Tennis Lessons | Tennis Training

What Kind of Tennis Learner are You?

2007-11-18T23:44:00.000-08:00

There are several types of learners but there are two that stand out in my mind because they are the opposite pole of each other:
- The ones you teach over and over and over and never learn!
- The ones you teach once and you will never need to repeat yourself ever again! They've learned.

A few years back I was having a tennis camp with a group of young boys and girls and together we were reviewing a few pointers that we had been practicing over the last 2 weeks.
As I went through the group I realized that the one with the best understanding of the whole issue , the one that had thoroughly studied the subject and actually knew how to apply it, was a tiny 8 year old girl!

While the 10, 12 and 14 year olds got their tongues tied at every question I made, to their embarrassment, the little one sitting right in the front row with these great big scintillating eyes and a bright smile, would lift her tiny left index finger almost jumping of her seat and joyfully say:
- I know! I know! I know!
And yes she did know, in addition she was able to make an exposé of my previous teachings with her own practical examples and observations. What a delight!

Surely she had been listening! Deep inside I was totally in love with the little munchkin, literally amazed at her power of retention not to mention her sponge-like absorption, but I sort of had to slow her down a bit for her own sake, for I could see the annoyed faces of the older ones. Maybe would they do something to her later? o:)

It did not take me long to figure out why she was so good!
- She was bright.
- She was the youngest one, the taste of defeat and self doubt had not entered her realm.
- She had an insatiable desire to drink from the fountain of learning.
- Her big round eyes were as large as oceans filled with curiosity, fantasy and dreams.
- She was a breath of fresh air in our world-full of cynics and nay Sayers.
- The little finger pointing up, indicated to me how the sky was not the limit!
- She was excited about the game of tennis!

What can we learn from that little girl?
Forget about past defeat, there are always new and exciting challenges to overcome! Be a child again; dream big, be limitlessly curious, be insatiable in your thirst for knowledge! Take every tennis lesson, practice or match with endless enthusiasm, unbridled joy and excitement. Listen to your instructor. Learn, learn, learn...
And...oh! I forgot to tell you about what the little girl knew so well and that was:

"Dr. Jim E. Loehr's 12 Tips of Mental Toughness:
Eye Control - Focus your eyes on either your racquet or the ground to keep your attention focused between points.
Rituals - Establish rituals between and before points to appropriately balance relaxation, focus and intensity prior to starting each point.
Winning Pace - Pace yourself between points especially when angry, nervous, or fatigued to allow yourself to gain control of pulse rate and to remain focused.
Breathing - Practice deep breathing habits between points to help relax and lower pulse rate. Breathe out at contact when hitting the ball to get better control, relaxation and feel.
High Positive Intensity - Even when very fatigued or when you feel negative, project the image of having a high level of Positive Intensity.
Calmness and Relaxation - When nervous and tense, try to project yourself, so being relaxed and calm.
Mistake Management - When you make a mistake, learn to just turn and walk away from it. Don't lose your composure. "let it go"
Confident Fighter Image - No Matter how bad it gets, project the image that you are confident and will fight to the end.
Negative Self-Talk - Avoid expressing Negative Self-Talk during play. It only fosters bad results and pumps up your opponent.
Positive Attitude - Think positively about your situation in the face of adversity. Become challenged.
"I Love The Battle" - Don't appear scared or threatened when things get tough; project a challenged and winning appearance at all times.
Racquet Up - "I'm Up" - Carry your racquet in the opposite hand and keep it up, not dragging it low, as a symbol that when my racquet is up, I'm up.

The above list is taken from Dr. Loehr's videotape entitled Mental Toughness Training For Sports, Stephen Greene Press, 1986."
Have true fun playing "The Game". Yours, Sérgio

Copyright © 1999-2006 Tenniscruz.com®. All rights reserved.
Sérgio Cruz is an ex # 1 National Champion, Davis Cup Player from Portugal and former Coach Jim Courier ATP World Ranking # 1
cruz@tenniscruz.com http://www.forum.tenniscruz.com http://www.tenniscruz.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sergio_Cruz

Tennis Lessons - Books, DVDs, And Videos To Improve Your Tennis Games

2007-11-14T02:53:00.000-08:00

By Ness Dorig

Nowadays, it is fairly easy to get and find resources to help improve your tennis games. This resources, besides hiring a instructor come in the form of books, dvd's and even videos. Just type "tennis lessons" on Google or Amazon and you will find large selection of these items. This article will outline some of the more popular resources available today.

The books, dvd's and videos presented are designed for and will benefit both beginners and advanced tennis players alike. One might call it a collection of resources to help enhance the level/s of your tennis games and for an overall enjoyment and satisfaction for the game.

1. How To Play Tennis: Instructional Videos For Tennis Beginners. This lesson is best for tennis beginners. It consists of 49 step-by-step tennis instruction videos covering all 6 basic strokes in tennis:
# forehand groundstroke

# backhand groundstroke

# serve

# return

# forehand and backhand volley

# overhead.

The videos cover all the basic strokes listed above and offer playing tips to jump-start your tennis game. Plus a whole lot more.

2. Tennis Stomper: The Ultimate Tennis Training Rolodex. Featuring 57 Tennis Specific Exercises Incuding Over 150 Photos, Step-by-Step Descriptions, Plus A 33 Minute Video
3. Tennis Mind Game Tennis EBooks. About Strategies And Mental Toughness That Will Help You Win Even Against Your Toughest Rivals.
4. Insider Tennis Strategies And Tactics. Improve Your Tennis Game With Insider Strategies Of The Top Players. Improve your tennis game with insider strategies of the top players. With insider tennis strategies you will be understanding tennis so well - you'll outsmart anybody, anywhere, anytime!
5. Renegade Mindset Techniques For Tennis - Mental Game Mastery. Cutting-Edge Tennis Psychology Technique. This is a mental game mastery with cutting-edge tennis psychology technique. You'll find out why most players will never reach their true potential and how you can quickly and easily transform your game, leaving your opponent dazed and confused; they'll be begging to know your secret!

Again these are just a few of the most popular tennis lessons available online today.
All rights reserved. Article may be re-printed as long as the content remains intact, unchanged, and the link remains active.

Ness Dorig has written many articles about sports and recreation and is a webmaster of a website offering news and information regarding tennis lesson resources to help improve your tennis games. If you're interested in learning more about tennis lessons be sure to check it out.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ness_Dorig

Circuit Training For Tennis

2007-11-12T03:30:00.000-08:00

By Paul Gold

Get fit to play, don't play to get fit is a very well known saying and you should all know that doing some fitness work along side your lessons and practise sessions will improve your performance as well as making you less prone to injury.

Well, if you are looking for the perfect way to train all the components of fitness you need to improve your game in the same session, then you need look no further than circuit training.
Circuit training is an exercise format that normally utilises between 6 and 10 exercises that are completed one after another (the circuit!!) for a specified number of repetitions or time period before moving onto the next exercise. The completion of one exercise and the beginning of the next are separated by brief timed rest intervals and each circuit by a longer rest period. The total number of circuits performed during a training session may vary from two to six depending on your training level (beginner, intermediate, or advanced), your period of training and your training objective.

To plan a Session you will need to think about the possible exercises that can be performed with the equipment and space you have available. In order to ensure that no two consecutive exercises stress the same muscle group set up the circuit as follows:
Total-body, Upper-body, Lower-body, Core/Trunk etc.
It is important to warm up and perform some dynamic stretching exercises and to repeat this as a cool down after the session.

Example No Equipment Circuit Training Session
Skipping - cardiovascular & coordination
Press ups - chest, shoulders, arms (esp triceps - serve) and core
Squats - quads, glutes, hamstrings, calves and core/lower back
Crunch - abdominals esp rectus abdominis
Star Jumps - leg power, flexibility & endurance
Bench Dips - triceps, chest and shoulders
Lunges - hamstrings, glutes and quads
Back extension - lower back

Shuttle runs (sprinting/running continuously between predetermined points) - speed endurance
Duration - start with the following (lower level): 20 seconds work on each exercise with a 30 second recovery between each exercise - 3 sets with a 3 minute recovery between each circuit
Complete the circuit training session twice a week with at least 48 hours between each session. I suggest you base your training on a four week cycle of an easy week, medium week, hard week and test/recovery week.

The work load can be varied by changing the number of exercises, duration, sets or repetitions.
Paul Gold is one of the top tennis training consultants on the web. He trains players of all abilities from beginner through to Tour level as well as writing for several industry magazines and sites. He has a Masters degree in Sports Sciences and is a Performance Enhancement Specialist and Speed Agility Quickness trainer. For more articles and information about products and services contact via http://www.tennis-training-central.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Gold

Tennis for Beginners

2007-11-05T01:35:00.000-08:00

By Jimmy Jonsson

If you are looking for a way to quickly learn the basics of tennis, you would be happy to know there is a lot of different ways to deal with the problem. You can always hire a tennis coach, although that would probably not be the cheapest way to go. There are also a lot of online tennis guides and tutorials to help you, often with the same price (or less) as one tennis lesson with a professional tennis coach. I’ve tried a few online tennis tutorials, and I’d be happy to share some information about tennis for beginners.

For a new tennis player, the basic movements of the different types of strokes are probably the main thing to practice, like forehand, backhand and serve. To easily and quickly improve you serve there are a few things to simplify. Foot positioning, the service motion, the ball toss and serving technique are all things to simplify. By making sure you have a solid base when you serve and making sure you start with your racket back and above your head, tossing the ball and swinging towards the ball, adding more and more power to your swing as you get more comfortable with the motion, you will certainly improve your serve. When you have the motion down, just keep hitting those serves, consistency is the way to go.

Learning tennis for beginners can be hard, especially on a clay court. Getting into position on clay is tougher than on other surfaces. Even pros can have difficulties with their footwork on clay, but almost every one of them knows how to deal with it. By taking small fast steps across the whole court and sliding to the ball before hitting it. A good tennis drill is to try taking about 10 steps or more from the time you strike the ball to the next time you hit it, also getting used to sliding. This will improve your footwork and at the same time teach you how clay court tennis differs from other types of courts.

This article has now given you some insight on tennis for beginners, and I hope you will have it easier choosing which type of tennis training suits you.
Click here to find the best resources on tennis for beginners
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Tennis Fitness: Increase Your Quickness By Increasing the Power of Your First Step

2007-10-13T08:18:00.000-07:00

By Todd Scott

Many tennis players ranging from the weekend warrior to the competitive athlete sometimes find themselves down in the dirt late in a match - Kicked out wide and unable to recover to the ball.

Did you need to work on your footwork?
Endurance?
Strength?
The answer may shock you.

---------------Training to Recover From Wide, Crosscourt Shots---------------
The logical assumption in this instance is that you may have footwork problems.
That may be the case, but what if your footwork is sound, your endurance is great, your strength is there, yet you're still getting pushed out of the point from across the net?
Well, frankly, sometimes it will happen. You won't be able to recover. I'm not going to sugar coat that for one second.
But sometimes, a lot of times, you're able to *almost* recover, bringing your racquet to within inches of the ball, but it's still not enough.
A fraction of a second determines whether the ball zips by you or whether you smack It back across the net - maybe for a winner.
So what gives?
It could be your first step back towards the ball - lack of power output.

----------------------------------
Measuring Power Output
----------------------------------
Power Output =
Total Weight X Total Reps
{divided by}
Total Working Time
--------------------------

Take 2 players, Player A and Player B.
Each can squat 135 pounds for 8 reps.
It takes player A approximately 30 seconds to Perform 8 reps and Player B it only takes 27 Seconds to perform 8 reps.
Power Output for Player A:
1080 (135x8)/ 30 seconds = 36lbs/second
Power Output for Player B:
1080 (135x8)/27 seconds = 40lbs/second

Player B has greater power output moving 40 lbs per second and will be able to recover alot quicker than player A if he's kicked out wide by his opponent.

Increasing your power output on your first step will greatly increase the chances of you fully recovering from a wide shot from your opponent. Increasing your total power output doesn't necessarily mean increasing the amount of weight lifted. Here are a few ways to increase your total power output.
-1-> Total reps increase, while total working time remains the same
-2-> Total working time decrease, while the total weight and total reps remain the same
-3-> Total weight increase, while the working time and total reps remain the same
-4-> All of the above occur at the same time…

Total weight increases - total reps increases - total working time decreases.

Shave a fraction of a second off your recovery time in tennis by increasing your power output and your opponent may have unknowingly just set you up to smash a winner.

As one of the nation's most in-demand fitness trainers, Todd Scott is a training advisor to Men's Fitness and Muscle & Fitness Hers magazines. You can find his articles on news stands today and in nearly every issue of Men's Fitness or Muscle & Fitness Hers magazines for the past 2 years. A high school champion tennis player-turned-fitness expert finally decided, after a little arm twisting by his tennis clients, to allow public access into his Tennis Specific Fitness Databank to help people just like you develop strength and power to hit stronger shots and win more matches. TennisFitnessTips.com is a website designed to help you "Train Hard & Win Easy!"...
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Todd_Scott

How Can I Get Better at Tennis Without Just Working on Strokes?

2007-10-04T00:06:00.000-07:00

By David Horne

I recently received an email from a 4.5 tennis player in the USA who proposed the following question: I could use some help with a plan to get better. I am a 4.5 rated player in the USA and would like to be a 5.5. For some reason, I can't find a tennis coach that will help with an overall plan; they just want to work on strokes. Any ideas?

After coaching tennis at a big country club in Texas for over five years I often faced the same question from our tournament players who felt as if they had plateaued and that by just getting out on the court and working on their strokes was just not taking them to the next level. As a tennis coach you need to be flexible and be able to analyze each player and create a plan for their own specific and individual needs. This means taking into account all of the factors or variables that make a great player.

The professional tennis players cover all areas and there is no reason why you can't incorporate some of their training plans with a club level player. As you will see below I discuss and cover some specific areas from physical, psychological, tactical and so on which are often neglected by a coach who only sees their role as working on strokes.

So for our 4.5 player I would talk to him about focusing on some of the following areas that will help him to get to that next level without working on just strokes.

Psychological:
Game Plan: Work on your game plan. That is; have you scouted your next opponent? Do you have your own game plan ready so that you can control the match how you want to play it? Do you have a back-up plan in case your first plan is not working?

Concentration: Telling yourself to concentrate harder will not work. However, if you can put into place pre-game, in-game and post-game routines then you will be able to remain more focused on the task at hand. In between points allow you mind to relax and bring back your focus when you step up to the line to serve or return. The human mind cannot focus continuously so it is pointless to try and do so.

Scout Your Opponent: If you are in a tournament then go and have a look at your next opponent. Analyse and look at how they play, what is their favourite shot, what are their weaknesses, do they struggle on the big points, do they always go for their favourite shot on a big point, do they have a big shot and so on. Once you have this information then go away and create a game plan to beat this player.

Routines: Have a routine for in-between points that will help you maintain control and composure when either winning or losing. Once again this allows you to have control over how the game is played.

Goal Setting: I know, you have all heard this before but I cannot stress enough that as soon as you write down some realistic goals on paper you will immediately feel that you have direction and something to train for. It is a great feeling when you achieve a goal and can move on to the next one.

Physical:
Footwork: One of the most common problems I faced with club level players was that they had poor footwork which led to poor execution on their shots. Many coaches spend hours and hours trying to teach a player the correct stroke technique when a lot of the time the real issue is that they don't set up properly for the shot and then as a result being out of position causes the player to use bad technique. Incorporate some of the tennis specific footwork drills that we have provided in our eBooks.

Strength: Maybe you are lacking the physical strength to gain those few extra miles on your serve. One way to add more power to your serve without just hitting serves for hours on end is to hit the gym! Have an experienced gym trainer develop a weight training program to increase your strength and watch your serve become faster and more of a weapon!

Speed: Maybe you are not fast enough on the court. Being too slow will negatively impact your strokes. You may not recover fast enough after being out of position, maybe you don't get to the ball in time and as a result do not properly execute the shot. Speed is a weapon! Just ask Lleyton Hewitt or Rafael Nadal and you will soon see how speed is used to their advantage.

Flexibility: This is often a neglected area. Besides the known benefits of preventing injuries there are many direct benefits to improving on-court performance. One of my friends, Mark Wellington, trained Maria Sharapova for a couple of years and he always mentioned how he placed great emphasis on flexibility and teaching Maria how to move on the court. Having greater flexibility will help you to recover after each shot and get back in position more quickly for the next shot.

Endurance: Tennis is often described as an "Anaerobic" sport due to the nature of reasonably short points. However, you need to train your aerobic system so that you can sustain a high level of play right up until the end. Often a player may be losing matches simply because they fade away. All of those hours working on strokes won't help you if you run out of gas!

Reflexes: By improving your reflexes you can become more competent at the net as well as improving other areas of your game such as the return of serve. Many players just do not react quickly enough to a fast serve. As a result they make errors on the return of serve or just don't get the ball back into play.

Tactical: Have you ever played against someone who was more technically "inferior" to you in the sense that their strokes were not very efficient but they just always had a knack of wining? We all have at some point in out tennis careers! Some players are just match tough. They know how to break down an opponents' game. They know how to create a game plan that will be successful. They have that ability to win the big points.

So what you need to do is analyze your own game plan. Do you have one when you step on the court? Do you have the ability to stick with a winning game plan but also change a losing one? This is where you can ask your coach to work with you. Spend a whole lesson playing points and have your coach talk to you about how you construct your points. No stroke technique just a "Match Play" lesson. This will give you a perspective from an opposing player of what they see in your game.

General:
Technique: Make sure that you have correct technique on all of your shots. If you have a visible weakness then you can count on your opponent exploiting this shot.

Matches! Matches! Matches! I can't stress enough how important it is to play matches. You cannot simply practice or just do lessons and then expect to perform when in a competitive situation. You need to play more matches and as a direct result you will become more match tough, more experienced in dealing with different players and will also be able to see what areas you need to improve on when in a match. You could even have a friend use match evaluation forms to scout your match and then afterwards you can see what areas exactly you need to work on. Remember: be a match play and not just a practice player!

When I coached competitive ladies teams, I tried to build a lot of my drills based around "live ball" or "match like" drills rather than just feeding drills. The more point based drills you do the more comfortable you will be in a real match as these drills simulate match play that includes the unpredictability rather than the predictable ball fed by a coach.

Practice Partners: Train with players better than you! If you are a 4.5 - are you always playing with 4.5 players? If so and you want to get to a 5.5 then go out and play with those better players who will help to raise the level of your game. If your practice partner is not pushing you hard enough then find a new one. Join a drill session that has these better players. You will soon be forced to raise the level of your game in order to compete with these guys.

Many clubs have a Saturday morning group training session for men. You could ask your club coach what other drill sessions you could join.

Variety: If you practice with the same players all the time then you will become one dimensional and become accustomed to their game styles. Unfortunately, when you are in a tournament and face a totally different game style you will not know how to play them. So, get out there and play as many different players as you can. Some the same level as you and some better at the 5.5 level.

Consistency: Way too often matches are lost by the player making too many simple and unforced errors. First become a strong consistent player and then work on the big shots. If you continuously beat yourself with simple errors how do you ever expect to win? Force your opponent to beat you. Reduce your errors by making having shot selection.

Big Shot: once you have developed consistency then you may just need a "big shot" to beat those 5.5 players. Ideally work on a big serve or a big forehand. Even developing a great kick serve can be used as a weapon. A big shot will intimidate your opponent.

Drills: When training use more live ball or match play drills. Set specific goals for each session and then use our GSC drills to build on your strengths and also improve on those weaker areas. There are hundreds of new drills in our eBooks or on our site so use them! If your coach just wants to feed all of the time then you will not be reaching your full potential. Choose drills that are based on point play and simulating match play. The transition into real matches will be much easier for you.

Summary:
Improve on the following areas:

*Game plans

*Routines

*Improve on the "mental aspect" of the game

*Concentration

*Goal setting

*Play more matches

*Improve shot technique

*Play against various players

*Improve your speed, strength, flexibility, reflexes and footwork

*Improve consistency

*Develop a big shot

*Join an extra league for more match practice

*Add more shots to you game (eg. slice backhand, kick serve or drop shot)

*Scout future opponents to get a jump on them

*Play with better players than you to help raise your level

*Find a great practice partner with similar goals to you.

The beauty about the game of tennis is that there is always something to work on. The hard part is to know when you are wasting your time on the wrong things. Are you a match player or a practice player? Quite simply, conduct a review of your entire game and then analyse each area. When I worked with elite athletes as an Exercise Physiologist I would have to conduct what we called a "Needs Analysis" which was quite simply conducting and reviewing every area involved with the athlete and their sport. Then devising a plan to improve every aspect or variable.

Good Luck and take control of your own destiny!
David Horne is a former professional tennis player who has created several online sports web sites including which is the Ultimate Sports Directory for all sports fans! Check out the global web site for Tennis Coaching at Global Sports Coaching
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=David_Horne

Basic Rules Of Tennis

2007-10-01T01:06:00.000-07:00

By Liam R. Smart

Comprehending the Basics
So you're thinking about taking up the sport of tennis either as a hobby or competitively at a court near you. Since tennis requires almost as much mental stamina as physical, it's important to know and understand the basic rules of tennis so that you can play accurately.

Aside from the tie-breaker rule incorporated during the 1970s, the basic rules of tennis have remained unchanged since its creation in the late 1800s. The rules provided in this article come from the International Tennis Federation’s rulebook.

Serve’s Up
Tennis games are played in sets, which are broken down into games comprised of points. Players must be serving the ball in order to accumulate points. In tennis, players start off on opposite sides of the net. The player serving the ball first is known as the server while his or her opponent is called the receiver. When serving, the server must stand behind the baseline and between the center mark and sideline. The receiver may start anywhere on their side of the court.

For a serve to be considered legal it must travel over the net and land in the diagonally opposite service box. If the served ball hits the net and lands in the service box, the serve is considered void and the server is permitted another serve without penalty. This is known as a let serve, and players are allowed an unlimited amount of let serves per game.

However, if the served ball is wide of the service box or short of the net, it is counted as a fault and the player is permitted a second serve. If the second serve also faults, it is considered a double fault and the receiver is awarded the point.

Once a legal serve takes place, the players alternate hitting the ball over the net in what’s known as the rally. Players are only allowed one bounce on their side of the court before hitting the ball. If the ball hits the net or is hit out of bounds by either player, the rally comes to an end, and the first player that causes the bad return loses the point.

Love-Forty
The next aspect of the basic rules of tennis that is important to understand is its scoring system. As previously mentioned, players must be in possession of the serve in order to earn points. Players begin the game at zero, which is known as love in tennis terminology. Each time the serving player forces their opponent to hit an illegal return, they earn fifteen points. Hence, the scoring goes from zero to fifteen to thirty to forty, which is the game-winning score unless both players hit forty, which is known as deuce.

In the deuce situation, with both players at forty, if a player scores a point they gain what’s known as an advantage, which is also known as “ad in” or “ad out”, in for when the serving player is ahead and out for when it’s the receiver with the advantage. If the player with the advantage scores an additional point, they win the game. However if the player without the advantage scores then the score returns to deuce, and they continue playing until one player has two points more than their opponent.

For an easy-to-follow online video guide to the rules of tennis, go to: http://www.TennisPracticePlans.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Liam_R._Smart

Developing a "BIG" Forehand for Tennis Players!

2007-09-28T01:13:00.000-07:00

By David Horne

When you watch young tennis players in tournaments in the U/10, U/12 and U/14 age groups you will find that it is often the more consistent players who do well. At this age the athletes are still physically developing and the male players are just entering a growth stage where they will start to increase on their strength and power quite significantly.

As the player enters their mid-teens you will find that those players who dominated during their younger years due to their consistency start to have a tougher time. As they transition into the higher age groups they will also need to develop bigger shots, in particular the serve and forehand. These players find that they can no longer just hit the ball over the net waiting for their opponent's error. If they do they are finding that their opponents are hitting back more penetrating shots or even winners.

The difference between many players comes down to who has the bigger shots combined with consistency. Obviously someone who just crunches the ball without control will be very inconsistent.

To develop a big forehand in tennis several issues need to be addressed first:

Is the player ready to work on this shot? Do they have the correct technique? Do they have the correct footwork? (i.e. know how to step around for an inside-out forehand) Do they have enough strength? Do they have they understand why they need to develop a big forehand? Do they have the potential to develop a big forehand? Do you, the coach, know how to teach this shot? Do you know the best drills to use in order to teach this shot?

Analysis / Biomechanics of a "Big Forehand" in tennis:

Technique and preparationModern players use the western forehand grip which allows the player to make contact just below shoulder height due to the racket face angle. This suits clay court players who like to hit the ball up high allowing for their racket to get under the ball and brush up behind it.

Footwork and stance

Unlike traditional coaching styles of having a closed stance, the modern players have an open stance that helps them to create balance, control and then an explosive and powerful rotation of the trunk as the swing forward.
During this stance the weight is transferred from the back leg which is flexed prior to the swing and then the weight is transferred forwards as the player swings. It is this force generated that will ultimately help the forward rotation of the right hip as the player swings to make contact with the ball.

Backswing and forward swing

It is during the backswing that the shoulders turn and rotate in preparing for power. It is during the backswing that the non-dominant arm acts to help create balance as well as being involved in the backswing.
It is during the forward swing that the back leg will push off developing power and as a result will straighten to create rotation. As a result the player will open up (be parallel to the net) and the shoulders rotate forwards just prior to impact. The shoulder and hip rotation plays a significant role in power generation. It is this rotation that forces the player to come up off the ground.

At impact the racket face is approximately at a 90 degree angle to the ground. The racket "brushes" up behind the ball generating topspin which is a result of a low to high swing.
The follow throughIt is during the follow through phase that you will find the arm nearly parallel to the ground just after impact. The more traditional swings (players with continental grip) would force the player to follow through up over their shoulder.

Today, players whip through the ball forcing the arm across and to often wrap around the body rather than up over their shoulder. This creates certain problems when teaching youngsters the follow through who do not generate the explosive forward swing. Coaches still need to teach the more traditional follow through to beginner players in order to help them hit the ball up and over the net.

Recovery

The rotation of the shoulders and hip concludes with the player landing on their front left leg and recovering to anticipate the next shot.

General tennis coaching tips

As a coach, it is important to remember the individual stages of development with your players. You may try to teach a squad of twelve players the big forehand but you will be sure to find that some players do not have the correct technique to learn the shot and some are lacking the physical strength required to generate enough power.

In this situation you can designate one court to work on this "big" forehand and then group your players accordingly by level. That way the coach can set the appropriate drills for each smaller group of players. Live ball tennis drills are used when training a larger group of players.
To reach your full potential and reach the highest levels a player must develop a big stroke and often the forehand is a great shot to use to intimidate an opponent!

Get into the gym and start working out. You will be amazed what a little extra strength will do to your tennis game. One of neglected aspects in weight training for male players is the lower body and core. If you build strong legs and a strong core then you will notice the extra power on your shots.

The key to separating yourself from fellow club players is to develop a great forehand. It is recommended to take a few tennis lessons and have a coach take you though this process step by step before you go out on your own. If you are a keen tennis player then you will enjoy your game more if you consistently improve.

David Horne is a former professional tennis player who has created several online sports web sites including which is the Ultimate Sports Directory for all sports fans! Check out the global web site for Tennis Coaching at Global Sports Coaching
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How Do You Play Tennis?

2007-09-24T01:52:00.000-07:00

By Jimmy Jonsson

Always wanted to learn how to play tennis but don't know where to start? Don’t worry, there’s a bunch of different ways you can learn how to play tennis online. Books is a great way to explore what tennis has to offer, not to mention videos which is even better since you get to see all the moves and techniques get preformed in front of you. So how do you play tennis? This article will teach you the basics of tennis, reveal the tennis scoring system, discuss court differences and hopefully give you some insight on the subject.

Technique in tennis is just a little part of the abilities and skills required to play tennis. I’ve encountered many instructional videos and books which hasn’t understood this. They are all about how you play tennis, and how to make the correct move with your arms or legs, not twisting your wrist etc. when you actually might have problems with judging the balls landing spot or getting into position for the ball within the time limit. How do you play tennis? You study the rules of the game, learn the basic moves and perform them over and over again until you feel like you can evolve and try performing some more advanced techniques that will let you get that score advantage against your tennis partner.

To describe the tennis scoring system as simple as possible, a player must win four points to win a game, six games to win a set, and two or sometimes three sets to win a match. Game points will be counted 0(love)-15-30-40-game, and if the score between two players is 40-40 it’s called Deuce. To win the game at deuce, a player must first acquire an advantage by winning a point, and then win the following point. If a player gains an advantage but loses the following point, the score is reset back to deuce. The first player who wins six games by margin of two points wins a set, and the first player to win two (or sometimes three) sets wins the match. The outcome of matches can often depend on which type of court the match is played on, so it is important to know the differences between them.

There are many types of courts used for tennis, but do you know what a fast or slow court is? A fast court is a court which has a faster surface, in other words is slowing the ball down less then a slow court. The ball also generally bounces higher on slower surfaces then on faster surfaces and vice versa. As expected the fast court surfaces suites a big server and serve-and-volley player best, although shorter strokes are easily executed on a fast surface compared to longer strokes. Slow court surfaces are baseliners favorite courts with their long strokes and/or a consistency based game. To sum up, slow courts makes you run less while fast courts make you run more, which by the way is a good thing as a game of tennis is a fabulous workout opportunity.

Tennis requires flexibility and agility to keep up with the ball, raw strength for powerful shots, endurance to be able to play a whole match and a good mental mind to stay ahead of ones opponent. Tennis allows you to train all of this while having fun, relieving stress and energizing your spirit. Tennis shapes the body as well as sharpens the mind. Each time a ball is hit, one is forced to react and respond fast. Some might want to find a strategy to use against an opponent. This keeps your brain young and helps relieve tension. Hitting the ball with a racket for an hour or two will leave you stronger and surely tone and sculpt your entire upper body. Tennis players often have good core strength (abs and lower back muscles) because they do the hard work when hitting a tennis ball but also keeps you balanced when you run and provide power to your strokes along with your legs and upper body. And the fact that your legs will get a full workout should be apparent when playing tennis, but you might not have known that you stretch muscles all over your body, (increasing your flexibility) including a few you didn’t even know you had just by playing tennis. Your heart is also getting a piece of the action when you play tennis, interval training improves your heart function and you might well say tennis is interval training since you get a few seconds rest in between the points.

As you probably can tell this is only a fraction of the subject, but what you’ve read in this article is the basics of playing tennis. So if you’re still asking “How do you play tennis?”, maybe this game isn’t for you.

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Learning to Play Tennis

2007-09-20T04:18:00.000-07:00

By Jimmy Jonsson

Many people have trouble learning to play tennis, mostly because the depth of the game. One thing you should think about before learning tennis is how much time do you want to spend on tennis? You might want to start playing tennis as a workout, if you do, do you know how many calories an hour long tennis match will burn? This article will give you all the information you want to know about tennis gear and an explanation of a number of different tennis terms.

In an hour long singles game of tennis, depending of a number of factors like skill level and wait-time, you can burn up to 500 calories if you weigh about 140 pounds (~65kg) or even up to 700 if you weigh 190 pounds (~85kg). An hour long doubles game burns about 530 calories if you weigh 190 pounds (~85kg) or 380 if you weigh about 140 pounds (~65kg), considerably less then a singles game but that’s because you only take half the shots and have a much smaller part of the tennis court to cover. Before you start playing tennis you should also consider getting some information about the gear used.

There are a couple of things you should acquire before you start learning to play tennis. Clothing isn’t really a problem, as you can play tennis in any kind of t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Women might want to wear a skirt, but unfortunately most of them lack pockets, making you forced to buy a pair of tennis panties with a pocket sewn into them. A nice racquet ($150-300) is a good investment, but not necessary for a beginner, a $30-40 one will do just fine. If you get a little more serious on tennis, or just want to upgrade your racquet you should try to “demo” a few racquets before you decide which one fits you the best. This service is available at most tennis clubs and sporting retailers. For your racquet, you should also get some tennis grips wrapped around the handle that provides absorption, traction and also protection. Make sure you change your grips when they begin to show wear. Tennis is a game where you make a lot of rapid jumps, sprints and lateral movements, thus making it reasonable to invest in a pair of outstanding tennis shoes. Don’t forget to make sure your shoes support the ankle in a good way without making them uncomfortable. A good pair of tennis shoes may wear out in a few months of weekly play, especially if you play on hard surfaces. To save some money, only use your tennis shoes for tennis, nothing else.

Have you ever watched tennis on TV? You might here things like “Fault” or “Rally”, but what do they mean? Here’s a list of different tennis terms:
Footwork: Feet movement to keep the body in position to hit the best possible stroke.

Backhand: A type of shot that starts at the left side of the body for a right-hander or from the right side of the body for a left-hander.

Forehand: Stroking the ball from the right side of the body for a right-hander and from the left side for a left-hander.

Rally: A situation in which both players exchange a series of strokes, usually from their respective baselines.

Backspin: A ball that has been hit in such a way as to keep it spinning backward while in the air, also called "slice.

Topspin: Using a low-to-high stroke to place a forward movement on the ball as it hits your racquet.

Volley: Hitting the ball in mid-air before it bounces on your side of the court.

Double fault: Failing to correctly put two consecutive serves in play.

Fault: A failed attempt to put a serve in play.

Game point: The potentially last point of any game.

Love: Zero points.

Ready position: A preparation stance in which your weight is slightly forward, knees are slightly bent, and you are holding the racket up with both hands out in front of you.

If you're interested in learning to play tennis:
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Great Tennis US Open 2007!

2007-09-17T09:44:00.000-07:00

By Sergio Cruz

In contrast with Wimbledon 2007 where apart from the final excitement was almost alien to the tournament, the US Open 2007 is bubbling with exciting matches and is the show case for many younger players many of them qualifiers some wild cards, who've proven themselves respectable opponents. Not in order of merit Paul Capdeville (24 ), Steve Darcis (23), John Isner (22), Donald Young (18), Philipp Petzschner (23), Alun Jones (27), Ernests Gulbis (19), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (22), gave great account of themselves in very interesting matches and some are still contending for the title.
John Isner and Ernests Gulbis stand out from the group for the dangerous nature of their games.

Players beware of letting "Big John" get enough points to be entered directly in the main draws at the up and coming indoor season! Because if he does there will be plenty of upsets all the way to the top.
Ernests Gulbis is a 1000 karat diamond, handicapped by a slight weakness in movement and may be body strength due to his size and growing, otherwise he has it all! This young men gave me flash backs of a young Pete Sampras in 1990; smooth, sharp eyes, great service, first and second, fabulous hands, tactically smart, effective under pressure, mixes up intelligently, serves and volleys when needed, loose as a goose and shooting from the hips from both wings. I must make a compliment here, there are just a handful of true tennis coaches around the world and Nicky Pilic (a former great tennis player also blessed with plenty of talent) is one of them. The youngsters he works with are never stymied by the typical one mode robotics baseline tennis, Pilic keeps their creativity intact while teaching them a good dose of solid (attacking) tennis principles. Nicky, congratulations on a great job!

Going back to the US Open even Carlos Moya from the Spanish armada has shown his grit with great forays to the net to pick up crucial points in a highly spirited match with Phillip Kohlschreiber a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6(5), 4-6, 6-4 and the list of highly contested matches is almost endless in the men's draw:
Max Mirnyi - Marcos Baghdatis 6-3, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(6).

Rafael Nadal - Alun Jones 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1

Novak Djokovic-Radek Stepanek 6-7(4), 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-5, 7-6(2)

Teimuraz Gabashvili - Fernando Gonzalez 6-4, 6-1, 3-6, 5-7, 6-4

Tommy Haas - Steve Darcis 6-7(5), 7-5, 6-3, 6-4

James Blake - Fabrice Santoro, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4

David Ferrer - David Nalbandian 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 7-6(5), 7-5

Juan Ignacio Chela - Ivan Ljubicic, 6-4, 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-3, 6-3

Stanislas Wawrinka - Robby Ginepri, 5-7, 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3

....and there are plenty more exciting matches in the men's draw I did not even mention, I can not say the same in the women's draw were in most cases it seems to be total domination and total debacle with most matches being pretty lopsided, here are some exceptions:

Tamira Paszek - Patty Schnyder 4-6, 6-4, 7-6

Shahar Peer - Nicole Vaidisova 4- 6, 7-6, 7-5

Agnieszka Radwanska - Maria Sharapova 6-4, 1-6, 6-2

As a tennis lover I like tennis whether it is men's or women's, but I have big reticence’s looking at the women's draws and see match after match with short scores like 6-1 - 6-1 or consistently a 6-1 or a 6-0 in the third sets has if there was no battle to be fought. Women's tennis has made great strides, but many players still have to learn to fight to the end, to never get disappointed and never ever give up. We only can hope that their matches are more spirited as we get the final phase of this great tournament.

We can expect some big matches coming up especially, Roddick – Federer and I hate to make predictions, but I get the feeling Carlos Moya may have his hands full with Ernests Gulbis not to mention Nadal against Ferrer which could be another cracker!

Yes, I cannot hold back my excitement at the perspective of some great close matches, that is what tennis is all about fierce competition. "It's hard to beat a person who never gives up." Babe Ruth
Let us all enjoy this excellent US Open 2007 and expect some surprises!

For quick access to all links to the referenced articles please go to http://www.tenniscruz.com
Copyright © Tenniscruz.com®. All rights reserved.
Sérgio Cruz is an ex # 1 National Champion, Davis Cup Player from Portugal and former Coach Jim Courier ATP World Ranking # 1
http://www.tenniscruz.com
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How To Play Tennis - Drive Shots

2007-09-16T06:18:00.000-07:00

By Francisco Lakay

Do not just concentrate on hitting the ball well, but also direct your shots all over the court to keep your opponent running to make a hit, thereby creating opportunities for him to make a mistake. A good guide is to always hit your shots at angles that represent the letter ‘V'. Also, try to hide your shot direction from your opponent up to the final second of impact to keep him guessing the direction of your shot. Try to keep your return shots as low to the net as possible, unless you are playing the lob or drop shot. This will force your opponent to always be alert, without assuming that you will play the ball directly into the net (assuming that you are not doing that!).

Do not step away from the ball when playing any shot; always throw your full weight directly into the shot to give it full pace. Your drive shots should be played deep, almost always hitting at least behind your opponent's service line. A straight drive should just hit in front of the baseline, whereas a very deep drive will touch the baseline (for example when playing straight back to your opponent's toes). A cross-court drive will be hit shorter and harder, increasing your angle away from your opponent. Nevertheless, plan your drives according to the type of opponent you are facing; play deep against a baseliner (unless it is a drop shot), but short against a net player (unless it is an overhead lob).

To play a straight drive down the sideline, hit the ball about 4 feet from your body, immediately in front of your navel, shifting your weight to the front foot upon hitting the ball. Keep your racquet swing flat and straight through, with your wrist in a locked position. For the cross-drive to your opponent's backhand, swing your racquet a bit earlier than the straight drive, stepping towards the sideline of the direction you are hitting to.

The backhand drive is almost similar to the forehand drive, except that your weight shifts a bit sooner, while advancing your front foot slightly closer to the side-line, thereby clearing your body for the swing. Hit the ball in front of your front leg, being careful not to slice the ball out of play.

Without assuming the obvious, always make sure that your opponent is not perhaps left-handed, making his supposed backhand his actual, powerful forehand. During warm-up look to ascertain which arm he is playing with. It will save you unnecessary points and embarrassment, not to mention the time to adapt to playing cross-court to his forehand.

© Francisco M. Lakay. 2007. Find out how to improve your overall tennis game.
Free Tennis Lessons gives you information on how to play tennis, tennis equipment and professional tennis player posters.
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Mind Training for Tennis

2007-09-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

By Craig Townsend

One of the most powerful terms used in world sport for decades is the mental state called "the zone". This is the mental state which produces super-human performances, amazing shots and winning streaks.

Any tennis player who is in this mental state is virtually unbeatable at their respective level of competition - and at the elite level, you witness some unbelievable shotmaking.
A player who is in the zone experiences an unusual feeling of effortless power, allowing them to feel as if their racquet and body are powered by a turbo-charged engine, and they find their body gliding across the court and hitting with awesome power and minimum effort.

The strange part about this is - this powerful performance does not feel as if it is being controlled by the actual player! In fact, they'll often report feeling as if they weren't responsible for some of the amazing shots at all - as if their body was being guided and directed by a more powerful force (and this is exactly what is happening).
Almost every player at some stage in their career has experienced this feeling to some extent, and then wondered afterwards "how did I do that?" This is the mystery that surrounds the zone - why does it appear so fleetingly, and then disappear just as quickly as it came? And most of all - why can't we access it all the time?

What is the powerful force which is guiding the body when you hit an unbelievable shot? The answer is the sleeping giant that resides inside all human beings - the subconscious mind, the source of all bodily movement which also stores all past tennis memories and experience.
When a player is 'zoning', their conscious mind becomes quiet (the normally busy, chattering mind we use all the time), and this allows their more powerful subconscious to run their performance on 'automatic pilot', in the way a computer runs software.
This allows their strokes to flow with effortless reflexes and power in a way that could never be matched by conscious thought.

This means that when you are in the zone, you have virtually no thought going through your mind whatsoever, your body is just playing on automatic-pilot, powered directly by your subconscious mind.
This is not to say that your body is playing without instruction, on the contrary, it is simply getting its instructions from a more powerful and reliable source.

So how do we get into the zone? Everyone must find the method that best suits their needs, but one of the main ways is to simply practice (in your daily training) thinking absolutely nothing while you are hitting! This prevents the weaker conscious mind from giving your body incorrect instructions, and allows your powerful subconscious (the sleeping giant within you, and control center of all bodily movement) to run your tennis on auto-pilot, as it is meant to.

Of course, if you are having a lesson, doing this is not possible, as your coach will be asking you to consciously try different things on court. But once you are practicing away from your lesson, allow some time where your mind goes completely quiet and see if your standard or level increases. It almost always will.

A classic example of the Zone is where someone serves a rocket at you at 200 km/hr - and you reflex back an amazing return for a screaming winner down the line. This is the subconscious at work! Yet if someone hits a slow second serve to you, where you have all the time in the world, these are often the returns a player will miss, because they have too much time to think! These are the times when the weaker conscious mind gets involved, and it's never very pretty when this happens!

The zone is a very powerful state that can help you reach beyond your limitations to achievements you may have never realized were possible. Try it, explore it, master it, and then show the world what you can do!

"The Mind controls the body, and the Mind is Unlimited"
The best of success, Craig Townsend http://www.tennispsychology.com

Craig Townsend has worked in the area of mental training for sport and personal development over the past decade, and possesses a Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy. For 20 years has researched and experimented with various methods of tapping the mind's potential in many areas, using visualization, hypnosis and other methods (unrelated to psychology or sports psychology), to create a highly effective mental training program which has brought impressive results. He coached tennis for many years, and reached the highest club playing level. His tennis website can be located at http://www.tennispsychology.com and his self-help website is at http://www.MindTraining.net
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The Different Types of Tennis Balls

2007-09-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

By Anne Clarke

If you think that tennis balls are simply yellow fuzzy balls, one no different from another, you are most definitely wrong. Tennis balls are much more than that. Here are some facts about tennis balls that you may or may not already know:

Pressurized vs. Pressureless Tennis Balls:
· There are two main types of tennis balls: pressurized and pressureless.
· Pressurized tennis balls have a hollow core, filled with air. Some tennis ball manufacturers use nitrogen in the center, because this air tends to last longer – pressurized balls will lose their pressure after about a month or so after opening the pressurized can that they come in. As they lose their pressure, they become “dead” and do not bounce so well.
· Pressureless balls have a solid core. These tennis balls are great for anyone who does not play tennis that often and/or to use and training tennis balls. These tennis balls do not lose their bounce. However, the felt will slowly wear off, and they will eventually need to be replaced.

Regular Duty, Extra Duty, or High Altitude Tennis Balls:
· When you buy tennis balls, the container that they come in should be clearly marked with what kind of balls it contains – regular duty, extra duty, or high altitude tennis balls.
· Regular duty tennis balls should be used on indoor and clay courts. Extra duty balls would get too fuzzy if used on clay courts.
· Extra duty tennis balls are used on grass courts and tennis courts.
· High altitude tennis balls are used in places like Denver where you are playing 4,000 feet or more above sea level. These balls have different pressure – regular balls would bounce too much at this elevation.

Tennis Ball “Fuzziness”:
· Without the yellow (or white…) fuzziness of tennis balls, the game of tennis would be a whole lot different. The fuzz of the tennis balls creates friction. The fuzziness of the balls creates dray in the air, making topspin and backspin more pronounced and more possible.

Numbers on the Tennis Balls:
· Have you ever wondered what the numbers on your tennis balls meant? Do they reference the weight or style of the tennis balls, etc.? No.
· The numbers on the tennis balls are simply for your benefit – if you are playing with Wilson 1 balls, and the people on the court next to you are playing with Wilson 2 balls, it is easier to retrieve your tennis balls when they wander onto another tennis court. The numbers help you tell your balls apart from other players’ balls (assuming that you are not using the same brand and same number of tennis balls!).

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, and sports. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on tennis, please visit E-Tennis.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke

Choosing the Best Tennis Racket

2007-09-07T09:53:00.001-07:00

By Hannah Reid

Whether you are just starting out as a tennis player, or even if you are an old pro, the tennis gear you choose is extremely important. One of the most important pieces of tennis merchandise that you will purchase as a tennis player is your tennis racket. Your racket is extremely important and will set the tone for your game, so of course you want to pick out the best tennis racket you can find. With so many different choices out there, it can be difficult to figure out what the best tennis racket is for you; however, if you consider your skills, your style of playing, the weight, and the materials of the racket, you should pick a winner.

Skill Level

When you are looking for the best tennis racket, one of the most important things that you need to consider is your skill level. Beginners will want to make different choices from advanced players when it comes to picking out tennis equipment.

1. Beginners - If you are a beginner at tennis, more than likely you will want to start out with a cheap racket that has a larger head than most. Having the oversized head will make it easier to hit the tennis ball while you are learning. Also, there is definitely no need to spend a couple hundred dollars on a racket until you have learned the basics and decided that you want to actively pursue this sport.

2. Intermediate and Advanced - Intermediate and advanced players will want to pick out a racket that has a smaller head than the rackets for the beginners. While the oversized head is great for beginners, as an intermediate to advanced player, you should have more strength in your tennis swing and a smaller head will allow you a great deal more control in your hits.

Style of Playing

More than likely if you are an advanced player, you have your own particular style of playing. Your tennis playing style will also influence what you will need in a good tennis racket. If you like to use a great deal of topspin in your game, then a racket that is head heavy can help you improve your spin. Also, if you are a serve and volley player, there are tennis rackets that are specifically designed for your style of play, and the same goes for players whose game relies mainly on groundstroking. No matter what style of play you enjoy, more than likely you will be able to find a racket that can enhance and improve your style.

Racket Weight

To avoid injury, taking a look at the weight of the tennis racket is important before you purchase it. While you may be inclined to head for the lighter rackets, actually you will want to choose a racket that is a bit heavier; however, the head should be fairly light. While it may sound a bit crazy to purchase a racket that is a bit on the heavy side, a lighter racket can also lead to injury, such as tennis elbow and shoulder problems. Also, a racket that is a bit heavier can also improve your serves as well as your groundstroke.

Racket Materials

When you are trying to pick out the best tennis racket, you will also need to consider the various materials that they are made of as well. The most common materials that are used on tennis rackets today include graphite, aluminum, and boron and Kevlar. Graphite rackets are probably the most popular, since it provides great hitting power and both beginners and even advanced players will find that this type of a racket will perform nicely for them. Aluminum rackets are cheaper than graphite ones, and they will provide you with excellent feel. The Boron and Kevlar rackets are very stiff and can cause shoulder problems due to the shock, so this type of racket should be avoided by a beginning player.

While there are no set overall rules when picking out a racket, there are a variety of things to keep in mind so you can pick out the very best tennis racket. So instead of just walking into a shop and taking a few practice swings, keep these tips in mind and find the best tennis racket for you.

YourServeTennisShop.com has an excellent selection of rackets, equipment and clothing.
Hannah Reid, co-ownerYourServeTennisShop.com http://www.your-serve-tennis-shop.com/
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How To Play Tennis - Drive Shots

2007-09-07T09:53:00.000-07:00

By Francisco Lakay

Do not step away from the ball when playing any shot; always throw your full weight directly into the shot to give it full pace. Your drive shots should be played deep, almost always hitting at least behind your opponent's service line. A straight drive should just hit in front of the baseline, whereas a very deep drive will touch the baseline (for example when playing straight back to your opponent's toes). A cross-court drive will be hit shorter and harder, increasing your angle away from your opponent. Nevertheless, plan your drives according to the type of opponent you are facing; play deep against a baseliner (unless it is a drop shot), but short against a net player (unless it is an overhead lob).

How To Improve Your Tennis Serve

2007-09-05T00:46:00.000-07:00

By Francisco Lakay

You will have to vary your serve and keep your opponent guessing at every service. However, do not try to serve an ace with every service you send down. Also, do not fall into a pattern with your service, e.g. first serve is always towards the outside line and second serve straight down the middle. Keep your serve accurate, reliable and varied enough to win you points off it.

In executing your tennis service, remember that a tall person has an advantage over a short one due to his added reach upon delivery of service. Use this to your advantage if you are the taller person. Hit the tennis ball at the highest point you can comfortably reach, without unnecessary strain. Make sure that you are in control of the service upon delivering it, otherwise you might be unable to reach the return delivery. Do not try to hit balls that go beyond your reach as this will only cause you discomfort and possible injury. Take your time to get your rhythm just right, throwing the ball up in the air directly above your playing side.

Hitting your tennis serve:
With both feet firmly on the ground behind the baseline, drop your weight back on your right foot (right-handed player) and swing the racquet freely and easily behind your back. Tossing the ball high enough into the air, start to slowly shift your weight forward, while at the same time increasing the power of your swing forward as the racquet starts its upward flight towards the ball. Throw your weight forward upon contact between ball and racquet face, with the full power of the swing smashed into the service. Keep your wrist a little flexible during service otherwise you might get hurt. The rest of the racquet swing and wrist action depends on the type of delivery you want to send down.

Tennis Lessons offers more tips on how to improve your tennis game.
© Francisco M. Lakay. 2007.Find out how to improve your overall tennis game. Free Tennis Lessons gives you information on how to play tennis, tennis equipment and professional tennis player posters.
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How to Play Tennis - Learning Skills and Shots like the Pro's

2007-09-04T08:48:00.000-07:00

By Ted Jacobs

Tennis is great sport to learn and one that becomes more exciting as you become better and able to play some of the more difficult shots. Most people learn how to play tennis during high school but whereas some do well, others struggle to learn the skills that make a good tennis player.

The good news is that learning tennis is certainly not only for school time. There are plenty of ways to learn tennis skills, shots and techniques, from books to videos to resources online. Depending on your finances you can even choose to hire a tennis coach, although regular lessons can amount to a substantial amount of money.

Hiring a tennis coach is a good way to become a good tennis player as long as the coach has a lot of experience or a good reputation as an instructor. Many tennis coaches are people who have been very good and played at a good level, but didn't quite manage to make it to professional level. Hiring a coach based on their playing ability shouldn't necessarily be top priority though as there is many that are good at playing but find it difficult to coach another person. This means that coaching reputation needs to be considered foremost.

With the internet has come the greatest resource to teach people whatever they want to learn, and tennis is no different. The problem with learning about tennis online though is that it becomes difficult to envisage what you are reading. I'll give you an example:

The Volley Shot
When you take on a volley shot keep the wrist stiff. This should be for both high and low volleys, with the wrist position behind the line of the racquet head. The force of the incoming shot is very often enough to return the ball, but more weight can be applied to provide more power to the shot.

This explanation gives a good example of the volley, but it is nowhere near as beneficial as watching a demonstration. A picture (or even better, video) speaks a thousand words.

See my recommendation on a great video package on How to Play Tennis; quite possibly the best video training resource for improving your tennis.
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Online Tennis Lessons For Beginners - Pros And Cons

2007-09-03T08:07:00.000-07:00

By Tomaz Mencinger

It's one thing finding beginner tennis lessons online and another thing whether you actually found a good way to learn how to play tennis.
But suppose you found a good online tennis lesson; how does it compare to a real on court tennis instruction session?

Here are the pros of online tennis lessons for beginners:
1. They are more systematic. What often happens on court is that a tennis beginner starts making minor mistakes and this causes the coach to deviate from the original plan and perhaps miss some of the fundamental skills in the first few tennis lessons.
An online tennis lesson is already prepared, either written as an article or taped as a series of video clips and you can be sure that it will guide you in a very effective way through your first lesson.

2. You control what you want to learn. In case you already know some of the strokes, you can quickly scan the online lesson and choose what you need to learn.
When you are on court, the coach controls the flow of the lesson and you may find it difficult to tell the coach what to you. You are a tennis beginner after all.

3. They are much cheaper or even free. A typical tennis lesson with a professional coach costs between $40 and $50 and you need at least 10 to start playing some real tennis.
A full collection of online tennis lessons can cost you less than $50 and for that you get the information for all the strokes and footwork patterns. Now you only have to actually do it on the court.

And the cons of online tennis lessons for beginners?
1. No feedback from the coach. This means that if a tennis beginner misunderstands the instruction in the online tennis lesson, a coach cannot correct them.
So you might end up learning a slightly incorrect stroke from the beginning without even noticing that.

2. You miss on the fun and the social part of tennis. When you have a real tennis lesson with a coach, you can play many fun games and activities which will help you improve faster.
You also get to know a new person and gain a new friend. If you are learning tennis from behind a computer, it can be very lonely.

3. You cannot accelerate your learning. If an experienced tennis coach guides you through your first on-court lesson, he will be able to judge whether you are learning fast or slow.
A coach can then adapt the learning process to accelerate your learning in various stages of your beginner experiences.

If you are learning tennis online, you are not able to judge whether you could learn something faster or in a different way which may be more suitable for you.

In summary, learning tennis from online tennis lessons can be much cheaper and a very practical way to jump start your tennis journey.
But sooner or later you will probably have to find a pro to take you to the next level.
Tomaz Mencinger is a tennis coach who offers online beginner tennis lessons for free. You can find more tennis tips and instruction on his Tennis Thoughts blog.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tomaz_Mencinger

Tennis Lessons for Beginners - Grip and Body Position

2007-08-31T07:04:00.000-07:00

By Francisco Lakay

To obtain a suitable forehand grip, hold the tennis racquet's handle towards your body, with the edge of the racquet face perpendicular towards the ground. Almost like shaking hands with a friend, allow the handle to settle comfortably into your hand, making the line of your arm, the racquet and your hand as one. Do not hold the racquet handle loosely, a firm grip (but not a holding on for dear life type grip!) will spare your wrist unnecessary ache and swelling, not to mention points won!

To achieve the backhand grip, turn your hand upwards on the handle for a quarter circle, thereby pointing your knuckles directly up. It is normal for your backhand to have less control and power than your forehand, but try to minimize this at all costs. Opposite players normally target backhand returns from their opponents to gain a much vaunted psychological control and subsequent demise (lose confidence, lose points … game, set and match!). Deter this by countering with deep lob shots and short drop shots, depending on where your opponent is awaiting your return.

All tennis shots should be executed with your shoulders lined up parallel to the line of the ball flight, keeping your body at right angles to the net. Your body weight should always move forward, in the direction of your shot, passing from the back foot to the front at the moment of ball impact. Never move your weight away from your shot, the ball will have no speed and end up being thoroughly punished by an eager opponent.

© Francisco M. Lakay. 2007. Find out how to improve your overall tennis game. Free Tennis Lessons gives you information on how to play tennis, tennis equipment and professional tennis player posters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Francisco_Lakay

Tennis Lessons for Beginners - Concentration and Equipment

2007-08-30T06:41:00.000-07:00

By Francisco Lakay

Tennis, like chess, are primarily won or lost in one's mind. You have to remain focused and concentrated on the job at hand. Even with a perfect racket technique and superb backhand, a wandering mind will cost you the game in the end. However, with tennis as a social sport, do not forget to have fun at the same time - your opponent is not your enemy after all!

Your concentration can be maintained by focusing on each single shot individually. Do not focus too much on missed opportunities and acknowledge good shots by your opponent (even if only in your mind!). Break the whole game down into little bits: concentrate on winning a shot, a game, a set, and ultimately the match. It is no use focusing all of your energy on making it big in tennis and all you can think about on the court is the nice restaurant you are going to afterwards, or even the screams from the avid spectators (hopefully for your superb tennis display!).

When buying tennis equipment, do not try to be too stingy. Get a decent tennis racquet, tennis shoes, and of course proper tennis balls. No use trying to play tennis with balls lacking a consistent and regular bounce. You would not believe the frustration of having to play with ‘tennis balls' purchased at the local gas station. Also, do not use your quality tennis balls until they have lost all their hair - not all things get better with age (like wine)! I know decent tennis equipment can be pricy, but it is worth all your effort in the end.

When starting out with tennis as a beginner do not feel compelled to dress like a professional tennis player such as Roger Federer. On the other hand, do not play tennis in casual wear either. Dress according to the occasion and, in the case of tennis, dress comfortable to allow easy movement across the tennis court.

Useful Resources:

1) Instruction Videos for Tennis Beginners

2) Strategies and Tactics used by Top Players

3) Mental Toughness Wins Games!

© Francisco M. Lakay. 2007. Find out how to improve your overall tennis game. Free Tennis Lessons gives you information on how to play tennis, tennis equipment and professional tennis player posters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Francisco_Lakay

Tennis Lessons For Beginners - Learning From Professionals

2007-08-29T07:42:00.000-07:00

By Francisco Lakay

You will not improve your tennis play by putting up high scores on your playstation, online gaming, or whatever arcade form of tennis game you can get your hands on. For one, you can serve the perfect ace by timing your button clicking with a tennis game, but on the court you will have to do several things exactly right to achieve a similar result. You can, however, improve your overall game of tennis by watching the professionals play.

See all the professional tennis you possibly can: go to live games, watch them on television and even online. Study the play of leading tennis players closely and strive to copy their strokes in your own game. Get hold of quality tennis instruction books and apply them to minimize your own limitations. You can learn much more about tennis off the court, by watching the professionals in action and studying the theory behind shot execution and body positioning. Combine this with playing as much as you possibly can to implement what you have learned.

Do not give up easily if you cannot integrate your new-found knowledge immediately into your style of play; remember: professional tennis players are the product of very long hours of hard work. Keep at it and you will enjoy the rich benefits of improving your overall tennis stroke play, service, volleys, and of course net play.

Tennis can be enjoyed for all of your life - there is now age limitation. Owning a tennis racquet can aid social interaction in any new town, either as an avid supporter or keen player. Tennis is pure enjoyment after a long day at work, helping you to relax and exercise at the same time. You should definitely consider playing tennis to enjoy life to the fullest! You might even be surprised at the amount of friends you will make in the end, especially with doubles tennis.

Useful Resources:

1) Mental Toughness Wins Games!

2) Instruction Videos for Tennis Beginners

3) Strategies and Tactics used by Top Players

© Francisco M. Lakay. 2007. Find out how to improve your overall tennis game. Free Tennis Lessons gives you information on how to play tennis, tennis equipment and professional tennis player posters.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Francisco_Lakay

Tennis Tips For Beginners

2007-08-27T07:32:00.001-07:00

By Anne Clarke

Without first learning the movement and developing the skills for your achievement, you should take lessons in the basics of tennis for beginners. No matter how talented you may be, practicing consistently is the only way to stay in shape, and build technique for tennis.

- For example:
- The following are two basic types of stroke for people just learning the game:
1. Groundstrokes:
a) The player (or student) learning tennis for beginners must realize that groundstrokes are very important to master. A groundstroke begins with a slight, short backswing.
b) A possibility for you would be to also use a shortened grip on the racquet handle.
c) Use the regular type of follow-through.
d) Lengthen the backswing at a slow pace.
e) Slide the grip toward the handle.
f) Remember, in basic tennis for beginners, you will drop feed first! Second, doing your short drop feed is fine, and lastly, following the short drop feed, you will feed from your racquet.
g) Of course, you must start out inside the service line—and you may move back at rising pace. Begin slowly and usually try to end with a run.

2. Overheads:
a) The racquet must begin at point of contact and, again slowly, a bigger swing can be presented.
1. The student should be instructed to stand close to the net—and then, taking his or her time, begin to move backwards.
2. Remember to begin your student with an incredibly soft-feed right to the racquet.
3. You can show them a few higher feeds at first—but do not do too much at once.
4. Especially for young children, keep your lessons brief and productive as possible. A child’s attention span will not last too long. And you do not want to fail as an instructor by losing your student’s attention. Sessions with younger students should not exceed thirty minutes at a time. Often it is good to set up lessons several times per week.

If a student is having trouble with drills—pull back and remember to work with individual students at their own skill levels. Tennis for beginners is sometimes more of a challenge with some people than others.
By the same token, if your student seems to be “a natural” and is having no problems with his or her drills—challenge them further—begin more advanced drills.

Always work on precise technique, be sure your student has the exact form and bodylines, and is using the proper movements! Regarding lesson plans, yours will always vary depending on what the student or students are capable of doing. Therefore, setting out a full curriculum for tennis for beginners is practically a waste of your time—because you never know what kind of talent you will be dealing with.

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, recreation, education and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles about tennis and tennis education and guidelines, please visit Tennis For Beginners.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke

Learning How To Play Tennis

2007-08-27T07:32:00.000-07:00

By Angel Estrella

Anyone who is considering tennis training will be happy to know that there are plenty of ways to learn how to play the game. Every way from the tennis court to the internet, the video store and even the classroom will prove to be beneficial for those wanting to learn how to play the great game of tennis. Prices will vary depending on the type of training method that is chosen, but can often be quite affordable. This is especially true of those who opt for learning at home through the use of videos or internet lessons. A professional tennis trainer, however, will likely be the most expensive way to learn but will provide a hands-on experience that none of the aforementioned options can.

If you choose to hire a tennis instructor, you will probably want to hire someone who has a lot of experience in either teaching or playing tennis. Or, if possible, find someone who has done both. During this training, you will begin to learn the various swings and in which situation each can be used. In the beginning, tennis may seem intimidating because of the physical activity that is involved, along with the need to have a very fast reaction to every situation. But, after a few lessons, you will be more familiar with the game and how to play it. Patience is the key to learning anything new and tennis is no different.

Even prior to hiring an instructor, some new tennis players may decide to learn some basics of the game before beginning the actual lessons. This can be accomplished by either purchasing books, videos or doing some research online. Either of these methods should provide an introduction to the game, the proper way to grip and swing the tennis racket, etc. With this information, any new tennis player will enter their learning phase with added confidence and will impress their instructor by how much they already know. Not to mention, anything that you can learn beforehand may end up saving you some money on the actual lessons.

With that being said, it’s important to know that there is nothing wrong with taking tennis lessons if you are a true beginner. Even if you have never held a tennis racket or held a tennis ball before, there is nothing to fear. Tennis instructors are there to help you to learn from scratch if that’s what you need. During your lessons, it will always be a good idea to have access to a tennis court and possibly even practice a little in between lessons.

Many tennis instructors work one-on-one with their students, while others prefer to educate to a group of individuals. Those who prefer to learn as much as possible, but without doing so with hands-on training may opt for online lessons. The only drawback is that this method does not provide actual practice, which can be sought separately by the learner. Friends and family can often provide valuable insight in helping one to learning how to play tennis without professional instruction.

For more information about tennis, click the link to visit our website at http://www.onlinetennisguide.info We have some great free articles and resources about tennis.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Angel_Estrella