| So you know that strokes are important in tennis, you | | | | the net and the weight moving from back to the front |
| know that you must concentrate. To play tennis well | | | | when you are anticipating the stroke to actually hitting |
| and confidently you must be conversant with good | | | | the ball respectively. Transferring weight is of great |
| footwork and proper grip. This second article on the | | | | importance since faulty execution may harm your |
| basics of tennis will introduce you to the concept of | | | | back. Swing your stroke to increase the speed of your |
| good footwork, stroke and grip and why these are | | | | return. Learning forehand and back hand will set the |
| considered tennis fundamentals. | | | | foundation to your tennis. How you learn strokes is up |
| Grip is how you hold the tennis rackets. A faulty grip | | | | to you. But it is suggested that you learn strokes in the |
| may ruin your service and injure you badly. Hold the | | | | following order. This is because your body gets more |
| racquet head perpendicular to the ground, the edge of | | | | and more flexible as you progress in the game making |
| the racquet frame pointing towards the ground and the | | | | it easy for you to pick up new strokes. |
| handle facing towards your body. It is sort of a hand | | | | First learn the forehand and the backhand. Then learn |
| shake gesture if put plainly. Ensure that the line of the | | | | the service. Once you are comfortable with these, |
| racket, the handle, your arm and hand is one. This is | | | | practice for a while and get accustomed to the |
| ideally your forehand grip. | | | | movements in the court. Next learn the volley and the |
| The backhand grip should be about ninety degrees | | | | overhead smash shot where you go close to the net |
| turn of the handle from what it was for a forehand | | | | and smash the ball in the opponent's court. Finally you |
| grip. The hand should be on top of the handle and the | | | | can learn on improvising on your volley by learning and |
| knuckles of your hand should be facing up (as in | | | | playing some half or chop volley strokes. |
| pointing up). It is advisable that the natural grip is | | | | Last but not the least is the footwork. Positioning your |
| modeled around these grips for maximum output and | | | | body correctly, shifting your body weight as per your |
| efficient play. Do not give up your comfort but try to | | | | need and being agile on your feet may decide on how |
| reach a middle path if need be. | | | | well you are actually placing the ball in the court. Wrong |
| Once you have your grip in place, you need to learn | | | | footwork may not just cause physical injury but will |
| the stroke. Returning the ball will be impossible unless | | | | definitely hamper your quality of play. Remember |
| you learn strokes - the forehand and the backhand. | | | | every stroke has its own footwork and one must |
| Shoulders parallel to the ball or rather the line in which | | | | follow that. |
| the ball would be traveling, the body perpendicular to | | | | |