For any of you who are thinking of taking up tennis, or are simply interested in the basics of tennis, then you will find this an informative article.
It is good idea to
dress in tennis clothes, as opposed to street clothes for game play. Tennis
clothing has been designed to give where necessary and provide the proper
comfort level when exerting yourself and making quick movements. If you don’t
want to invest in a tennis outfit, make sure you wear shorts and a shirt that
have plenty of room for your movements.
If you are a
beginner, you really shouldn’t think in terms of buying less expensive
equipment. Your tennis racket is a very important element in becoming
successful and building your skill base. Good quality rackets will always
outlast poor ones, and so the investment is worth it. Look for a racquet whose
weight, balance, and size of handle fit your frame.
After you’ve
decided upon a good quality racquet, make sure you use good tennis balls. The
bounce you will get from a good ball cannot be underestimated.
If you are truly
interested in learning the game, and succeeding rapidly, I would suggest
watching some matches between talented players. In person is better, but the
television will do. If you watch their stokes and leg movements closely, you
will begin to see that certain movements are used consistently, every time. You
may also consider getting an instruction book. This is particularly helpful if
you are planning on taking lessons. That way you can be familiar with the
terminology prior to beginning.
If you decide to
take lessons, as opposed to “learning on the job”, never be discouraged if your
progress is slow. Just continue to practice the strokes as you have been taught
and eventually you will find that they both improve and become second nature.
There are very few natural geniuses of the game. Excellent tennis players are
the product of hard work.
If you’ve decided
to take up tennis for fun, or for sport, you’ll find that tennis will pay
dividends to you all of your life. Tennis is excellent exercise and a great
stress reliever. Additionally, tennis is a social sport. You can expect to make
many friendships.
Here is a list of
skills you should master; in the order they should be attempted:
1. Concentration on
the game.
2. Keep your eye on
the ball.
3. Foot-work and
weight-control.
4. Strokes.
5. Court position.
6. Match play.
7. Tennis
psychology.
A Word About
Concentration
Tennis is first and
foremost a game played with the mind. Yes, physical ability and skill are
extremely important, but without concentration, these skills are of little use.
You will find that if you develop your concentration as your first and most
important skill, it will carry you far. There may be times in match play that
noises from onlookers will distract. Additionally, allowing yourself to
concentrate on your game will also help keep your emotions in check if you
aren’t doing well with your game. The sooner you learn this vital lesson, the
better. In fact, in many cases, a player will highly developed concentration
skills will find that they can beat a player of great ability, if that player
doesn’t possess the same abilities in his or her concentration.
Learning tennis can
be the start of a live long love of the sport. If you take the time to learn
the fundamentals, obtain the proper equipment and work on mastering the skills
you need, one at a time, you will most certainly succeed in not only enjoying
yourself, but experiencing the satisfaction of becoming a skilled athlete.
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