How to Practise Tennis Alone
One of the most common laments in tennis is 'I have no one to hit with.' Here's the good news experienced players will tell you: you can improve a huge amount on your own — sometimes faster than in aimless social hitting, because solo practice forces reps and focus. Here's how to make it count.
The wall — the partner that never cancels
A hitting wall or backboard is the best free practice tool in tennis. It gives you endless, instant reps for consistency, control and rhythm. Stand back far enough to simulate a real rally, aim at a target line, and count how many you can keep going.
The catch: the ball comes back faster and lower than a real rally, so don't over-swing — use it to groove clean, controlled contact rather than power.
Serve baskets — the highest-ROI solo drill
The serve is the one shot you can fully practise alone, and most players never drill it enough. Buy a hopper or a basket of balls, head to an empty court, and hit dozens of serves: groove your grip and toss first, then work targets (wide, body, T).
Because nobody is waiting on you, this is where solo practice pays off fastest — an hour of focused serving a week transforms your game.
A ball machine, if you can access one
A ball machine delivers programmable, repeatable feeds so you can drill footwork and groundstroke technique without a partner. Clubs often have one, and portable machines (Slinger and similar) have made them far more affordable to own or rent.
Set it to move you side to side and enforce a recovery step between shots — movement is as trainable solo as your strokes.
Shadow swings and video
You don't even need a ball to improve technique. Shadow-swing your strokes slowly in front of a mirror or on court to groove the shape of the motion, then film yourself hitting — comparing what you actually do to what you think you do is one of the fastest fixes there is.
Footwork and fitness
Split-steps, side shuffles, cone drills, sprints and skipping all build the movement and conditioning that underpin every shot — and none of it needs a partner. Ten focused minutes of footwork drills a session compounds quickly.
Structure a solo session
Aim for a simple flow so you don't just aimlessly bash balls: dynamic warm-up, then serve baskets, then wall rallies (alternating forehand/backhand and cross-court/down-the-line targets), then a footwork or fitness block to finish. Twenty focused minutes beats an hour of drifting.
Frequently asked questions
Can you actually get better at tennis practising alone?+
Yes — often faster than aimless social hitting, because solo practice forces reps and focus. A wall, serve baskets, a ball machine, shadow swings and footwork drills all build real, transferable skill without a partner.
What is the best solo tennis drill?+
Serve baskets are the highest-ROI solo drill — the serve is the one shot you can fully practise alone, and most players never drill it enough. Grab a hopper, groove your grip and toss, then work targets (wide, body, T).
How do I use a tennis wall to practise?+
Stand back far enough to simulate a real rally, aim at a target line and count how many you keep going. The ball comes back faster and lower than a real rally, so don't over-swing — use it to groove clean, controlled contact rather than power.
How can I practise my serve toss on my own?+
Set up in your normal serve stance and toss the ball as you would to serve — but don't hit it. Let it drop and see whether it lands on a small target just inside the baseline in front of you. A toss that lands on the same spot every time is the foundation of a reliable serve, and you can groove it anywhere, even indoors without a racquet.
What can I use if there's no wall or ball machine?+
A rebound net — a portable angled net on a frame — is the next best thing. It springs the ball back to you like a wall but is lighter on the arm and sets up on any flat surface or empty court. It's ideal for grooving groundstroke consistency and reaction time when no wall, machine or partner is available. Self-fed drop shots (drop a ball and hit it to a target) are another zero-equipment way to drill clean contact.
Need somewhere to practise? Find courts and walls near you — including free public ones.
Open the Court Finder →Curated from the frequent 'how do I practise without a partner?' threads on r/tennis and r/10s — the wall, serve baskets and shadow work come up every time. Paraphrased, not quoted.