73 drills · 6 categories · free

Tennis drills,
by what to work on.

Step-by-step practice from beginner to elite. Pick a skill, a level, and a duration — we'll show you the drill, the success criteria, and how to know when you've passed.

Skill
Level
01

Serve

13 drills
Serve · Beginner
Toss Consistency Drill
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~10 min

Master the foundation of a reliable serve by perfecting your ball toss placement and height.

Open drill →
Serve · Beginner
Serve Target Practice - Basics
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~20 min

Develop directional control by hitting serves to specific areas of the service box.

Open drill →
Serve · Beginner
Serve Rhythm Builder
NTRP 2.5–3.0 · ~20 min

Establish a consistent serving motion through repetitive practice without targets.

Open drill →
Serve · Intermediate
Second Serve Spin Development
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Learn to hit a reliable second serve with topspin that kicks up off the bounce.

Open drill →
Serve · Intermediate
Serve Placement Patterns
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Practice serving to different locations in a game-like sequence.

Open drill →
Serve · Advanced
Serve + 1 Pattern Drill
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Combine your serve with the first groundstroke to create offensive patterns.

Open drill →
Serve · Advanced
Pressure Serving Simulation
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Practice serving under simulated pressure situations to build mental toughness.

Open drill →
Serve · Competitive
First Serve Power Progression
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~45 min

Systematically build first serve speed while maintaining accuracy.

Open drill →
Serve · Competitive
Ace Hunting Drill
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Practice hitting serves to the corners with pace to develop ace-hitting ability.

Open drill →
Serve · Tournament
Kick Serve Placement Mastery
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~45 min

Develop pinpoint accuracy with your kick serve to specific locations.

Open drill →
Serve · Tournament
Match Point Serving
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~20 min

Simulate serving at crucial match moments to build clutch performance.

Open drill →
Serve · Elite
Serve Under Fatigue
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Maintain serve quality when physically exhausted, simulating late-match situations.

Open drill →
Serve · Elite
Serve Disguise Training
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Learn to hit different serve types with identical tosses and motions.

Open drill →
02

Return

10 drills
Return · Beginner
Block Return Basics
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~20 min

Learn to neutralize pace with a compact blocking motion.

Open drill →
Return · Beginner
Return Positioning Practice
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~10 min

Find the optimal position for returning serves based on server location.

Open drill →
Return · Intermediate
Chip and Charge Return
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Attack weak second serves by chipping and approaching the net.

Open drill →
Return · Intermediate
Return Direction Control
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Practice directing returns to specific areas of the court.

Open drill →
Return · Advanced
Aggressive Return Positioning
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Step inside the baseline to take returns early and pressure the server.

Open drill →
Return · Advanced
Two-Ball Return Drill
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Improve reaction time by returning two balls in quick succession.

Open drill →
Return · Competitive
Return Winner Targets
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Practice going for outright return winners on weak second serves.

Open drill →
Return · Competitive
Heavy Serve Neutralization
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Learn to handle big serves and stay in the point.

Open drill →
Return · Tournament
Big Server Neutralization
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~45 min

Develop tactics for returning against players with dominant serves.

Open drill →
Return · Tournament
Return Game Plan Execution
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~20 min

Practice executing a specific return game plan for an entire game.

Open drill →
03

Baseline

14 drills
Baseline · Beginner
Rally Consistency - 10 Ball
NTRP 2.5–3.0 · ~10 min

Build basic consistency by keeping 10 balls in play in a row.

Open drill →
Baseline · Beginner
Rally Consistency - 20 Ball
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~20 min

Extend your rally consistency to 20 consecutive balls.

Open drill →
Baseline · Beginner
Wall Rally Drill
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~20 min

Practice solo against a wall to develop timing and control.

Open drill →
Baseline · Intermediate
Cross-Court Control Drill
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Master the crosscourt rally pattern, the safest shot in tennis.

Open drill →
Baseline · Intermediate
Figure 8 Rally Pattern
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Develop court coverage by alternating crosscourt and down-the-line.

Open drill →
Baseline · Intermediate
Rally Consistency - 50 Ball
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~45 min

Build advanced rally consistency with 50 ball target.

Open drill →
Baseline · Advanced
Down-the-Line Precision
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Develop accuracy on the riskier down-the-line shot.

Open drill →
Baseline · Advanced
Short Ball Attack Drill
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Learn to recognize and attack short balls effectively.

Open drill →
Baseline · Competitive
Inside-Out Forehand Pattern
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Master the inside-out forehand to dominate rallies from your forehand.

Open drill →
Baseline · Competitive
Depth and Angle Combination
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Learn to use depth to set up angle winners.

Open drill →
Baseline · Tournament
Heavy Topspin Development
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~45 min

Develop RPM on your groundstrokes for higher margin and bigger bounce.

Open drill →
Baseline · Tournament
Defensive to Offensive Transition
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~45 min

Practice turning defense into attack during rallies.

Open drill →
Baseline · Elite
Defensive Lob Recovery
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Master the defensive lob and recovery when pulled out of position.

Open drill →
Baseline · Elite
Rally Consistency - 100 Ball
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

The ultimate consistency challenge - 100 balls in a row.

Open drill →
04

Net

12 drills
Net · Beginner
Volley Wall Drill
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~10 min

Build basic volley timing and control against a wall.

Open drill →
Net · Beginner
Ready Position Drill
NTRP 2.5–3.0 · ~10 min

Establish proper net ready position and grip.

Open drill →
Net · Intermediate
Split-Step Timing Drill
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Master the split step timing for effective net play.

Open drill →
Net · Intermediate
Volley Depth Control
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Practice hitting volleys deep to maintain pressure.

Open drill →
Net · Advanced
Approach + Volley Combination
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Connect approach shots with first volleys in one fluid motion.

Open drill →
Net · Advanced
Low Volley Drill
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Handle difficult low volleys below the net.

Open drill →
Net · Competitive
Reflex Volley Training
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Develop lightning-fast reactions at the net.

Open drill →
Net · Competitive
Poach Practice
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Learn to read and intercept in doubles situations.

Open drill →
Net · Tournament
Overhead Consistency Challenge
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~20 min

Build reliable overhead technique under various conditions.

Open drill →
Net · Tournament
Net Point Closer
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~20 min

Practice finishing points decisively from the net position.

Open drill →
Net · Elite
Half-Volley Mastery
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Handle the difficult half-volley transition shot.

Open drill →
Net · Elite
Serve and Volley Under Pressure
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Execute serve-and-volley tactics in pressure situations.

Open drill →
05

Movement

12 drills
Movement · Beginner
Side Shuffle Baseline
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~10 min

Build lateral movement along the baseline.

Open drill →
Movement · Beginner
Recovery Step Basics
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~20 min

Learn to recover to center after each shot.

Open drill →
Movement · Intermediate
Recovery Footwork Pattern
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Develop efficient recovery patterns after wide shots.

Open drill →
Movement · Intermediate
Forward/Backward Movement
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Practice transitioning between baseline and net positions.

Open drill →
Movement · Advanced
Slide Technique (Clay Court)
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Master the controlled slide for clay court movement.

Open drill →
Movement · Advanced
Sprint and Stop Drill
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Build explosive movement and sudden deceleration.

Open drill →
Movement · Competitive
Change of Direction Agility
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Develop quick direction changes during rallies.

Open drill →
Movement · Competitive
Corner to Corner Speed
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~20 min

Build full-court speed from corner to corner.

Open drill →
Movement · Tournament
Match Movement Simulation
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~45 min

Simulate full match movement patterns under fatigue.

Open drill →
Movement · Tournament
First Step Explosion
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~20 min

Develop explosive first step reaction to all shot types.

Open drill →
Movement · Elite
Full Court Defensive Coverage
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Retrieve seemingly impossible shots through superior movement.

Open drill →
Movement · Elite
Movement Under Extreme Fatigue
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Maintain movement quality when completely exhausted.

Open drill →
06

Mental

12 drills
Mental · Beginner
Point Visualization Basics
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~10 min

Learn to visualize successful points before playing them.

Open drill →
Mental · Beginner
Pre-Point Routine Development
NTRP 2.5–3.5 · ~20 min

Establish a consistent routine before each point.

Open drill →
Mental · Intermediate
Between-Point Routine
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~20 min

Develop a routine to reset mentally between points.

Open drill →
Mental · Intermediate
Breathing for Focus
NTRP 3.0–4.0 · ~10 min

Use tactical breathing to control nerves and focus.

Open drill →
Mental · Advanced
Pressure Point Simulation
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Practice playing points under simulated pressure.

Open drill →
Mental · Advanced
Negative Thought Replacement
NTRP 3.5–4.5 · ~20 min

Learn to recognize and replace negative self-talk.

Open drill →
Mental · Competitive
Tactical Pattern Recognition
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~45 min

Develop ability to recognize and exploit opponent patterns.

Open drill →
Mental · Competitive
Comeback Mentality Training
NTRP 4.0–5.0 · ~45 min

Practice fighting back when down in the score.

Open drill →
Mental · Tournament
Match Journaling Habit
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · Ongoing

Develop the habit of post-match analysis journaling.

Open drill →
Mental · Tournament
Momentum Management
NTRP 4.5–5.5 · ~45 min

Learn to ride and shift momentum during matches.

Open drill →
Mental · Elite
Zone State Training
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Practice entering and maintaining the 'zone' or flow state.

Open drill →
Mental · Elite
Adversity Response Protocol
NTRP 5.0–7.0 · ~45 min

Develop bulletproof responses to in-match adversity.

Open drill →
About the drill library

Every drill is calibrated to NTRP — the official skill-rating scale used at USTA tournaments and leagues — so you can pick the right level without guessing. Beginner drills focus on consistency and rhythm. Advanced and competitive drills layer in patterns, tactics, and pressure simulation. Elite drills are how the best players keep sharpening when there's nothing left to fix.

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