Serving targets: stop floating, start scoring

A serve that lands in play is good. One that lands exactly where the receiving team is weakest is a weapon. This drill trains placement.

Setup

Place five targets (towels, cones or tape circles) on the far court: deep corners, short corners and middle. Give each zone a score, such as 5 for corners and 2 for the middle.

How to run it

1. Serve ten balls using your normal routine.
2. Add up the points for each zone hit.
3. Call the target before each serve, since declared targets only count when you hit them.
4. Record the score and try to beat it next session.

Coaching points

• Use the same toss every time. A consistent toss is most of a good serve.
• Contact the centre of the ball with a firm hand for a float serve.
• Finish your swing toward the target.

Add pressure

Play to 10 points with a partner, or make the last three serves "match point" serves where a miss costs you points.