I've never played tennis and I need some tips.?

Question

I want to start playing tennis but I don't know much about the game. Could anyone give me tips on how to serve and other basic tips?

Answer 1

The players (or teams) stand on opposite sides of the net. One player is designated the server, and the opposing player, or in doubles one of the opposing players, is the receiver. Serve alternates between the two halves of the court.
At the start of each point, the server stands behind his baseline, between the center mark and the sideline. The receiver may stand anywhere on his side of the net, usually behind the diagonally opposite service box.
A legal service starts a rally, in which the players alternate hitting the ball across the net. A legal return consists of the player or team hitting the ball exactly once before it has bounced twice or hit any fixtures. It then travels back over the net and bounces in the court on the opposite side. It can sometimes be difficult to see an illegal double bounce, when the racquet and the ground contact the ball almost simultaneously. An umpire's call of "not up" indicates a judgement that the ball hit the ground first and therefore the return is not legal. The first player or team to fail to make a legal return loses the point.
If a player hits the ball before it has bounced at all on his side of the net, the preceding return from his opponent is legal despite the ball not having bounced. Touching the net, hitting the ball before it has passed the net, touching the ball with anything other than the racquet, deliberately hitting the ball twice[1], and various other transgressions result in losing the point. In doubles, after the service and initial return either player may make any return; it is not permitted for both players on a team to hit the ball in the same return.
Because the lines are drawn just inside the courts, the ball is considered "in" if it touches any part of the relevant line. On clay courts the ball leaves an impression in the ground that can be checked; on grass courts a puff of chalk from the line indicates contact from the ball. This is less accurate, however, because dirt from the grass court resembles the chalk and can also be thrown up after being struck with a ball.
In an unumpired game, the players are to give each other the benefit of the doubt on line calls. In an umpired game it is the umpire or line umpire's duty to call the ball "out". The umpire may overrule a line umpire's call.


Here are some tips how to serve from
Greg Rusedski.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/tennis/skills/4229708.stm


The key to building my serve was making sure I had a good ball toss.

When I was younger, my dad used to mark a little circle on the floor so that when I tossed the ball it would always land in the same place.

Then we worked on tossing the ball to the right height.

If you watch most good players, they can always throw the ball up and it usually comes straight back to the same hand.

I started serving when I was about six-and-a-half and I was quite fortunate that it was quite natural for me.

Then through hard work I had a pretty good serve since the age of nine.


It's important to make sure you have a nice, smooth action where you can do the same motion consistently.

It doesn't matter what grip you have, but just make sure you can do the same thing over and over. It comes through repetition basically.

What you need to do is make sure your arms move together when you're doing the toss so they work in tandem.

If your toss is all over the place then your arms are going to move differently and you'll have inconsistencies.

Concentrate on the toss and on getting up on the serve when you're hitting it.

Most people think that you have to bring the serve down fast, it doesn't. The arm will naturally bring the ball into court.

So keep on accelerating up on the ball and use your legs to generate more power.

Answer 2

I took a tennis class in college and have been playing ever since.

There is no way anyone is going to give you useful tips in an e-mail, except to suggest to take a class at the local college, parks and recreation department, etc.

You will need to do some research and find out where you can take a class.

Good Luck
-jtd

Answer 3

Erin you have an excellent answer from Max a (Damn) . Your best advice would be to watch youtube videos of tennis and tennis instruction. Also take some lessons. First group lessons from your local Parks & Recreation Dept. and then perhaps private lessons later. Group lessons will allow you to meet other people wanting to learn tennis and might introduce you to some potential hitting partners. You might even hit it off with the instructor and end up getting private lessons in tennis for free. Practice is the best way to learn and improve. The more you play and the more tennis balls you hit the more accustomed you will be to it and also enjoy it more. The feeling you will get from hitting a ball and knowing exactly where it will land is awesome. Controlled aggression is what I call it. Hitting it harder and with control. It is the sport of a lifetime and no time like the present to get started learning it.
Here is a decent beginner serve. Just get the ball in play.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvCaSAIK8iQ&feature=related
Later you will get better and be able to hit it harder and with topspin or (side spin or slice)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vb9F_zdyPl4&feature=related
the toss is very important so that you can be consistent with your follow through. Keep the toss simple and duplicatable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Y74Rr6UZf8&feature=related
Here are a bunch more serve videos on grip, pronation, follow through, etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woH8uZlDjUg&feature=related
The next logical step is the return of serve so here is a page full of return videos. Forehand, backhand, low balls, high balls, singles & doubles.
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=return+of+serve
You can easily search for what else you need like - forehand, backhand, two handed backhand, volley, half volley, lob, overhead, smash, drop shot, approach shot, passing shot, topspin, slice, flat serve etc.
I find visual instruction quite valuable so that I can picture what it is that I will be doing then go out on court and try to replicate it. Hope this helps and enjoy Tennis.

Answer 4

Try the website www.usta.com Go to the find a court link. Start with the basics. Find a court locally, then someone who will introduce you to the game and then ask for a good source for lessons. Don't be shy, most players will be happy to give tips to beginners.

Answer 5

ok generally, just do flat shot in the beginning and do some practice on top spin as u get better and better. also for backhand, i think it is better in using two handed than one because u can control the ball more easily.

Answer 6

go get help in person. join a club and take lessons. it will be fun and will be a lot better than any email.

Answer 7

watch them play on tv, most importantly, move your feet and watch the ball.