Are you feeling inspired to pick up a new sport whilst Wimbledon’s on? Our Head of Tennis, Simon Ferguson, has given us ten top tips for beginners to start tennis!
- Equipment
A full size racket is 27 inches. Having the correct grip size and weight is important. Make sure you have a good pair of tennis shoes which will give you grab on multiple court surfaces and support your ankles. New balls can be hard to control, so perhaps starting out with the green dotted ball is a good way to begin!
- Find a Partner
Look for a friend of family member who is also interested in learning tennis, or join one of our beginners courses so you are able to practise with a group of people at your level.
- Learn the Basics
Familiarise yourself with the basic strokes: forehand, backhand, serve, return and volley. Learn the scoring system, which is renowned as one of the best in sport! Words like love, deuce and tie breaks may not mean much to start with, but once you get used to it, it’s fairly straightforward.
- Practice, Practice, Practice!
The more practice you do, the better you get! If you can’t find someone to play with, hitting against a wall or practicing your serves can be done by yourself at any time!
- Focus on Technique
If you’re just starting out, you have no habits (good or bad), so pay attention to your technique in the beginning. It’s easier to learn good habits early on, rather than trying to correct bad habits later!
- Warm Up
Make sure you always warm up before playing to prevent any injuries! Spend a few minutes jogging, stretching or doing dynamic exercises to prepare your body for the physical demands.
- Compete
Once you’ve had a few lessons, why not look to involve yourself in some friendly competition? Often the best place to start are at our club’s social tennis.
- Watch Matches
Watch professional tennis matches or instructional videos to learn from the pros!
- Stay Positive
Tennis is a difficult sport. Set yourself goals, whether its improving a specific stroke, winning a match against a friend or entering a beginners tournament. Stay positive and focus on the progress you’re making, rather than getting discouraged by setbacks
- Most Importantly – Have Fun!
Tennis is a challenging but rewarding sport, enjoy the process of improvement and the thrill of competition!
