The Serve Box:
6 Targets Game

Jorge Capestany

Every player knows they need to drill. But how do you optimize focus and benefit in the part of training that can be most tedious and boring? My answer is drill games. In this new series I am presenting a series of drill games covering every aspect of the game, starting with the serve.

This month we start with the 6 Targets Game. We divide each service box into thirds. That’s 6 boxes. The game is to see how many serves—first serves, then seconds—it takes to hit each box. This game quickly reveals the true amount of control over serve location the player has. And it gives them a way to measure improving each location.

Can you make 6 out of 6 boxes routinely? Many players find it can take twice or three times as many serves to hit all six boxes. You can also use pick any box where you struggle and hit 10 serves to that box. How many of 10 hit the box?

Work back and forth between the boxes. If you can routinely make all 6 in a row, that’s world class accuracy.