How to Get Better at Tennis

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Top tennis tips and techniques for beginners and improvers

Even at the beginning of your journey, practice comes in many forms, so read on to discover tips on how to improve racquet handling, controlling the ball, and footwork. If you are looking to learn more about improving your tennis skills through training on or off the court, you have come to the right place!

Developing control of the tennis ball

The ability to return the ball over the net is a crucial element of tennis, and you can develop this skill by trying out some easy drills. Craig Sherratt, a Staff Member at Warwick Sport, demonstrates how you can get comfortable hitting the ball over the net and build confidence hitting from the baseline in these three stages. So, follow the tutorials below, and don’t forget to bring a friend to help you practice and retrieve tennis balls!

Stage 1 – Two touches

Transcript for 'Two Touches - Developing control of the tennis ball'

So we're looking at using two taps. The first tap is in front of us, and the second tank is positioned further forward.

We’re going to tap up for the first one in front, then swing forward—really focusing on making contact at waist height and out in front of the body.

That way, when we swing through the ball, we’re able to guide it where we want it to go, instead of hitting behind ourselves and losing control. It’s all about controlling the ball and directing it with intention.

Breaking down the demonstration:

This stage is all about using two touches between the ball and racquet to help develop your hand-eye coordination and to control over the ball through careful racquet handling.

The first touch helps you to push the ball into the air where you can watch it, judge it, and prepare for stepping into that second touch that will send the ball across the net.

For this drill, you want to be standing quite close to the net as your goal is to develop familiarity with watching the ball and making contact. Use a short swing to focus on controlling your aim rather than thinking about how much power you’re putting into the swing.

The core takeaway:

This drill is all about judging at what point you make contact with the ball and how you control where it goes. Make sure that second touch happens when the ball reaches waist height and is just in front of your body and don’t forget to keep your swing short and low.

Stage 2 – One touch

Breaking down the demonstration:

This stage requires a slightly bigger swing than the first as you are standing further back from the net and have therefore created more distance that the ball needs to cover to get across the court.

When you’re reducing the amount of touches, you have less time to judge your racquet handling and where you’re aiming, so when you are working on this drill you want to ensure that you are getting behind the ball with enough time for you to step into that touch.

The core takeaway:

Finish your swing straight – whatever direction your racquet is pointing is the direction your ball will end up going!

Stage 3 – Extending your swing

Transcript for 'Extending your swing - Developing control of the tennis ball'

This time, we're at the back of the court. We’re looking to see if we can extend our swing and really push the ball deep, rather than just swiping at it and sending it into the net.

We want to make sure we get behind the ball properly and then extend the motion—so we’re driving it forward with controlled pace. The swing should feel smooth and deliberate, extending nicely forward towards our partner.

Breaking down the demonstration:

This stage is exactly what it says on the tin. When you’re at the back of the court, you are once again looking to generate more power to help your ball cross that even greater distance. Maintaining control over your racquet is therefore even more important. So, when you’re hitting from the baseline, Craig recommends taking a smooth, extended swing to help push that ball further, keeping contact in front of your body.

The core takeaway:

Don’t fall into the trap of “swiping” the ball. Swiping at the ball, where you are moving your racquet very fast and without much control, will likely send your ball straight into the net!

What can you work on off the court?

Our team recommends targeting exercises to help support the short, sharp movements used in tennis. HIIT or sprint practice can support your fitness for tennis and help prepare you for those bursts of movement. However, tennis matches can last a long time, so training for endurance is similarly important.

Exercises you can try:

Follow Tennis Manager Matthew Tew’s simple drills to learn how to improve footwork in tennis, develop hand-eye coordination, and to help you to improve your serve.

Transcript for 'What can you work on off the court?'

Hi, I’m Matt, the Tennis Manager here at the University of Warwick. We’ve got a few activities for you to practise off-court—maybe in the gym or just at home.

The first one is a footwork exercise, focusing on your movement out to the shot and then recovering on both forehand and backhand. Start in your ready position, then move around an object—we’re using tennis rackets for this demo. After reaching the outside, recover back into your ready position, then repeat the motion going the other way. Keep your stance low, bend your knees, and stay really dynamic throughout the drill. You can also reverse directions to mix it up and keep your body working evenly.

Next, we’ve got a reaction drill that requires a partner. Have someone hold a couple of tennis balls and release them as you focus on reacting quickly to catch them. As you get the hang of it, increase the difficulty by expanding the space or adding more movement. Quick reactions are key here!

Finally, for serving practice, all you need is one tennis ball. Hold the ball in your toss hand—mine’s the left—and the racket in your dominant hand. Raise your tossing arm and try catching the ball with your racket hand, aiming high above your head. This helps build a natural rhythm in your serve and encourages good tossing height for clean contact. There you go!

How long will it take me to get better at tennis?

As with any sport or skill, practice is vital to see improvement. Rather than aiming to play matches from the minute you begin your tennis journey, instead focus on getting rallies going so that you develop consistency when controlling the ball.

Our team’s top tip is to start with a lower compression ball as these have a slower bounce. When things are moving slower, you will find it easier to develop control of the ball rather and will save yourself from having to chase them across the court!

Where do I even start with tennis?

Are you brand new to tennis? We have an ace beginner’s guide to help you debunk tennis terminology, from the point system to the structure of the game.

Now all that’s left it to start putting these tips to practice! There are plenty of reasons to give tennis a go, so come along to a Rock Up and Play session, book a court or check out our student membership options. We look forward to welcoming you to the court.