What are some good warmups or things you could do to improve your tennis skills?

Question

Example: drop hitting

Answer 1

The drop shot is one of the most difficult shots to master and it is the type of shot that when you try and miss it you will be angry at yourself because there were most likely other shots you could have used to win the point. If you do drop shot try and do it from the service line in. Make sure your opponent is a goof 3 feet behind the baseline. Do not use this shot to often, Use it on clay and hard tru courts more often the on hard courts, After you hit it close the net , because if your opponent does get to it then he or she will have to hit up on it and you may end up with a high volley. Now the shot itself, do not change your back swing , loosen your grip and come under the ball in try to cup the ball . You will know right away whether or not you have hit a good one or not. Like I said important to keep moving forward. You will sometimes get your opponent trying to do more with it then they have to, where as if you run back to the base line you are on the defensive right away . You have to practice this shot a lot just like a regular approach. Spend 5- 10 minutes during your lesson working on it. If you are ever in a position during a match that you are way up is another good time to practice. It is hard for me to say what may be going on w/out looking at it, Your coach should be able to help you with this shot. In my opinion in a tight match stay away from it and use the shots that you feel more comfortable with. Again it is a double whammy when you try it and it fails , you will be walking back to the baseline muttering to yourself, just let it go and play on. I hope this helps.

Answer 2

I I have found several players to hit with on Craigslist. Post an ad on the "activities" section or just look there to see if someone has already done that. I probably found 4-5 different people to hit with until I found a group of about 10-12. Now, we have been playing for 2 summers in a row and all of game have improved. If you are in a cold area, you may try a local tennis club. This time of year some offer a "social night" such as a Friday evening where they invite non-members to play. Some clubs also offer "drill" nights during the week for members and non-members. It starts out with drills and then you break out for game playing. Good luck!

Answer 3

Jumping rope is great conditioning for tennis and will go a long way to improving your game by improving your footwork. If you're able to jog, jogging is also helpful for endurance. You don't need to set a land-speed record, just put in the time so you're able to go the distance on the court! Even hitting on a practice wall is really great for your skills. As far as drills are concerned, check out "Tennis" magazine. Every month they offer lots of great tips and exercises to improve your game. The magazine is well worth the money, but you can get a free subscription by joining the USTA (United States Tennis Association). The yearly fee is reasonable (I'm thinking about $35/yr) and if you're interested in playing competitive league tennis, you'll need to be a member anyway (if you aren't already).

Answer 4

If alone, hit against a wall or practice serving.

When with a partner practice hitting down the line and cross court. Hit overheads, volleys, and passing shots.

Work on your ball placement.

Answer 5

practice bouncing the ball on your raquet. bounce the ball going from your raquet and up, from your raquet and to the ground and adjust the way your hand is facing (can you see your wrist or the back of your hand). after this practice going back and forth with on top of your raquet and from your raquet to the ground. some professionals can even bounce a tennis ball on the side of the frame of the raquet. this helps strengthen your forearm. do about 50 of each in a row and this will help a lot with your playing. my coach calles them tennis ball drills. also make sure you have the right grip