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