Player practice guide
Serve Practice
15 min SoloBeginner–IntermediateServe
Build a repeatable service routine and place serves into a chosen service-box target.
Best for: players who can serve overarm and want more reliable placement before adding pace.
Goal
Use the same routine and balanced finish while serving towards a clear target from both sides.
Success today
Land 12 of 24 serves in the chosen target zones: six from the deuce side and six from the ad side.
Watch before court
Technique reference
Tennis Techniques: Service Placement · 1:24
Technique reference—not the full practice. Watch how the server chooses a target before beginning the motion.
Open video on YouTubeArrive ready
Before you go
- 24+ tennis balls or a ball basket
- 2 flat cones or court markers
- Approximately 15 minutes of court time
Court blueprint
Set up the court
Serve from the deuce and ad sides towards the opposite diagonal service-box target. Keep the ball basket behind the baseline near the centre mark.
- Ball direction
- Target zone
- 01Place the ball basket safely behind the baseline near the centre mark.
- 02Mark one generous target in each diagonal service box, clear of the service line and sideline.
- 03Serve eight balls from the deuce side, eight from the ad side, then finish with eight alternating serves.
Step by step
Your 15-minute practice
0–3 min
Set your routine
- Choose a target before every serve.
- Use an easy pace and hold your balanced finish.
8 deuce serves · 4 min
Serve from the deuce side
- Serve towards the marked diagonal target.
- Pause and reset fully between attempts.
8 ad serves · 4 min
Serve from the ad side
- Keep the same toss and rhythm.
- Record only serves that land in the target zone.
8 alternating serves · 4 min
Complete the success set
- Alternate deuce and ad sides after every serve.
- Finish with six target serves from each side overall.
Remember
Three player cues
- Choose the target before you bounce the ball.
- Keep your toss in the same comfortable window.
- Finish balanced inside the court.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Rushing the routine after a missed serve
- Adding power before the target is reliable
- Moving the toss when changing direction
Keep the same purpose
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Use the full diagonal service box as the target and aim for 10 successful serves from 24 attempts.
Make it harder
Shrink each target to the outer third of the service box and aim for 14 successful serves from 24 attempts.
Keep it safe
Keep the basket behind the baseline, complete each serving set before collecting balls, and check adjacent courts before serving.
Continue later