Player practice guide
Serve + 1
15 min Coach / feederIntermediateServe
Connect the serve, recovery and first groundstroke into one repeatable pattern.
Best for: players with a dependable serve who need a clearer recovery and first-ball pattern.
Goal
Serve to a chosen target, recover immediately and direct the next groundstroke into the open court.
Success today
Complete 8 of 12 serve-plus-one patterns with the serve in the chosen box and the next ball beyond the service line.
Watch before court
Technique reference
Serve +1 Drill w/ Taylor Fritz & Bethanie Mattek-Sands · 0:57
Technique reference—not the full drill. Watch how the serve, recovery and next groundstroke form one connected pattern.
Open video on YouTubeArrive ready
Before you go
- One coach or capable return feeder
- Basket of 24+ tennis balls
- 4 flat cones
- Approximately 15 minutes of court time
Court blueprint
Set up the court
Serve from the deuce side, recover behind the baseline and use the feeder’s blocked return to play the plus-one ball into the deep opposite target.
- Ball direction
- Feeder ball
- Target zone
- 01Mark one service-box target and one deep plus-one target.
- 02Place a recovery cone behind the baseline near centre.
- 03Ask the feeder to block the serve back towards the player’s recovery position.
Step by step
Your 15-minute practice
0–3 min
Link serve and recovery
- Serve at 60% pace and recover to the cone.
- Split as the feeder meets the ball.
3–7 min
Add a predictable return
- Ask for the return through the middle.
- Play the plus-one beyond the service line.
7–11 min
Choose the open target
- Alternate wide and body service targets.
- Direct the next ball away from the returner.
12 patterns · 4 min
Score twelve patterns
- Count both target serve and deep plus-one.
- Aim for eight complete patterns.
Remember
Three player cues
- Serve, then recover immediately.
- Split on the return contact.
- Place the plus-one before adding pace.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Watching the serve instead of recovering
- Standing too close to the baseline for the return
- Trying to finish the plus-one without balance
Keep the same purpose
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Hand-feed the plus-one after each serve and use the full back court as its target.
Make it harder
Let the feeder vary return direction and play the point live after the plus-one.
Keep it safe
Keep the return feeder and basket behind the opposite baseline and collect serves before the return lane becomes crowded.
Continue later