Color Zone Target Choice
Decision-Making
Legend
- player
- cones
- ball
- movement path
How it works
Introduce tactical shot selection by having young players choose between two color-coded target zones based on where the coach points.
What you need
- tennis racket
- tennis balls
- court
- colored cones or poly spots
Your focus
Decision making in tennis begins with the ability to redirect a ball to a chosen location. Color-coded target zones make this abstract skill concrete and game-like for young players. Choosing a target before the ball is hit teaches pre-contact intention, which underpins all later tactical development.
Place a yellow cone and a blue cone in opposite corners of the service box.
Coach points to yellow or blue as the ball is tossed to the player.
Player hits the ball aiming for the pointed-to cone; the decision must be made during the feed, not after contact.
Award one point per successful aimed shot; play to five points, then switch target colors to reinforce flexibility.
Goal
You've got it when you hit the zone the coach points to without hesitating, you see the signal, pick your target, and swing.
Helpful cues
- See the cone, aim before you swing!
- Pick your color early!
- Hit where the coach points, no changing!
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Give the player two seconds to look at the target after the bounce before swinging to allow more decision time.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Coach points to the target after the ball bounces, forcing a faster in-swing decision.No account needed
Build a practice plan
Add drills, keep the plan in this browser, then share a link with your staff or parents.This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.
This library helps you find the right drill. Inside UpLVL the right drill finds the player.After every practice, UpLVL automatically surfaces the drills each player needs to work on most. See it for yourself.