| Having played tennis for over ten years now, I have | | | | overall strength, agility, speed and stamina had |
| always been looking for effective ways and tennis tips | | | | improved to the extent that I was now starting to win |
| to improve my game and my overall enjoyment of the | | | | a lot more of my tennis matches. My weight also |
| game. In previous years, I found that with the rapid | | | | decreased, which meant that I was faster on court |
| bursts of acceleration, frequent side to side motions, | | | | and there was less stress on my knees. Perhaps |
| lunges and stretches common to tennis, I suffered | | | | more importantly, I was not suffering from the |
| from repeated injuries, especially in my neck/shoulders, | | | | repeated injuries and cramp problems that had |
| knees, back and calf muscles. Also, I found that if I | | | | plagued me in the past. |
| played long matches in the summer heat, I was very | | | | Of course, overall fitness is not the complete story. |
| susceptible to cramping in my legs and hands, which | | | | Proper diet, nutrition and a good mental approach is |
| always seemed to happen at the most critical point in | | | | also important. Another key aspect of improving your |
| the match. These injuries and cramp issues were | | | | game is to take lessons from a good tennis |
| seriously impacting my enjoyment of tennis. It was at | | | | professional. Many people omit this vital step and think |
| this point that I decided to do some research. | | | | they will improve just by playing a few games and |
| After talking to many people and lots of 'Googling', it | | | | watching the US Open on television! Not only has my |
| turns out that I was making the very common mistake | | | | tennis pro. helped me improve my shots, but he has |
| of playing tennis not just for enjoyment, but as my | | | | improved my understanding of strategy, shot planning |
| primary method of keeping fit. This is a big mistake and | | | | and the importance of a good mental approach (how |
| the primary reason I was so prone to injuries. My wife | | | | to play the big points!). Getting lessons early on in your |
| (also a keen tennis player) and I decided to join our | | | | tennis life will stop you developing bad habits and |
| local gym and seek out the advice of a fitness | | | | improve your game dramatically. So this is the big |
| professional. Fortunately, we found a personal trainer | | | | picture. My purpose in sharing this article is to introduce |
| who did lots of research on tennis related exercises | | | | you to the concepts I will be expanding on in more |
| and conditioning and so we started on a program to | | | | detail in future articles. I intend to cover specifics of |
| improve our overall fitness. This is one of the best | | | | fitness, nutrition, better tennis shots, understanding the |
| tennis tips I know. The exercises were specifically | | | | mental game and the tennis strategies that have |
| targeted towards the muscle groups important to | | | | helped me so much in the past. So please watch out |
| tennis players. After several months, I found that my | | | | for upcoming tennis tips. |