Serve Plus One , Baseline Pattern Intro
Tactics & Point Construction
Legend
- player
- movement path
How it works
Teach the serve-plus-one pattern by consistently hitting a pre-decided second shot to an open area after a reliable serve.
What you need
- tennis balls
- tennis racket
- full court
- cones
Your focus
The serve-plus-one is the foundation of tactical tennis at all levels; players who think one shot ahead win more points regardless of the level of play. Having a pre-decided plan for the second shot removes in-the-moment decision pressure and allows technique to operate more freely. Beginning this pattern training at the beginner-junior level creates tactical awareness that accelerates competitive development.
Player serves to the deuce service box from the baseline.
Pre-agreed plan: the 'plus one' shot is always a deep forehand cross-court.
A practice partner (parent, coach, or friend) returns the serve to the player's forehand; player executes the planned cross-court plus-one shot.
Complete 10 sequences (serve + plus-one) to deuce court, then 10 to ad court with an ad-side plan (e.g., deep backhand cross-court). Track how many times the plus-one lands in the intended zone.
Goal
It's clicking when you aim your second shot to a specific open area every time, you have a plan before the point starts, not after.
Helpful cues
- Know your plus-one before you toss.
- The serve sets up your second shot, both matter.
- Simple plan, executed well, beats fancy plan executed poorly.
Adjust the challenge
Make it easier
Strip it back
Remove the serve and have coach feed the opening ball so the player only practices the plus-one pattern shot.
UpLVL it
Add the next challenge
Coach returns to an unexpected side occasionally, forcing the player to adapt the plus-one when the serve return changes their plan.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.