I trust that this, my first article will be found useful by both novices and experts alike in the tennis world. I am trying to arouse interest in the student of the game of tennis by a somewhat lengthy discussion of match play, which I hope will shed a new light on the sport of tennis.
I will address the novice in my opening article and write of certain things which are second nature to the experienced tennis player. The best tennis equipment is not a lot of use to the beginner even if he really is trying to improve. Nevertheless, one has to purchase good quality; it is a saving eventually, as high quality material far outlasts poor quality gear.
It is important to always dress in tennis attire when playing tennis. The question of selecting a tennis racquet is a much more serious matter. I do not advocate forcing a certain make of racquet upon any player, since all the famous brands are excellent. However, it is on the weight, balance, and size of handle that the real value of a racquet frame depends, while good stringing is essential to obtain optimum results.
After having bought your racquet, make a firm resolve to use only good tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a "dead" ball is of no use at all. If you really desire to succeed at the game and progress rapidly, I strongly urge you to see all the good tennis you can. Observe the play of the leading players and try to emulate their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction books you can find. They are a great help.
It is surprising to many people that more tennis can be learned off the tennis court in the study of theory and in watching the top players in play, than can ever be learned in one's own actual play. I do not mean that you should miss opportunities to play tennis, far from it. Play tennis whenever possible, but try when playing to put into practice the theories you have read about or the strokes you have watched.
Do not allow yourself to become discouraged by slow progress. The method of playing some stroke you have worked on for weeks in vain, will suddenly come to you when least expected. Good tennis players are the result of hard work. Very few players are born geniuses at the game. Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any city.
The fellowship of the game is universal, for none but an athletic sportsman can succeed in the game for any lengthy period of time. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the person who is bound hard to his job until late afternoon.
The following order of development produces the quickest and most lasting results: 1. Concentration on the game. 2. Keep the eye on the ball. 3. Foot-work and weight-control. 4. Strokes. 5. Court position. 6. Court generalship or match play. 7. Tennis psychology.
Concentration. Tennis is played first with the mind. The most perfect racquet technique invented will not suffice if the directing mind is erring. There are many causes of a distracted mind in a tennis match. The chief one is lack of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with any hope of real success unless he cares enough about the game to be willing to do the drudgery necessary to learn the game properly.
Jack it in right now if you are not willing to work very hard. The weather, conditions of play or the murmurs in the gallery often confuse even very experienced match-players playing in new surroundings. Complete and utter concentration on the game is the only remedy for a wandering mind, and the quicker that lesson is learned the more rapid the advancement of the player.
The best way to keep a match in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is merely a collection of made and missed shots, and the man who misses the least is the final victor.
I will address the novice in my opening article and write of certain things which are second nature to the experienced tennis player. The best tennis equipment is not a lot of use to the beginner even if he really is trying to improve. Nevertheless, one has to purchase good quality; it is a saving eventually, as high quality material far outlasts poor quality gear.
It is important to always dress in tennis attire when playing tennis. The question of selecting a tennis racquet is a much more serious matter. I do not advocate forcing a certain make of racquet upon any player, since all the famous brands are excellent. However, it is on the weight, balance, and size of handle that the real value of a racquet frame depends, while good stringing is essential to obtain optimum results.
After having bought your racquet, make a firm resolve to use only good tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a "dead" ball is of no use at all. If you really desire to succeed at the game and progress rapidly, I strongly urge you to see all the good tennis you can. Observe the play of the leading players and try to emulate their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction books you can find. They are a great help.
It is surprising to many people that more tennis can be learned off the tennis court in the study of theory and in watching the top players in play, than can ever be learned in one's own actual play. I do not mean that you should miss opportunities to play tennis, far from it. Play tennis whenever possible, but try when playing to put into practice the theories you have read about or the strokes you have watched.
Do not allow yourself to become discouraged by slow progress. The method of playing some stroke you have worked on for weeks in vain, will suddenly come to you when least expected. Good tennis players are the result of hard work. Very few players are born geniuses at the game. Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any city.
The fellowship of the game is universal, for none but an athletic sportsman can succeed in the game for any lengthy period of time. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the person who is bound hard to his job until late afternoon.
The following order of development produces the quickest and most lasting results: 1. Concentration on the game. 2. Keep the eye on the ball. 3. Foot-work and weight-control. 4. Strokes. 5. Court position. 6. Court generalship or match play. 7. Tennis psychology.
Concentration. Tennis is played first with the mind. The most perfect racquet technique invented will not suffice if the directing mind is erring. There are many causes of a distracted mind in a tennis match. The chief one is lack of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with any hope of real success unless he cares enough about the game to be willing to do the drudgery necessary to learn the game properly.
Jack it in right now if you are not willing to work very hard. The weather, conditions of play or the murmurs in the gallery often confuse even very experienced match-players playing in new surroundings. Complete and utter concentration on the game is the only remedy for a wandering mind, and the quicker that lesson is learned the more rapid the advancement of the player.
The best way to keep a match in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is merely a collection of made and missed shots, and the man who misses the least is the final victor.
About the Author:
If you are a beginner tennis player or are interested in tennis apparel, just go to our website entitled Tennis Tips for Beginners. This article, The Fundamentals of Tennis. is available for free reprint.
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