Baseline Games: DeeperUpdated 10 months ago
Deeper is a drill designed to help players improve their shot depth, consistency, mental game, and overall endurance.
See a video summary of Deeper and the rules here:
How to play Deeper
Deeper can be played by 2-4 players at a time on a single court.
The rules are simple:
- Each side must work to hit the ball as deep as possible without making a mistake. More points will be awarded for deeper shots, while points will be deducted for errors.
- After 10, 30 and 60 shots in a row, your score will double, triple and quadruple respectively. The score multiplier will be reset after a mistake.
- Whoever has the highest score after 5 minutes is the winner!
During the game, coaches and those who aren’t playing can use the Baseline app to monitor time and score or end the session if needed.
The app only gives more insight into what is happening on the court – it is not required during the drill. The Baseline Cam will let players know how long they have left and when they hit a particularly deep shot via the speakers.
Once the game is finished, both the camera and app will announce the winner. Scores will automatically be logged on the worldwide leaderboard so that players can see where they stand – and what score they need to beat to climb the rankings.
Here’s how to check the leaderboard.
| How to maximize your score 💡 Mastering Deeper isn't about power – it's all about playing high. Aim to hit 3-6 ft (1-2 m) above the net. You can see your average net clearance at the end of the session to determine whether you were able to consistently stay in this range. 💡 Hit with a long swing and follow through. 💡 Load your weight on the back foot. The moment you strike, transfer the weight to the front leg. 💡To reduce mistakes, hit with heavy top spin. |
After the game
After your game is over, you will see a summary of players’ performance.
This includes:
- Scores for this session
- Players’ personal best scores
- The number of strokes
- Overall accuracy
- The longest rally
You can also see a more detailed breakdown which includes average speed, net clearance, and other performance stats.
How to use Deeper in coaching sessions
Set up a competition, rewarding the player who gets the best score in the group
Choose a score from the worldwide leaderboard and challenge players to beat it
Demonstrate how to play the game, then challenge players to beat your score
Set extra challenges for players – for example, aim for an accuracy rate of +90%, or aim to keep shots 3-6 ft (1-2m) above the net
Here’s how coach Luc Godin, Head Men's Tennis Coach at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, uses Deeper in his sessions:
Try Deeper for yourself
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