In traditional tennis practice, it’s common to end a session with players serving into an empty court, working on technique, consistency, and aiming to improve accuracy. The idea is simple: by serving in a controlled environment, players can hone their form, develop a sense of rhythm, and build confidence in their serve. But while this approach seems effective on the surface, it lacks essential elements needed for real match readiness. Serving without a returner strips away critical information and context, leaving players underprepared for the dynamic, unpredictable nature of a match.

In this article, we’ll look at why serving without a returner isn’t as effective as it might seem. We’ll explore how decision-making, feedback, emotion, and perception all come into play—and how serving practice can be reimagined to better prepare players for the reality of competition.

The Missing Information in a Serve-Only Practice

Serving in an empty court removes vital game context that players need to make meaningful decisions. Unlike hitting a ball off a static target, a live serve in a match requires players to process and respond to constantly changing information. Let’s look at some of the information gaps in serve-only practice and why they matter.

1. Opponent Positioning
   In a match, players don’t serve in a vacuum—they adjust their serve based on the returner’s position. For example, if an opponent stands closer to the center, a wide serve may be an ideal choice. If the opponent moves closer to the baseline, a serve with more spin could help force an error. Without a returner, players miss out on these situational cues and become less adept at making real-time adjustments based on their opponent’s positioning.
2. Patterns from Previous Points
   The ability to respond to previous points is critical in tennis, where strategy evolves based on what has worked or failed. A player who has repeatedly hit effective serves to their opponent’s backhand may continue exploiting that weakness until the opponent adapts. In serve-only practice, this decision-making element is missing. Players don’t get to practice the strategic adjustments that come from observing their opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, leaving them underprepared for in-match adaptability.
3. Real-Time Feedback from the Returner
   Feedback is essential in any learning process. In a match, the returner’s response serves as immediate feedback on the effectiveness of a serve. For instance, a powerful serve that results in a weak return signals success, while a serve that’s easily returned offers valuable insights on how to improve. Serving without a returner removes this real-time feedback loop. Players don’t see whether their serve puts opponents on the defensive or if their shot selection needs improvement, leading to less effective learning.
4. Emotional and Psychological Factors
   Serving in an empty court is a very different experience emotionally than serving under match conditions. In a live game, players deal with added psychological factors: the pressure of game points, the impact of missed serves, and the tension that comes from knowing their opponent is ready to attack. These emotional elements can influence a player’s movement, confidence, and behavior on the court. Without the presence of a returner, players don’t have the chance to practice managing these emotions and are often unprepared for the real psychological demands of competitive serving.

Why Serving Needs Real Match Conditions

To truly prepare players for the challenges of serving in a match, practices need to replicate match conditions as closely as possible. Here are a few reasons why practicing serves with a live returner is essential for skill transfer:

1. Decision-Making and Adaptability
   Serving against a returner enables players to refine their decision-making skills. They learn to adjust their serve direction, power, and spin based on the returner’s movements, helping them become more adaptable on the court. Serving in isolation doesn’t offer this training and can lead to players becoming rigid in their serve approach, lacking the ability to modify their strategy under match conditions.
2. Enhanced Perception and Timing
   With a returner, players become more attuned to subtle cues, such as the returner’s positioning and body language. This practice strengthens perception-action coupling—the link between what a player perceives and how they act upon it (Davids, Button, & Bennett, 2008). Without a returner, players are not challenged to use these perceptual cues in their serve, and this gap can result in less effective decision-making when facing an actual opponent.
3. Emotional Regulation and Pressure Management
   Facing a returner in practice helps players experience the pressure that comes with serving in a live match, where the emotional stakes are higher. By integrating these emotional experiences into their practice, players become better equipped to regulate their emotions, manage their behavior, and handle match stress. Emotion, after all, impacts how players move, make decisions, and execute under pressure. Serving without a returner deprives players of this opportunity to build resilience and poise.
4. Real-Time Adjustments and Feedback
   Serving with a returner provides immediate feedback on serve effectiveness, allowing players to make instant adjustments. If a serve puts the returner in a difficult position, players can assess what worked and try to replicate it. If it allows the returner to attack, they know they need to adjust their strategy. This real-time feedback is invaluable for refining serve strategies and ensuring that players don’t simply repeat ineffective patterns.

Making Practice More Realistic: A Constraint-Led Approach

To make serving practice more representative of real match conditions, coaches can use a constraint-led approach that introduces relevant elements of gameplay. By modifying specific aspects of practice, coaches can create training sessions that prepare players for match situations without sacrificing skill development. Here are a few ways to incorporate these principles:

1. Use Live Returners
   Whenever possible, incorporate a live returner into serving practice. This could be a teammate, coach, or even a target positioned on the court to simulate the presence of a returner. Even having a target representing the returner’s position can help players consider serve placement more thoughtfully.
2. Add Constraints to Challenge Decision-Making
   For example, encourage players to vary their serves based on specific scenarios, such as serving to the returner’s weaker side or aiming for a specific zone based on a hypothetical score. This allows players to work on adaptability and decision-making, adding layers of complexity to their serves.
3. Simulate Match Scenarios
   Incorporate pressure-based practice, where players serve for specific point scenarios, such as break points or match points. This helps players build emotional resilience and gain experience with high-pressure situations, preparing them for real match play.
4. Create Situations for Strategic Adjustment
   Instead of fixed, repetitive serves, set up drills where players have to adjust their serves based on how the returner reacts. For instance, if the returner stands closer to the center, the server must aim wide. Such variability enhances the player’s ability to adapt to unpredictable conditions.

From Drills to Skills: Transforming Your Coaching

If you’re looking to move beyond traditional serve practices and make training sessions that truly prepare players for match play, I invite you to explore my “From Drills to Skills” course. This course provides coaches with the tools and techniques to create practices that simulate real game conditions, improve adaptability, and maximize skill transfer from practice to performance.

Through this course, you’ll learn:

• How to Design Representative Learning Environments: Create drills that closely reflect the demands of match play, enhancing players’ decision-making and perception skills.
• Constraint-Led Coaching Methods: Discover ways to introduce task constraints that foster adaptability and build resilience in players.
• Strategies for Pressure-Based Practice: Help players manage their emotions and make effective decisions by practicing under match-like pressures.

Let’s move away from isolated serve practices and embrace training methods that prepare players for the real demands of tennis. Join “From Drills to Skills” and start transforming your coaching today.

References

• Davids, K., Button, C., & Bennett, S. (2008). Dynamics of skill acquisition: A constraints-led approach. Human Kinetics.