Tennis for Beginners - How to Enjoy the Learning Process

Tennis for beginners can be an enjoyable or atakes many repetitions and the coach is ready for that.
frustrating journey. This depends partly on the coachHe also knows that you will probably miss many times
and the environment, and partly on the player.before you get the right feel. It's not a life or death
Most beginners in tennis have no idea of how tennis isquestion, it's just learning to move in a new way.
learned. They don't know how many repetitions areMistakes?
needed before the movement becomes automatic.Mistakes are a part of the learning process. A tennis
They don't know that the hardest part of tennis is notbeginner is not actually aware of how many and how
technique but perception of the ball flight and moving toBIG his mistakes will be. There are two types of
the right spot in less than 2 seconds.mistakes when learning to play tennis:a) Mistakes
Tennis looks very simple when you watch a goodwhere you can influence the outcome
player. But the road to mastery is long and it doesn'tWhen a coach reminds you to play gently and you
matter which area you are working on - tennis, pianoforget to or decide that it's boring to play gently, then
or dancing.you will very likely over hit. You can correct that
In order to ease your tennis at the beginning there aremistake by hitting more gently. It is in your control.
some important tips which will help you get moreUnless of course you're late on the shot and you're
realistic, improve your learning rate and groove yourhurrying the stroke which produces an over hit.b)
strokes with a calm mindset.Mistakes which are out of your control (for now)
Remember - the brain stores everything, not justYou cannot have a perfect technique after 45
stroke mechanics. It stores emotions, thoughts andrepetitions. It's not possible to do the correct and fluid
consequently beliefs TOGETHER with the mechanics!motion with so little repetitions. Your brain needs many
So let's start with some realistic views on tennis formore to store and coordinate your body fluidly. You
beginners:also cannot have a good feel for the racquet face
Why so many balls?level or swing speed after 20 minutes of practice.
Beginners are not actually aware of the number ofYou will make mistakes and you cannot speed up the
balls in the basket when they enter the court. If theyprocess. It takes time. So this is out of your control.
would start their volleyball, soccer or basketballYou don't have to get upset with yourself, because
practice, they would see 10-20 balls. But here theythere is nothing you can do about this right now. Stay
might see from 40 to 200 balls or even more in onecalm and give your brain and body many more
basket.information so that they can learn and adapt.
The reason is simple - the coach knows that repetitionHopefully you now have a better understanding of
is the mother of skill and a tennis beginner will have tohow the process of learning tennis works for
make many repetitions before he'll be able to masterbeginners. Accepting mistakes as part of the journey
the stroke. And one more thing - the stroke is not onlyand being patient will make the beginning tennis lessons
the arm movement, but consists of the movement tomuch more enjoyable and fun.
the ball, stopping, balancing and hitting the ball. It's aAnd later when you master this interesting game you
complex action which takes time to become ourwill really enjoy yourself on court. So go ahead and
second nature.find a tennis coach to show you what tennis is all
So to answer the question - there are so many ballsabout.
because motor learning (learning how to hit and move)