Have you always wanted to learn how to play tennis but don't know where to start? Do you love to watch Rafael Nadal or Maria Sharapova dominate the fields and hope to become like them? Practicing this sport can help you develop speed, power and fitness. It is also a great way to spend time with family and friends. Learn about the pitch, scoring system and playing techniques you need to become a pro!
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Getting Started
Step 1. Find a place to play
You can play tennis at the local park, in the gym or in a club. Do some research on the internet or ask friends which courses are best in the area. On most courts you have to pay an hourly rate, while on some you can play for free.
You can try the game fundamentals in any large, open space, but it's best to spend as much time as possible on real fields. This way you will get to know the shape of the court more quickly and minimize the risk of breaking something with the ball or racket
Step 2. Purchase the necessary equipment
You don't need to buy professional gear right away, but all beginners need a few items to get started. Some clubs offer equipment rental, but if that's not your case, you need to shop.
- You need a racket with its own case. If you are a beginner, you just need to make sure the handle is the right size for your hand. You shouldn't feel like the racket is too heavy or too light. There are also men's and women's models, but you should prioritize comfort rather than gender distinction.
- Buy at least three tennis balls. It's so easy to lose them!
Step 3. Buy tennis clothes
Before doing so, ask the club you are going to play in if there are any dress rules to respect. If not, you can use any loose and comfortable sportswear.
- In more formal circles you will need to show up on the court in tennis shoes, shorts, and a T-shirt or skirt for women. However, you will rarely find yourself in such a situation.
- Tennis shoes are best for this sport, but if you don't have a pair, regular athletic shoes will do.
Step 4. Find an opponent
Once you've learned the basics, you'll need to practice against someone. Ask a club member you attend if they are interested in helping you learn. If you don't find anyone, ask friends, family or on the Internet.
Part 2 of 4: Learning the Basics
Step 1. Get to know the parts of the field
Discovering the various areas of the tennis court is the first step in learning to play. Familiarize yourself with the pitch by walking on the pitch before you start training.
- The tennis courts are divided in two by the net; one half is your court, the other half that of the opponent. You cannot touch the net or hit it with the ball during the rally.
- The line parallel to the furthest net is the bottom line. You have to serve from behind that line.
- You will see a thinner line between the bottom line and the net. This is the service line. When you hit, you must aim the ball in the square between the net and the service line.
- The small line in the center of the bottom line marks the center of the field. You will need to stand to the right or left of this sign when serving.
- The service area is divided vertically into two halves, by a line perpendicular to the net. This creates two service squares, one on the right and one on the left.
- You will notice two lines perpendicular to the net that laterally delimit the field. The internal one is for single matches, the more external one for doubles.
Step 2. Learn the basics of tennis scoring
In each game, only one of the players is needed. From the moment the ball enters play, players can score a point, which is awarded when the ball bounces off the court, hits the net or bounces twice in a player's court. A game ends when one of the two players has scored four points, with a margin of at least two points over the opponent. For example, with a score of 4-2 the game is awarded, while at 4-3 the game continues.
- Tennis games start with both players on zero.
- The score is called before each serve. After a point has been scored, the referee or server calls "fifteen". For the score of two he calls "thirty", for the three "forty". When the game is awarded the call is "game" or "game".
- Points are awarded to the player who does not send the ball into the net, out of bounds or does not let it bounce twice. All these actions conclude the exchange.
- "Taking a break" means winning a game when it is not being served.
Step 3. Play sets
Tennis is played in sets; it is not enough to win a game to finish a match! Sets consist of at least six games and do not end until a player wins six games with a margin of at least two over the opponent. For example, if one player has six games and the other has five, the set continues until the difference is at least two games.
- If both players win six games, usually the set is decided by a tie break.
- Tennis matches are usually played in the best of three or five sets.
Step 4. Practice hitting the ball with the racket
Before you start serving or playing, get used to the racket and ball. Try throwing the ball into the air and hitting it until you can forcefully send it to the other court a couple of times. Don't worry about accuracy for now; just get used to the racket and contact with the ball.
Step 5. Learn to hit straight
The forehand is played by holding the racket with the dominant hand, as if you were shaking your hand. At that point, you need to rotate your torso to bring the racket behind you, then hit the ball outward and upward. This shot is best suited to high, slow balls.
Step 6. Try the reverse
This is one of the easiest shots to master. Take the racket with both hands and hold it sideways. You should assume a position similar to a baseball player with his own bat. When the ball approaches, hit it hard at a slight upward angle. This shot puts a lot of force on the ball and is a great way to make sure you hit the court.
There is also a one-handed backhand. In this case, you only use your dominant hand to hit the ball, but the rest of the movement is the same. This is a more difficult technique to learn
Step 7. Learn to hit on the fly
Volley is the ideal shot to respond to short bouncing balls. There are two types, forehand or backhand. In the forehand volley, hold the racket with your dominant hand, with the back facing the back line. Just duck down to find the ball and hit it before it bounces.
The backhand volley is performed in a similar way, with the difference that the back of the hand faces the net. The movement you need to do is similar to what you would do to move a person with your elbow while squatting
Part 3 of 4: Play
Step 1. Throw a coin to decide who will serve first
In tennis, one of the players beats first. In most cases this decision is made with the flip of a coin; the loser has the right to choose which side of the court to play. The batter continues to serve until the game is awarded. In the next game, the serve passes to the opponent.
Step 2. Stand in a corner on the bottom line
The game begins with both players on the baseline. The server chooses a corner from which to serve and the opponent positions himself in the opposite corner. Consequently, if you are serving from the right side of the court, your opponent will be placed in the left corner of his half of the court, based on your vantage point.
In response, you should face the opposite corner. Keep one foot slightly over the back line and the other about 18 inches inside the court
Step 3. Hold the racket up
There is no rule for how you should hold the racket, as long as your hand is around the handle. Hold the tool firmly with your dominant hand and hold it straight up with your arms outstretched until the head of the racket is roughly parallel to your head.
When not serving, you can hold the racket with both hands. Usually, you hold the top of the handle with your dominant hand, keeping the other lower, but there is no predetermined position; just keep your hands on the handle only
Step 4. Throw the ball into the air with your free hand
If you are serving, throw the ball in the air towards your racket. You can throw it a couple of times without using the racket or bouncing it on the court before starting the actual serve. Get used to the ball and handling it before hitting.
- If you want to try out, don't hit the ball with your racket. This gesture is a foul, which can award the point to the opponent! Try the shots only in training.
- If you are not serving, keep holding the racket and wait.
Step 5. Serve the ball in the serving square
When the ball approaches the head of the racket, hit it hard diagonally towards the service square of the other half of the court. Aim the square closest to the player in response. Your goal is to bounce the ball once before the opponent can respond.
- If the ball hits the net before bouncing off the serve square, the "let" is called and you can repeat the serve.
- If the ball stays in your half of the court, it bounces off the serve square or if you miss the ball altogether, you commit a "foul". You have two attempts for each serve, but if you commit a double fault, the point is awarded to your opponent and the game continues to the next point.
Step 6. Run to the ball and send it back to the other half of the court
Immediately after your opponent's serve, run to reach the ball and hit it hard, with the head of the racket pointing slightly upwards. It takes some practice to learn how to respond to the serve, so don't worry if you're not successful at first.
Step 7. Continue until the point is won
Points are awarded only when the ball is no longer in play, so keep trading until one of the players wins it! Trades can take a few seconds or a few minutes, but if you are a beginner, they will likely be awarded pretty quickly.
When a point is awarded, call the score and serve again until the game is awarded, then continue to the end of the set
Part 4 of 4: Advanced Techniques
Step 1. Hit a smash
You can use this shot when the opponent tries to lob you and you try to hit the ball in his court so that it is impossible to receive. Wait until you have a very high ball at your disposal before trying this shot, which is not suitable for normal rallies.
- Keep the racket behind your head, almost touching your back.
- When the ball is almost overhead, smash it with the racket over the net, as you would for a serve. Aim for the side of the court vacated by your opponent.
- You can also serve from above in the same motion.
Step 2. Give your shots topspin
Rotating the ball forward allows you to bounce it higher and hit it faster. To do this, don't hit the ball straight in the center of the racket as you usually do.
- Use your racket to hit the side of the ball.
- Immediately after impact, bring the racket up and hit the top of the ball as well. This will cause it to rotate in an upward arc instead of giving it a straight trajectory.
Step 3. Learn how to use the slice
Rotating the ball backwards allows you to change its direction and slow it down to the point that it stops in the opponent's court before the opponent can replay it.
- To hit the ball with the backward cut, start the impact from below.
- At that point, immediately bring the racket forward towards the opponent's half. This will slow down the speed and bounce of the ball a lot, making it harder for your opponent to hit.
Step 4. Learn to play on different surfaces
There are many types of surfaces on which you can play tennis, and each of them affects the speed of the ball and the skills required to be successful. Learning to play on all surfaces can help you a lot to improve.
- Hard surfaces like concrete and acrylic are very common in North America. They are ideal for beginners, because they offer very fast and regular rebounds, but they challenge the players' joints.
- Clay courts are very common in Europe and South America. They have a tendency to slow down the game and offer the highest rebounds.
- Grass pitches are what you see in Wimbledon. The games on grass are very fast, because the ball bounces little and it often happens that the serves become winning shots.
Step 5. Understand your opponent's strategy
As you become better at playing tennis, you will learn to study your opponents, to exploit their tendencies and preferences against them. This is a skill that takes time to develop, so don't worry if you can't do it right away.
- Many players, especially beginners, are more comfortable with a shot. If you notice that your opponent is happy to respond to high balls on the forehand, try serving him low and on the backhand.
- Many players love or hate going to the net. Try to find out the character of your opponent and if you notice that he prefers to stay in the baseline, play short balls that force him to advance.
- Know your opponent's serve. All players beat with a unique style. If what you are up against always serves in the same direction at the same height, make sure you take the right stance in response!
- Study the opponent's state of mind. A stressed or angry player is vulnerable. If you notice that he displays anger, misses easy shots, or doesn't pay attention to the game, you can use this advantage to win by varying your shots a lot to confuse him.
Step 6. Learn to play doubles
In doubles, two pairs of players compete against each other. You will use the widest lines on the field, but the score and the rest of the rules remain the same. The biggest challenge for doubles players is learning to interact with their partner. Ask friends who play tennis to teach you the best strategies for doubles.
There is also a variant called Canadian doubles, in which a pair challenges a single player. It is usually played when the single player is much better than the doubles player
Advice
- Be patient as you learn this sport. People spend their entire lives perfecting their shots and strategies. Keep improving your game over time.
- When you feel confident in your fundamentals, take part in tennis tournaments in your area. You will meet people who love this sport as much as you do and challenge yourself against good competition.
- Once you have mastered the basic strokes, you can learn lobs, smashes and volleys.
- Make sure your opponent knows you are a beginner. Some players will even agree not to follow all of the rules to give you a way to develop response and serve techniques.
- Play with sneakers or tennis shoes. Ballet flats, heels and slippers are not suitable for tennis.
