Your Serve Sets the Tone
A serve should do three things: land deep, stay consistent, and set up your next shot. Focus less on power and more on placement and purpose. When you serve with rhythm — smooth, controlled, and repeatable — you start the rally with confidence and control.
Coach’s Challenge:
Serve 10 balls aiming 3–5 feet from the baseline. Track how many and deep, repeat for both sides, and add spin or placement variety once you hit 80%
consistency.
Return With Intention
The return is your chance to take back control. Your #1 goal? Depth. A deep, high return buys you time to move forward and neutralize the server’s advantage. Avoid overhitting — smooth, high, and deep beats fast and flashy.
Coach’s Challenge:
Practice returning 20 serves — 10 to the middle (reduces angles) and 10 to your opponent’s backhand. Track how many land within three feet of the baseline.
If you can master just the first two shots — serve and return — you’ll control 70% of the rallies you play. It’s not about power. It’s about purpose.
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