Tennis training offers a wide variety of best tennis drills and game formats. The drills a coach selects usually depend on four main factors:
Number of players Skill level of the players Age of the players Training goals An excellent tennis coach chooses drills thoughtfully, aiming for a balanced mix of training effectiveness and enjoyment. Players should neither be overchallenged nor underchallenged.
In this blog post, I will introduce you to my top 10 tennis drills. I will explain how they work and provide tips on what to consider. While it is hard to label any one drill as “the best,” these are the ones I have found most beneficial over my 25 years of coaching.
Table of Contents What Makes a Good Tennis Drill? My Best Tennis Drills – Top 10 You Should Know Conclusion: Best Tennis Drills What Makes a Good Tennis Drill? A good tennis drill, in my opinion, is one that allows players to practice a specific skill or achieve a clear training goal while being both challenging and enjoyable. Ideally, the drill should:
Simulate realistic match situations Maintain a balance of intensity and rest Keep players continuously engaged with minimal downtime Incorporate fun and variety Even the best-designed drill is only as effective as the coach facilitating it. A coach must guide the drill, provide timely feedback, and keep players motivated. The following drills are tools—how well they work depends on the coach’s skill and engagement.
My Best Tennis Drills – Top 10 You Should Know 1. Save the Score Focus: Strategy, winning under pressurePlayers: 1–3Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
Preparation The coach divides the court in half and designates a target zone on one side. For less advanced players , the entire half beyond the service line can be the target. For more skilled players, the target is narrowed, for example, with an additional marker line.
The coach uses a basket of 30 balls. Players line up at the baseline on the opposite side of the court.
Execution Players hit balls one after another. The goal is to score points by hitting the ball into the designated target zone. Each successful shot earns one point, announced aloud by the coach. If a player misses, all points are reset to zero.
Players can choose to “save” their points by shouting “Save!” before hitting their next shot. To save, the player must hit the ball into the target zone. If successful, their score is secured. If they miss, they lose all accumulated points.
The players win if they save 10 points before the coach runs out of balls. Otherwise, the coach wins.
Tips The key to this drill is making quick decisions. Players should only attempt to save when they recognize a good opportunity, such as a shorter ball. Coaches should vary their feeds to provide a mix of challenges and opportunities.
2. King of the Court Focus: Match play, serve & returnPlayers: 3–4Skill Level: Beginner to advanced
Preparation The drill is played on a full court with no additional target zones required. However, optional rules like defined scoring areas can add complexity.
Execution One player starts as the “King” on the returner’s side, while the other players take turns trying to dethrone them by serving. If a challenger scores three consecutive points, they become the new King. Otherwise, the next challenger takes their turn.
Once roles change, the challenger’s points reset to zero. The King keeps all accumulated points.
Objective The first player to reach 10 points as the King wins.
Tips Introduce variations to keep the drill exciting. For example, an ace or direct winner can result in an immediate role switch. Additionally, coaches can add their own feeds to enhance engagement.
If you like to see more variations of California, check the following videos on Tennistraining Online!
King of the Court Reloaded for 4 players King of the Court for Tots 3. California Focus: Doubles training, first volley, net positioningPlayers: 4Skill Level: Advanced
Preparation The drill is played on a full court with no additional markings required. Two doubles teams are formed, and all players start at the baseline. The coach positions themselves on the sideline to feed balls into play.
Execution The coach feeds the first ball to one team, and the point is played out. The team that wins the point moves up to the net, while the losing team stays at the baseline. The coach then feeds the next ball, targeting either the net players or the baseline players based on the ongoing situation:
If feeding to net players: The feed should encourage a transitional volley, requiring the net players to execute a controlled deep volley before continuing the point.If feeding to baseline players: The baseline players must focus on returning deep shots without lobbing, allowing the point to develop further. The drill continues with teams transitioning between baseline and net positions based on point outcomes. Teams remain at the net until they lose a point, at which time they retreat to the baseline and the opposing team advances forward.
Objective The goal is to score points by winning at the net. The first team to reach 15 or 21 points wins the drill. For additional intensity, side changes can be added after every 10 points.
Tips To ensure players develop proper skills, coaches should focus on:
Correct net positioning and movement, ensuring players cover the court effectively. Encouraging strong communication between teammates during net transitions. Varying feed difficulty to match the skill level of the players. For added variety, California can be adjusted for 1v1 or 2v1 scenarios to challenge specific players further.
If you like to see more variations of California, check the following videos on Tennistraining Online!
California with 3 players in 5 variations Serve California for Advanced Players Halfcourt California 1vs1 4. Big Point Focus: Serving under pressure, return strategyPlayers: 2Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
“Big Point” is designed to simulate match-like pressure on critical serve points. It helps players improve their performance in high-stakes situations.
Preparation The drill is set up on a full singles court. Players will need a basket of balls for efficient practice. No additional markings are required.
Execution Two players face off against each other. One player takes the role of the server, and the other is the returner. The server has the task of winning three consecutive points in order to take over the position of the returner. The returner, on the other hand, scores a point with every rally they win.
Particularly exciting is the situation where the server has already won two consecutive points. In this case, the final “Big Point” is played. Here, the returner may choose the side (deuce or advantage court) for the next serve, which significantly increases the pressure on the server.
This “big point” now decides whether the server becomes the returner or not. If the returner, who is the server in this case, fends off the “big point”, the server must try to score three points in a row from the front again. If the server who is the returner for the “big point” also wins this point, the roles change.
Important: If a “big point” is played, this point counts as an independent point in the score for both sides.
Objective The game is played to 11 points. The player who reaches the target score first is the winner. This helps players practice maintaining focus and composure under pressure.
Tips This type of game can also be extended. For example, you could specify that an ace or service winner leads directly to a change of serve. This makes the serve even more important.
5. Touch the Fence Focus: Endurance, tactical play, and point constructionPlayers: 4Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
Preparation The drill is played on a full singles or doubles court, depending on the number of players. No specific markings are needed, but a court with clear boundaries or fences is preferred. Players start on their respective baselines.
Execution The point begins with a feed from the coach or one of the players. If a player makes a fault (e.g., hitting out or into the net), they must immediately sprint to touch the fence or boundary line before returning to the court.
While the penalized player is running to the fence, the opposing team or player receives an “easy ball” (e.g., a high volley or short feed) to exploit the temporary opening. The penalized player must recover quickly to rejoin the rally and help defend their side of the court.
The drill continues until a clear winner of the rally is determined. Afterward, a new point begins with the same rules applied.
Objective The team or player that accumulates the most points after a set number of rallies or within a specified time wins. A standard session might include 10–15 rallies.
Tips The coach has to switch gears at lightning speed here and play the penalty directly if a mistake is made. He should also, through the height of his pass, still give the player a chance in an almost hopeless situation for the runner, especially in 1v1 mode. Players often run to tactically unwise positions in the field and care should always be taken to run to the shortest outer edge. Especially with less experienced players, penalties are often not taken with any urgency. This should be taught and addressed by the coach.
6. Prediction Focus: Tactical thinking and adaptabilityPlayers: 2Skill Level: Intermediate to advanced
Drill on Minute 09:13!
“Prediction” is a strategic drill that encourages players to think ahead and plan their shots based on specific scenarios. It sharpens mental focus and tactical execution.
Preparation The drill is played on a full singles court. No additional markings are needed. A coach or umpire is recommended to oversee the predictions and monitor the outcomes.
Execution The drill starts with one player declaring their planned tactic for the point. For example, they might say, “I will win the point with a volley ” or “I will force an error by playing deep to the backhand.” The point is then played out.
If the player succeeds in executing their stated tactic and wins the point, they earn an extra point for their prediction. If they win the point but fail to follow their stated tactic, they earn no extra points.
After each point, roles alternate, and the next player must declare their tactic before the point begins.
Objective Play continues in a tie-break format, with the first player to reach 15 points (including extra points from predictions) declared the winner.
Tips To maximize the benefits of this drill, coaches should:
Encourage players to make realistic and achievable predictions based on their skills. Offer feedback on both successful and unsuccessful predictions, highlighting areas for improvement. Gradually introduce more challenging scenarios or limit the types of predictions allowed (e.g., no repeated tactics). I think it’s important for players to start thinking about their game and their actions at an early age. If I have a good opponent in the game, I have to be able to shorten my points and look for the way to the net. All of this can be trained with “Prediction”. We increase the players’ skills here and reward playing according to a pattern that has been decided beforehand.
As a variation, the coach could also specify the player’s tactics.
7. Hop Focus: Stroke consistency and doubles teamworkPlayers: 4Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
“Hop” is an engaging drill that emphasizes both stroke reliability and teamwork in a doubles format. It challenges players to maintain consistency while transitioning into a fast-paced rally.
Preparation The drill is set up on a full doubles court. No additional markings are required. Two doubles teams start at the baseline, with one team on each side of the net.
Execution One doubles team plays the ball longline at the same time. There are therefore 2 balls in play at the same time. The players now have the task of holding the ball with the opposing team for as long as possible. Player 1 with player 3, and player 2 with player 4. Play continues until one player makes a fault.
At this point, a loud “hop” is called and the point is played across the entire field with the ball of the player who is still in the game. The players should then act as offensively as possible, run to the net and push for a point decision. The team that wins the free point is awarded a point.
Objective Sets are played to 11. The team that scores 11 points first wins.
Tips For better results:
Ensure players communicate effectively with their partners during transitions. Focus on maintaining proper doubles positioning during both the crosscourt and open-play phases. Gradually increase rally speed or introduce additional rules, such as requiring one volley per rally. This game can be played in many different ways. You can also play it in such a way that the players do not play for safety after the simultaneous feedings, but play out the point 1-on-1 directly in half of the single court. A different counting method is used here: in this case, the players remember which team lost the single point first. If the team that lost the 1v1 then wins the doubles point, the score remains the same. Points can therefore only be scored if a team manages to win both the singles point and the doubles point. The game can be played on both the cross and longline sides.
8. Star Wars Focus: Singles and doubles strategyPlayers: 4Skill Level: Beginner to intermediate
“Star Wars” is a unique drill that combines singles and doubles play. It helps players transition between individual and team strategies while developing tactical awareness.
Preparation The drill is played on a full court. No specific markings are required. Players are divided into two teams of two. One player from each team starts on the court, while the remaining two players act as “backups.”
Execution The drill begins with a singles point between one player from each team. The winner of the point stays on the court, while the losing player is replaced by their team’s backup. If the backup player wins their next singles point, both players from that team enter the court to form a doubles team.
The opposing team must now play as a doubles pair to maintain balance. After the doubles point, all players return to singles mode, and the process starts again.
The drill alternates between singles and doubles phases, ensuring every player participates in both scenarios.
Objective The first team to win 7 points across all phases (singles and doubles combined) is declared the winner. Coaches can adjust the target score based on time constraints or endurance of the player.
Tips The “Star Wars” game form is a great way to make match training more interesting and integrate double elements. The drill can be played with both beginners and advanced players. Special rules could also be introduced, such as the backup player being given a certain task, e.g. must play volley, receives a smash or similar.
9. Winner’s Side Focus: Endurance, fast transitions, and match strategyPlayers: 2–4Skill Level: Beginner to advanced
“Winning Side” is a game that demands everything from your students, especially physically. The players have to try to win the point on their side at high speed. The game can be played 1-on-1 in singles mode or 2-on-2 in doubles mode. From experience, I think that 2-on-2 is best. Theoretically, you could also play 2-against-1, but then the strain on the single player will be very high.
Preparation The drill is played on a full singles or doubles court, depending on the number of players. No additional markings are required. One team or player starts on the “winner’s side,” while the other begins as the challenger.
Execution The coach opens the first point and the players play 2-on-2 for the first point. If the team on the winning side wins the point, both teams stand still and the coach plays the next point. If the winning side loses the point, the players must switch counter-clockwise. This must be done quickly, because as soon as the team on the winning side passes the net post, the coach already plays the point.
All players are therefore forced to switch as quickly as possible, otherwise they could play into an empty court.
Objective Due to the high load and the “danger” of constant changes, you should not play too many points. In my experience, a game up to 3 or 5 has proven to be successful.
Tips A very strenuous game. You could also defuse it a little if you play with life. For example: The winning side only has to switch when they have used up their lives.
10. Suspenders Focus: Stroke precision, rally consistency, and tactical awarenessPlayers: 2–4Skill Level: Beginner to advanced
“Suspenders” is a versatile drill that combines stroke precision with tactical positioning. It’s excellent for both warm-up and match preparation.
Preparation The court is divided into two halves, with one team or player required to hit crosscourt shots and the other restricted to longline shots. You can use cones or lines to mark the boundaries if needed.
Execution The simple suspenders exercise is actually an drill that serves to improve stroke safety. The basic principle is that one side has to play cross and the other side longline. The side that has to run the crossball naturally has the longer distance to run, so it is more strenuous. In this exercise, we use the suspenders as a game form.
We start 1-on-1 and one side is given the task of playing cross first, for example. The other side has to play longline. Now the point is played without double alley. The players must always remain within the suspenders target. Playing on the wrong side therefore counts as a fault. When the point has been played, the second point is played. At this point, the directions swap. If, for example, team 1 has previously played cross, they must now play longline. If the team that won the previous point also wins the second point, the score is 1:0 and a new round begins.
If the other team now wins the point, a deciding point is played. This goes like this: The team that played cross first will also play cross in the third point. As soon as a brace is completed, the point is completely open in the deciding point. This means that with the fifth stroke, the point is free and all participants play out the point. The winner of this point then receives the total point.
Objective The game is typically played to 7 or 11 points. The first team or player to reach the target score wins the drill.
Tips The suspender is a real all-purpose weapon that can be used both for warming up and – as in my exercise – as a game form for match training. You can also play this exercise with 3 players and introduce additional rules to make the game even more interesting.
If you like to see more variations of Suspender drill, check the following video!
Conclusion: Best Tennis Drills The drills outlined above offer a range of opportunities for players of all levels to improve their tennis skills. By combining elements of technique , strategy, and fitness, these drills ensure well-rounded and engaging training sessions. Choose the drills that align with your goals and watch your players thrive while having fun!
