It is hard to hit what you can't see. In tennis, return shots come at you from all angles with varying degrees of spin. Good vision begins with picking up the ball off of your opponent's racket. Following the ball over the net and watching it land is the next step. Watching the ball bounce clearly before connecting on the shot is the final eye test.
Dream Machine
Use the tennis ball machine to improve your ability to improve court vision. This a basic drill but helpful for even the most experienced players. Start on your forehand and simply watch the tennis ball leave the machine and bounce up into your hitting zone. Once you are visually locked in, hit groundstrokes to the other side of the court, making sure your eyes shift to the racket in order to center the return shot. The tennis ball machine drill also helps you watch the ball while hitting backhand shots.
Follow the Bounce
Tennis and basketball seemingly have little in common, but there is a tennis drill that incorporates basketball: bouncing the ball with the racket. Starting at one baseline, bounce the tennis ball around the court like a basketball while staying under control. The drill teaches you to keep your eyes on the ball at all times, even when on the move. To make it fun, do the same drill with another player and treat it like a race.
Up in the Air
Bouncing the tennis ball up in the air while holding the racket flat improves hand-eye coordination. The drill also helps you track the ball as it rises in the air and then see it land on the racket. Hitting the ball up in the air a minimum of 10 times and then volleying the ball over the net helps you watch the ball from different angles.
At Your Service
Serving is a big part of tennis, and seeing the ball as it rises in the air and then falls is critical to making solid contact. Practice throwing the ball straight up in the air, and hit the serve in the middle of the racket. Once the throw is consistent, place a cone in the opposite serving box. Keep your eye on the tennis ball as it is thrown up in the air for the serve and shift your eyes to the cone when making contact. Continually knocking down the cone indicates progress in seeing the tennis ball throughout the serve.
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