To get better at tennis, pick the right equipment, know the rules, practice with a ball machine, practice your grip and stroke techniques
Tennis is a very interesting sport, and like every other sport, you need to practice and achieve a set of skills to be good at it. You need to know the rules, the equipment, and slowly improve your skill by consistent training. If you do not train, then it will be hard to improve in tennis because it requires perfect hand-eye coordination.
If you are someone who has just started playing tennis, then you should know the following factors. They will help in your beginner’s journey and improve your skills to become a better player.
1. Check Your Skill Set
The next point to check is your skillset. How well trained you are in playing tennis. You can check this in one of two ways, check your skill through a well-trained staff, or get tested on the NTRP rating scale.
This will help you greatly to know your skills and recognize the areas you are lacking in. So you can take lessons or tournaments based on these particulars and further develop your skill.
2. You Need To Develop Your Skill Set
Tennis is a game that requires great expertise and patience. We talked about how to assess your current skill level, but now let us discuss how to improve it.
If you are a beginner, then the first thing you need to learn is proper grip and stroke mechanics. You can get a trainer if you want to dedicate your time.
Otherwise, you can watch videos from YouTube or gather information from other players, take group lessons or visit mindtheracket.com to learn several techniques and how to master them
Once this is clear, you can practice with a ball machine. Remember, practice is the key to improving so spend some time with the ball machine.
3. Pick The Right Equipment
The first thing you need is the right equipment. But unlike some sports like hockey or cricket, you do not need expensive equipment. All you need is a racket, a tennis ball, and a pair of tennis shoes.
They are fairly cheap. A high-quality tennis rackets can cost about $99 to $200. The quality of the racket depends on its string type.
You need a racket that goes well with your swings. If you are the type of player who swings hard and fast at your opponents, a racket that has fairly tight strings will be perfect for you. However, if you are someone who likes to volley and draw out rounds to wear down the opponent, then loose strings are the right pick.
As for the balls, you can buy a low compression ball since you are a beginner. A low compression ball slows down the pace of the ball and drags out each round, you will be able to learn many tricks in this way, and can improve your swing technique.
4. Understand The Rules Of Tennis
This is very simple and will take you 10-15 minutes. Tennis does not have many complicated rules. There is the playing field and a net that divides the field.
You stand on one side and your opponent on the other. You both stand on the right side of the playing ground. Then either you or your opponent serves the ball into the right side of the opponent. If the ball drops on the left side of the field, then it is considered a foul, and you get to serve once more.
And now, how to make points. Well, that is very simple. You can get a point in 4 different ways. One, you hit the ball and your opponent misses. Two, your opponent hits, but it gets blocked by the net and drops on your opponent’s side.
Three, your opponent returns the ball, but it drops outside the playground. And four, if the ball bounces two times on the opponent’s side of the field before the player can return the ball.
5. You Need To Stay Hydrated At All Times
If you have seen professional tennis matches, then you should know that some rounds can get dragged over a very long time. There is a lot of running and sweating, which will tire you down fast.
To make sure your body stays strong and has all the stamina, you need to stay hydrated. Carry a bottle of glucose with you and whenever you feel thirsty, take a sip. You need to win the game, but not at the cost of your health.
6. You Need Warm-Ups Before Every Match And Practice
We mentioned before that tennis is a game that requires you to run and move fast across the court. Moving fast puts a lot of pressure on your muscles and nerves. So if you do not warm up before going to a match, it is likely that you will suffer from health injuries.
You can get muscle cramps and be out of the game before it even starts. So take good care of your body and warm-up for at least 10-15 minutes before joining a match or a practice session.
7. Pick The Right Opponent
If you are a first-time player and are just learning the basics, then you do not need a pro player to be your opponent. You can start slow by playing with your family members. It will give you a good grasp of the basics.
Once you improve, you can look for bigger challenges. If you feel confident enough, you can even join local tournaments. Once you get a hold of the basics, you should always look for opponents who are slightly better than you when practicing. You can learn much from them just by playing.
Final Thoughts
Tennis is a fun sport and is extremely helpful if you want to stay fit and healthy. But do not expect to improve overnight. You need dedication and focus if you want to get better at tennis. The key to winning is to never give up no matter how many times you lose. Tennis is a very interesting sport, and you require a very thorough skill to be good at it.
