Tennis help! tips?

Question

I've been playing tennis for roughly four years now on a rather consistent basis. I'm in shape, I work out and it seems like my game hasn't really gone anywhere in the last two years. I find myself repeating the same pattern where I forget how to hit a certain stroke. Sometimes I'll have periods where I can play amazing and then I'll have periods where I can't even hit a ball on the court. Any tips on staying consistent?

Oh, by the who , I can't really afford to take personal or group lessons, I'm definitely willing to put the court time in, any ideas on coaching myself?

Answer 1

Ball machines are good for grooving your strokes. Play players who are better than you are if you can, that will give you more challenge and increase your concentration level and make you a better player faster. Look at tennis magazines especially where they analyze the tennis strokes, that can help. Also when your shots aren't working it is easy to overcompensate and try too hard. Your better off doing the opposite, slow the shot down and think about the basics. Ask yourself these things. Am I moving to the ball? Am I taking my racquet back soon enough and not getting caught rushing to catch up with the ball? Am I following through enough? Am I relaxed through the shot? Am I being patient and waiting for the right ball to be aggressive with? Tape tennis matches and checkout the footwork and play it in slow motion to check out how the best players hit their shots. Taking a lesson every once in a while can help a lot. A tennis pro will not only help you learn to play better but can also tell you if you are developing any bad habits. Once you've learned how to hit a shot the wrong way it takes a long time to un-learn. Practice doesn't make perfect, perfect practice makes perfect.

Answer 2

Honestly, this is a problem that effects everyone at some point -- even the pros will hit an errant shot every now and then... after they miss the shot, you'll see them doing a few "check" swings to practice the correct stroke. You should do the same thing.

Since you've been playing for 4 years now, you know what the correct strokes are, or, at the very least, you know what works. When you hit a bad shot, slow your strokes down and work on hitting a few solid shots at reduced pace. When you try to hit hard, you sacrifice control. Once you start hitting balls in consistently with a slower swing, start gradually working your pace back up to normal levels.

And, remember that tennis is not only about what you can do yourself, but also what you can force your opponent to do. Analyze your opponents weaknesses. You can more than make up for your own weaknesses by exploiting your opponents.

Regardless of what your strategy is, practice is the most important thing. You don't have to take pricey private lessons to learn how to serve.... just go out and practice. Watch videos of pros and try to mimic their movements..etc.

Just remember that when your game falls apart, the best way to put it back together again is to start with the basics.

Answer 3

I was pushed into tennis. I have a like-hate relationship with it. As for tips. Footwork footwork footwork. Beyond that though, one of the main ways to improve footwork is conditioning. You should be running everyday at an uncomfortable pace for at least 10 minutes. 100 lunges each day and other stuff like that - classics. On a more strategic level, hit high to backhand side, always lob crosscourt when you're majorly on the run. Arm strengthening can come from pullups and stuff like that. Chest is very important so do a lot of pushups even if you hate them. Work your shoulders as well. A lot of exercises like that are hard to describe so either get a trainer or try finding stuff like that online

Answer 4

Get different opponents. With new opponents you can learn new things. Also, I'd try a scholarship for a tennis program, that's what i did. Also, I'd try to get TENNIS magazine, it's not expensive but normally has some great tips. One more thing is possibly change your grip to help you out, I changed to a semi-western and it helped me out a lot. If none of that works, just keep playing, get new partners, and try your hardest.

Answer 5

The key to playing great tennis is making sure you are accurate in the technique (sounds easier in theory, i know). You won't improve your game if you don't focus on playing every stroke by the book, make sure you get the basics 110% right, I used to struggle with my topspin serve and just by adjusting my grip a little that serve has become my most accomplished shot.

Answer 6

Try the internet or tennis self-help books. Lessons really are the way to go, but I understand if money's tight. Having on and off days is normal. Try repeating the correct form for your swing everywhere you go, whether it's walking down the street, or while you're working. I call it "muscle memory."

Answer 7

KEVIN: I think playing tennis ALSO depends of your emotional condition. It is very different than fighting Karate (for instance) when you have a contender to defeat trough your arms and legs - and detonate him. Getting the court, you have to fell calm and focused on yourself as well as in the game, even does not matter WHO IS YOUR CONTENDER, whether SAMPRAS, FEDERER or whoelse (your best friend...). Your troubles like your girlfriend, money, working... have to stay OUT OF THE COURT!!!. And, I think that is magical for the tennis as sport: YOU SEPPARATE YOURSELF AS A PERSONS FROM YOURSELF AS AN ATHLETE. To win the game, you have to gain point after point, game after game, set after set. Just TEN SECONDS of your mind out is enough to 0x6, 0x6, 0x6. For last, THINK BIGGER; play with ATTITUDE, like PATRIC RAFTER did (remember him?).

Answer 8

when you go into the bad periods get on the court and when you play someone if practice or for fun consitenly hit the same shot over and over again in the same exact spot.
ex. run around all your backhands so forehands and aim for the nack left coner ever time and don't try to hit it hard. spin it in

Answer 9

save up for a lesson... they can show u consistancy.

Answer 10

Welcome to match play. Just figure out what your strengths are and play to them.