside-out and inside-in) 4. Decision-making under pressure 5. Match-play simulation with real point play - Drill Breakdown: 1. One player starts in a closed drill scenario, defending only with backhands. 2. At any moment, the player can change direction and strike a forehand to break the pattern. 3. The point then opens up and is played out live with a new opponent each time. - Coach Gomez walks you through key tactical decisions like: 1. When to break the pattern with forehand aggression 2. Choosing between inside-in vs. inside-out 3. How to rotate players for varied live play 4. When to mix in slices or drop shots to stay unpredictable This is a must-watch video for intermediate and advanced players looking to build smarter patterns of play and become more dangerous from the baseline. Add this drill to your training and take control of the point—don’t stay stuck in that backhand corner!