Dominating Tennis

Tennis wall drills: how to practise against a wall

8 drills76 minutes in all8 you can do alone
  1. 1

    The tape line

    10 min · Alone, at a wall

    You needA practice wall · Masking tape or chalk · 2–3 balls

    1. Mark a line on the wall at net height, 0.9 m, and a second line about a metre above it.
    2. Stand 8–10 m back. Rally forehands off one bounce, aiming every ball between the two lines.
    3. Count balls in a row that land between the lines. A ball below the lower line is a net, so the count restarts.

    Net clearance: aiming a metre over the net is the margin that keeps balls in.

    Starting target
    20 in a row between the lines
    Why it works · StrikeHow high over the net should you hit in tennis
  2. 2

    Out-front wall rally

    10 min · Alone, at a wall

    You needA practice wall · 2–3 balls

    1. Stand about 6 m from the wall and rally at half pace.
    2. For the first ten balls, freeze at contact and check the ball was in front of your front hip.
    3. Then rally continuously, keeping that contact point. If you have to back up to hit, the count restarts.

    An early contact point in front of the body, which a close wall forces.

    Starting target
    30 in a row without backing up
    Why it works · StrikeWhy you hit the ball late in tennis, and how to fix it
  3. 3

    Split on the rebound

    8 min · Alone, at a wall

    You needA practice wall · 2–3 balls

    1. Rally forehands at an easy pace from 8–10 m.
    2. Hop as the ball hits the wall, so you land before it bounces on your side. The wall is your opponent's racquet.
    3. Count balls in a row where the hop came as the ball hit the wall, not after the bounce.

    Split-step timing: hop with the hit, land before you have to move.

    Starting target
    20 in a row with the hop on time
    Why it works · Move and reactWhat is a split step in tennis, and when to do it
  4. 4

    Forehand, backhand, split

    10 min · Alone, at a wall

    You needA practice wall · 2–3 balls

    1. Rally at half pace, alternating forehand and backhand on every ball.
    2. Between shots, return to the middle and hop as the ball hits the wall.
    3. Count alternating balls in a row with a hop before each one.

    The split and first step between shots, timed to the wall's 'contact'.

    Starting target
    20 alternating balls in a row
    Why it works · Move and reactHow to get a faster first step in tennis
  5. 5

    Wall volleys

    10 min · Alone, at a wall

    You needA practice wall · 2 balls

    1. Stand 3–4 m from the wall with a continental grip.
    2. Volley without letting the ball bounce: a short punch, racquet face set early, no swing.
    3. When you can keep it going, alternate forehand and backhand volleys.

    A compact, firm volley that uses the ball's pace instead of a swing.

    Starting target
    50 volleys in a row, then 30 alternating
    Why it works · StrikeHow to hit a volley in tennis: punch, don't swing
  6. 6

    Low balls at your feet

    8 min · Alone, at a wall

    You needA practice wall · 2 balls

    1. Stand 5–6 m back and hit gently down so the ball rebounds to land just in front of you.
    2. Take it straight after the bounce with a short block, knees bent and the face slightly open.
    3. Count clean half volleys that return to the wall above the net-height line.

    The half volley's short block and bent knees, with no time to swing.

    Starting target
    10 in a row above the line
    Why it works · StrikeHow to hit a half-volley in tennis
  7. 7

    Slice into the upper band

    8 min · Alone, at a wall

    You needA practice wall · Tape · 2–3 balls

    1. Use the tape lines from 'The tape line'.
    2. Hit backhand slices from 8–10 m: racquet starts above the ball, face slightly open, swing high to low.
    3. Aim into the band between the lines. Balls that float above the top line don't count.

    A slice that travels low and deep rather than floating.

    Starting target
    15 slices in a row in the band
    Why it works · StrikeHow to hit a backhand slice in tennis
  8. 8

    Serve to the wall box

    12 min · Alone, at a wall

    You needA practice wall · Tape · A basket of balls

    1. Tape a box on the wall above your net-height line, about a metre wide.
    2. Stand as far back as the space allows and serve with your full motion, aiming into the box.
    3. Serve in sets of ten, then switch to second serves with more spin and the same swing speed.

    A repeatable motion and a spin second serve you can hit at full speed.

    Starting target
    7 of 10 in the box, first and second serves
    Why it works · Serve and returnHow to hit a reliable second serve under pressure