What should two tennis players practice?

A mix of controlled rallies (crosscourt and down the line), net play with one player up and one back, serves and returns, and scored games to finish.

How long should a practice session with a partner be?

Sixty to ninety minutes works well: ten minutes of warm-up, forty to sixty minutes of drills and the rest playing points or sets.

5 drill videos

A ready-made plan for your next hit with a friend.

Steps & tips ▾

Mini tennis. Start inside the service boxes with soft, controlled shots to warm up your touch and footwork.
Crosscourt rallies. Move back and rally forehand crosscourt, then backhand crosscourt, counting rally length.
One up, one back. One player volleys while the other hits groundstrokes, then switch.
Target games. Place targets in the corners and score points for hitting them during a rally.
Play points. Finish with points that start from a feed or serve, to practice under some pressure.

Agree on the drill and the score before you start so you spend more time hitting.
Keep a basket on each side so feeds are quick.
Change drills every ten minutes to stay sharp.
Make it competitive: games and scores make practice feel like matches.

What should two tennis players practice?: A mix of controlled rallies (crosscourt and down the line), net play with one player up and one back, serves and returns, and scored games to finish.
How long should a practice session with a partner be?: Sixty to ninety minutes works well: ten minutes of warm-up, forty to sixty minutes of drills and the rest playing points or sets.