No matter your age or level, every tennis practice of yours should end with a fun game! After your hard work, it’s great to loosen up while also incorporating your tennis skills in a competitive, fun and zero-pressure environment. Here are some of my favorite tennis games from my junior tennis days that are sure to put a smile on any tennis player’s face:
105
This has to be my favorite tennis game of all time. My fondest tennis memories revolve around playing this game at the end of junior practices. You need 8 or more kids to play this game, and you split up the kids to 4 players (or more) on each side. Two players from each team step up doubles-style and await a feed from the feeder standing at one of the net posts. The team receiving the feed must let the ball bounce before they hit it. Feeder, the feeds can be as difficult as you want them to be! The older the kids, the more ridiculous the feeds should be. After the feed is given the two teams play out the point. The doubles team that win the point stay in for the next point. The losing doubles team is out and goes to the back of the line on their side while the next doubles team on that team steps in. The point of the game is to be the first team to reach 105 points. The scoring breaks down as follows:
- 1 point for just winning the point
- 5 points for winning the point off of a groundstroke winner
- 10 points for winning the point off of a volley winner
- 20 points for winning the point off of an overhead winner
- 50 points for an overhead smash that bounces over the back fence
The game forces kids to move to net and be aggressive when they are given an opportunity. It also helps kids get more comfortable with doubles, a skill that many juniors lack.
Sidenote: The feeder, who is also in charge of keeping score, should make a rule that no player can argue the score or the other team will earn extra points. It’s a fast-paced game and sometimes its necessary to make up a score that seems somewhat accurate.
Rush and Crush
This is one of the most popular games that I played throughout juniors and even into college. In case the title of the game eludes you, the point of the game is to rush the net and crush the ball whenever possible. It’s a similar set up to queen/king of the court. There is one doubles team at the baseline on one side of the court. They are the queens/kings. They are trying to defend their side of the court against the attacking teams on the other side of the court, the wannabe queens/kings. The wannabes have to win three points in a row to take the kings/queens spot. The feeder feeds three different balls to the wannabees:
- Feeder feeds an approach shot
- Feeder feeds a volley
- Feeder feeds an overhead
If at anytime the wannabes lose a point, they are automatically out and move to the back of the line while a new doubles team steps up. The feeder starts over on the progression of feeds. If the doubles team wins all three points, they take over the king/queen spot. They run over to take the king/queen side of the net as the feeder pops up a high approach shot to the next wannabe doubles team. Play until you run out of balls!
Ping Pong
Ping pong is a fun team game that helps kids work on their focus and movement. Put four kids on one court, two on each side. One person from each team steps up to the baseline, and one of them feeds the ball. Once one person feeds or hits one ball, they move out of the way, and their partner steps up to the line to hit the next shot. Each person only hits one shot at a time as both sides try to win the point. Play the first to 11 (or more) points.
High You Die
Need to work on reflexes and volleys? This is the game for you. My dad and I played this game at the end of all of our hitting sessions while I was growing up. The game is pretty simple. Each person starts on the service line and one person feeds a ball. You then play the point out. The point of the game is to forgo any mercy. If one player pops the ball up too much, their opponent can take full advantage of it and smash the ball at or around them. This game can be played in either a singles or a doubles format. Play the first to 11 (or more) points.
Hit Up
This is a great warmup game to help get your feet moving and practice feel and touch. Start by holding the ball on the top of the net. Hit the net with your racket and let the ball go. Once the ball falls on one side of the court, start the point. The rules are as followed:
- Anything outside of the two service boxes is out of bounds (you can make the court even smaller by just using one service box)
- The ball must always bounce
- You can only hit the ball up (ie. no smashes or hard put away shots) – slice, top spin, lobs, and drop shots are your tools in this game
The points should last a long time and will work your endurance and your creativity. You have to get crafty, moving your opponent until either you hit a winning soft shot or your opponent makes an unforced error. Play the first to 7 or 11 points.
