Tennis Tip Tuesday: Getting Started

Now that I’m getting back into the swing of things with tennis (pun intended), I thought I would share my knowledge of the game with “Tennis Tip Tuesday.”

My trophy collection

Over the years, I’ve developed a love for the game.

I started playing when I was in 7th grade. On a whim, I signed up for tennis as my sport instead of PE or soccer or whatever. I had no idea what I was doing, but it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.

If I had never started playing tennis, I never would have met my best friends.

If I had never started playing tennis, I never would have discovered how much fight that I really have in me.

Although I met my best friends through tennis, playing the game also helped me strengthen my relationship with my dad. Literally every weekend throughout high school was spent traveling to tournaments around the state. It was just the two of us and we always had a great time.

To get this series started, I’ll go over a few things that are important to remember when first starting the game.

Getting Started

1. I think one of the most important things is to remember is that it’s much harder to break bad habits than to form good ones.

I highly recommend that you take a few lessons (with someone who knows what their doing) before you start playing. This way, you’re more likely to use good stroke form right from the beginning.

I know from experience that many who play tennis for a while before taking lessons develop strokes that get the ball in, but are biomechanically wrong. Trust me, I was one of these people. Take a few lessons to learn the proper technique.

2. Play as often as you can!

Tennis is a blast and you’ll want to play for the rest of your life. Trust me, once you start playing, you’ll get hooked in no time. But don’t overdo it. Like any sport, you want to start slowly and work your way up from there.

Start by taking a few lessons and slowly add in more time on the court each week.

3. Test out a racquet before you purchase it.

When looking for a tennis racquet, make sure that you look for a frame that has the proper grip size (depending on the size of your hand) and the correct length and weight. Stronger players will need a heavier racquet, while smaller players will need a lighter racquet. Furthermore, a larger head size will provide more power, while a smaller head size will provide more control. Since there are many factors to consider when purchasing a racquet, it’s always helpful to look to a USTA professional for advice.

4. Drills and match play are equally important.

No matter how many lessons you take and no matter how biomechanically effiecient your strokes become, you must practice using those strokes under pressure.

Tennis can be physically intense, but 90% of the game is mental.

What works in practice might not work as well when you’re facing a match point. Playing in a tennis leauge is a great way to get match play experience.

Do you play tennis? Have you thought about starting?

*Feel free to contact me if you have any questions!*

Tagged as: How To, Tennis