Mastering the Basics: Tennis Tips for Beginners 

Grip

Unlike golf and hockey players, most tennis players change the way they hold their racquets for different shots in the middle of a point! This may make it sound complicated, but it does not need to be.

Most beginners will start out with a continental grip and then adjust it later. To find a continental grip, act like you are going to shake someone’s hand, then wrap your fingers around the racquet towards the bottom. Another way to think about it is like you are going to swing a hammer. The continental grip is often used for serves, volleys, slices, and overhands.

Eventually, you may learn either Eastern, Semi-Western, or Western grips to generate more topspin on your groundstrokes.

Court

There’s no kitchen in tennis! The two boxes in the front of your court against the net are called service boxes. When you serve, you must hit the ball into the service box diagonal from where you stand.

Tennis players call space behind the boxes “no man’s land” because it is hard to return a ball if you stand in there! The best place to prepare for a return is behind the baseline, which is the line parallel to the net at the back of the court.

The strips on the sides of the courts are called doubles alleys, and they are only in-bounds if you are playing doubles. 

Forehand:

This is a shot you hit with your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, you want to turn your body completely to the right when the ball bounces on that side of your body. As you do so, your racquet goes back with you and you load your weight on your back leg (in this case, your right).

When the ball is about waist-high and slightly in front of you, step your left foot into the shot and let your racquet swing from low to high. Follow through on your shoulder, then get ready to hit the next ball! 

Backhand:

This is similar to a forehand, but used when the ball is hit on your non-dominant side. The main difference between the two groundstrokes is that many beginners use a two-handed backhand for added strength and control (add your non-dominant hand above your dominant hand).

Besides that, the motion is very similar. Turn sideways, load your weight back, and swing up through the ball as you transfer your weight forward into the shot. 

Volley

This is any shot that is hit before the ball bounces, typically when you stand near the net. You again want to turn sideways and step into the ball, but this time, you do not want to actually swing your racquet.

Keep the racquet head up. Your goal is simply to block, or punch, the ball back into your opponent’s court at a strategic angle. 

Serve

This is the shot that begins a point, and the only shot you have total control over! To hit a serve, start by perfecting your toss. It should be high and slightly in front of your body. When you have a nice, straight toss, you’re ready to start hitting the ball.

Bring both arms up at the same time, like a bird spreading its wings. You will bring your racquet up to “scratch your back,” then reach up as high as you can and hit the ball out towards the diagonal service box on its descent. Once you get a good rhythm, try bending your knees more and springing up and out to hit your serve harder! 

Health & Community

Perhaps the most important thing to know about starting tennis is that this sport is more mental than physical. You will get frustrated from time to time, but it will be worth it! Playing tennis increases heart health, reaction times, focus, and overall stamina. So, pick up a tennis racquet today, and you are guaranteed to make friends and memories that will last you a lifetime!