If you are taking tennis lessons in Toronto or if your kid is attending a tennis camp, then you may be a little nervous if you’ve never played the sport before. Tennis is fun, exciting, and good exercise, but tennis for beginners with no experience can sound a little intimidating.
Of course, once you try out tennis, you will probably love it. Many adults and kids love playing tennis, and the basics can be learned faster than with many other sports. Learning some tennis tips and tricks can help you pick up the game faster when you’re learning for the first time.
Here are the top 10 tips for beginner tennis players
Practice Tennis:
Like any sport, tennis takes practice to get good at. The best tennis players play tons of tennis every week. You don’t have to play for the same amount of time to learn the game, but the more you practice, the better you will become. Keep practicing and working on your skills.
Take Lessons:
The best way to learn the game is by taking lessons. A professional coach or instructor will not only teach you the rules of the game, but they will help you develop the skills and tools you need to become great on the tennis court. A tennis camp can be a great way for kids to quickly learn how to play the game and get lots of time on the court.
Remember to Warm-Up and Cool-Down:
One of the big mistakes that new tennis players make is overworking and going too hard on the tennis court. Remember to take it easy. Tennis is very good exercise, which means you should warm-up beforehand with some stretches and light cardio. After a match, do a light jog and drink plenty of water.
Learn How to Serve:
Serving is one of the most important parts of a tennis match. If you can learn how to serve, then the other parts of the game will follow with practice. Before jumping right into matches, practice your serve. Start with a half serve, which is easier for beginners. Once you’ve mastered that, move onto the full serve.
Practice, Practice, Practice:
We said it once already, but practicing is just that important. Keep practicing and work on your tennis skills. Take lessons, go to summer camps, and play with friends on public tennis courts. If you practice, you can quickly become a skilled player.
Learn from Professionals:
There’s more to tennis than understanding the rules of the game and practicing on the court. A good tennis instructor will help you learn techniques, strategies, and skills that will make you a much more experienced tennis player. A good coach will guide you and help make the game less intimidating in those early stages.
Learn Step-By-Step:
No one steps onto the tennis court for the first time as a tennis superstar. Take things slowly when you learn the game. Instead of playing full games right away, you can practice different parts of the game, such as your serves or rallying.
Learn from Defeat:
Every tennis player will lose at one time or another. When you do lose, don’t be upset—this is actually a great opportunity for you to learn. Think about why the other person won and what you can improve on. You can use a loss to help develop your strategies and skills.
Keep Your Foot in Control:
Tennis is one of the safest sports you can play. However, tennis does involve a lot of side-to-side movements, which we typically do not do in our day-to-day lives. It’s important to stabilize your foot and ankle using good footwear. As well, practice your movements on the tennis court. If you can master these, you will be a much better player.
Develop a Fitness Routine:
Once you’ve got a feel for the game, figure out your own fitness routine that will help you get better. Include warm-ups and cool-downs in your routine, and focus on the areas where you need the most improvement. Your fitness routine doesn’t always have to be on the tennis court. Jogging, practicing serving techniques, and improving agility can all be done off the court, as long as you’re getting your on-court practice too.
Want to put these tips for tennis beginners to the test? Bayview Village Tennis Camp is the top tennis camp in the GTA. Its Tennis Canada-certified instructors work to teach kids not only how to have fun with tennis, but also how to play smart and safe. More information about the junior and advanced summer tennis programs can be found by calling us at (905) 889-7293 or emailing pnielsen889@rogers.com.