| There are a lot of things to learn when taking up tennis, | | | | your eye on the ball. |
| but one of the main fundamentals that must be taught | | | | 5. It's time to make contact with the ball. The point of |
| is how to swing. Perfecting your swing may make the | | | | contact should be somewhere around your front foot. |
| difference between being able to handle yourself on | | | | Be sure that the "face" of your racquet is square to |
| the court, and never quite learning how to play a | | | | the ball at contact. Remember to rotate your shoulders |
| decent game of tennis. | | | | through contact. This will allow you to keep your |
| Want to know how to improve your swing? Follow | | | | racquet face going in the right direction throughout the |
| these important guidelines: | | | | entire swing. |
| Step #1: Get Ready For The Hit! | | | | Step #2: Follow Through! |
| Keep your racquet back at all times. Once the ball has | | | | Correct follow through ensures that the prior phase of |
| left your opponent's racquet, you must move into | | | | your swing was executed in a smooth manner. Similar |
| position. It's important to keep your racquet back while | | | | to the backhand, correct follow-through creates an |
| positioning yourself to enable a clean shot. | | | | arcing motion that rises from the point of contact with |
| But, before heading toward the incoming ball | | | | the ball to an area just above your opposite shoulder. |
| remember to... | | | | A smooth follow through is a direct response to a |
| 1. Recognize that the ball is going to your forehand | | | | smooth contact. Brute force alone can't create a |
| side. | | | | powerful swing. The key here is a smooth execution |
| 2. Establish a balanced sideways stance as you begin | | | | of both the stroke and its follow-through phase. |
| to position yourself for the stroke by letting go with | | | | A strong follow through consists of these steps: |
| your non-dominant hand. At this point your racquet | | | | 1. Lifting the ball over the net while keeping the arm and |
| should be pointing away from your intended target and | | | | wrist fixed. |
| positioned about waist high. | | | | 2. Finishing the shoulder rotation. If your chest is facing |
| 3. Move into final position for the shot by maintaining | | | | the intended target you are positioned correctly. |
| enough space between your body and the ball. This | | | | 3. Being sure that your racquet face remains |
| will allow for a more fluent stroke. Position your body | | | | perpendicular to the ground through the entire follow |
| to enable you to hit the ball when it is waist high. If the | | | | through. |
| ball happens to be below your waist, bend your knees | | | | 4. Be sure to keep your rear toe planted while the heel |
| to lower your waist height. | | | | raises off the ground. Lifting your rear foot will result in |
| 4. Next, move the racquet towards the ball and | | | | a poor follow-through. |
| remember to keep the "head" of the racquet at the | | | | While all of these techniques and tricks can definitely |
| same height as your hand as you initiate your stroke. | | | | help you to improve your tennis swing, the most |
| DO NOT bend or straighten your arm or move your | | | | important element to improvement is practice, practice |
| wrists. Begin to rotate your shoulders while keeping | | | | and more practice. |