Essential Tennis Drills Every Junior Player Should Practice

Consistent practice is the foundation of improvement in junior tennis. The right drills develop muscle memory, build confidence, and prepare players for real match situations. Here are drills that coaches rely on at every level.

Footwork Drills

Good tennis starts with good feet. These drills develop the quick, balanced movement that separates competitive players from recreational ones.

Ladder drills — use an agility ladder for quick-step patterns that build coordination
Shadow swings — practice full strokes without a ball, focusing on split steps and recovery
Cone shuffle — set up cones along the baseline and side-shuffle between them, simulating court coverage
Spider drill — place balls at five spots on the court; start at the center and sprint to retrieve each one

Rally Consistency Drills

100-ball rally — two players try to keep a crosscourt rally going for 100 consecutive shots
Target practice — place targets (cones or towels) in the court and aim for them during rallies
Two-shot drill — alternate between a deep ball and a short angle to develop shot variety

Serve Practice

The serve is the only shot where the player has complete control. Dedicate at least 15 minutes of every practice session to serving.

Start with 10 serves to the deuce court, aiming for the T.
Hit 10 serves to the ad court, aiming wide.
Practice 10 second serves with heavy topspin for consistency.
Finish with 5 pressure serves — pretend you're serving at 30-40.

Match Simulation

Practice matches and point-play drills are essential. Play tie-break sets, first-to-10 points, or start every game at 30-30 to create pressure situations. The more comfortable a player is under pressure in practice, the better they'll perform in tournaments.