Ways to Become a Pro at Playing Tennis
- Written by Modern Australian
Tennis is one of the hardest sports out there, and it can be a frustrating one too if you’re a newbie. Expecting to get perfect, really fast, isn’t just being foolish, but it is far from being a pipe dream just yet. You might be a college tennis player or a junior practicing every day at the tennis court in the hopes of becoming an internationally recognized player one day. But it’s harder than you thought, and your lack of progress is worrying.
There’s no secret formula for becoming a good tennis player. It’s always a combination of hard work, routinely training, and the right kind of guidance that makes all the difference. If everyone around you is improving faster than you, here are some tips that will help you get on the right path;
There are all kinds of tennis rackets available in the market, and by the standard, they’re all pretty good even if they are being sold cheap (comparatively). Rackets meant for beginners or juniors that are just starting are mostly inexpensive, but instead of picking any inexpensive one, focus on how it feels in your hand and against your body. The racket should match your grip size and body size; otherwise, you will have a hard time practicing and getting used to it.
If you’re inexperienced, ask any sales representative present at the shop to guide you properly. A reasonable racket that is cheap and fits perfectly in your hand is hard to come by, especially when you’re a beginner. So if you end up breaking a string, don’t throw it away, consider getting it re-strung and get the tension in the twines adjusted the way you like it.
Practice Makes Perfect
Talent will only get you so far in life; the rest is pure hard work. All the world’s best players, in each sport, have spent years training and practicing since they were little kids. In the beginning, it might seem very hard to get used to the idea of exercising, especially when you aren’t as good as the other players you see, but don’t quit. Do not let the fire of your passion for the sport burn out. It is very typical to feel like nothing is working, but don’t lose heart. Eventually, with regular practice, your game will sort itself out just fine.
No Shame in Getting Help
The best way to see where you’re going wrong and what you need to work on more to improve is to get lessons. It is helpful if you do it at an early stage of your training because not only will a proper experience teach you the right way, it will also help prevent the development of any bad habits. Bad habits and lousy playing styles are hard to break once you’ve developed them. Taking lessons on a beginner level also allows you to be among people who are on the same level as you and can act as an indirect source of moral support.
Do your research to find out about training academies, sports centers, and tennis clubs that are offering lessons to young individuals.
Developing Stamina
The most important thing when playing any sport is to see how long you can keep your play up, which is your stamina. Stamina is entirely dependent on your physical fitness and well-being, which is why it’s necessary to do some strengthening exercises as well.
Another trick is to do a slight jog or rope skipping to warm up your body. It can also include stretch exercises for arms, legs, and back. Not only will this help you with your stamina but also save you from insanely sore muscles that otherwise definitely affect your game the next day. Do the same stretch exercises after playing to cool down the body temperature of the body gradually so muscles can relax comfortably.
Art of Hitting the Ball
When aiming, try to hit the ball just when it is at the level of your waist. It is easier and most efficient to hit the ball at waist level than when it’s in the air, going way above your chest.
The force with which you hit the ball has a lot to do with your position, your footwork, and your grip on the tennis racket combined with specific wrist movements. Put your weight on your leg to give the body a turning pivot around which it can move with fluidity and gain momentum more efficiently.
Remember not to put all your energy into your services but focus on the accuracy of your aim instead. Power utilizes more when you need to hit the ball back.
Eye and Foot Movement
Your eye should always be on the ball. From the moment you serve, the eye needs to go with the ball instead of looking ahead at the opponent. It is very natural to want to look at the one you’re playing against to judge their position, but you need to change this habit.
Don’t move too fast on the court, or you’ll end up rushing your shots also. Take your time to judge the ball’s pace and position yourself. Rushing only makes you lose focus.
Conclusion
You’re not going to get better at tennis if you try to improve all areas at once. You have to start slow and focus on the main problems at hand. Move forward when you’ve figured out how to master the old tricks. It is why tennis takes a lot of time, patience, and energy. Getting angry or frustrated will never help you. Solve one problem at a time, and don’t be too hard on yourself; you need to stay motivated.
