7 Best Tennis Drills For Beginners
Tennis can be a huge challenge for those just starting out. Even though it seems like a simple enough game, being able to control shots and hit them where they need to be is easier said than done.
For those just starting out, these are some of the best tennis drills for beginners right now. None of them are too complicated, but it allows people to get some well-needed practice while keeping the game as simple as possible. Once these 7 drills are mastered, a person can start to progress in the sport.
1. Running Lines
As simple as it may sound, there is something to be said for practicing running lines as a tennis player. There are so many people out there who are just starting out, and they do not even understand the basics of running around on the court and changing direction.
A tennis court is not necessarily difficult to move around, unless of course, a person is starting out on clay. If that is the case, there is something to be said about moving around and not wasting any motions. For example, players who are sliding too much after they hit a shot are only wasting time before getting back into place. Being able to learn how to slide into shots to change direction can help considerably.
At the very least, running lines and changing directions will be a way to boost stamina for long matches as well. It is one thing to be able to hit quality tennis shots when a person is fresh, but it becomes that much more difficult after moving around for an hour. Whether it is to warm up, a way to end practice, or simply an off day from training, running lines is a better drill than most people realize.
2. Frying Pan
This might be a pretty simplistic drill, but those who are really starting from nothing can work on the frying pan to help out with hand-eye coordination and feel for the ball on the racquet. All a person has to do is hold their racquet face up, and then start bouncing the ball up and down. This might not seem that relatable for actual tennis purposes, but it is beneficial nonetheless.
What people find is that even as they progress, this is something to do to pass the time. By working on the frying pan, players get a better understanding of how the ball reacts when it comes off the strings. As simple as it may sound, it works in helping people become more confident with all types of shots.
3. Dribble The Tennis Ball
Once a person masters how to hit the ball up in the air with the frying pan, they can begin to work on dribbling the ball as well. This is basically the same drill, only with the ball going in the opposite direction.
Again, it is more about getting the feel down for the tennis ball in general. Instead of having a ball sprayed all over the court, learning how to dribble properly is going to create a great amount of feel.
4. Starting Short – Mini Tennis
Shrinking the court a bit is a way for beginners to feel more confident with their shots. Instead of going back to the baseline on the regulation tennis court, it is better to work on touch and play within the service boxes in the beginning.
If somebody is hitting with a player who is a little more advanced, they could start with only forehands or only backhands. Isolating one particular type of shot allows people to focus on exactly what they need to get done, although transitioning eventually is important as well.
5. Feeding Forehands & Backhands To Yourself
Instead of focusing on hitting the ball back from an opponent or even a wall, feeding the ball and hitting it can prove to be extremely beneficial.
It creates a lot of muscle memory, and allows people to dictate hitting the ball on their terms. This is a way to judge how the ball jumps off the racquet, and how much force is needed to actually play the sport as time goes on.
What makes it such a great drill for beginners is that they never feel like they are not in control. It can be very overwhelming for balls to be varying speeds at first. Hitting with someone else is ultimately very important, but getting some of the practice down with a bit more control makes sense.
6. Accurate Serve Toss Practice
The serve is one of the most controllable shots in the game of tennis, and it can also be one of the most frustrating. People are constantly trying to improve their ability to get serves in, and this challenges players as much as possible.
When starting out in tennis, many people do not have any clue on how to properly toss a ball for serving in the first place. They can seem like a huge challenge, but a lot of it comes down to replicating the toss over and over again. Once a person feels consistent with their toss, it is amazing to see how much better the actual serve becomes.
7. Wall Training From Various Lengths
Every aspiring tennis player should look at a wall as the perfect training partner. It is going to get everything back, and it forces people to stay engaged so that they are hitting shot after shot. It might not entirely mimic how tennis is played with returning ball speed, but it does a good enough job that people are going to keep coming back to practice.
There is a reason why there are a lot of walls out there dedicated to tennis in general. Start out short so that the ball can be contained as much as possible, and build out from there. It may be difficult to get everything going in the beginning, but as time goes on, people will become more comfortable with moving the ball around.
Here are some other posts that can help you out as a beginner
- Beginner Tennis Racquets (our recommendations & what to look for)
- Tennis Drills You Can Do Alone
- Most Important Skills To Develop As a Beginner
