The Best Examples of Tennis Target Practice Drills for Accuracy

Live, Real-World Examples of Tennis Target Practice Drills for Accuracy

Before we talk theory, let’s jump straight into examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy that you can run today. These are the kinds of drills coaches actually use on courts every afternoon, not just ideas that sound good on paper.

Think of each drill as a recipe: what you need, how to set it up, and what “success” looks like.

Baseline Corner Targets: Forehand and Backhand

One classic example of a tennis target practice drill for accuracy focuses on pinning the ball into the back corners.

Set up four cones or flat markers: one about 3 feet inside each singles sideline and 3 feet inside each baseline. Your job is to rally or self-feed balls and aim to land them in a window roughly the size of a large beach towel.

Start on the forehand side. From the middle of the baseline, feed yourself a ball or have a partner feed from the opposite side. Aim to hit crosscourt into the deep corner target. Give yourself a score: one point for any ball that lands in the target zone, zero if it misses. After 20 balls, switch to the backhand, same rules.

Players who do this consistently often notice two things within a few weeks: their depth improves and their unforced errors drop because they’re practicing controlled aggression instead of wild hitting. This kind of measurable, repeatable drill lines up with what sport science research calls “blocked practice with feedback,” which is known to sharpen motor skills when done correctly.

Crosscourt vs. Down-the-Line Accuracy Challenge

Another of the best examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy is a pattern drill where you alternate crosscourt and down-the-line shots on command.

Place two targets on the deuce side: one deep crosscourt, one deep down the line. Your partner or coach calls “cross!” or “line!” right before you hit. You must send the ball to the called target.

This drill forces you to:

• Adjust your body alignment quickly
• Choose the right contact point
• Control your swing path and face angle

Instead of just repeating the same shot, you’re training decision-making plus accuracy, which is closer to real match play. Modern coaching trends (especially since 2020) have leaned heavily into this kind of “random practice” because it better mimics the unpredictable nature of points.

Serve Box Quadrants: Precision Serving Under Pressure

If you’re looking for examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy that directly translate into more free points, serve targeting is your best friend.

Use chalk, tape, or your imagination to divide each service box into four quadrants: wide, body, and two T zones. Pick one quadrant and hit a set of 10 serves trying to land at least 7 in that area. Then rotate to the next quadrant.

You can level this up by keeping a running “serve accuracy percentage” in a notebook or notes app. Over a month, you’ll see if your wide serve on the deuce side is really as good as you think, or if it just feels that way. Tracking simple stats like this is very much in line with modern performance coaching, which emphasizes data and feedback over guesswork.

For general background on how repetitive skill practice and feedback improve coordination and consistency, you can explore resources from organizations like the National Institutes of Health and Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child, which discuss how the brain refines motor skills through repeated, focused effort.

Target Ladders: Shrinking the Window

A powerful example of a tennis target practice drill for accuracy is the “ladder” approach, where you gradually shrink the size of your target.

Start by laying out a wide target area, like a 6-foot-wide strip near the baseline. Hit 10 balls trying to land within that strip. Once you can hit at least 8 out of 10, narrow the target to 4 feet, then 3 feet.

You can do this with:

• Forehands crosscourt
• Backhands crosscourt
• Approach shots down the line

This drill trains your brain to “zoom in” over time. At first, you just need to get the ball deep. Later, you’re threading it into a smaller window. It’s similar to how a basketball player might move from layups to free throws to three-pointers as their accuracy improves.

Approach Shot and Volley Target Circuit

Many players can rally fine from the baseline but spray balls everywhere when they move forward. That’s why one of the best examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy links approach shots and volleys into a single pattern.

Start at the baseline with a coach or partner feeding you a short ball. Your job:

1. Hit a deep approach shot to a marked corner target.
2. Move forward and hit a volley into a smaller target closer to the sideline.
3. If you have a partner on the other side, they can block the ball back to give you a second volley.

Score yourself on both the approach and the volley. The goal is to:

• Keep the approach deep enough to pressure your opponent
• Place the volley away from their comfortable reach

This pattern reflects modern attacking tennis, where players are encouraged to finish points at the net instead of grinding from the baseline forever.

Second-Serve Accuracy and Spin Zones

If your second serve is a coin flip, your whole game feels shaky. A smart example of a tennis target practice drill for accuracy focuses specifically on second serves.

Divide the box into two main targets: a safer, higher-percentage middle zone and a more aggressive corner zone. For 10 minutes, hit only second serves into the safe middle zone, aiming for heavy spin and consistent height over the net. Track how many land in.

Then, spend 10 minutes aiming second serves into the corner of the box, still with spin but with a bit more risk. Again, track results.

This drill helps you:

• Build a reliable “backup” second serve
• Gradually stretch your comfort zone toward more aggressive targets

If you’re interested in how repetitive, lower-intensity practice reduces injury risk while still building skill, organizations like Mayo Clinic and WebMD have general guidance on overuse, rest, and safe training progression.

Defensive Moonball and High-Heavy Targets

Modern tennis, especially on slower courts, rewards players who can defend with height and depth. That’s why one of the more underrated examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy is the high, heavy, defensive ball.

Place targets 3–4 feet inside the baseline in the middle third of the court. From well behind your own baseline, practice looping the ball high over the net (think 8–10 feet over) and landing it deep in those targets.

You’re training to:

• Reset the point when pulled wide or pushed back
• Keep opponents from attacking short balls

This drill is especially useful for juniors and recreational players who tend to hit everything at the same flat, medium height. Learning to vary height and depth is a big step toward smarter point construction.

Live Rally Accuracy Games: Turning Practice Into Pressure

Static feeding is helpful, but at some point you need examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy that include real rallies and pressure.

Try this simple game: choose two target areas (for example, deep crosscourt on both sides). Rally with a partner, but you only get a point if your ball lands in your designated target. If you miss the target but the ball is still in, the rally continues; you just don’t score for that shot.

You’ll notice a few things quickly:

• Your focus sharpens because there’s something at stake.
• You start making smarter choices instead of going for crazy winners.
• You get feedback on which side is more accurate under pressure.

This kind of “constraints-based” training—where you tweak the rules to encourage certain behaviors—is a big trend in coaching circles in 2024–2025. It’s less about perfect form and more about learning to solve problems on court.

How to Build a Weekly Accuracy Routine

Now that you’ve seen several examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy, the next step is turning them into a routine instead of a one-off experiment.

A simple weekly plan might look like this for a 60–90 minute session:

• Warm-up rally with loose targets (aim for big areas, no scoring yet)
• Baseline corner targets for forehand and backhand
• Crosscourt vs. down-the-line accuracy challenge
• Serve box quadrants, with a focus on second serves
• Approach and volley target circuit
• Short live rally accuracy game to finish

You don’t need to cram every single drill into one day. Rotate them so you always have a mix of baseline, net, and serve accuracy in your week. The key is consistency: repeating the same patterns enough that your body starts to “know” the targets without you overthinking.

If you’re unsure how hard to push, general sports health guidelines from sources like the CDC and NIH recommend balancing intense sessions with rest and lighter days so your joints and muscles can adapt.

FAQ: Real Examples and Practical Tips

Q: What are some easy beginner-friendly examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy?
Beginner-friendly examples include aiming forehands and backhands into large zones (like half the court) instead of tiny corners, using cones as visual guides, and playing simple rally games where you only score if the ball lands past the service line. Start with big, forgiving targets and gradually shrink them as your control improves.

Q: Can you give an example of a solo accuracy drill if I don’t have a partner?
Yes. A good solo example of an accuracy drill is self-feeding balls from the baseline toward corner targets. Drop-hit or toss the ball in front of you, hit toward a cone near the baseline, and keep score. You can also practice serve box quadrants alone, which is one of the best examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy when you’re training by yourself.

Q: How often should I do these accuracy drills to see real improvement?
If you can dedicate even 20–30 minutes of each session to specific target drills, you’ll usually notice changes within a few weeks. The more structured and consistent you are—using the same examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy and tracking results—the faster your aim tightens up.

Q: Are these drills useful for kids and older adults, or just competitive players?
They work for everyone. For kids, turn the drills into games with simple scoring and bigger targets. For older adults, reduce intensity, use softer balls if needed, and prioritize smooth movement and safe footwork. Accuracy work doesn’t have to be high impact to be effective.

Q: Do I need fancy equipment for these drills?
No. Most of the best examples of target drills use cones, flat markers, or even spare towels as visual targets. A notebook or phone app to track your scores is helpful, but not required.

When you build your practices around clear, repeatable examples of tennis target practice drills for accuracy, you stop “just hitting” and start training with purpose. Over time, that purpose shows up in the best place possible: your match results.