In 2018, the number of tennis players in the US rose by about 0.9%, reaching a total of approximately 17.84 million players. Each year, new tennis players join the ranks of a sport that has been evolving since the 11th century.
While the overall concept may seem fairly simple, tennis is a complicated sport. Many new players become frustrated with their own slow progress and give up before mastering their technique.
In order to avoid tennis burnout, it’s important to focus on the incremental ways you can improve your tennis-playing abilities.
Read on for our seven best tennis tips for beginners!
1. Start with the Right Racket
Until you reach intermediate or advanced levels of tennis playing, you shouldn’t experiment too much with your racket. In the early stages, you are simply trying to master the art of getting the ball back over the net regardless of where or how fast it’s moving.
Look for a racket that has a head of 106 square inches or larger, maximizing the surface area you’re using to attack the ball. In addition, you want to find a racket with a high stiffness rating–preferably something with around a 16 by 19 string pattern–to give you a little extra force.
2. Expect Ups and Downs
In the earlier stages, playing tennis tends to come down to luck. You might win the first few points or even the first game, which creates quite a bit of confidence! However, after this initial up, you may feel pretty down if your luck turns and you start losing points and losing games.
You are still learning. Try to have fun with it and allow wins to bring you some joy without falling into the trap of feeling like a “natural.” When you get too confident too early, you risk resenting the game if and when you lose.
3. Improve Your Speed and Stamina
Don’t confine your tennis practice to the court! The best tennis players have a great deal of speed and stamina and they got these qualities by working on their overall physical fitness.
In order to increase your stamina, spend a few hours a week doing moderate- to high-impact cardio. This includes swimming, speed walking, and jogging.
To improve your speed, consider physical activities that can impact your footwork. One activity that requires the least skill for the most payoff is jumping rope.
4. Never Take Your Eyes Off the Ball
When you watch the pros, you’ll notice that they’re not phased by their opponent’s impressive moves or the crowd’s reaction. They never take their eyes off the ball.
As you get to know the game, you may begin to predict where the ball will land based on your opponent’s swing. However, there’s no better way to keep track of the ball than keeping your eyes trained on it every second that it’s in play.
5. Don’t Get Locked Into One Stance
Most tennis instructors will focus on the closed stance when working with beginners. In the closed stance, your feet and body are turned sideways to the net. This allows new players to pack more force into each swing without risking injury because much of the force is coming from the legs and lower torso.
An open stance involves both feet facing the net. You’ll see professionals taking this stance fairly often, which allows them to respond more quickly to a short ball or other unexpected moves. However, it can put more pressure on the shoulders and upper torso if you are not properly taught how to use it.
The trouble is that when you learn one stance, alone, you tend to get locked into it. This can inhibit you from moving deftly across the court and leave you unprepared for deep shots or drop shots.
If you are used to a single stance, ask your instructor for assistance. Poor form or over-exertion can lead to pulled muscles, sprains, and back problems injuries.
6. Maintain Intensity But Don’t Tilt
If you want to take your tennis playing to the next level, you have to accept that tennis is not a passive sport. It requires focus and steady intensity.
If your opponent witnesses your energy levels slipping, they will start throwing short balls, drop shots, and more. Their goal is to force you to expend your limited energy running back and forth across the court. When you play with speed and power, your opponent has to stay focused on their next move, rather than trying to thwart yours.
However, when we say intensity, we don’t mean aggression or frustration. Too much of either can lead to a tilt in your game, which refers to the point when a player loses control of their emotions or calmness levels to their own detriment.
7. Practice Different Techniques
When it comes to practice, playing full games is a fun way to improve. However, you’re going to need to practice different techniques again and again if you want to move past those ups and downs we were talking about earlier.
In tennis, short balls are the hardest to hit but when you master them, you can take control of the game. Learning how to hit a short ball with power will take you from a beginner to an intermediate player in no time.
Use These Tennis Tips for Beginners and Avoid Burnout
When you first pick up a racket, don’t hit the courts expecting to be a pro! Instead, follow our tennis tips for beginners to ensure that you keep improving without burning out or growing frustrated.
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