Tennis Fundamentals
Saturday, September 4th, 2010I trust that this, my initial dissertation on the fundamentals of tennis, will be found useful by both novices and experts alike in the tennis world. I am trying to arouse interest in the student of the game of tennis by a somewhat prolonged discussion of match play, which I trust will shed a new light on the sport of tennis.
I will turn to the novice in my opening and speak of certain matters which are second nature to the skilled player. The best tennis equipment is not a lot of good to the beginner even if he really is trying to succeed. However, one has to buy good quality; it is a saving in the end, as good quality material far outlasts poor quality gear.
It is important to always dress in tennis attire when playing tennis. The question of selecting a tennis racquet is a much more serious matter. I do not advise forcing a certain make of racquet upon any player, since all the famous makes are excellent. However, it is on the weight, balance, and size of handle that the real value of a racquet frame depends, while good stringing is essential to obtain the best results.
After having acquired your racquet, make a firm decision to buy only quality tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a “dead” ball is of no use at all. If you really want to succeed at tennis and progress rapidly, I strongly urge you to see all the good tennis you can. Observe the play of the leading players and try to emulate their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction books you can get your hands on. They are a great help.
More tennis can be learned off the court, in the study of theory, and in watching the best players in action, than can ever be learned in actual play. I do not advise miss opportunities to play tennis. Far from it. Play whenever possible, but try when playing to put in practice the theories you have read or the strokes you have seen.
Never become discouraged by slow progress. The trick of playing some stroke you have worked at over weeks unsuccessfully, will suddenly come to you when you least expect it. Good tennis players are the product of hard work. Very few players are born geniuses at the game. Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any town.
The brotherhood of tennis is universal, since none but a fit sportsman can succeed in the game for any long period of time. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the person who is bound hard to his job until late afternoon.
The following order of development produces the quickest and most lasting results: 1. Concentration on the game. 2. Keep the eye on the ball. 3. Foot-work and weight-control. 4. Strokes. 5. Court position. 6. Court generalship or match play. 7. Tennis psychology.
Concentration. Tennis is played first with the mind. The best racquet technique in the world will not be enough if the playing mind is wandering. There are many causes of a distracted mind in a tennis match. The chief one is lack of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with any hope of real success unless he cares enough about the game to be willing to do the spadework necessary to learn the game correctly.
Jack it in right now if you are not willing to work very hard. The weather, conditions of play or the murmurs in the gallery often confuse even very experienced match-players playing in new surroundings. Complete and utter concentration on the game is the only remedy for a wandering mind, and the quicker that lesson is learned the more rapid the advancement of the player.
The best way to keep a game in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is merely a conglomeration of made and missed shots, and the man who misses the least is the final winner.
If you are a novice tennis player or are interested in tennis apparel, just go to our site entitled Tennis Tips for Beginners This article, Tennis Fundamentals has free reprint rights.