Be honest. Have you ever watched the tennis Open, seen those players send the ball over the net and thought – ‘can’t be that hard.’ Well tennis may look graceful, but it takes a hell of a lot of grunt work before you can ace the ball whenever you want it with perceived ease. The good news is you can only get better, so why not start right now? Follow these top tips to see improvement in your game, and watch your ranking rise at the tennis club as a result.
Professional equipment
You can’t be a tennis titan with a second hand racket and some inappropriate shoes. To set your game on a new course, you will need to invest in quality tennis equipment that will support your growth and allow you to be responsive and competitive on the court. A great racket, tennis shoes and free-form clothing are a good place to start – but don’t rush out there just yet.
Speak to some of your tennis buddies, and seek guidance from your coach on what brands you should be keeping an eye out for. What looks good may not translate to form on the court, so be sure to source the right equipment. There are times to skimp out on equipment, but tennis is not such a sport where you can get by (with any sort of advantage or edge) without securing quality kit.
Flexibility
Don’t let flexibility be the one thing that brings down your game. Too many aspiring athletes think they can stretch for one minute before a match, and expect to twist and dart their body all over a court with speed and precision. This is simply not true. But it can be. Your stopping, jumping and running is going to become sharper if you start to introduce some yoga and pilates practise into your fitness regime.
The health and mind benefits of these practises need no introduction, and they will have you feeling more limber and longer in a surprisingly short amount of time. You don’t need to go it for ninety minutes, you can just incorporate a few poses here and there.
Core strength
Core strength is something not enough of us have, but if you wish to improve your tennis game – you’ll have to shape up. Planking (forearm plank, high plank and side plank) is great for building up core strength, and so are flutter kicks, pilates 100, and supermans. If your core is tightening at just the sound of these positions, wait for what is in store! A good core will make your stronger overall, and will keep you from fading on the court.
Watch and learn
We get so wrapped up in our own strengths and shortfalls that we fail to look beyond ourselves. Players can gain great insight by watching their peers play, as well as watching the matches of professional players. Chances are you peers are also looking to improve their game, so tee up a time to check out each others form and provide thorough feedback. Rather than enjoying the Australian Open on TV, head to Rod Laver next Open and watch these athletes in real life and see what tips and tricks you can glean from their performance.
If you’re taking the time to investigate your practise and incorporate measures that will see you improving – that hardest part is already over. Ok, core is probably the hardest part.. But you are well on track! Like a muscle, you need to work at this practise to build up your skills by trial and error and consistent body work.