| You should always take lessons in the basics of tennis | | | | the racket is advised for very young players or the |
| for beginners. Learning the basic movements with a | | | | use of an age adequate smaller racket. |
| qualified professional teacher is very important to | | | | 6. Start without a net having your partner about 6 to 8 |
| create a solid foundation for your future tennis | | | | feet in front of you and drop feed the ball by hand to |
| technique. But, you can also have fun with a friend or | | | | your friend and he/she should just tap it with the |
| parent. | | | | racket back to you for a catch with two hands or one |
| - Tennis the easy way! How to learn a natural | | | | hand as you get more skilled. |
| forehand in a basic type of stroke for people just | | | | 7. If the ball bounces more then once between both of |
| learning the game: | | | | you it does not matter. As your friend is able to tap |
| Ground-strokes: | | | | the ball back to you and you are able to catch it, trade |
| THE TENNIS FOREHAND | | | | positions after 10 strokes then your partner feeds and |
| | | | you tap the ball. |
| 1. Start by just holding one tennis ball, bounce it of the | | | | 8. Then do the same three or four times 10 shots in a |
| ground with one hand and catch it again either with | | | | row to each other (by each counting out-loud each hit; |
| one hand or both. Do this 10 or 15 times alone. | | | | 1, 2 , 3 etc..). |
| 2. Get a partner (parent/coach) standing about 6 to 8 | | | | 9. Now lengthen the the distance between both |
| feet in front of you and start throwing a tennis ball | | | | players to 10 to 12 feet and the backswing will be a |
| under handed towards each other (bouncing once or | | | | little longer but continue to hit the ball gently and at a |
| twice) and catching it again with one hand or both. Do | | | | slow pace to the catcher. |
| this 15 or 20 times.* | | | | 10. If your hand fed rate of success is very high and |
| 3. Repeat step 2 but instead of catching the ball use | | | | many balls are nicely struck, go back to phase 3.- and |
| the open palm of your dominant hand to gently hold | | | | repeat it all but this time both using tennis rackets, ball |
| and push the ball towards your partner in an upwards | | | | feeding by dropping the ball on the ground and then |
| motion. See if you can keep the ball in play with one | | | | gently tap it to your partner therefore starting a |
| bounce (or two) between you. Try counting until you | | | | mini-rally by trading balls with each other. |
| traded the ball 10 times with each other. Remember | | | | 11. Go through Steps 4 to 9. |
| use the open palm of your hand. | | | | 12. By now you may be tired. Just take a break and |
| 4. As a beginner you should not be concerned with | | | | do some other activity like bouncing a basket ball with |
| grips, now just hold the racket as it feels comfortable | | | | one hand or bounce it switching hands or use a |
| to you. The forehand is hit with the palm of your hand | | | | Balance Beam for a little fun and balance exercise. |
| facing the ball. The forehand ground-stroke begins with | | | | 13. As a beginner remember that, you will first hand |
| a slight, short backswing and forward swing through | | | | feed and then drop feed with the racket next! |
| the ball contact. | | | | *You can also do the same exercise by tossing the |
| 5. If you are using an adult racket, a shortened grip on | | | | ball directly in the air to each other (without bouncing it). |