Tennis · Serve · Tactics & patterns

Serve plus one

Serve to a target, then hit the first ball after the return into the open court.

P1P2
Start / 5
Time
15 min
Players
2–4
Age
U13+
Area
Full court
Equipment
12 balls4 cones

Setup

  1. Server on one baseline, returner on the other.
  2. Two cones mark a wide target in each service box; the server picks one before each point.

How it runs

  1. Server calls the target, then serves; two serves as normal.
  2. Returner plays the return anywhere in the court.
  3. Server hits the plus-one ball into the open court, away from the returner.
  4. Play the point out. Win it within the first three shots for 2 points; any other win is 1.
  5. Serve from the deuce and ad sides in turn; 10 points, then swap roles.

Coaching points

  • Pick the serve and the plus-one before tossing.
  • Land from the serve inside the baseline and split-step as the returner hits.
  • Hit the plus-one early, on the rise if it's there, to the side the returner left.
  • A forehand plus-one is the goal: move around a middle ball to take it.

Common mistakes

  • Watching the serve and getting caught flat-footed by the return.
  • Hitting the plus-one back to the returner.
  • Going for too much on the plus-one off a deep return.

Say it: “Serve, split, open court.”

Make it harder

  • Plus-one must land past the service line to score.
  • Second serves only, still calling the target.

Make it easier

  • Returner blocks the return to the middle.
  • Server starts the point from a self-feed instead of a serve.

Reviewed by the Sportdify coaching team.