Player practice guide
Wiper Drill + Recovery
15 min Coach / feederIntermediate–AdvancedMovement
Improve recovery and ball spacing through a repeating wiper movement pattern.
Best for: players who can handle alternating groundstrokes but drift progressively away from centre.
Goal
Move side to side in a repeatable wiper pattern, create space and return through the central recovery marker.
Success today
Complete 3 sets of 8 alternating feeds with at least 7 full centre recoveries in each set.
Watch before court
Technique reference
How To Practice Tennis Alone And Get Better Fast! · 9:05
Technique reference—not the full drill. Watch the stance, footwork, spacing and recovery used across the solo movement patterns.
Open video on YouTubeArrive ready
Before you go
- One coach or capable feeder
- Basket of 30+ tennis balls
- 5 flat cones
- Approximately 15 minutes of court time
Court blueprint
Set up the court
Move from the centre marker to alternating wide feeds, send each ball deep and sweep back through centre before changing direction again.
- Feeder ball
- Player movement
- Recovery
- Target zone
- 01Mark forehand and backhand contact cones plus a centre recovery cone.
- 02Use a deep-middle target to keep the focus on movement.
- 03Ask the feeder to alternate width at controlled pace.
Step by step
Your 15-minute practice
0–3 min
Trace the wiper path
- Shadow forehand-centre-backhand-centre twice.
- Face the net during every recovery.
8 feeds · 4 min
Add eight slow feeds
- Ask for predictable alternating balls.
- Return through the centre cone after each shot.
7–11 min
Vary the width
- Let the feeder move each ball closer or farther from centre.
- Use small steps as you enter the contact zone.
3 sets of 8 · 4 min
Finish three sets
- Count full centre recoveries rather than winners.
- Aim for seven in every set.
Remember
Three player cues
- Sweep back through centre.
- Face the court while recovering.
- Small steps finish the spacing.
Avoid these
Common mistakes
- Turning the back during recovery
- Stopping short of the centre cone
- Arriving at the ball with one large final step
Keep the same purpose
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Reduce feed width and complete two sets of six balls.
Make it harder
Let the feeder repeat the same side unexpectedly and require the correct first step.
Keep it safe
Use flat cones and clear both lateral routes before every set; stop if fatigue causes uncontrolled turns.
Continue later