Serve Placement Practice
Also known as: serve placement practice, practice serve placement, serve target practice, serving to targets, serve targets, serve accuracy drill
To practise serve placement, set targets in the three main zones of each service box: wide, body and T. Serve a set number to one target, then call your target before each serve and mix them like a match. Keep score, and give yourself only one serve when you practise second serves.
Use cones, towels or empty ball cans as targets, set a little inside the lines. Start with big target zones and shrink them as you improve. Work both the deuce and ad courts. Before you aim, check that the toss lands in the same place every time. A drifting toss changes where the ball goes more than anything else.
Progress in three stages. First, serve 10 balls in a row to one target to groove it. Second, call a target before each serve and keep changing it, as you would in a match. Third, add pressure: play games where a hit target scores a point and a miss loses one. Or play second-serve-only rounds where a miss counts as a double fault. Keep a simple tally of how many land in each zone.
Aim with spin and height, not just pace. A slice curves wide, a kick serve jumps up to a backhand, and a flat serve suits the T and the body. Many coaches teach using the same toss for every target, so the returner cannot read the serve early. When a partner is free, add a returner and play out the first shot. That links your serve to the serve-plus-one pattern you use in matches.
Tips by skill level
Start with one large target, such as the whole outer half of the box. Aim for five in a row before you shrink it.
Practise the patterns you use at key points, such as a wide slice on the deuce side at 30-30, so they feel automatic under pressure.
Example
A player sets towels wide, at the body and at the T in the deuce box. She serves 10 to each, then plays a game of calling targets at random. A miss costs a point, and she logs 14 of 30 on target.
Why it matters
Placement wins more free points than raw speed, and it sets up your next shot. Target practice with pressure is how placement holds up in matches.
Common mistakes
- Serving a basket with no target or score
- Changing the toss for each target and giving the serve away
- Practising only first serves and never pressured second serves
- Making targets so small that every serve feels like a failure
Frequently asked questions
How do I practice serve placement?
Put targets wide, at the body and at the T in each box. Serve a set to one target, then call targets at random like a match. Add scoring or second-serve-only rounds for pressure.
How do I practice my serve alone?
Take a basket of balls and set targets in each box. Check your toss first, serve sets to each target, then call targets at random and keep score. Finish with second serves where a miss counts as a double fault.
What targets should I use for serve practice?
Cones, towels or empty ball cans placed wide, at the body and down the T, a little inside the lines. Start with large zones and shrink them as you get more accurate.
Related terms
- Wide Serve (Deuce/Ad Court)A wide serve is placed near the sideline of the service box. It pulls the returner off the court and opens the opposite side for the next shot.
- T-ServeA T-serve is aimed at the center service line. It uses the shortest path for speed and takes away the returner's easiest angles.
- Body ServeA body serve is aimed directly at the returner's torso or hip. It denies them room to swing freely and forces a cramped, defensive return.
- Serve Toss PlacementServe toss placement is where the ball is released relative to the body. It determines which serve types are physically possible to hit from that toss.
- Serve-Plus-One PatternServe-plus-one is a pattern where the server plans the shot after the serve before the point starts. The serve sets up a predictable, attackable ball.
- Practicing Tennis AloneYou can practise a lot alone. Hit against a wall or backboard for rally rhythm, volleys and footwork. Take a basket of balls to work on serves and targets, and do shadow swings to groove technique without a ball. A ball machine, if you have one, adds groundstroke repetition.
Related guides & benchmarks
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