| Contrary to what many might think, tennis is a grueling | | | | Constantly work on moving your feet when you |
| sport which places extreme stress on both body and | | | | practice. It's quite easy to grow weary after a long, |
| mind. Sure, tennis can be and is fun, but when you are | | | | hard practice and to start getting clay feet. However, |
| seeking to master the sport then you have to | | | | the end of a grueling game is where wins or losses |
| continually press yourself to the limit in order to reach | | | | are often decided. In those last minutes of a long |
| those levels where victories are found consistently. | | | | match, being caught sluggish and out of position could |
| Taking tennis lessons is a start, but they are usually | | | | be a costly mistake which your opponent will most |
| pretty costly and, in and of themselves, won't give you | | | | assuredly try to take advantage of. |
| enough to progress to a master level. Extra effort and | | | | Control your emotions. This is a very difficult discipline |
| means are required. Of course, acquiring a good, | | | | to master, but it is an essential one when you start |
| steady coach can be necessary for both rapid and | | | | heading down the home stretch and become weary in |
| mature growth towards your goals. But there are also | | | | your body and your mind. This is another factor which |
| several things which can be worked on in those extra | | | | will give you a definite edge towards the end of the |
| hours of practice which are also essential for success. | | | | game. When you make a mistake, brush it off and |
| First of all, make sure you have good equipment. This | | | | look to the next volley. Don't dwell on it or the thought |
| is a primary focus in moving toward a professional | | | | will drag you down and make you vulnerable. |
| level. Wooden or heavy rackets and loose webbing | | | | Constantly practice using one and two hands on both |
| will hinder your progress enormously and they will even | | | | your fore and back swings. Also, practice hitting and |
| slow you down in acquiring the correct form and agility | | | | returning balls hit with different velocities and spins. The |
| needed for advancement. The ideal racket is typically | | | | more you subconsciously you can handle whatever is |
| made of graphite which is lightweight and gives you | | | | thrown at you, the better your game will be. |
| extra power in your swing. | | | | Lastly, on your long and vigorous workouts, consider |
| For times when you don't have someone to practice | | | | use of a heart rate monitor to gauge your system. |
| with, use a ball launcher to feed you practice shots. If | | | | This will greatly assist in knowing when to push harder |
| you don't have access to a machine, find a court that | | | | and how long it takes for you to recover. After using |
| has a hitting board or set one up on your own court if | | | | this method over time, your endurance should |
| you have one. Repeatedly working on your forehand | | | | significantly improve and endurance is a key factor in |
| and backhand shots will improve reflexes to respond | | | | becoming a tennis master. |
| to unpredictable ball trajectories. | | | | |