Six Easy Steps to Improve Your Tennis Game

Few sports are more physically demanding than tennis or more difficult to master. Part of the reason why so few people are proficient at tennis is because there are not many places to practice and most cannot afford to lay out the money for private lessons. Learning how to play can be very frustrating because you can end up spending more time chasing balls than you do hitting them. But, before you decide that tennis is not your thing, here are six easy steps you can take to improve your game.

First make sure you have the appropriate equipment. How old is your tennis racquet? Is it wooden? If you have a wooden tennis racquet put it away, you will definitely need a graphite racquet instead. Why? The professionals use graphite racquets because they provide more power and have a larger hitting area. This combination makes it easier to hit a winning shot. Buying a graphite racquet will not break the bank as you can find them for as little as $20.

Where should you begin to practice your tennis skills? Find a hitting wall or board to hit against. You can usually find these walls at public tennis courts or you can even create one at your home with a large wooden board. These walls have a limited height and width so they teach you to be accurate with your shots. Strive to hit 8-10 balls in a row. When you improve your accuracy and consistency you are ready to hit the tennis court.

Your feet should not grow roots into the ground when you play tennis. Your feet should always be moving whether you are running for a shot or about to split step in response to your opponent's shot. The entire court needs to be covered and you better be ready to sprint to any part of the court at the drop of a hat. Often times beginning tennis players are caught out of position and hit a weak shot in return. Don't let this fault become part of your tennis game. Shuffle back to the center of the baseline between each shot.

What about my tennis strokes? There is a constant debate over a one-handed versus two-handed backhand. Use the one-handed backhand because it takes less time to be in the proper position for this shot. Plus, you will have a wider variety of angles and less prone to having the ball fly into you while you are preparing for the shot.

The word "emotion" should leave your vocabulary. Tennis can be frustrating and you may feel tempted to hit the ball as hard as you can. A frustrated tennis player tends to hit balls out long or nail them in the net. You need to keep a cool head and forget any lost points. Don't lose control of a match due to your emotions.

Should you hit the ball hard and flat or with spin? Spin is in. Spin can take time and effort to learn, but it is well worth it. Spin is a sign of an advanced player. Spin requires thinking and placing topsin or backspin on the tennis ball. Your follow through is different and the ball bounces in a different fashion. Spin helps you to trick your opponent as a ball that looks like it is going out spins right in on the baseline. Watch the professional tennis players. They all use spin.

If you are looking for a way to get into shape, few sports are better than tennis. Tennis is a great way to improve your cardiovascular system and increase coordination. By following the simple steps above, you can greatly improve both your game and satisfaction from playing.

Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Tennis" article category.

People interested in the above article "Six Easy Steps to Improve Your Tennis Game" are also interested in the related articles listed below:

Federer's Reign - 209 Weeks as No 1 in ATP Rankings

After 4 years in the number one position the talented Swiss tennis player, Roger Federer continues to amaze the sports world by establishing a new record of the most weeks in the number one position.

Maximum Tennis Power

Nadal, Safin and the Williams sisters are naturally powerful while others have to work at it. Find out how to use complex training to add power to all parts of your tennis game.

14 Tennis Quotes to Celebrate Martina Navratilova's Birthday

If you like tennis, chances are you like Martina Navratilova. If you are a Martina Navratilova fan, why not celebrate her birthday this month with some inspiring (and a few humorous) tennis quotes? Here are 14 to get you started.

Black Sisters Are Tennis Phenomenon

Black Americans have been prominent in basketball and boxing since time immemorial. What's noteworthy in the past decade is that they have invaded other sports as well including golf and tennis which used to be dominated by the middle-class whites.

12 Tennis Quotes To Celebrate Arthur Ashe's Birthday

Tennis quotes can tell us more about life than just what one does on the court. This month, as we celebrate Arthur Ashe's birthday, let these tennis quotes teach us about persevering in life and not just the game of tennis.

Some Tennis Tips to Improve your Game!

Consistent and systematic training is essential to any tennis player. The "sharpness" that can mean the difference between winning and losing can only be acquired if the body and mind are are in tune. Here are some tips to give you that "sharpness" on the court.

Understanding Tennis Psychology

Tennis psychology is nothing more than understanding the workings of your opponent's mind, and gauging the effect of your own game on his mental viewpoint, and understanding the mental effects resulting from the various external causes on your own mind. You cannot be a successful psychologist of others without first understanding your own mental processes, you must study the effect on yourself of the same happening under different circumstances. You react differently in different moods and under different conditions.