How to Play Tennis 101: The 6 Basic Strokes Explained Step-by-Step
Playing tennis is a great way to exercise, but it can be intimidating if you don't know how. The good news is that learning the skills doesn't have to be complicated or take up too much of your time. In this blog post, we will go over the six basic strokes that are used in tennis step-by-step and show you how they're done!
If you are new to tennis, you might think that:
Tennis has a lot of different terms, rules, and shot names. If you don't play the sport or watch it often, it can be hard to keep up.
Some people don't know how to play tennis. I am writing this guide to tell you some things that everyone needs to know, like what a groundstroke is and how it is done.
If you are a long time player, this article will be too easy. But if you are a beginner, this article is for you! This blog post is about learning the basics of tennis. You will learn basic terms and six strokes in tennis.
Let's talk about the basics of tennis. There are technical principles that apply to all strokes. These include 1) core mechanics and 2) fundamental technical principles. We will discuss these in detail below.
All games of tennis have six basic strokes: the serve, forehand groundstroke, backhand groundstroke, forehand volley, backhand volley and the overhead smash. And with proper tennis training, you can master them all in no time.
The six basic strokes are the most essential things in tennis. A shot is what happens when you do a stroke. For example:
- Forehand groundstroke = stroke
- Inside out topspin forehand winner = shot
The difference can be subtle, but it is crucial. For beginners, it might be hard to learn the game. But the only thing you need to know is that every single shot, like a lob or drop shot, comes from one of six strokes. And just like any other sports, excelling in tennis offers a lot of opportunities - such as being able to have a full-scholarship in college.
The Basic Rules of Tennis
Every stroke in tennis is a sequence of motions. This starts at your feet, goes through your legs, hips, chest, shoulders, arm and wrist to the racquet. When you hit the ball with the racquet, it is called a "kinetic chain". This kinetic chain or kinetic linkage is how you are able to generate power for your shot.
When you are playing tennis, it is vital that you have all of your body's muscles working together. If they are not, then bad things happen. This happens because the muscles are not moving correctly, and this can lead to injuries.
Essentially, this means that you want all parts of your body to work together. You want the right amount of rotation, up/down movement, side-to-side movement, and forward/backward momentum. This will result in the best possible tennis technique.
Besides learning skills and techniques, you should also invest in tennis equipment, including the racket, shoes, tennis bags, wrist bands, and so on. Doing so will help you improve your game a lot quicker.
Now that you know the basic principles, we will move on to the six core strokes. The most important shot in tennis is:
Tennis Serve Definition, Overview and Rules
The serve in tennis is the first stroke of every point. You have to have reasonable control when you do it. It is one of the most critical shots in tennis because it starts every point. A good serve lets the player serving decide what will happen on the next point. A good server can set up a shot so that it is hard for the opponent to hit.
The first point of any game or tiebreak, the server must stand behind the baseline to the right side of the centre mark when facing away from the net. For the second point of a game, the server stands to the left of where they served from for the first point. Then, for each point after that, they stand on their right.
For the service position, the server has two chances to hit the ball over the net and into one of the service boxes. If they miss their first serve, they can make a second try. If they miss their second serve, it's called a fault, and they lose that point.
If the ball hits the net but is still in the correct service box, it is called a let. This means that the server gets another chance to serve. If the ball hits the net and does not land in the service box, then they lose their point or move on to second serve.
How to Serve Step-by-Step
Before you start, make sure you are standing behind the baseline. Put your feet in a side on stance where if you drew an arrow between the tips of your feet, it would point towards your opponent. Hold the racket in your dominant hand using a continental grip and hold the tennis ball in your non-dominant hand that is not holding the racket. That is why it is also essential to have the correct tennis grip size to have better control of your movements and also allows your to maximize your swing. With this, you are now ready to start serving.
Here are eight basic step-by-step tennis serve tips for producing power and spin from a consistent serve. I'll assume you're a righty for the sake of this tutorial. Here is how to serve in eight simple steps:
- Begin a service motion by holding your racket and ball in front of you.
- To start your momentum, lean forward and then toss the ball up in the air and drop your arm back. The ball and arm move at the same time.
- Now your body should be in a position where you are ready to play the game.
- As the ball reaches the top of your head, start uncoiling by driving up with your legs and rotating your body. Your non-dominant arm should pull down.
- Extend your racket arm and then uncoil it as you follow through with the rest of your body.
- At this point, your body should be facing or almost facing the net. This way, when you pull your racket back, you will hit the ball.
- As you swing the racket, your body should fall forwards and to the left. The arm with the racket should go slightly to the right and then through the ball.
- Finally, when you finish your serve, you will land on your left foot in the court. Your arm will be swinging to the left side of your body.
The serve is one of the most difficult strokes in tennis. Many players struggle with it because it is so hard. There are a few general pointers to help you on your way. These include: A) stay relaxed, B) keep your technique simple, and C) don't worry too much about how to move your arm as this will take care of itself if the fundamental serve technique is good.
An Overview of the Tennis Groundstroke
The groundstroke is a tennis stroke that you hit on the court after the ball bounces once. Groundstrokes are one of the fundamental core shots of tennis, and they are usually played from the back of the court during a baseline rally. In tennis, you can hit the ball from any place on the court. So if you hit it before it has bounced, it is a "volley" or "smash." However, if you hit it after it has bounced and is in the air, then you are playing a "groundstroke."
Unless you're watching footage from the '80s, '70s, or before, groundstrokes are the most common type of stroke in tennis. Today's game is dominated by baseliners like Nadal and Federer because they hit forehands and backhands to each other from farther away on the court.
Generally, the forehand is the most powerful shot you can do from the baseline. It is more powerful than a backhand groundstroke. But it can be inconsistent sometimes.
While there are some differences between the two different types of groundstrokes, the mechanics stay the same. To generate power and maintain control, you need to rotate your arm a certain amount, go up and down a little bit, go forward and back a little bit, and do a side-to-side movement.
In tennis, we can hit the ball with different spins. These include topspin, backspin or slice and flat. You can use any of these depending on the situation. Most people use topspin when they hit the ball from the ground.
What Is a Forehand Groundstroke?
A tennis forehand is one of the two types of groundstrokes. This shot is done from the baseline with your stronger hand. For a right-handed player, the forehand swing starts on the right side of their body. It continues forward and across their body as they contact the ball. They finish on the left side of their body.
How to Hit a Forehand Step-by-Step
When playing tennis, you can hit the ball on the move. There are many different types of hits. For this beginner guide, I am going to show you how to do a topspin forehand from the baseline.
Here is how to hit a forehand groundstroke in six steps:
- Preparation. When your opponent's ball touches the ground, step forward and open your legs.
- When the ball is coming closer to you, stay in the open stance position. Rotate your hips, shoulders and arms when you are taking back.
- Now start your body by using your arm that is dominant. Move it down. This will make the ball spin when you hit it.
- Make sure to keep the front of your body and your head facing the net as you swing your racket.
- When you follow through, continue your arms extension forward then across your body to the side that is not dominant.
- Finally, when you are done, your weight should be on your left leg, and your racket should be near your left shoulder.
When playing the forehand, always have your arm in a handshake position. This will help you generate power while still maintaining control. Your wrist, hand and racket should be the last things to rotate through when you hit the ball. The forehand is also similar to a low serve because there are many body movements that are similar between them.
What Is a Backhand Groundstroke?
A backhand in tennis is the other of the two types of groundstrokes. It can be a one-handed and/or two-handed stroke. Unlike the forehand, it is hit with your dominant hand facing away from the direction of the stroke.
How to Hit a One-Handed Backhand Step-by-Step
A one-handed backhand is a tennis shot that only uses the dominant hand to hold the racquet grip. It is less powerful and stable than a two-handed backhand. But it has more reach.
How to hit a one-handed backhand groundstroke in six steps:
- Take a small step with your front foot to get balanced. Keep your back heel on the ground, so you don't twist your ankle.
- Move your body at the same time. Your feet should be in the closed position to help you with rotation and strength.
- Once you are in the position to take a shot, put your right shoulder facing the ball.
- Just like the backhand, your arm will come down as you start to rotate and swing towards the ball.
- As you turn your arm back and then forward, it will hit the ball.
- Lastly, make your backhand follow-through complete by completing the motion and extending your arm to the right as you land.
How to Hit a Two-Handed Backhand Step-by-Step
The two-handed backhand is when you hold the racquet with both hands. Your dominant hand should be holding the bottom of the grip, and your non-dominant hand should be above it. The ball will go farther, but you are less in control.
How to hit a two-handed backhand groundstroke in six steps:
- If someone is about to hit the ball, move your feet to the side.
- Take the racket back while moving into position.
- When you are in a position, your racket should be on the opposite side of your dominant hand. Your shoulder should be angled towards the ball.
- You should uncoil your body and turn your hips and shoulders to hit the ball. You need to be facing the net (or as close as you can) with equal racket control on both arms.
- As you follow through, your left arm takes over and drives through the ball.
- End your stroke by swinging the racket to your non-dominant side. Put more of your weight on the dominant side.
If you are new to tennis, it can be helpful to think of the two-handed backhand as if you were hitting a left-handed forehand with one more arm for stability. When you grip the racket, the control each arm has over the swing changes during three different parts of the take-back, contact point and follow-through. The right arm takes control at first (if you're right-handed), then both arms have equal control at the contact point, and finally, only the left arm is in charge during the follow-through.
An Overview of the Tennis Volley
In tennis, a volley is when the ball is hit before it bounces on the court. The term "volley" includes both a forehand volley and a backhand volley. A volleying player is usually closer to the net. If the ball bounces before you hit it, then that is called a groundstroke or half volley.
Volley is an offensive style of play. You want to win quickly by reducing the time your opponent has to react, move and recover from their previous position. You need to be fast, have good reflexes, and know how to touch the ball. This is because you are close to the net, so you will need a quicker backswing and follow through.
What Is a Forehand Volley?
A forehand volley is one type of volley. It is hit closer to the net than other types of volleys. Like a forehand groundstroke, it is hit with your dominant hand palm facing away from your body. Volleys are hit with your dominant hand to the right or left side of your body. If you are right-handed, you hit to the right side. If you are left-handed, you hit to the left.
How to Hit a Forehand Volley Step-by-Step
The key to a great forehand volley is fast movement, simple technique and quick reaction. Remember that the ball is coming at you quickly, and you don't have time for an elaborate stroke.
How to hit a forehand volley in four easy steps:
- When you are at the net, you should swing your racket in front of you and take one step forward.
- As the ball comes towards you, turn your upper body to the right side and take your racket back.
- Maintaining your forward momentum, bring the racket forward. Hold your wrist and arm up high while you hit the ball.
- Keep your feet and body weight moving as you finish your follow-through. Move the racket back in front of your body.
When you are practicing your volleys, think about a simple and minimal swing. It is also important to practice your footwork and swing. Practice it by flowing through the ball with your body weight and forward momentum.
What Is a Backhand Volley?
The backhand volley is the other type of volley. Just like the forehand volley, it is usually hit close to the net. When you hit a backhand volley, you use your dominant arm and face the back of your hand away from yourself as you grip your racket and make contact.
How to Hit a Backhand Volley Step-by-Step
To do a good backhand volley, you need to set up the ball with your feet. You also need to move quickly and smoothly.
How to hit a backhand volley in four easy steps:
- You can quickly get close to the net and be ready with your racket in front of you.
- As the ball comes towards you, take it back with your hands and keep your body close to the ball. When you start to hit it, twist your upper body to the left.
- Keep going forwards when you hit the ball. Swing quickly, and make contact with the ball.
- Keep moving your weight forward and rotating your upper body to the right. Bring the racket to the front and then back in front of you.
An Overview of the Tennis Overhead Smash
When playing tennis, if you hit the ball with your racquet above your head, then that is called an overhead smash. This shot is called an overhead or a smash. The term usually refers to the forehand smash or overhead. The backhand smash is used when you cannot move your arm to hit the forehand smash.
A player can hit a smash when they are close to the net or around the middle of the court (around the service line) before it bounces. They can also do a smash "on-the-bounce". This is usually done because the opponent has thrown up a very high defensive lob. If the ball bounces once, the timing of your smash is easier.
How to Hit an Overhead Smash Step-by-Step
You can think of a smash the same way you would a serve. But when you are playing a point, and not during a rally, it is called a "smash." The important thing about this move is that you need to be moving when your hit. Then your technique changes, and your foot movement becomes very important.
Here are five basic tennis tips for improving your overhead smash technique:
- Hold the racket in your hand in a way that is easy to use.
- When you see the ball rising up through the air, focus on where it is. Keep it in front of you by using good footwork. When moving back, make sure your racket is in a ready position with your non-dominant hand angled up towards the ball.
- As the ball gets to be ready, move your racket up. Swing it up towards the ball.
- You should turn to face your opponent and then snap your arm to hit the ball.
- After contact, your racket should go down and across your body.
In this technique, the ball and player are moving around the court at the same time. That means you need to be careful about your movement. Practice shuffling, backpedaling and crossing over steps to move backwards with speed and balance. In this technique, it is better to have a shorter swing or just let go of the ball right away. If you stay calm, then you will have a good chance of hitting it well.
To learn more about various basic tennis strokes, you can click here.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Basic Strokes of Tennis
There are six basic strokes in tennis. They are the serve, forehand groundstroke, backhand groundstroke, forehand volley, backhand volley, and overhead smash.
Three things you need to do before you can be a tennis player are footwork, serving, and strokes.
Tennis is a sport that requires many different skills. You need to be strong and fast, but you also need good technique and good footwork. You should practice your skills so you can be really good at them, which could also result in a better tennis rating.
The ball velocity is how fast the ball moves. The ball accuracy is if the player can pass to where they want it. The efficiency shows how well the player plays with their teammates. And success rates show how many times the player scores a goal.
What are five tennis strokes? Serve. We can't have tennis without the serve. It is the start of everything! Forehand. A player's forehand is usually their strongest shot on a tennis court. Backhand, one-handed backhand and two-handed backhand. Volley. Overhead
One of the most important things when playing tennis is having a competitive spirit. Some skills you need to be good at are balance, hand-eye coordination, and ball judgement. You also need to have motivation and concentration in order to play well and solve problems.
The final skill for tennis is to learn the art of the half-volley. This is when you hit it as soon as it bounces on the ground. It takes a long time to learn this shot, and then you can see that it's an advanced shot.
In tennis, there are some easy things you can do to make your game better. One is to hold the racket right. It is very important and sometimes overlooked, but it makes a big difference. Another thing is that you should plan ahead before playing groundstrokes. You shouldn't move your head while playing tennis either. Practice practicing tossing the ball up before a match too! And remember not to be too hard on yourself when playing matches!
Team handball is a game that combines running, jumping, catching and throwing. It is like basketball because it's played with the same number of players and many of the same skills.
Tactics are decisions and actions that players or performers use to gain an advantage in the game. They might serve to an opponent's weak side, or they might do a dummy pass in rugby. They have to be adapted quickly in response to changes in the game. You can improve your tactics for singles tennis, as well as in doubles matches by constantly playing.
Technical skills are the abilities and knowledge needed to do specific tasks. They are practical and often relate to mechanical, information technology, mathematical, or scientific tasks. Some examples include knowledge of programming languages, design programs, mechanical equipment, or tools.
