Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 4: Getting started
• Part 2 of 4: Learning the basics
• Part 3 of 4: Playing a match
• Part 4 of 4: Practicing advanced techniques
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Have you always wanted to learn how to play tennis, but have no idea where to start? Do you love to see Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova dominate the playing field and would you like to be as good as them? Tennis can help you get faster, stronger and fitter. It's also a great way to spend time with your family and friends. Learn the tennis court layout, point system and all the game techniques you need to become a tennis pro!

To step

Part 1 of 4: Getting started

1. Find a place to play. You can play tennis in a park, a sports hall or at a tennis club. Search online or ask friends where the best local tennis courts are. You can play tennis for free at most parks, but you will likely need a membership to play elsewhere.
   • You can learn basic hitting techniques in a large, open area, but it's best to spend as much time as possible on an actual tennis court. You will learn more quickly what the layout of the tennis court is, and you limit the risk of breaking something with your racket or the ball!
2. Buy tennis equipment. You don't have to buy professional tennis gear right away, but every beginner will need a few things to get started. Some gyms or tennis clubs have standard materials in house for their members, but if not, then you have to go shopping.
   • You need a racket in its own cover. A beginner just needs to check that his or her hand fits properly on the handle. The racket should not feel too heavy, but also not as if it weighs nothing. There are also rackets for women and men, but in most cases it is more important that the racket suits you.
   • Buy at least three tennis balls. You will often lose them!
3. Buy tennis clothes. Before you buy tennis clothes, ask your sports club or association whether there are any clothing requirements. If not, any type of loose sportswear is okay.
   • Stricter associations may require you to wear tennis shoes, tennis shorts and jersey, and a women's tennis skirt. However, this is not always the case.
   • Tennis shoes are best for tennis, but if you don't have any, any pair of low-top trainers will do.
4. Settle an opponent. Once you've learned the basics, you need an opponent to practice tennis with. Ask someone you know can play tennis to help you. If not, ask friends or family, or search online for a local tennis club.

Part 2 of 4: Learning the basics

1. Learn about the elements of the playing field. Getting to know the different parts of the playing field is the first step in learning how to play. Each part of the playing field is more suited to a particular style of play, so take the time to get to know the playing field before actually practicing.
   • Playing fields are divided in half by a net - your side and your opponent's. You may not touch the net and you may not hit the ball.
   • The parallel line furthest from the net is the baseline. Here you stand in front of the first save (the service).
   • There is another thinner line between the baseline and the net. This is the service line. You focus on the trade between the net and the service line.
   • The thin line in the center of the baseline is the center mark. You are at the storage on the left or the right side of this marker.
   • The service bay is divided into vertical halves, perpendicular to the net. This divides the service compartment into left and right compartments.
   • The two lines on each side of the field, perpendicular to the net, mark the boundaries of the playing field. The inner line is for singles and the outer line is for doubles.
2. Learn the basics of scoring in tennis. A player starts by serving the ball. Once the ball has been served, one point is available to each player. The point is awarded when the ball goes out, touches the net or is missed by a player. The game ends when a player has scored four points, with a margin of at least two points to the losing opponent. For example, a score of 4 - 2 means the match is over, but a score of 4 - 3 means the match must continue.
   • Tennis matches start with zero points on each side. In tennis, a score of zero is called "love".
   • Scores are reported at the start of each save. For a score of one, the umpire or server indicates "fifteen". A score of two is called "thirty". A score of three is called "forty". With a score of four or a winning score, they call "game".
   • If a player hits the net, out of bounds, or bounces the ball twice, the point is awarded to the other player.
   • The "service breach" is when the player who is not serving wins the game.
3. Play all your practice matches in sets. Tennis is played in sets - you don't play one game and go home after that! Sets consist of at least six games. The set does not end until one of the players has won six games, with a margin of two games won against the opponent. For example, if one player has won six games and the other five, then they must continue to play until one of the players has won two more games than the other.
   • If both players have won six games, this is called a tiebreaker.
   • Tennis matches usually consist of three to five sets.
4. Practice hitting the ball with your racket. Before you actually save or play, you have to get used to your racket and the tennis ball. Practice holding the ball up and hitting the ball until you can hit the ball hard a few times in a row. Don't worry too much about accuracy at first - just get a feel for your racket and the ball.
5. Learn the forehand. The forehand is played with the racket in your dominant hand, as if you were shaking someone's hand. Then turn so that you swing the racket behind you and hit the ball from the outside and up. This stroke is best for softer, higher services.
6. Learn the backhand. The backhand is one of the easiest strokes to master. Grab the racket with both hands and hold it at your side. This should look something like a baseball player hitting. When the ball approaches, hit it hard with a slightly upward angle. This hit hits the ball hard and is a great way to make sure your ball lands in the service court.
   • There is also a one-handed backhand stroke. You only use your dominant hand, but the rest of the pose remains the same. This is a trickier battle to master.
7. Learn the volley. Volleying is one way to return a lower service. There are two forms of the volley - the forehand and the backhand. In forehand volley, hold the racket in your dominant hand with the back of your hand toward the baseline. Lean over and hit the ball.
   • The backhand volley is done the same way, except the back of your hand is facing the net. The movement of a backhand volley is like pushing someone to the side with your elbow as you crawl.

Part 3 of 4: Playing a match

1. Roll heads or tails to choose who can start serving. In tennis, a player starts with the first serve of the match. Most players choose this by heads or tails, and in most cases the person not serving gets to choose which side of the playing field to stand on. The server will continue to serve until the game is over. Then the other player may save for the next game.
2. Position yourself in the corner of a baseline. Each game starts with both players on the baseline. The server picks one corner of the baseline to serve, and the other player stands in the opposite corner along the back line. So if you serve from the right corner on your side of the field, your opponent will stand in the far left corner from your point of view.
   • Stand so that you are facing the opposite corner. Place one foot just above the baseline and the other about 18 inches (45 cm) in the playing area.
3. Keep your racket out. There is no required way to hold your racket as long as your hand is clamped around the handle. Grasp the racket firmly in your dominant hand and keep your arm extended until the top of the racket is roughly parallel to your head.
   • When you are serving, you can hold the racket with both hands. Typically, you grasp the top of the handle with the dominant hand and the bottom with the other hand, but there is no required position as long as your hand or hands remain around the handle.
4. Throw the ball in the air with your other hand. When you start with the serve, throw the ball in the air towards your racket. It is okay to throw or bounce the ball a few times without using your racket before actually hitting. Familiarize yourself with the ball and how it feels before serving.
   • If you want to practice tossing, don't hit it with your racket. This is counted as a mistake, which can earn your opponent a point! Keep the practice of the serve outside of the game.
   • If you don't hit, have your racket ready and wait.
5. Serve the ball towards the service area. When the ball approaches the frame of your racket, hit it hard and diagonally towards the other player's service square. Aim towards the part of the service box closest to him or her. The idea is to force the ball to bounce once before the other can return.
   • If the ball hits the net on its way to the other side of the field of play, it is called a "let" and you have to redo the serve.
   • If the ball stays on your own half, goes out, or you miss the serve completely, this is called a "foul". You get another foul shot, but if you make a service error twice in a service, the point is awarded to your opponent and the game moves on to the next point.
6. Run to the other corner of the baseline and hit the ball back. Immediately after serving the ball, run to the opposite side of your baseline. Hit the ball firmly with the front of your racket slightly up. It takes a little practice to learn how to successfully return a service, so don't worry if you don't get it right the first time.
7. Continue until the point is won. The point is only given when the ball goes out of play, so keep playing until one of you has scored the point! A point can take anywhere from a few seconds to several minutes, but as a beginner, points will likely be assigned quickly.
   • When a point is assigned, name the score and serve again until the match is won, then again until the set is won.

Part 4 of 4: Practicing advanced techniques

1. Save an overhead return. An overhead return is a return where the other player shoots a lob (where the ball is played high over your head), and you hit it hard down (a smash) on his side of the field, making it nearly impossible to return. Wait until you get a very high ball back to try this - it won't work on a normal serve.
   • Hold your racket behind your head so that it almost touches your back.
   • When the ball is almost overhead, smash it down with your racket over the net, just like you would with a serve. Aim towards the opposite side of the field from where your opponent is.
   • You can also place a smash by doing the same as with a save.
2. Put topspin in your strokes. By adding topspin to your shots, you can bounce the ball higher and faster. Do not hit the ball in the center of your racket as you would otherwise.
   • Hit the side of the ball with your racket.
   • Immediately after hitting the side of the ball, move the racket up and hit the top of the ball. This causes the ball to spin upward in an arc, instead of following a straight path.
3. Learn to graze the ball. A slice is a technique where you redirect the ball and slow it down enough that it loses enough momentum to stop on the opponent's court before he has a chance to get to it.
   • You start a slice by hitting the ball from below.
   • Then immediately bring the racket forward towards your opponent's field. This slows down the ball as it approaches, increasing the chance that your opponent will miss.
4. Learn to play on different surfaces. There are different types of surfaces you can play tennis on, and each will have a different effect on your playing speed and abilities. By learning how to play on different types of surfaces, you can significantly improve your game.
   • Hard surfaces such as asphalt and acrylic are common. These are often good for beginners because this surface bounces better, but they are often stressful for the joints of players.
   • In Europe and Latin America a lot of use is made of gravel, and that surface tends to slow the game down a bit. In addition, the ball bounces highest on gravel.
   • Grass is used in Wimbledon. Grass is particularly fast because the ball bounces less and the player is more likely to miss.
5. Learn to recognize your opponent's strategy. As you improve at tennis, you will learn how to fathom your opponent and use their strategies and preferences against them. This is a skill that takes a long time to develop, so don't worry if you can't do it right away.
   • Many players, especially beginners, feel most comfortable with a particular shot. If you notice that your opponent wants to hit the ball high with a forehand, you can learn to give him or her the ball low so that the opponent has to use a backhand.
   • Many players either prefer to play close to the net or hate it. Consider your opponent's preference for the net. If the player hangs on the baseline most of the time, serve the ball close to the net to force him or her to come forward.
   • Get to know your opponent's service. Each player has their own serving style. If your opponent always serves the ball in the same direction and at the same height, be there to return that service!
   • Study your opponent's mental state. A tense or angry opponent is a vulnerable opponent. If the other person reacts angrily, misses easy shots, or doesn't really pay attention to the game, you can take advantage of that and convert it into a profit by placing varied shots to confuse the other.
6. Learn to play doubles. In doubles, there are two players on each side of the field. You use the lines of the larger field, but the rest of the scoring and rules remain the same. The big challenge in doubles for beginners is to learn how to work together with a teammate. Ask other tennis players to teach you the best doubles strategies.
   • There is another variation called Canadian doubles, where one team consists of two players and the other of just one. This is usually played in those situations where the single player is much better than the other two.

Tips

• Be patient with yourself as you learn this sport. Players spend a lifetime perfecting their technique and strategies. Just keep improving your game.
• When you are confident in your basic skills, you can start looking for a tennis league in your area. Then you meet other people who love the sport as much as you do, and you can discover how good you are compared to the competition.
• Once you've perfected your basic technique, you can learn how to lob, smash, and roll volley.
• Make sure your opponent knows you are a beginner. Some opponents even like to slow down the game to help you develop your serve and returns.
• Tennis on sports shoes or tennis shoes. Ballet shoes, heels or sandals are not suitable for playing tennis.

Warnings

• If your elbow, forearm, or wrists hurt after playing tennis, put an ice pack on the painful area for the pain. Stop playing tennis for a few days to give your tendons time to recover.

Necessities

• Playing field
• Tennis racket
• Racket cover
• Tennis Balls
• Opponent
• Tennis partner (if you are going to play doubles)