Serve Plus One
Why this drill
The serve is not a shot; it is the first half of a two-shot pattern. Serving and then playing a planned first ball — as one rehearsed unit — is the single fastest way for a club player to win more service points.
Setup
Server with a handful of balls; returner plays live. Before each point the server privately commits to a two-shot plan — for example, "wide serve, then forehand into the open court."
The drill
Play serve-plus-one points: the rally stops after the server's first groundstroke. The server scores a point when the serve lands in the chosen zone AND the plus-one lands beyond the service line. First to ten, then swap. Rotate through three plans: wide-then-open-court, T-then-behind, body-then-forehand.
One thought to take on court
Land the serve, then split-step before the return is struck. The plus-one is a footwork problem before it is a swing.