TENNIS PRO ONLINE

Playing better tennis is something many people want to achieve. In this article I’ve tried my best to explain a few tennis myths and their actual truth.

Bend your knees on all of your shots
Truth - Do what you feel is necessary for each particular shot. If the ball comes in low, bend your knees a bit more. If the ball comes in high, bend your knees a bit less. Some players even strike the ball upwards instead of bending their knees. Do what you feel comfortable with and you should be fine.

Keep your eyes focused on the ball to strike the ball correctly
Truth – It doesn’t have anything to do with how much you look at the ball, only your judgment of where the ball is going to come. You can often hear tennis coaches say “keep your eyes on the ball!”, but that won’t help you hit the ball correctly, will it?

Plant your feet to the ground when you hit most of your shots
Truth – To have your feet planted to the ground isn’t the best idea for tennis, maybe for golf or weightlifting, but not for tennis. That certainly won’t result in you playing better tennis. You should just let your body move the way you want it to move, whatever it takes for you to perform the shot. If you watch a pro playing tennis on TV you’ll see that they bounce and jump when they hit the ball just as much as you want to. So you see this “planting your feet” thing might not be the way to go.

Keep your wrist firm on each individual stroke
Truth – It’s actually only the volleys at the net that requires a firm wrist. Pros twist and snap their wrist on overheads and serves to produce a nice spin on the ball. As for groundstrokes they roll their wrist upwards together with their entire body to produce maximum topspin. Again you should make your strokes as comfortable for you as possible, just do what it takes.

Don’t ever hit a groundstroke with your body facing the net
Truth – Again, just watch the pros as they often face the net when they strike the ball from the baseline. Don’t feel forced to strike with your body sideways to the net, whatever your coach says. Hit the ball the way that feels the most natural and comfortable to you and that will result in you playing better tennis.

Whether you are just starting out as a tennis player, or even if you are an old pro, the tennis gear you choose is extremely important. One of the most important pieces of tennis merchandise that you will purchase as a tennis player is your tennis racket. Your racket is extremely important and will set the tone for your game, so of course you want to pick out the best tennis racket you can find. With so many different choices out there, it can be difficult to figure out what the best tennis racket is for you; however, if you consider your skills, your style of playing, the weight, and the materials of the racket, you should pick a winner.

Skill Level
When you are looking for the best tennis racket, one of the most important things that you need to consider is your skill level. Beginners will want to make different choices from advanced players when it comes to picking out tennis equipment.

1. Beginners - If you are a beginner at tennis, more than likely you will want to start out with a cheap racket that has a larger head than most. Having the oversized head will make it easier to hit the tennis ball while you are learning. Also, there is definitely no need to spend a couple hundred dollars on a racket until you have learned the basics and decided that you want to actively pursue this sport.

2. Intermediate and Advanced - Intermediate and advanced players will want to pick out a racket that has a smaller head than the rackets for the beginners. While the oversized head is great for beginners, as an intermediate to advanced player, you should have more strength in your tennis swing and a smaller head will allow you a great deal more control in your hits.

Style of Playing
More than likely if you are an advanced player, you have your own particular style of playing. Your tennis playing style will also influence what you will need in a good tennis racket. If you like to use a great deal of topspin in your game, then a racket that is head heavy can help you improve your spin. Also, if you are a serve and volley player, there are tennis rackets that are specifically designed for your style of play, and the same goes for players whose game relies mainly on groundstroking. No matter what style of play you enjoy, more than likely you will be able to find a racket that can enhance and improve your style.

Racket Weight
To avoid injury, taking a look at the weight of the tennis racket is important before you purchase it. While you may be inclined to head for the lighter rackets, actually you will want to choose a racket that is a bit heavier; however, the head should be fairly light. While it may sound a bit crazy to purchase a racket that is a bit on the heavy side, a lighter racket can also lead to injury, such as tennis elbow and shoulder problems. Also, a racket that is a bit heavier can also improve your serves as well as your groundstroke.

Racket Materials
When you are trying to pick out the best tennis racket, you will also need to consider the various materials that they are made of as well. The most common materials that are used on tennis rackets today include graphite, aluminum, and boron and Kevlar. Graphite rackets are probably the most popular, since it provides great hitting power and both beginners and even advanced players will find that this type of a racket will perform nicely for them. Aluminum rackets are cheaper than graphite ones, and they will provide you with excellent feel. The Boron and Kevlar rackets are very stiff and can cause shoulder problems due to the shock, so this type of racket should be avoided by a beginning player.

While there are no set overall rules when picking out a racket, there are a variety of things to keep in mind so you can pick out the very best tennis racket. So instead of just walking into a shop and taking a few practice swings, keep these tips in mind and find the best tennis racket for you.

YourServeTennisShop.com has an excellent selection of rackets, equipment and clothing.

Sports today are not confined to being a source of entertainment or recreation. They have assumed a wider dimension and have certainly achieved higher stature. Today every sport has a governing body behind it, which regulates each and every aspect of the game. Tennis being a popular sport is no exception, and has its own individual set of rules governing it.

Tennis rules were first adopted on 1 January 1924. The onus for making rules and regulations for tennis lies with the International Tennis Federation. It is assisted by a Rules of Tennis Committee, which periodically monitors rules and make necessary recommendations for any change, if required. Recommended changes in rules can be on a permanent basis or for a limited trial duration. The board of directors consider recommendations and pass it on to the general meeting of the International Tennis Federation for its perusal. The rules are put into action only after the members of the general meeting arrive at a consensus.

Rules cover all aspects of tennis such as the dimension of the court, permanent fixtures, specifications of tennis balls, racquets, and the scoring system. There are rules that also govern the service methods, and the various kinds of faults.

Rules also pertain to behavior of the tennis players on and off the court. There are separate rules pertaining to a singles and doubles game. Rules may also differ slightly from one tournament to another. There are several rulebooks that provide details of the numerous technicalities of the game to the players, officials and the spectators. Apart from the game, tennis rules also include anti-doping laws to prevent players from taking banned substances.

The rules are aimed at maintaining the integrity in the game and to ensure that the game is played in a fair and judicious manner. A match referee and two linesmen are appointed to implement these rules while a game is in progress. If the rules are judiciously followed, the game can be enjoyed to the fullest.

When tennis balls start flying your way in the game of tennis you are going to want to know not only what to do with them but how to do whatever you are going to do the best that it can be done. That would be to hit the balls. As fast as that ball enters your court by the hand of your opponent is just as fast as you want to return it. This is how you win the game. It doesn’t matter if you are a player or a coach but what does matter is making sure that you know each and every option that is open to you and exactly when to execute them. In tennis there are basically eight different possible shots to keep the ball in motion. This along with the way that you move your body tells the difference between a victory and a loss. Basically there are some basic guidelines that you will want to follow before you even begin the game of tennis. First, you can not just stand there you do have to have a stance that allows you to be ready when that ball comes charging at you.

If you watch a pro tennis match on TV you will see that the players usually have their legs about a hips width apart and are also bent at the knees. You need to keep a constant focus on that ball and where it is and where it is headed at all times. You will notice that most professionals also keep both hands on the tennis racquet to ensure a better grip. It also makes it easier to switch hands real quick when necessary.

Players need to learn techniques to control the ball so that it can be applied in a different way if needed. These are handy little tricks that can be learned as players advance in their knowledge in the game of tennis. Once the serve has left the hand of the server everything now rests on the opponent and how he/she will play this serve. There are various strokes that are used and now the decision rests with the opponent as to which stroke they will use. There is what is called a forehand stroke which is where the racquet moves completely from one side of the body to the other in an attempt to hit the ball. This is a very common stroke. There is a backhand stroke which is the exact opposite direction of the same move. These are the two basic strokes that you will want to mainly use. There is also what is called a “volley” which is when you are able to hit the tennis ball back at the opponent before it ever touches the ground. Actually there are several different strokes that are used depending on the serve but they often require practice and more practice and also confidence.

If you want to get some practice it is a good idea to practice swings off of a wall while you are standing back. Just keep hitting the ball and when it rebounds, practice different strokes. You will be a pro in no time.

Would you like to learn how to play tennis like a pro? This article is about the running for hard shots, what tennis grips you should use and when to use them. I will also give you some basic tennis tips from warm up to mental preparation and of course grant you some overall knowledge about tennis that you might have been looking for.

If you’re in a situation where you have to run a few meters to reach the ball, the most efficient way would be to use the one hundred meter runner starting techniques:
- Letting go of the supporting hand of the racket handle as fast as possible.
- Taking as long steps as possible in the beginning of the run to gain a lot of speed.
- Syncing your arm and leg movement to maintain speed and momentum.
- Keeping your eyes focused on the ball.
- And to slide the last bit before contact if you play on a clay court, otherwise you should either hit the ball on the run or try to slow down, step up and hit.

This is a really good technique that most people don’t even think about when playing tennis. Another thing most people don’t think about is how to correctly grip the tennis racket in some situations.

A good grip is extremely important to have when playing tennis. The most versatile forehand grip is the eastern forehand grip, comfortable for use for slices, flat hits and great topspins. The eastern forehand grip is also good for low and high balls. The best two-handed backhand grip doesn’t exist, any combination of grips that’s comfortable would work great for a two-hander. As for first serve grips most players like the continental grip, well formed to a mixture of topspin and slices without loosing power in your serve. For a more powerful kick on your first serve, try turning your grip towards the eastern backhand grip. The most popular grip for second serves is a grip mixture of continental and eastern backhand. For overheads a continental or eastern forehand grip should be used, whichever you feel most comfortable with. If a spin of the ball is necessary of an overhead shot, the continental grip is most suited for use. That’s the grips of tennis and when to use them, now let’s move on to the exciting tennis tips.

Get used to the conditions, weather, and your own personal form in your warm up and plan your play accordingly. Also keep in mind that your opponent will most likely play different in the warm up than when the match has begun, so start studying your opponent only when the match is about to begin. Get your groundstrokes (forehands and backhands) in order as fast as possible by aiming a few feet over the net and trying to get a feel for the length of the court. Try to find your opponents strengths/weaknesses and exploit them to the max. Do you want to play tennis like a pro? Then remember that tennis is a psychic game as well as a physical, keep thinking positive thoughts like “I’m going to win this set” instead of thinking “I don’t want to loose this set”. These important tips will improve your tennis game play and help you become a greater tennis player.

It’s no wonder that so many tennis players want to improve their play, tennis is a complex sport if you get into it and there are a lot of things to think about. Everyone wants to play tennis like a pro but that requires a lot of training or at least a good tutorial. It is anticipated that tennis players all over the world will continue to learn and educate themselves so that the future tennis players can become greater and greater, leaving tennis as one of the greatest sports of all time.