You can hit a huge serve and still lose the point before it has properly started. You can block a return back and watch your opponent take over. Or you can make one small adjustment—serve into the body, return deep through the middle, aim your next ball behind the moving player—and suddenly the first four shots belong to you.
That is the power of a first-four-shots plan. It gives you a clear job for the serve, the return, and the two balls that follow, without asking you to guess what will happen next. You are not trying to script an entire rally. You are trying to make the opening exchange tilt your way.
Here’s the simple sequence: serve, return, server’s third shot, returner’s fourth shot. Whether you are serving or returning, each ball should have a purpose. Let’s build a plan that works in real matches—not just in a basket-drill fantasy where every ball lands exactly where you want it.
What a First-Four-Shots Strategy Actually Is
A first-four-shots strategy is a small decision-making system. Before or during a point, you choose a likely serve or return pattern, then prepare a sensible target for the next ball. You stay ready to adjust if your opponent disrupts the plan.
For the server, the sequence is:
- Shot 1: Serve placement
- Shot 2: Opponent’s return
- Shot 3: Your first groundstroke after the serve
- Shot 4: Opponent’s reply
For the returner, it is the same exchange from the other side: return, server’s next ball, your next ball, server’s response. The returner’s goal is often to make the server’s third shot less comfortable, then use the fourth shot to keep the point balanced or take control.
This is not a promise that you will win by shot four. It is a way to give those early shots a job. A deep return can buy time. A body serve can crowd a returner. A well-chosen third-shot target can turn a neutral ball into an attacking position.
Build the Plan Around Three Decisions
1. Choose the serve placement for its effect
Think beyond “wide” or “down the T.” Ask what the serve is meant to do. Is it pulling the returner off court? Jamming their contact point? Making them reach for a backhand? Setting up a ball you like on the next shot?
On a deuce-court serve, the wide serve can stretch a right-handed returner toward the doubles alley, while a serve into the body can take away their comfortable swing. On the ad side, a serve toward the T may crowd the returner or direct the ball into a less comfortable contact zone. Reverse the picture for left-handers: the geometry changes, so watch the player rather than relying on a memorized pattern.
Placement is only useful if you can make it with reasonable reliability. A slightly slower serve that lands where intended may create a better third shot than a bigger attempt that misses or sits up. Keep a dependable first serve in your plan, especially on important points. Variation matters, but it should not become a reason to take reckless risks.
Before choosing a location, notice the returner’s position and habits. Do they stand far behind the baseline and give you room to serve short and wide? Do they crowd the baseline and struggle when the ball comes at their body? Do they protect one side more than the other? Use those clues to select a target; then watch what the return tells you.
2. Make return depth your first priority
When returning, depth is often more valuable than trying to hit a spectacular winner. A deep return through the middle gives the server less room to angle the next ball and gives you extra time to recover. It can also make the server hit their third shot from farther back, where it is harder to attack decisively.
“Deep” does not mean “blast it.” A controlled return that lands around the last few feet of the court can be more useful than a flat strike that clips the net or sails long. If the serve is fast or aimed at your body, shorten the swing, meet the ball in front, and direct it deep toward a large target. Against a weaker second serve, you can step in and take more space—but still choose a margin that lets you start the rally on your terms.
Returning down the middle is a strong default, not a rule. It reduces the server’s sharp-angle options, and it can make the next shot easier to read. If the server is recovering slowly or leaving a clear opening, use a wider return. The key is to earn that angle rather than reaching for it on every point.
3. Pick the next-ball target before you need it
After serving, your third shot is usually the first moment when the point can change direction. Don’t decide where to hit only after the return has landed. Have a likely target in mind, then adjust to the actual ball.
A common server pattern is serve wide, expect a crosscourt return, and play the third shot into the open court. But don’t treat that as a guaranteed script. A good returner may go behind you, chip low, or send the ball back through the middle. Your movement and balance should determine whether you attack, redirect, or simply play a solid neutral ball.
Returning players can use a similar idea. After a deep return, anticipate a serve-plus-one shot and prepare to move. If the server is pulled wide by your return, the next ball may come crosscourt into the space you have just opened. Recover with that possibility in mind, but do not lean so far that a shot behind you catches you flat-footed.
A Practical Pattern Map
Use this as a starting point, not a rigid playbook. “Open court” means the space created by the opponent’s movement; it will change with the return and your own position.
| Situation | Opening choice | Likely next-ball target | Why it can work |
|---|---|---|---|
| You are serving and the returner stands deep | Body serve or serve toward the T | Third shot deep to the larger available side | Limits angles and gives you a clearer, less rushed first groundstroke |
| You are serving and the returner crowds the baseline | Mix in a wide serve | Move forward and play behind the returner if the ball allows | Can pull the returner off court and create space, without assuming the point is won |
| You are returning against a strong first serve | Compact contact, controlled depth through the middle | Recover toward a balanced position and read the server’s third shot | Reduces the server’s angles and helps you stay in the point |
| You are returning a second serve you can attack | Step in and target deep, often through the middle or to a clear weakness | Use the fourth shot to take space if the server replies short | Pressures the server while keeping a safer margin than a low-percentage winner attempt |
| The opponent is stretched or off balance | Take the obvious space, but keep the ball within your control | Prepare for a defensive reply rather than stopping to admire the shot | A good first attack can still come back; readiness turns pressure into a real advantage |
Use the Fourth Shot to Keep the Point Honest
The fourth shot is where players often switch off. They serve, hit a decent third shot, and assume the point is now theirs. Or they make a deep return and expect the server to hand them a short ball. Neither assumption is safe.
If you are the returner and the server’s third shot comes back with pace, choose a target that lets you recover. A deep crosscourt reply can give you room to reset. If the server’s shot is short or weak, step in and look for space—but keep your feet moving after contact. The aim is not to win the point with every fourth shot. The aim is to make the next ball easier for you and harder for your opponent.
If you are the server, expect the returner to test your recovery. After your third shot, recover toward the likely reply rather than drifting toward the center automatically. The right position depends on where you hit the ball and how much court you have left to cover. A shot hit sharply crosscourt may require you to shade toward the opponent’s likely counter-angle. A deep ball through the middle may let you recover closer to neutral.
Learn the Pattern, Then Read the Player
Good patterns create useful expectations; they do not replace observation. Rafael Nadal, for example, has often used heavy, high-bouncing forehands to push opponents back and create room to attack. The transferable lesson is not “copy Nadal’s forehand.” It is to notice how a ball’s height, spin, and depth can shape the opponent’s next reply—and to build your court position around the reply you are most likely to get.
At recreational level, the same principle may be much simpler. Perhaps your opponent blocks every body serve back through the middle. Perhaps they take a wide serve crosscourt almost every time. Once you see a pattern more than once, prepare for it—but stay balanced enough to handle the exception.
Keep a quick mental note during a changeover: which serve has troubled them, where their return tends to land, and what your third shot looked like afterward. You do not need a detailed scouting report. One useful observation can improve the next service game.
Practice the First Four Shots as a Unit
Many players practice serves, returns, and groundstrokes separately. That builds skills, but matches demand a connected sequence. Try these drills with a partner:
- Serve plus one: Call a serve location before serving. Your partner returns anywhere. Play your third shot to a chosen large target, then continue the point. Score a bonus for a serve that creates a balanced, intentional third shot—not just for a serve that lands in.
- Deep-return challenge: Your partner serves at a moderate pace. Return deep through the middle, then play out the point. Count a return as successful if it lands deep enough to limit an easy angle, even if it is not a winner.
- Four-shot pattern points: Start every point with a planned serve or return. Play through the fourth shot, then score the rally normally. After a few rounds, allow free choices and see whether you can still recognize your intended pattern under pressure.
- Change-one-thing drill: Repeat the same serve pattern, but vary one detail—wide, body, or T. Notice how the return changes and whether your third-shot target still makes sense.
Keep the targets generous at first. If you aim for tiny corners in practice, you may train a pattern that disappears when the score gets tight. Build control and recognition first; add precision as your consistency improves.
Common Traps to Avoid
- Trying to hit a winner too early: The opening shots are often about creating pressure, not ending the point instantly.
- Serving to a spot without a follow-up plan: A serve location should connect to your recovery and likely third shot.
- Returning every ball the same way: Deep through the middle is a reliable base, but a readable return lets the server settle into a pattern.
- Guessing instead of preparing: Expect a likely reply, but keep your balance so you can respond if the opponent chooses another option.
- Ignoring the score and your own confidence: On a big point, use a pattern you can execute under pressure. A clever plan is no good if you do not trust the serve or target.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the first four shots in tennis?
They are the serve, the return, the server’s first shot after the return, and the returner’s reply to that shot. Thinking about all four helps both players prepare for the opening exchange instead of treating each ball as a surprise.
Should I always return deep through the middle?
No. It is a dependable option because it limits angles and gives you time to recover, especially against a strong serve. Aim wider when you have a clear opening, a manageable ball, and enough balance to recover afterward.
How should I choose my serve placement?
Consider the returner’s position, preferred contact side, and habits. Use wide serves to create space, body serves to crowd the hitter, and T serves to reduce their angle. Choose a target you can execute reliably, then adjust based on the returns you actually see.
What if my serve or return does not land where I planned?
Drop the script and respond to the ball. A strategy is a guide, not a commitment to attack from a bad position. If you are stretched or late, play a safe, deep ball and recover; you can look for the next opening when the point gives it to you.
Final Thoughts
A strong first-four-shots strategy is not complicated: choose a serve with a purpose, return with useful depth, and give your next ball a clear target. Then stay alert. The opponent may break your pattern, and that is part of tennis. Your job is to create a favorable opening—not to predict every shot perfectly.
Pick one serve pattern and one return pattern for your next practice. Notice what comes back, where you are standing for shot three, and whether shot four leaves you ready for the next exchange. Those small observations add up. And when your opening shots start working together, the whole point feels a little more under your control.
