- Joan Hahn
- May 6, 2021
- Last Updated on
New tennis players have a long way to go before they can become professionals. While the road may be steep and rough, it’s certainly possible through drills.
Tennis drills enable you to master tennis movements’ fundamentals and have more confidence with the racquet in your hands.
We’re going to discuss the top tennis drills for beginners in today’s article.
Top 13 Tennis Drills for Newbie Players
1. Running Lines
Overview:
Running the lines is the first thing the coach will tell you on the court. It’s one of the most effective drills that build anticipation to get your blood flowing for the upcoming drills.
To avoid injuries, you have to start gradually before increasing your pace. (1) It’s a good training drill for your coach to teach you.
How it works:
You begin at the left doubles line at the net, and you face across the net. You start by backpedaling to the court’s baseline.
Upon reaching the baseline, do side-steps along the baseline going to the right doubles line. Afterward, you sprint going towards the net.
2. Frying Pan
Overview:
Your coach will tell you to bounce the balls on your tennis racquet in the frying pan drill instead of dribbling or bouncing it on the ground. It’s easy enough for a child or kids to follow.
The kids can form a circle when they are doing this drill for a more competitive spirit.
How it works:
The coach will instruct you to throw the ball up in the air, and the moment you start noticing it fall, place the tennis racket surface beneath the ball.
It makes it bounce up in the air again. As soon as it starts to fall, the coach will let you bounce it up again with the surface of the tennis racket to make you play better in the game. It’s a simple drill for teams. While doing the drill, we recommend using a tennis racquet for newbies.
3. Dribble
You will bounce the tennis ball and hit the ball with the racket.
Coaches will prepare a marking point before starting, so you can march towards the marking point.
How it works:
You will drop the ball, and as soon as it bounced up, you will hit the ball with a tennis racket, and you will repeat the process.
4. Ball Toss
Overview:
The ball toss is a movement drill. It’s also essential for your forehand drill as well in the game. It serves as a warm-up drill before you proceed to forehand lessons. The core task of your training partner is to catch it and throw it back to you.
How it works:
Your training partner will throw the ball from the opposite side of the net. Make sure that it goes close to the person catching the ball.
It is because the player needs to remain in one position. These balls should be catchable by just bending and spreading the hand. Afterward, throw it back to the other player, and go back to your original position to continue the game.
5. Simple Groundstrokes
Overview:
You should be positioned at the end of the tennis court, which is at the service line’s center. It is where the center service line and the line meet. Make sure you are already in the position for a forehand when doing these groundstroke drills.
As a review of how it works, the coach will let the students form a circle where they stand at the middle of the circle to show how a proper grip is done
How it works:
Your racquet starts at waist height to make things simple. The main focus for this drill is the strong follow-through in the game.
The other student or player will toss a tennis ball in front of you, and it should bounce waist-high. You need to hit it with your groundstroke afterward.
6. Side to Side
Overview:
These forehands and backhands drills are for students who are starting to become comfortable with their court strokes. It enables you to assess how good your student is becoming with their strokes.
It’s up to the trainer whether the student needs to take a step back and work on their forehand or backhand before moving to a more advanced drill.
How It Works:
Instead of tossing the tennis ball towards the forehand or backhand, the trainer will have the student begin in the ready position. Afterwhich, the trainer will toss the ball in the alteration from forehand to backhand.
7. Forehands & Backhands
Overview:
The Forehands and Backhands drill allows you to enhance the feel for the ball’s speed and depth, which occurs in a live rally.
Once the player becomes accustomed to these tennis drills, they can better judge the depth and speed of the ball for more precise shots in practice, so your skill level increases.
How It Works:
One player will head to the court’s side, and the person will stand on the center service line, which is two to three feet away from the net in games.
You stand at the middle of the line with your forehand or backhand in position. The tennis player on the other side will toss the ball.
Ideally, these balls need to fall shorter, forcing you to move towards the tennis ball to make contact with your tennis racket.
8. Hit & Catch
Overview:
Hit and catch allow new tennis players to understand the importance of hitting the tennis ball in a specific direction. What’s more, the hit and catch tennis drills develop your hand-eye coordination as you increase your skill level.
If you’re a coach, you can let the kids form a circle, so they choose their partner in that circle randomly for variation.
How It Works:
You’re going to need a cone for the tennis drill. The other player needs to stand in the middle of the service line and a ready position.
The coach is going to be at the center of the line. As soon as both parties are ready, the coach is going to throw a ball to your forehand and will ask you to hit it back with precision, so they’ll catch it with the use of a cone.
Practice until you are comfortable.
9. Serve Toss Accuracy
Overview:
The Serve Toss Accuracy is an effective serving drill for beginners. It develops a toss for a new tennis player for a good tennis serve. It is where beginners will learn the fundamentals of a proper toss in-game, so they can serve right into the deuce court at will.
It’s one of the most fun tennis drills to do as you can make it a game between teams as it increases the skill levels and confidence.
How It Works:
The tennis player is at the service line instead of the baseline. It makes the hitting a serve less intimidating for new players.
After that, with the player standing in a closed stance, put the bottom of the basket on the court’s ground. It should be situated in front of the tennis players at 2 o’clock for right-handed athletes, and 10 o’clock for left-handed players.
The goal for this drill is for the player to toss the tennis ball within a few inches from the basket. If the athlete hits it within the service box, then you take a point away. If it isn’t within the service box, the player wins a point.
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- Strategies in Tennis Doubles
- Hitting Kick Serves in Tennis
- Hitting Slice Backhands in Tennis
10. Split Step Volleys
Overview:
The split step volley tennis drills are a way for a child to develop their balance before they hit a volley, allowing them to move swiftly in the tennis ball’s direction to hit a forehand volley or a backhand volley, conserving life and energy in the game.
How It Works:
You will begin at the service line. Move forward for a couple of steps and end it in a split step in these drills. The knees are slightly bent, so it’s easier for you to move forward into either a forehand or backhand. Repeat and practice a few times until you have the concept down.
11. Toss & Block Volleys
Overview:
Players need to catch the ball in the air before the tennis ball bounces, and you block it back to the opposing side of the court. Volleys involve several complex movements, so this drill allows them to become comfortable at the net in games.
How It Works:
The player will use a continental grip when doing these drills, where you hold the racquet like a hammer. You will stand on the center service line, which is three or four feet away from the net.
The other player who will throw the tennis balls from the opposing side of the court will stand at the service line.
12. Simple Service Motions
Overview:
Simple Service Motions allows the player to develop the proper service motion. You won’t need a tennis racket for this tennis drill. You are going to hold the ball with the use of your dominant hand.
How It Works:
Raise both of your arms. After which, you drop your dominant arm’s elbow, and raise your tossing hand, forming the trophy pose.
It creates a clean line that stretches from their arm’s hand for crossing down to the shoulders to the elbow of your dominant arm.
The last position is to drop the tossing arm, twist your torso, and extend your dominant arm until extended completely and the drill is done.
13. Cone Drill
Overview:
Coaches will instruct you to hold a cone. You are going to catch the ball with the use of the cone. It’s one of the best exercises to develop your eye-ball coordination for higher concentration and focus.
How It Works:
The coaches stand at the opposing side of the net, and you throw the tennis balls one by one. Let the bouncing ball bounce at least once, and catch it with the use of a cone.
Repeat this drill for 20 times to level up.
FAQS
It takes five months on average to learn tennis. However, it will take years for players to become good at tennis and win their first big tennis match.
You can improve your tennis skills at home by doing tennis drills that do not need a court to execute. Dedicated players use their backyard as a way to exercise. Read these tennis quotes to keep your inspired.
Our Final Thoughts On Essential Tennis Drills for Beginners
Tennis is a sport of skills and hard work. One way to level up your game faster is through these exercises.
While it may seem like it’s impossible to catch up to the experienced tennis players, it starts with mastering these drills for newbies.
These tennis drills can be done alone or with another player or coach. Mastering the fundamental movements allows you to become skilled with your hands while you’re trying to learn the game as a beginner.
References:
- https://www.winchesterhospital.org/health-library/article?id=13824
