Rhino 5
The 20-Ball Wall Challenge: Improve Your Tennis in 5 Minutes
No tennis partner? No problem! All you need is a racket, a ball and a wall.
- 5 minutes
- Solo practice
- 20-hit goal
Want to improve your tennis without going to a lesson or finding someone to play with?
Try the Rhino 20-Ball Wall Challenge!
It's a simple five-minute exercise that helps you practise hitting the ball with control, keeping your eyes on the ball and getting ready for your next shot.
Ready to see how many hits you can make?
What you'll need
🎾 A tennis racket
🎾 A soft, low-compression tennis ball
🎾 A solid, safe practice wall with a flat playing surface
⏱ Five minutes
Ask an adult to help you choose a safe place with plenty of space, away from roads, windows and other people.
Your mission: Keep the ball going — not flying!
Use a soft ball appropriate for your age and ability. Ask an adult to help younger players choose the wall and check that there is enough clear space.
Your five-minute Rhino challenge
Minute 1: Warm up your racket
Start by bouncing the ball gently upwards with your racket.
Can you do five taps in a row? What about ten?
Keep your racket steady and try to control how high the ball goes.
Minute 2: Five forehands
Stand a comfortable distance from the wall.
Gently hit the ball towards it using your forehand. Let the ball bounce once on the ground before hitting it again.
Try to make five controlled forehand hits.
Don't worry if you miss. Pick up the ball and start again.
Minute 3: Five backhands
Now switch to your backhand.
Try to make five controlled backhand hits against the wall.
Remember: You don't need to hit hard. Smooth, gentle shots are easier to control.
Minute 4: The 20-ball challenge!
Here's your mission:
Can you make 20 controlled hits against the wall?
Begin with your forehand.
Let the ball bounce once between shots.
Count each successful return.
If you miss, start a new rally and try to beat your best score.
Your first target is three consecutive hits. Then try five, ten and eventually twenty!
Minute 5: Beat your best
You have one minute left.
Try your favourite shot again. Can you improve your longest rally?
Don't worry if you don't reach twenty today. Your challenge is to improve your own score, one shot at a time.
Rhino Coach's Tip
Control comes before power.
Try to hit the ball gently towards the same area of the wall each time.
Watch the ball, move your feet and give yourself enough time to prepare for the next shot.
Hitting twenty controlled shots is more useful for this challenge than hitting one enormous shot!
Level Up!
Already comfortable with the basic challenge?
Try one of these harder versions:
Level 1 — Rookie: Make five consecutive hits using your favourite shot.
Level 2 — Challenger: Make ten consecutive hits.
Level 3 — Rhino Pro: Make twenty consecutive hits.
Bonus Challenge: Alternate forehand and backhand while keeping your rally going.
Choose the level that feels right for you. There is no need to rush.
Track your progress
Copy this table onto paper to note your rallies. Nothing is saved on this website.
| Practice | My longest rally |
|---|---|
| First try | ___ hits |
| Second try | ___ hits |
| Third try | ___ hits |
Try the challenge again another day and see whether you can beat your own result.
Keep playing with Rhino!
Small practice sessions can help you build confidence with your racket and develop more consistent shots.
Want to take your tennis further?
Discover Kids Tennis at Rhino Tennis Academy in Estepona, where you can explore the game, develop your skills and enjoy time on court.
Remember: Enjoy the challenge, celebrate your progress and keep having fun!