Game version
Target-box serving: two teams of two take turns serving into target boxes. Each team counts only its own boxes hit.
Serve to the Weaker Side
Aim most serves at the returner's weaker wing and see how often it gives you a short ball.
By Coach Evan Waechtler Youth coach (U11, Cache Valley, Utah) and founder of SSTracker Updated October 30, 2026
Set up
Ask your partner which return side feels weaker.
Core: Medium. Beat your own best out of 10.
- Ages
- 14 and up
- Time
- 12 min
- Players
- You and a partner
- Space
- Gym or court
- Bring
- Racket, balls, court, partner
- Level · skill
- Advanced · Serve
The steps
How it works
- Ask your partner which return side feels weaker.
- Serve 12 balls to that side.
- Play the point out after each one.
- Count how many returns came back short.
Coaching point
Serve to the side that helps you.
Safety: Warm up your arm first. Stop if your shoulder, elbow or low back hurts, and keep serve sets short.
Make it fun
Play it, don't drill it
Challenge
Pick a box: Less (big), Core (medium), More (small). Beat your own best out of 10.
Story
You are opening the match with a serve that lands exactly on the line.
My best
Beat your own count
Beat your own best out of 10. Only your own number counts: today against last time.
Practice makes progress
Print it now, or save it free
Free for families and teams
Save this drill to your child or team, free
Sign up and the free tennis week for this age opens in your child's planner, kept to healthy limits. A coach can send this drill to the whole team as homework, and parents see every session logged.
14 days free for a family, no card · Running a team is always free
Does your child's coach know about this?
An email from you to the coach, with the words ready. Nothing is tracked and nobody is rewarded.