90-Minute Serve And Return Practice Plan

Bring everyone to the net first so you can set rules before rackets start flying. Then jog two easy laps around the court area and go straight into dynamic movement on the baseline (high knees, butt kicks, side shuffles) and 10 arm circles each way.

• Cues: “One server at a time.” “If you hear ‘balls!’ you stop.” “Rackets down when I’m talking.”
• Watch for: players staying behind the baseline when they’re not hitting.
• Common issue: kids start hitting serves while others are walking behind them. Fix: stop immediately, reset everyone to the fence line, and restart with a clear ‘my whistle starts reps’ rule.

Finish with 30 seconds of split-step hops in place so the return work later isn’t brand new movement.

Players spread out on the baseline with 6–8 feet between them, facing the net. No balls yet. You demonstrate continental grip (hammer grip) and have them show you their grip before every rep.

Run: 5 shadow swings to a “high-five the sky” finish, then 5 shadow swings where they start in a trophy position and go up and over. Walk the line and physically adjust grips if needed (ask first, then guide).

• Cues: “Hold it like a hammer.” “Edge up, then turn.” “Finish on the other side.”
• Watch for: strings not facing the sky on the way up (you should see the racket edge leading).
• Common issue: forehand grip sneaks back in after one rep. Fix: make them freeze at set position and you check the knuckle position before they swing.

If they’re getting it quickly, add a target: finish balanced with front foot landing inside the court without falling left/right.

Put 2 flat discs on each side to create a “toss window” about 12–18 inches in front of the front foot and slightly to the hitting side. Players work in pairs: one tosses, one watches where the ball would land and gives quick feedback.

They do 10 tosses each: toss with straight arm, release from fingertips, and catch at full extension (no swinging yet). After 10, switch roles. Keep them behind the baseline so nobody walks into a serving lane.

• Cues: “Straight arm up.” “Lift, don’t flick.” “Catch it high.”
• Watch for: toss landing in the same window 6/10 times or better.
• Common issue: bending the elbow and spinning the ball. Fix: have them keep the tossing palm facing up longer and show the ball to the sky until release.

To stretch them, require 3 in-a-row in the window before they can move on to the next block.

Water fast, then bring them in for a 30-second reset: “What are the two non-negotiables so far?” Get them to answer: continental grip + straight-arm toss.

• Coach action: While they drink, set two targets on the deuce court: one cone near the T and one cone near the wide corner (service box). Keep targets big.

Back on the baseline with no balls. Demonstrate the trophy position: tossing arm up, hitting elbow up, shoulders turned, knees soft. Players do “toss… freeze… relax” without releasing the ball (ball stays in the tossing hand).

Run 6 reps together, then 6 reps where they hold the freeze for a full 2-count while you walk and check posture.

• Cues: “Toss arm is a flagpole.” “Shoulder turn, don’t spin.” “Elbow up, not behind you.”
• Watch for: front shoulder higher than back shoulder at the freeze.
• Common issue: players arch their back hard to reach. Fix: tell them “tall spine” and have them bend knees slightly instead of leaning.

If they’re solid, add the landing: after the freeze, step into the court and hold balance for one second.

Use one serving lane per court side. Two lines: servers behind the baseline, shaggers/returners off to the side fence with a clear safety line. Each server gets 2 balls, then rotates to the back of the line.

Start with “serve to the big box” (no target call yet). After each serve, the player must freeze their finish for one full second so you can see if they stayed continental and reached up to contact.

• Cues: “Toss, then go.” “Reach up—hit high.” “Freeze your finish.”
• Watch for: contact point above head with arm extended (not collapsing down into the net).
• Common issue: they chase a bad toss and end up off balance. Fix: give them permission to let the toss drop and reset; count a reset as a win if the toss was clearly off.

If players are missing long, have them finish more “over” the court (not leaning back) and keep the toss slightly more in front.

Keep the same serving setup, but now the server must call the target out loud before starting: “T,” “body,” or “wide.” Put a cone for T and a cone for wide; “body” is the middle lane between them.

Each player serves 6 total: 2 to each target (in any order). The goal is first-serve percentage, not pace. You track makes on a clipboard: in the correct service box + roughly in the called lane.

• Cues: “Call it, then commit.” “Big target, not a corner.” “Same toss for all three.”
• Watch for: players not changing their grip or toss based on target.
• Common issue: they try to steer the ball with the wrist to hit wide. Fix: tell them the target changes with body alignment (front hip/shoulder), not with a wrist flip; have them shadow one rep pointing the front shoulder toward the target.

To challenge the group, require 3/6 in the correct lane before they can try to add speed.

This is here because serve practice without returners turns into ball-picking. We teach return basics so servers get a real start-of-point picture and returners learn how to get the ball back safely.

Players line up on the baseline in pairs. One player is the “server” but starts with gentle serves or underhand feeds from behind the service line; the returner starts slightly behind the baseline in an athletic stance.

• Cues: “Racket out front.” “Small hop as they hit.” “First step forward.”
• Watch for: split step timed to the contact (they land as the ball leaves the server’s racket/hand).
• Common issue: returner stands straight up and watches. Fix: make them hold the ready stance until the ball bounces; if they stand up early, replay the rep.

If timing is tough, simplify: have the feeder call “hit!” as they release so the returner can learn the rhythm.

Set up crosscourt targets with two flat discs deep-ish in the crosscourt half. Feeder serves gently from behind the service line or baseline depending on ability; returner uses a short backswing and blocks the ball back crosscourt.

Run it as first-to-7 points: a point for the returner if the ball lands crosscourt in the singles court; a point for the feeder if the return misses or goes down the line. Switch roles halfway so both learn the skill.

• Cues: “Short back, firm through.” “Meet it out front.” “Crosscourt is your friend.”
• Watch for: compact swing with the racket face stable through contact.
• Common issue: they swing huge and shank. Fix: require two blocked returns in a row before they’re allowed to try a faster swing.

If it’s too easy, feeder adds a little pace; if it’s too hard, feeder moves closer and feeds to the forehand only.

Slow walk to pick up balls and bring everyone to the net. Quick shoulder/forearm shakeout and one deep breath reset.

• Ask and get answers: “Show me continental grip.” “Where’s your toss window?”
• Leave them with two cues: “Same grip, same toss.” “Reach up and freeze the finish.”

Tell them what to do on their own this week: 25 toss-and-catch reps at home (no racket needed) and 10 shadow trophy-to-finish swings in front of a mirror.