| Is tennis good for you?Absolutely - tennis is a gentle | | | | help develop the correct movement, co-ordination and |
| way of exercising for beginners, and for more | | | | dexterity for tennis.If the full court seems too big at |
| advanced players is a very thorough workout. Physical | | | | first, play a scaled-down version of the game in the |
| activity increases energy and also helps you to stay | | | | four service boxes of the court. As you start to |
| healthy, fending off germs and infections. Playing one | | | | become more confident you will start to use tactics. |
| set of tennis would give you thirty minutes moderate | | | | Hitting a ball that comes near to you is easier than |
| physical activity, not to mention plenty of fresh air!How | | | | running to hit a ball - therefore you'll soon realise that |
| old do I have to be to start?Obviously you have to be | | | | one aim is to try to make your opponent move in |
| able to hold a tennis racket, but there are plenty of | | | | order to hit the ball. You will be better placed to hit |
| opportunities for youngsters. Mini Tennis is an excellent | | | | each ball if you maintain a good position on the court |
| game for starting off young players under eight. | | | | before and after each shot, and you'll begin to |
| Played with a scaled down racket, foam balls and a | | | | understand the importance of good positioning. Don't |
| small court the game is a fun introduction to the full | | | | get caught out of position to one side of the court or |
| game.How much will it cost?Prices for coaching vary | | | | stuck half way between the baseline and the net.Once |
| from club to club, but we always recommend keeping | | | | you have mastered these basic principles, try to play |
| your lessons to half an hour or an hour, and to have | | | | to the weakness of your opponent. This might be their |
| group coaching. | | | | forehand, backhand, volley, smash, or perhaps running |
| How can I develop my game?One way is to go for | | | | to the ball. Exploiting your opponent's weaknesses will |
| an intensive week of tennis, or a break where you can | | | | help you to start controlling the game. Also, remember |
| play tennis at your leisure, there are tennis holiday | | | | to use your own strengths as much as possible. You |
| companies offering holidays both in the US and | | | | may enjoy serving, have a strong cross-court |
| abroad. You can see a list of these in Clubs and | | | | backhand, love to volley and play from the net - try to |
| Camps.Once you have found a court to play on and | | | | do more of what you enjoy!And keep at it! The |
| you start to play tennis with your friends, family or | | | | world's best players spend many hours training and |
| other players, you will naturally start to get a feel for | | | | improving their game. Success may not come |
| the game. A way to develop your hand-eye | | | | immediately, so don't get downhearted if you don't |
| co-ordination is to practice throwing and catching the | | | | always play at your best.'Tennis is a battle of minds, |
| ball either against a wall or with a partner. Your tennis | | | | just as much as it is a battle of playing ability. |
| coach will have many other games and exercises to | | | | |