Tennis Tips

Unwritten Rules of Tennis

• If you ask someone to play a match, tennis balls are your responsibility.
• Take all practice serves before the first game begins, not when it is your turn to serve the first time.
• In unofficial matches, keep your own score. The server should announce the score prior to each point.
• Each player is responsible for calling balls out on his or her side of the court. If you are in doubt, the shot is good. Never say, “Take two,” to start the serving sequence over because you are not sure whether a shot was in or out.
• Don’t ask spectators to tell you if a ball is in or out. It’s not their business, and they are not in a position to make a call.
• Play “in” shots immediately and loudly call all others “out.” Never call shots “in.”
• If a dispute arises about a line call, try to settle the argument with your opponent. If that doesn’t work, ask an umpire.
• If a loose ball on or behind the court interferes with concentration or becomes a safety hazard, call a “let” immediately and replay the point.
• If an unusual delay takes place between the first and second serves, allow your opponent to “take two.”
• Don’t shout or distract your opponent in any way during a match. Not only is such distraction inappropriate, it’s also against the rules. Furthermore, it is a sign of immaturity to groan, complain, curse, or verbally abuse yourself or others during a match.
• If one of your tennis balls rolls on to an adjacent court, wait for play on that court to stop before asking for your ball to be returned. Saying, “Thanks, court two,” is one polite way to ask for help.
• When returning a stray ball to it’s court, wait until the point has been completed. Returning the ball immediately interferes with play.
• Shake hands with your opponent at the net after a match.
• If you are a spectator, hold your applause or cheers until a point has been completed. Tennis players react to sound and may stop a point if your noise is interpreted as a line call (such as “out” or “fault”).
• Avoid walking behind a court during a point. Tennis players spend as much time between the baseline and the fence as they do inside the lines. Stay out of their way and their vision.
• Applaud or cheer well-played points and winning shots rather than errors made by a friend’s opponent.

Exert from Tennis Steps To Success by Jim Brown. Copyright 2004, 1995 by Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc. and copyright 1989 by Leisure Press.

Choosing a Tennis Pro

A certified tennis professional can make your pursuit of becoming the best player you can be a reality. With that said, how do you choose the right one?

First you must decide what your objectives are. How much effort, time and expense are you willing to spend? Are you striving to become an elite player, who wants to compete or are you a recreational player, who is happy just to enjoy the sport? Maybe you’re somewhere in the middle of the two.

Once you have determined your goal it is time to consider the coach/athlete relationship. It is vital to work with a tennis professional whose instructional style matches with your work ethic. I have found there to be three different coaching styles.

1. The Doer – this professional gets you on the court, gives basic instruction on racquet handling, shots and strategy. The aim is to get you playing and enjoying the game quickly. Instruction increases as your skill progresses.
2. The Technical – this professional points out the correct technique of the various strokes and racquet handling with less emphasis on playing.
3. The Talker – this professional verbally expresses proper technique and provides a less physically demanding session.

A helpful hint in selecting a tennis pro is to watch other players at your club or recreational facility whose game you admire and ask them who they credit their success to. If they recommend their pro give him/her a try.

The relationship between tennis pro and player is significant. Temperaments and work ethics must be taken into consideration for a happy and successful experience. Once the connection is made it can only improve the quality of your tennis career.

For more information on this subject read, Tennis The Mind Game by Marlin M. MacKenzie

TENNIS IS A SIMPLE GAME CONSISTING OF A FEW DIFFERENT TENNIS STROKES

1. Forehand Ground Stroke - This stroke is executed by hitting the ball after the ball has bounced on the court surface. This is usually the most played tennis stroke in any match play. Unless otherwise indicated, this stroke is usually hit from around the baseline when ball contact is made and is usually hit with topspin. This shot can also be hit as a flat shot or as a slice shot. The Forehand Ground Stroke is executed with the contact point on the same side of the body as the racquet hand.

2. Backhand Groundstroke - This stroke is executed by hitting the ball after the ball has bounced on the court surface. This is usually the second most played shot in any match play. This stroke is usually hit from the baseline when ball contact is made and is hit just as often hit with topspin or as a slice. This shot can also be hit as a flat shot. The Backhand Ground Stroke is executed with the contact point on the opposite side of the body as the racquet hand.

3. Forehand Volley - This stroke is executed by hitting the ball before the ball has bounced on the court surface. This stroke is used to return the ball when you are positioned closer to the net. The volley is also used to return the ball sooner than a ground stroke, thus reducing the amount of time your opponent has to react. You are usually positioned between the service line and the net when ball contact is made. The Forehand Volley is executed with the contact point on the same side of the body as the racquet hand.

4. Backhand Volley - This stroke is executed by hitting the ball before the ball has bounced on the court surface. This stroke is used to return the ball when you are positioned closer to the net. The volley is also used to return the ball sooner than a ground stroke, thus reducing the amount of time your opponent has to react. You are usually positioned between the service line and the net when ball contact is made. The Backhand Volley is executed with the contact point on the opposite side of the body as the racquet hand.

5. Half Volley - This is a very interesting shot because it has aspects of the volley and aspects as a ground stroke. It is similar to the groundstroke because the stroke is executed by hitting the ball after the ball has bounced once on the court surface. It is also similar to a volley because it is hit while the ball is on the rise which makes it feel like a volley. Normal ground strokes are executed by hitting the ball on its downward motion. The Half volley can be executed both as a forehand and a backhand.

6. Forehand Overhead - This tennis stroke is also known as a "smash". This shot is not used very often is game play. It is executed by hitting the ball with the racket above your head and while the ball is coming back down. It is executed by hitting the ball before the ball has bounced on the court surface. This stroke is usually hit while you are close to the net, usually in front of the service line. The shot can also be hit from further back on the court. The Forehand Overhead Stroke is executed with the contact point on the same side of the body as the racquet hand.

7. Backhand Overhead - This is an alternative to the "smash". This tennis shot is probably the least used shot. It is executed by hitting the ball with the racket above your head and while the ball is coming back down. It is executed by hitting the ball before the ball has bounced on the court surface. This stroke is usually hit while you are close to the net, usually in front of the service line. The Backhand Ground Stroke is executed with the contact point on the opposite side of the body as the racquet hand.

8. Serve - The serve is similar to a "Forehead Overhead" but is hit behind the baseline. The use of various spins and spred make this shot difficult to predict and to return. This tennis stroke is also known as a "smash". The shot can also be hit from further back on the court. The Forehand Overhead Stroke is executed with the contact point on the same side of the body as the racquet hand.

9. Return of Serve - This stroke is a modification to the Groundstroke and is used to return serves. It is usually has a shorter backswing. The primary purpose of the return of server is to return the server to the server.