How to Run a Successful Tennis Practice

A successful tennis practice has a clear theme, a dynamic warm-up, progressive drills that build from controlled feeds to live ball, and a competitive game at the end. Keep players moving, limit waiting in lines, and finish with a quick review.

Sample 90 minute practice

TimeActivity
0 to 10Dynamic warm-up and mini tennis
10 to 30Theme drill with feeding, such as approach shots
30 to 50Live-ball version of the theme
50 to 65Serve and return practice
65 to 85Competitive points or match play
85 to 90Cool-down and one takeaway

Organisation tips

  • Assign players to courts by level.
  • Rotate groups every 8 to 10 minutes.
  • Use targets and scoring to add focus.
  • Keep ball baskets at each court.
  • Give each player one personal goal.

Frequently asked questions

How many players per court?

Four is ideal; six can work with rotation drills.

How often should juniors practise?

Two to four sessions a week, depending on age and goals.

Should every practice end with match play?

Most should, so players apply skills under pressure.

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Sam Ayed
Sam Ayed

Sam Ayed is a soccer player, coach and lifelong sports enthusiast. As the editor of Sportmentary, he writes and reviews the site's guides, checks rules content against the official rulebooks of each sport's governing body, and keeps pages updated when those rules change.

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