If you miss too many routine balls in matches, it’s not a mental problem.

It’s a training problem.

Most tennis players practice without measurable precision. They rally. They compete. They “hit a few serves.” But they rarely train with defined targets or structured repetition.

The result?

Under pressure, their depth disappears. Their direction breaks down. Their consistency collapses.

The fastest way to fix this is structured target training.

In this guide, you’ll learn:

• Why most players plateau without target work

• How to structure cone drills properly

• The 10-in-a-row progression system

• How to apply targets to forehands, backhands, slices, volleys and serves

• Why elite coaches insist on bucket-based precision training

Why Most Tennis Players Plateau

When players hit down the middle in practice, they’re avoiding risk — not building skill.

Without targets:

• There’s no accountability

• There’s no measurable standard

• There’s no directional discipline

• There’s no pressure adaptation

Matches demand precision. Practice must demand it first.

Target training forces you to:

• Choose direction deliberately

• Control depth

• Move correctly

• Recover efficiently

• Strike cleanly

If you can’t hit a defined target in a controlled drill, you won’t suddenly find that precision in a third-set tiebreak.

The Core System: The 10-in-a-Row Rule

At the heart of elite target training is one simple progression:

Hit 10 balls in a row into the target area before moving on.

Not 7 out of 10.
Not “close enough.”
Ten clean, intentional repetitions.

This builds:

• Concentration

• Shot tolerance

• Technical reliability

• Emotional control

Inside the Target Introduction: Building Precision and Control lesson on CoachLife, Todd Widom and Pierre Arnold explain how daily bucket drills form the foundation of long-term consistency.

This structure has trained players at every level for over 40 years.

And it works because it forces technical discipline.

How to Train Every Stroke with Targets

Target training isn’t just about hitting cones randomly.

It’s about building repeatable patterns that transfer directly to match play.

Forehand Precision Training

Start with crosscourt and down-the-line targets.

The crosscourt forehand builds rally tolerance and control.
The down-the-line forehand trains commitment and directional accuracy.

Once that foundation is solid, progress to:

Inside-Out Forehand Targets

The inside-out forehand is one of the most important attacking shots in modern tennis.

Training focus:

• Move quickly around the backhand side

• Stay light on your feet

• Take the ball early

• Target the opponent’s backhand zone

• Recover efficiently

This shot dictates rallies.

Inside-In Forehand Targets

The inside-in forehand is often the finishing blow.

But it must be trained with discipline.

Go inside-in only when the opponent is stretched. Step forward. Take time away. Hit the target cleanly 10 times in a row before progressing.

This builds tactical awareness — not just stroke mechanics.

Backhand Accuracy Development

The crosscourt backhand is one of the most undertrained weapons in club tennis.

When trained with targets, it becomes:

• A rally stabilizer

• A court-opening tool

• A pattern builder

Key focus areas:

• Early preparation

• Strike out in front

• Use crossover recovery

• Hit 10 consecutive balls into the cone area

Target training transforms the backhand from a liability into a structure-building shot.

Slice Backhand Target Training

Slice is not just defensive — it’s strategic.

Train two variations:

• Short slice targets near the service line

• Deep slice targets between cone and sideline

This teaches:

• Depth control

• Feel

• Rhythm disruption

• Tactical variation

The slice down the line is especially powerful as a pattern breaker — shifting rallies and exposing grip weaknesses in opponents.

Live Ball Target Training (Where Real Growth Happens)

Feeding drills build mechanics.

Live-ball target drills build match transfer.

When rallying live:

• Every ball gives feedback

• Was the contact late?

• Were you off balance?

• Did you control depth?

The rule remains the same:

10 clean balls to the target before progressing.

This builds composure under realistic speed and spin.

Serving with Targets (The Most Important Application)

The serve is the only shot fully under your control.

Yet most players practice it casually.

Elite players serve buckets daily with defined targets.

You should train:

• Wide serve targets (50–75% forward in the box)

• Deep T targets tucked into the corners

• All four primary locations (deuce and ad side)

Blasting cones out of the service box builds measurable progress.

Serving without targets builds nothing.

Movement + Targets = Match Durability

Precision isn’t just about placement.

It’s about movement and recovery.

Using a cone behind the baseline trains:

• Diagonal forward movement

• U-shaped or V-shaped recovery

• Efficient crossover steps

You’re not just training accuracy.
You’re training court geometry.

Why Target Training Works at Every Level

These drills work for:

• 6-year-old beginners

• Competitive juniors

• College players

• Professionals

Because the fundamentals never change:

• Move correctly

• Prepare early

• Strike cleanly

• Recover efficiently

• Repeat under pressure

Repetition builds neural reliability.

Targets give that repetition structure.

Common Mistakes in Target Training

1. Moving on before 10 clean repetitions

2. Hitting too hard instead of controlled precision

3. Ignoring recovery mechanics

4. Practicing targets without tactical intention

5. Serving without tracking location consistency

Target training must be structured and disciplined.

Otherwise, it becomes random hitting with cones.

How to Implement Target Training Weekly

If you want serious improvement:

• Spend 20–30 minutes per session on bucket-based target drills

• Use the 10-in-a-row rule

• Train crosscourt and directional control first

• Add inside-out and inside-in patterns

• Finish with live-ball target pressure

• Serve buckets with defined placement goals

This is how elite coaches build long-term consistency.

Train with Measurable Precision

The players who improve fastest don’t just hit balls.

They measure them.

They track consistency.

They build repetition under structure.

Target training transforms practice from casual hitting into deliberate skill development.

If you’re serious about improving your accuracy, consistency, and match performance, structured target work must become part of your daily routine.

Precision is trainable.

Random hitting is not.

Train With Structured Target Drills on CoachLife

If you want to build real match-level precision, you need structured training — not random hitting.

Inside CoachLife, world-class coaches break down:
✔ Bucket-based target systems
✔ Live-ball precision drills
✔ Serve placement training
✔ Match-transfer consistency drills

👉 Explore the full Target Training video library here:
https://www.coachlife.com/sports/tennis/videos?category=01jz0nt1sc3wpw0kqdgq6t76hb

Peter Clarke
CoachLife Founder and Former Professional Player
Head Coach at the CoachLife Academy