How Often Should You Practice Tennis? A Guide for Every Skill Level
One of the most common questions new and returning players ask is, "How often should I practice tennis?"
The answer depends on your goals, experience, and schedule. While playing every day isn't necessary for most people, practicing consistently is the fastest way to improve your tennis skills, build confidence, and enjoy the game even more.
Whether you're a beginner learning the basics, an adult returning to the sport, or a competitive junior preparing for tournaments, finding the right practice routine will help you improve without burning out.
Here's what we recommend.
Beginners: 1–2 Times Per Week
If you're just starting tennis, one or two sessions each week is the perfect place to begin.
At this stage, your focus should be learning proper technique, understanding scoring, improving footwork, and becoming comfortable rallying.
Playing consistently - even once a week - allows your body to develop muscle memory while giving you time to recover between sessions.
Many beginners also benefit from taking lessons with a tennis professional to build good habits early.
Recreational Players: 2–3 Times Per Week
If you've been playing for a while and simply enjoy the game for fitness and fun, aim for two or three sessions each week.
This schedule helps maintain your skills while continuing to improve your consistency, serves, volleys, and match strategy.
A typical week might include:
One lesson or clinic
One doubles match
One practice session with a friend
This combination keeps tennis enjoyable while steadily improving your game.
Competitive Players: 4–6 Times Per Week
Players competing in leagues, high school tennis, USTA events, or tournaments often practice four to six days each week.
A balanced training schedule usually includes:
Technical practice
Match play
Footwork drills
Conditioning
Strength training
Recovery days
The goal isn't simply hitting more tennis balls - it's practicing with purpose.
Junior Tennis Players
Young athletes improve the fastest when they combine quality instruction with regular match play.
Depending on age and experience, junior players may practice anywhere from one to five days per week.
Developing proper fundamentals early builds confidence and creates a strong foundation for future competition.
Don't Forget Fitness
The best tennis players don't only practice on the court.
Improving your overall fitness helps you move faster, recover quicker, and stay healthy throughout the season.
Adding strength training, flexibility exercises, balance work, and cardiovascular fitness can make a noticeable difference in your performance.
Even two gym workouts each week can complement your tennis training.
Quality Beats Quantity
One focused hour is often more valuable than three hours of casual hitting.
Every practice should have a purpose.
Ask yourself:
Am I working on my serve?
Am I improving my footwork?
Am I playing points?
Am I practicing consistency?
Am I preparing for a match?
Practicing with intention leads to faster improvement.
Make Tennis Part of Your Routine
Like any sport, consistency matters more than perfection.
Rather than trying to squeeze in several sessions one week and none the next, establish a routine that fits your lifestyle.
Even one or two sessions every week can produce significant improvement over time.
The best practice schedule is one you can stick with.
Practice at Four Lakes Athletic Club!
At Four Lakes Athletic Club, our year-round indoor tennis programs make it easy to stay consistent no matter the weather.
Whether you're looking for junior tennis lessons, adult clinics, private instruction, leagues, or competitive training, our experienced tennis professionals can help you build a practice routine that matches your goals.
With six indoor air-conditioned courts and programming for every age and ability, there's always an opportunity to get on the court.
Ready to Play More?
Indoor Tennis Session 1 begins August 24.
Register by August 17 to receive 10% Early Bird Savings.
Whether you're picking up a racquet for the first time or looking to take your game to the next level, we're here to help you play more, improve faster, and enjoy every match.
We look forward to seeing you on the courts at Four Lakes Athletic Club!
