Your practices (and even lessons) should focus on helping your players PLAY better.

Even stroke lessons should be undertaken to help players PLAY better.

I. Explain Your Philosophy to Players at the Start of the Season

a) All work (strokes, mental toughness, conditioning) relates their match-play needs.
b) Each player must develop a style of play. Have a development plan for EACH player prior to the start of the season.
c) Set goals so players can assess the value of their practices

II. Technical Work

Strokes changes should only be made to solve a tactical problem
Use problem solving
Work backwards
Dead-ball vs. live ball (blocked, variable, random feeds = learning, retention, recall)

III. Introducing Tactics During Practice

Discuss a match-play strategy and attendant tactic
Have players try tactic in controlled match play drill
Discuss results
Offer tactical solution
Go back to previous drill
Discuss results
Offer technical solution
Practice technical solution
Go back to original drill
Discuss results

IV. Dead-Ball Drilling

Feeding --basket positioning, time spacing feed angle
Line drills -- recovery after shot and number of repetitions (3)
Target areas
Points -- add progressively more pressure to end drill (strokes to shots)

V. Live-Ball Drilling

a) Baseline rallies
One bounce
Play through short balls
Don't hit long balls
Get to the side of the ball

b) Use realistic target areas to simulate match play

c) Use realistic point systems to add negative reinforcement to simulate match play

d) Practice shots and shot combinations

e) Practice match-play conditions
Handicap matches to work on skills (no returns short; second serves only; no lobs, etc.)
Include all Mental Toughness rituals, routines and self-talk techniques

VI. Conditioning
Tennis is anaerobic -- use a 1:3 work/rest ratio if working at maximum intensity

At the end of the season, you should have developed better players, not simply better hitters. This means focusing on strategies, tactics and mental toughness, not forehands and backhands -- and practicing them in match-play situations.