Three Ways to Get Started Playing Tennis
If you are reading this today, it is because you are intrigued by tennis, or you just don’t know where to start! No worries we have three ways that can help you get into the swing of tennis. Our goal is to teach you as much as we can about the different ways you can start tennis. We are so happy you are here so let’s get started, shall we 🎾
🎾 Wall
Our first pick is the wall for beginners. Why may you ask? Well, it is very simple. When you begin to play, you will want to get as much repetition as possible. This means being consistent by practicing because tennis is all about repetition. You are repeating a series of movements multiple times. That is why the wall is so ideal because this will build your confidence and consistency. Also, it is nice because you don’t need someone to rally with. As long as you have a ball and a wall you are set.
The wall is essential because every player throughout the history of the game has started with the wall because it is affordable and also because no matter how hard you hit the ball you know it will come back. Plus the wall will help you improve your technique and also to get familiarized with the consistent leg movement. The shifting and also the switching of the grips because you will be hitting different shots. By using the wall, you will improve your coordination and eyesight because you will have to think fast while your playing with the wall. In conclusion, this is an excellent way to start playing tennis and to get loose with your shots.
🎾 Short Court
When beginning tennis, fundamentals include eye-hand coordination and body/racket control. A regular-sized court is 78 feet. This length can make it difficult for new players to strengthen their grip, track the ball, and even learn to hit spin. One method to build a strong foundation is to first hit what we like to call “short court.” This court spans the length of the service boxes and is only 36 feet. The short court can help beginning players build these fundamental skills through control, tempo, and muscle memory.
The first component that a short court provides is control. On a full-length court, it is often difficult for those new to the game to watch the ball and make solid controlled contact. This results in short rallies that don’t allow players to get the reps that they need to really improve. With the court length reduced, it is much easier to track the ball (as it is coming slower!). This is where tempo comes in. When playing short court, you can get more of a rhythm and feel for the game with longer rallies. This will make it much easier to play on the baseline. You will have better control and motion of your body and your racket. It is also easier in the short court to strengthen a new grip without flying the ball. Lastly, rallies in the short court build muscle memory so that new players have the right technique and swing when they get to the baseline and begin full-court training. To sum it up, starting in the short court makes it easy to have longer, controlled rallies while maintaining good technique. It is a great starting place for anyone and everyone!
🎾 Lessons
Tennis lessons can be a bit overwhelming in the beginning because you might not know what you want to work on or even how many times you would like to have a lesson. Our advice is to start slowly because you want to find a coach that you feel comfortable with and that will have patience when they are teaching you. Even before beginning with private lessons, we recommend trying group lessons first to see if you enjoy the sport and to maximize your budget since in the beginning a lot of the work that needs to be done is focused heavily on your hand eye coordination. Once you determine that you want to really become better at tennis eegin with one lesson with a coach and try it out then you can think about getting more lessons or purchasing a package because when you decide to get a tennis lesson you have to be comfortable with your coach.
Tennis is all about confidence and emotions. If you sense that your lesson is not great and that there is no engagement then that coach is not for you. Therefore, it is important that you find the right instructor for you because that will allow you to have a good experience. So, make sure you do your research about your instructor and what you want as the student.
Now that you have all of these wonderful tips. It is time that you decide which one is the best fit. Don’t forget that tennis is a very personalized sport. This means that every player is different. You might start directly with a tennis lesson or with a wall to hit. Regardless, of where you start what matters is that you took the first step on being part of this incredible tennis community and that you read this informative article.
To learn about lessons that we offer, you can click here or reach out to concierge@breakthelove.com for more information!