How to Start Playing Tennis
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Tennis is a good way to make new friends, get or stay fit, and having fun. Here is how you can get started.
Steps
Buy a decent tennis racket and high quality
tennis shoes at your local sports store or tennis store. If you can find a
tennis pro shop, tell them you are just starting out they should be able to help you find all the
gear you need.
Read and learn about tennis, including what
all the tennis terms are, how to avoid injuries, how to hit a proper ball, etc.
Try to approach tennis in your early stages from the standpoint of having fun,
so that you do not get lost in the sometimes more confusing aspects of the
sport.
Find a local tennis club and become a member
with the plan that is most appropriate to you. Most tennis clubs offer private
lessons, usually with the first few lessons complimentary. Attend a few
meetings, at least to get tips on how to avoid injuries and exercise proper
form.
Participate in a fun match play event to
meet the pros and other regulars at
Start to learn how to serve.
Hold the tennis ball in one hand and your
racquet on the other. To hold the tennis racquet, hold the grip as if you are
shaking someones hand or by holding the racquet so that the face is
perpendicular to the ground then slide your hand down the racquet with your
thumb on one side and the remaining fingers on the opposite.
Throw the ball high enough so that the
racket may hit the ball forward.
Hit it hard, so that it may go over the net.
Hit it diagonally over the net, also hit it in the sweet spot of the racket. The
sweet spot is the center or the place of the racket which has no vibration.
Start with the forehand.
Wait until the ball bounces just once on the
court when it’s coming to you or it is on your side of the net.
Hit the ball on the sweet spot.
Learn the backhand next.
Use this technique, if the ball is not in
the side where your racket is at hold your racket with both hands on the grip
like a baseball bat. You can either use a two handed backhand or a one handed
backhand. Make sure you get a good grip.
Hit the ball on the sweet spot upwards to generate topspin, and it would go over the net.
Tips
Be very friendly to the people at the club, and before you
know it, you will be invited into many leagues, team tennis, and maybe your
level tournament.
Tennis is always more fun with friends, so if you can,
invite friends, family, and coworkers to start the sport with you. Most tennis
clubs allow guests of some kind, but definitely check with your tennis club
beforehand.
Do not get discouraged by the complexities that can arise
while playing tennis. With any game that is as old as tennis, there are loads
of different strategies, shots, player archetypes, and formations.
And also do push ups to gain extra strength in your arms and
it will help you in playing better shots,
Warnings
Do not spend a large amount of money on this if you are not
going to play very much; memberships can be very pricey, and so can shoes,
rackets and balls.
Pace yourself playing too much of a sport like tennis before
you know the ropes has the potential for big injuries, like the dreaded tennis
elbow or tennis knees.
Things You Will Need
A racket that fits your particular arm length shorter racket
for a taller person longer arm, hand size a handle which will fit in your hand,
and arm strength, generally a higher string tension for stronger arm allows for
more accurate shots, lower tension for more power.
Tennis shoes that fit comfortably and allow for quick turns
and easy jumping do NOT use running shoes.
Plenty of tennis balls.
A friend or partner to play with, or 3 friends if you are
playing doubles.
Related wikiHows
How to Improve Your Tennis Game
How to Get
Faster Reflexes for Racquetball, Tennis and Martial Arts
How to Hit a Flat Serve in Tennis
How to Hit a Slice Serve in Tennis
How to Avoid Injuring Yourself
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