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proper tennis techniques

What will it take for me to become a nationally ranked high school tennis player? And is it too late?

I just started lessons, and I'm already 16. I play with my parents every day and watch clips on proper technique and stuff. I'm thinking of joining the high school team next fall. I'm working extremely hard to increase my stamina. I only have two years left of high school. Is it possible for me to achieve my goal. What will it take?

Sorry to burst your bubble, but you really missed the boat on this one. Most good player start by age 8, and take private lessons all the time. Try setting a goal that is not quite so lofty, perhaps try to make the team first.

Developing Proper Footwork Patterns for Tennis (DVD) $35.82 Developing Proper Footwork Patterns for Tennis provides an overview of proven drills that tennis coaches can employ to enhance the footwork of their athletes. The proper footwork mechanics for each drill are broken down, explained, and demonstrated. The DVD also reviews the application of each drill to the skills and techniques involved in successful tennis. Among the topics covered: bounce drills, shooting footwork drills, sprinting drills, racquet drills, and conclusion.

Fast and Furious Tennis: Advanced Movement Techniques (DVD) $29.99 With Chris Russell,University of Washington Associate Head Men's Tennis CoachCoach Russell presents drills for developing the skills of explosive court movements and angle coverage to improve position on the ball. His main focus is the 'big hop', a move that expands explosiveness and court coverage. The 'big hop' is a great tool when returning the second serve. It also takes time away from the server and reduces the chance of error. This technique is also presented as a valuable strategy in doubles play. On-court players demonstrate resetting offensive position on the volley. Russell also covers the specialized forehand, which allows the player time to get positioned on top of the ball. Other movement techniques covered include the 'dipper', the 'waddle', the 'sharpie' and chasing the ball. Russell also analyzes the curve of the ball on volley shots. The proper curve makes it very difficult for opponents to hit effective return shots. This is an excellent training tool for tennis players serious about taking it to the next level! 46 minutes. 2007.

Becoming a Champion Tennis Player: Doubles Strategies and Techniques (DVD) $29.99 With Bill Mountford, USTA National Tennis Center Director of Tennis (NTC), US Open Director of Player Operations, USPTA Eastern Division President, Founder of the HEAD Junior Tennis Academy (NJ), USTA.com contributor ("Tips of the Week" & "Ask Bill" columns)Internationally-known for his teaching instruction and uncanny ability to successfully "troubleshoot" tennis players and coaches of all levels and ages on virtually every subject, Mountford has created one of the most useful doubles tennis "clinics on video" every created! On court demonstrations are used to allow aspiring tennis players to see, and then visualize, proper form and technique. Mountford teaches when it is appropriate to use alternative positioning for the server including the "kamikaze", "I-formation", and "server back". He also talks about when to use the "two back" when returning the serve. Mountford demonstrates the effectiveness of hitting deep on the opponent's court, in addition to knowing when to use shots such as the "dump volley" and the "block shot". He also teaches helpful group drills that include the "double hit volley", "service line quick volleys" and the "rotating volley". Not only does Mountford teach proper technique, but he also gives advice on becoming a positive teammate. By following Mountford's time-tested instruction, you will be on your way to becoming a "Champion" doubles tennis player! 55 minutes. 2005.

Game/Set/Match: A Tennis Guide, 7th Edition $24.49 GAME/SET/MATCH: A TENNIS GUIDE covers all the basic fundamentals of playing tennis and is suitable for players at all levels. It combines basic instruction and visual cues to help you learn the proper way to execute tennis techniques and skills and improve your game. The strategy chapters provide a base for development of thinking on the court, and the tennis court behavior and interpretation of rules section provide you with a solid foundation of the sport. Learn to master the game of tennis!

Creative Shots for Winning Tennis (DVD) $29.99 With Renata Marcinkowska, former 2x All-American (OSU), current professional instructor In this video, world-renowned tennis professional/instructor Renata Marcinkowska teaches several useful tennis shots that often are under-practiced and yet, are highly valuable techniques to learn for the aspiring tennis player. Using on-court demonstration, Marcinkowska shares the principles and techniques of seven specialty shots, including over 15 drills. She covers the "slider" and the "new American twist" serves, the roll shot, inside/out backhand, the baseline dropshot, topspin lob, and the drop volley. She also shares "The Drill", which incorporates all of the shots into one mega-drill. You will learn the proper techniques, timing, positioning, as well as various grips to successfully use these excellent shots. This will help any player step outside of his or her "comfort zone" and elevate their game! 36 minutes. 2004.

Advanced Footskills For Tennis (VHS) $29.95 Help your players get a step ahead in crucial matches Help your players get a step ahead of their opponents with the movement drills in Advanced Footskills for Tennis. In this video, United States Tennis Association (USTA) movement training specialist Mark Grabow coaches USTA National Team members through a progression of fun, well-paced footwork drills. Designed to simulate game situations, each drill is timed to be executed at a work/rest ratio similar to the ratio of time it takes to play a point and the amount of rest time before the next point begins. Plus, many of the drills include a sound stimulus (voice or hand clap) that adds the element of unpredictability found in each match. The video begins with warm-up drills for injury prevention and progresses to footwork drills in these areas: Conditioning and agility Baseline footskills (side-to-side agility, balance, and counter movements) Baseline bursts with racket Acceleration and coordination Advanced Footskills for Tennis video is an excellent teaching tool for instructors and coaches of college, high school, and junior tennis players. Throughout the video, Grabow gives continuous constructive feedback to each player and creates an atmosphere of teamwork. Viewers will also appreciate that objectives are clearly defined and proper techniques are demonstrated for each drill. Plus, all drills are performed on a clay court to show slide, balance, and recovery techniques unique to that surface. Use the fun drills in Advanced Footskills for Tennis to help your players increase their footskills and improve their overall performance. AUDIENCE How-to video for tennis instructors, coaches, and players.

Proper $9.49 Proper

Allen Fox's Ultimate Tennis Lesson (DVD) $29.99 Dr. Allen Fox, former coach Pepperdine University men's tennis team; his teams reached the NCAA finals twice, the semi-finals three times, and the quarter-finals six times. He was named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame.There are many ways to hit tennis strokes and some ways are more effective than others. Dr. Allen Fox shows you the best way to hit each stroke and, most importantly, explains why these are the best ways to hit them. Other videos may ask you to accept their stroke techniques on faith, but Fox clears away the clouds and illustrates the simple, comprehensible, and physical facts behind the proper techniques. This video will answer all your most important questions on the "how" and "why" of hitting tennis strokes. 51 minutes. 2001.

Allen Fox's Ultimate Tennis Drills (DVD) $29.99 Dr. Allen Fox, former coach Pepperdine University men's tennis team, his teams reached the NCAA finals twice, the semi-finals three times, and the quarter-finals six times. He was named to the Intercollegiate Tennis Coaches Hall of Fame.Dr. Allen Fox has designed a set of tennis drills that REALLY WORK! Tennis drills are designed to mimic the exact stroke sequences that players employ in a match and allow the players to hit the same stroke repeatedly and quickly so as to ingrain proper techniques. Dr. Fox's incredibly effective drills helped him propel the Pepperdine University tennis team into a top 5 ranking in NCAA Division 1 and keep successive teams there for 10 straight years! These drills help players enjoy practice while learning to focus their concentration, develop reliable strokes and get in superlative physical condition. These drills will work equally well for players of all levels of play. 39 minutes. 2001.

20 Essential Drills for Beginner's Tennis (DVD) $29.99 With Peter Smith,University of Southern California Men's Tennis Coach; 2004 Pac 10 Coach of the Year;and Smith's three sons: Tanner, Riley and ColterIn this excellent DVD, USC's Peter Smith uses the assistance of his three sons to teach you how simple the game of tennis can be! Coach Smith offers a fun and unique way for anyone to learn the fundamental techniques. To demonstrate the ease that tennis can be learned, Smith has his youngest son Coulter, age 4, hit the ball over the net from the base line. You don't have to be old or strong to hit the ball! This video is fun and competitive. The essential skills you will learn in this outstanding demonstration include the backhand slice, ground stroke, closing volley, overhead, cross-court shots and, the most challenging stroke, the serve. Furthermore, he goes over the correct way to hold a racquet, use proper footwork and how to keep score. What makes this video a must-have is that Smith is able to use children throughout the program to illustrate just how easy it is to learn the game of tennis! With the addition of this production to your collection, you will learn the proper techniques, have fun and be successful! 47 minutes. 2006.

Tennis $9.79 Tennis

Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies (book) $19.95 Five-time U.S. singles and 11-time doubles champion Dan Seemiller, possibly the best American table tennis player ever, shares his secrets for top-level play in Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies. Readers will learn the best table tennis techniques, strategies, and conditioning methods for success. The authors provide beginning through advanced players with practical tips that make a difference. The book features 29 drills for developing better shot-making skills. Seemiller's creative shot and grip innovations will give players an edge. The 124 photos and illustrations make it easy for players to learn the proper techniques and sharpen skills. Plus, the book offers drill variations designed to hone the skills of advanced players and professionals. Winning Table Tennis shows players how to * choose the right equipment, * serve and return serves, * use proper footwork and get into position, * practice more efficiently, * prepare for competitions, * make effective strategy decisions in singles and doubles play, and * condition the body for optimal performance. Also provided is a conditioning program to help prevent injuries and prepare players for optimal performance. CONTENTS Part I: Sharpening Your Skills Chapter 1. Standard Strokes and Advanced Variations All the shots, including Seemiller's own innovations Chapter 2. Serves and Returns of Serves The best way to train for serves and returns Chapter 3. Footwork Movement and positioning Part II: Preparing to Play Chapter 4. Choosing the Right Equipment Tailor your equipment to your style and level of play Chapter 5. Training Preparation and Care Warming up and stretching Chapter 6. Conditioning Drills Train physically and mentally Chapter 7. Total Conditioning For optimal readiness to compete Part III: Competing to Win Chapter 8. Tournament Preparation What to expect when you compete Chapter 9. Tournament Tactics Strategies for matching any opponent Chapter 10. Thinking Like a Winner From goal-setting to slumpbusting ABOUT THE AUTHOR Dan Seemiller knows table tennis, drawing from years of professional competition, international-level coaching, and his love of the game. Seemiller was the #1 player on the U.S. table tennis team from 1973 to 1983. He was U.S. singles champion 5 times and doubles champion 11 times, winning 8 years in a row. In 1977 he and his doubles partner made the quarter finals of the World Championships--the first U.S. team to go that far in internat

Table Tennis : Skills, Techniques, Tactics $23.87 No Synopsis Available

Easy Power & Flexibility for Tennis - $12.99 Appropriate for all levels, this tennis-specific yoga program is designed to enhance the flexibility needed on the tennis court, as well as reduce anxiety and the risk of injury through strength training and breathing techniques. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

World-Class Tennis Technique Book (Copyright 2001, 288 pages) $27.95 Let the game’s most brilliant players and coaches teach you World-Class Tennis Technique! You’ll find the most up-to-date information, based on solid scientific principles and presented in a practical, easy-to-understand manner. No other book on the market offers the level of world-class instruction and expertise found here.World-Class Tennis Technique is written by some of the world’s top experts in biomechanics, tennis technique, and coaching, including:Patrick McEnroeJim LoehrMary Joe FernandezStan SmithTom GulliksonPam ShriverFormer world-class playersNational coachesPast or current Davis Cup CaptainsTogether these venerable tennis pros present a detailed, comprehensive look at the optimal biomechanics and technique for playing tennis. Each chapter features an expert with a scientific or technical background matched up with one of the top internationally known coaches. They explain the modern game and share their research, knowledge, and experience. Their explanations are succinct and to the point, making the best techniques easy to learn.You’ll learn to improve your technique in every aspect of the game, including:perfecting your strokes,improving your footwork and positioning,training the appropriate muscle groups,choosing the right racquet and equipment for your style of play,adjusting to different court surfaces,maintaining proper technique under pressure, andanalyzing your own game.You’ll find an in-depth analysis of the proper fundamentals of each stroke — forehand, backhand, volley, overhead, serve, return, and specialty shots — presented with an incredible selection of full-color sequence photos.Learn the science behind the strokes to hit the ball with greater force, accuracy, and consistency. Then master and fine-tune your execution to excel in competition. With World-Class Tennis Technique, you’ll soon play better than ever.About the AuthorVic Braden is one of the most recognized tennis instructors in the world. Braden has authored five books, produced countless videos, and hosted several television series. He is a licensed psychologist, author, sports educator and researcher, videographer, and television commentator. Braden got his start as the head tennis coach at the University of Toledo in 1952. After a stint as an elementary school teacher and psychologist, he served on the management staff of the Jack Kramer Professional Tennis Tour and co-founded the Jack Kramer Tennis Club in 1961. He founded the Vic B

Table Tennis. $6.29 Author: English Table Tennis Association.RRP: 6.99.The 'Know the Game' series is firmly established as the leading introduction to a huge range of sports.Each book contains everything you need to know about the sport, including equipment, rules, techniques and training tips.And having been written and endorsed by the sport's professional body, you can be sure that you are getting the best information available.Format: Paperback.ISBN: 9780713678994.Published: 20/12/2006.Publisher: A and C Black Publishers Ltd.Genre: Lifestyle, Sport and Leisure.Total pages: 64.Free delivery by post.

Yoga for Great Tennis - $12.99 Appropriate for all levels, this tennis-specific yoga program is designed to improve on-court performances as well as reduce anxiety and the risk of injury through strength training and breathing techniques. ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Andre Agassi Tennis $111.53 High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles Andre Agassi Tennis is a tennis video game released in 1992 and stars Andre Agassi himself. The player can play in either career mode, exhibition mode, or practice mode where the player can learn to hit and receive tennis balls in a proper manner in order to assure victory on the tennis court. During the career mode, the player travels to tennis courts around the world and compete in tournaments where victory allows to play to win money. After mastering all the tournaments, the player actually plays against Mr. Andre Agassi in a final grudge match in order to determine who is the best tennis player in the world. Author: Surhone, Lambert M./ Tennoe, Mariam T./ Henssonow, Susan F. Binding Type: Paperback Number of Pages: 176 Publication Date: 2011/01/12 Language: English Dimensions: 6.00 x 9.02 x 0.41 inches

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TENNIS SKILLS

How Can I get Better at Tennis Without Just Working on Strokes?

I recently received an email from a 4.5 tennis player in the USA who proposed the following question: I could use some help with a plan to get better. I am a 4.5 rated player in the USA and would like to be a 5.5. For some reason, I can't find a tennis coach that will help with an overall plan; they just want to work on strokes. Any ideas?

After coaching tennis at a big country club in Texas for over five years I often faced the same question from our tournament players who felt as if they had plateaued and that by just getting out on the court and working on their strokes was just not taking them to the next level. As a tennis coach you need to be flexible and be able to analyse each player and create a plan for their own specific and individual needs. This means taking into account all of the factors or variables that make a great player.

The professional tennis players cover all areas and there is no reason why you can't incorporate some of their training plans with a club level player. As you will see below I discuss and cover some specific areas from physical, psychological, tactical and so on which are often neglected by a coach who only sees their role as working on strokes.

So for our 4.5 player I would talk to him about focusing on some of the following areas that will help him to get to that next level without working on just strokes.

Psychological:
Game Plan: Work on your game plan. That is; have you scouted your next opponent? Do you have your own game plan ready so that you can control the match how you want to play it? Do you have a back-up plan in case your first plan is not working?

Concentration: Telling yourself to concentrate harder will not work. However, if you can put into place pre-game, in-game and post-game routines then you will be able to remain more focused on the task at hand. In between points allow you mind to relax and bring back your focus when you step up to the line to serve or return. The human mind cannot focus continuously so it is pointless to try and do so.

Scout Your Opponent: If you are in a tournament then go and have a look at your next opponent. Analyse and look at how they play, what is their favourite shot, what are their weaknesses, do they struggle on the big points, do they always go for their favourite shot on a big point, do they have a big shot and so on. Once you have this information then go away and create a game plan to beat this player.

Routines: Have a routine for in-between points that will help you maintain control and composure when either winning or losing. Once again this allows you to have control over how the game is played.

Goal Setting: I know, you have all heard this before but I cannot stress enough that as soon as you write down some realistic goals on paper you will immediately feel that you have direction and something to train for. It is a great feeling when you achieve a goal and can move on to the next one.

Physical:
Footwork: One of the most common problems I faced with club level players was that they had poor footwork which led to poor execution on their shots. Many coaches spend hours and hours trying to teach a player the correct stroke technique when a lot of the time the real issue is that they don't set up properly for the shot and then as a result being out of position causes the player to use bad technique. Incorporate some of the tennis specific footwork drills that we have provided in our eBooks.

Strength: Maybe you are lacking the physical strength to gain those few extra miles on your serve. One way to add more power to your serve without just hitting serves for hours on end is to hit the gym! Have an experienced gym trainer develop a weight training program to increase your strength and watch your serve become faster and more of a weapon!

Speed: Maybe you are not fast enough on the court. Being too slow will negatively impact your strokes. You may not recover fast enough after being out of position, maybe you don't get to the ball in time and as a result do not properly execute the shot. Speed is a weapon! Just ask Lleyton Hewitt or Rafael Nadal and you will soon see how speed is used to their advantage.

Flexibility: This is often a neglected area. Besides the known benefits of preventing injuries there are many direct benefits to improving on-court performance. One of my friends, Mark Wellington, trained Maria Sharapova for a couple of years and he always mentioned how he placed great emphasis on flexibility and teaching Maria how to move on the court. Having greater flexibility will help you to recover after each shot and get back in position more quickly for the next shot.

Endurance: Tennis is often described as an "Anaerobic" sport due to the nature of reasonably short points. However, you need to train your aerobic system so that you can sustain a high level of play right up until the end. Often a player may be losing matches simply because they fade away. All of those hours working on strokes won't help you if you run out of gas!

Reflexes: By improving your reflexes you can become more competent at the net as well as improving other areas of your game such as the return of serve. Many players just do not react quickly enough to a fast serve. As a result they make errors on the return of serve or just don't get the ball back into play.
Tactical: Have you ever played against someone who was more technically "inferior" to you in the sense that their strokes were not very efficient but they just always had a knack of wining? We all have at some point in out tennis careers! Some players are just match tough. They know how to break down an opponents' game. They know how to create a game plan that will be successful. They have that ability to win the big points.

So what you need to do is analyse your own game plan. Do you have one when you step on the court? Do you have the ability to stick with a winning game plan but also change a losing one? This is where you can ask your coach to work with you. Spend a whole lesson playing points and have your coach talk to you about how you construct your points. No stroke technique just a "Match Play" lesson. This will give you a perspective from an opposing player of what they see in your game.

General:
Technique: Make sure that you have correct technique on all of your shots. If you have a visible weakness then you can count on your opponent exploiting this shot.

Matches! Matches! Matches! I can't stress enough how important it is to play matches. You cannot simply practice or just do lessons and then expect to perform when in a competitive situation. You need to play more matches and as a direct result you will become more match tough, more experienced in dealing with different players and will also be able to see what areas you need to improve on when in a match. You could even have a friend use match evaluation forms to scout your match and then afterwards you can see what areas exactly you need to work on. Remember: be a match play and not just a practice player!

When I coached competitive ladies teams, I tried to build a lot of my drills based around "live ball" or "match like" drills rather than just feeding drills. The more point based drills you do the more comfortable you will be in a real match as these drills simulate match play that includes the unpredictability rather than the predictable ball fed by a coach.

Practice Partners: Train with players better than you! If you are a 4.5 - are you always playing with 4.5 players? If so and you want to get to a 5.5 then go out and play with those better players who will help to raise the level of your game. If your practice partner is not pushing you hard enough then find a new one. Join a drill session that has these better players. You will soon be forced to raise the level of your game in order to compete with these guys.

Many clubs have a Saturday morning group training session for men. You could ask your club coach what other drill sessions you could join.

Variety: If you practice with the same players all the time then you will become one dimensional and become accustomed to their game styles. Unfortunately, when you are in a tournament and face a totally different game style you will not know how to play them. So, get out there and play as many different players as you can. Some the same level as you and some better at the 5.5 level.

Consistency: Way too often matches are lost by the player making too many simple and unforced errors. First become a strong consistent player and then work on the big shots. If you continuously beat yourself with simple errors how do you ever expect to win? Force your opponent to beat you. Reduce your errors by making having shot selection.

Big Shot: once you have developed consistency then you may just need a "big shot" to beat those 5.5 players. Ideally work on a big serve or a big forehand. Even developing a great kick serve can be used as a weapon. A big shot will intimidate your opponent.

Drills: When training use more live ball or match play drills. Set specific goals for each session and then use our GSC drills to build on your strengths and also improve on those weaker areas. There are hundreds of new drills in our eBooks or on our site so use them! If your coach just wants to feed all of the time then you will not be reaching your full potential. Choose drills that are based on point play and simulating match play. The transition into real matches will be much easier for you.

Summary:
Improve on the following areas:
Game plans
Routines
Improve on the "mental aspect" of the game
Concentration
Goal setting
Play more matches
Improve shot technique
Play against various players
Improve your speed, strength, flexibility, reflexes and footwork
Improve consistency
Develop a big shot
Join an extra league for more match practice
Add more shots to you game (eg. slice backhand, kick serve or drop shot)
Scout future opponents to get a jump on them
Play with better players than you to help raise your level
Find a great practice partner with similar goals to you
The beauty about the game of tennis is that there is always something to work on. The hard part is to know when you are wasting your time on the wrong things. Are you a match player or a practice player? Quite simply, conduct a review of your entire game and then analyse each area. When I worked with elite athletes as an Exercise Physiologist I would have to conduct what we called a "Needs Analysis" which was quite simply conducting and reviewing every area involved with the athlete and their sport. Then devising a plan to improve every aspect or variable.

Good Luck and take control of your own destiny!

About the Author

David Horne is a former professional tennis player who has created several online sports web sites including which is the Ultimate Sports Directory for all sports fans! Check out the global web site for Tennis Coaching at Global Sports Coaching

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