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