Worldwide, there are more than one billion tennis fans. This means it’s the fourth most popular sport in the world, after soccer, cricket, and field hockey. And tennis’s popularity is continuing to grow.
If you’re one of the many people around the world getting into playing tennis, this article is for you. You may feel a little overwhelmed with the various strokes. This is normal.
But the truth is with these five basics tennis techniques, you’ll be ready for gameplay. Keep reading to learn about the most important strokes to master.
1. Serve
First and foremost, let’s talk about serves. In tennis, the serve is the start of it all. Each point begins with one.
And the more accurate and stronger your serve, the better. Here are the basic steps.
First, start at the baseline with your racquet in your dominant hand and the ball in your other. Turn sideways with your front foot at a 45-degree angle.
Have your ball and racquet in front of your body. Then bring the racquet back and toss the ball in the air. Continue your stroke until you reach a point where your tossing hand is in the air and your racquet is up behind your head.
Now it’s time to come down to hit the ball. As the ball falls, bring your racquet down as well, making contact in the air, hitting the ball into the opposite service box.
This may seem complicated. And the truth is that the serve is the most complicated stroke in all of tennis. But it matters!
So keep working and don’t give up. With practice, you’ll continue to improve.
2. Forehand
Next, let’s talk about forehand. This is the most fundamental shot of most players’ game.
This is because the forehand involves the player’s dominant hand doing the work. And it’s the core stroke of your back and forth gameplay.
You’ll start with your racquet pointed backward, perpendicular to the court. Then, you’ll move your racquet forward, striking the ball. Next, be sure to follow through up and over your shoulder.
Once you master your forehand, keep in mind that there are other variations, including the inside-out version or the tennis topspin forehand.
3. Backhand
So we know what happens when a ball comes to your dominant hand: you use your forehand. But what about when your opponent’s hit is coming on your non-dominant side? Say hello to the backhand.
This is a shot that you’ll use both hands for, giving you lots of stability, control, and power. The backhand can be a killer shot.
The form of the backhand is very similar to the forehand, just on the opposite side. You’ll start with your racquet pointed backward, swing it forward, and then extend up and over your shoulder. Voila.
Remember that your follow-through is extremely important with backhand so that it has enough power to land deep in your opponent’s court. Often, players shorten their backswing on their backend, making their ball hit the net.
Last but not least, remember that the backhand is often people’s weakest shot. You can use this to your advantage, hitting shots to your opponent’s backhand side. And you should also make sure your backhand is strong so people can’t exploit it during matches.
4. Volley
Another important shot? The volley is one of the key tennis techniques to master. A volley is a shot close to the next where the ball doesn’t bounce before you hit it.
Say you hit a super short hit, forcing your opponent to run forward to the net. They hit a weak shot back, you run up to the net and are able to slam the ball down and to the side.
This is a perfect example of an effective volley.
In order to hit these successfully, make sure to have both of your feet planted squarely on the ground. Then bring your racquet out in front of you and to the side, moving it forward quickly and firmly.
Be sure to work on your position. This will help you avoid hitting the volley too close to your body.
5. Overhead
Last but not least, let’s go over the overhead stroke. Have you ever been playing a match, when your opponent hits a ball to you super high in the air?
Since it’s so high, you won’t be able to do a forehand or backhand. And it’s too far back on the court to do a volley. So what do you do?
Now’s your chance to utilize your overhead.
For an effective overhead, you’ll use a lot of the same movements as your serve. You’ll raise your racquet high in the air and then come down to strike the ball.
The difference? You don’t have to toss the ball.
The biggest thing to focus on is your footwork. You need to make sure you’re in the right position so you can hit the ball correctly.
Tennis Techniques to Improve Your Game
Now that you’ve read through these tennis techniques for beginners, what’s next? It’s time to assess your current skills.
Have you used any of these strokes before? If so, which ones and what’s your skill level for each of them?
Then, you can decide where you need to improve and make a plan to get there. Soon, you’ll enjoy improved hits and start winning more games.
Want to learn more about the ins and outs of tennis? Check out our blog for additional tips today.