Tennis Fundamentals
Posted on June 4, 2009
Filed Under Tennis
I trust that this, my first article will be found useful by both novices and experts alike in the tennis world. I am striving to arouse interest in the student of the game of tennis by a somewhat lengthy discussion of match play, which I hope will shed a new light on the game of tennis.
I will turn to the beginner in my opening article and speak of certain things which are second nature to the experienced tennis player. The best tennis equipment is not a lot of use for the beginner even if he really is trying to improve. Nevertheless, one has to purchase good quality; it is a saving eventually, as good quality material far outlasts poor quality gear.
It is important to always dress in tennis attire when playing tennis. The question of selecting a tennis racquet is a much more serious matter. I do not advise forcing a certain make of racquet upon any player, since all the famous brands are excellent. However, it is on the weight, balance, and size of handle that the real value of a racquet frame depends, while good stringing is essential to obtain optimum results.
After having bought your racquet, make a firm decision to buy only good tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a “dead” ball is of no use at all. If you really want to succeed at the game and progress rapidly, I strongly advise you to watch all the good tennis you can. Study the play of the top players and strive to copy their play. Read all the tennis instruction manuals you can get your hands on. They are a great assistance.
Much more tennis can be picked up off the tennis court in the study of theory and in watching the best players in action, than can ever be learned in one’s own actual play. I do not mean that you should miss opportunities to play tennis, far from it. Play tennis whenever possible, but try when playing to put into practice the theories you have read about or the strokes you have seen.
Never become discouraged by slow progress. The trick of playing some stroke you have worked on for weeks unsuccessfully, will suddenly come to you when least expected. Good tennis players are the product of hard work. Very few players are born geniuses at the game. Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any town.
The fellowship of tennis is universal, since none but a good sportsman can succeed in the game for any long period of time. Tennis provides relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the person who is tied hard and fast to his business until late in the afternoon.
The order of development that produces the quickest and most lasting results is: a. Concentration on the game. b. Keep the eye on the ball. c. Foot-work and weight-control. d. Strokes. e. Court position. f. Court generalship or match play. g. Tennis psychology.
Concentration. Tennis is played primarily with the mind. The most perfect racquet technique invented will not suffice if the directing mind is wandering. There are many reasons for a wandering mind in a tennis match. The chief one is loss of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with any hope of real success unless he cares enough about the game to be willing to do the drudgery necessary to learn the game properly.
Jack it in right now if you are not willing to work very hard. The weather, conditions of play or the murmurs in the gallery usually confuse even very experienced match-players playing in new surroundings. Complete and utter concentration on the game is the only remedy for a wandering mind, and the sooner that lesson is learned the quicker the advancement of the player.
The best way to keep a match in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is merely a conglomeration of made and missed shots, and the man who misses the least is the ultimate victor.

