Tennis Serve - Tips And History Of This Tennis Shot

Tennis Serve - Tips And History Of This Tennis Shot
By Jimbo Morris 

The tennis serve is an important part of any tennis match. It is the first action taken at the start of a game and the start of each point. It can be used to intimidate the competition and show off your power which makes it an important part of the sport to master. As it is so important it is not easy and it can take some time to become a great server, in fact some people never manage to learn how to make an impressive serve.

What Serve Do You Prefer?

There are four main types of serve that are most commonly used. The four serves are: the slice serve, kick serve, underhand serve and the flat serve. The differences between these serves relate to the spin of the ball, the direction the spin takes, the twist and if there is a kick (using a heavy top spin) or not. It is a good idea to practice and master all types of serves as they can all be used tactically in any game.

Breaking a Serve

One of the main challenges in tennis is breaking the serve of your opponent. The player that is serving is expected to win the point as the serve can be used offensively and it is possible to make an ace and win the point immediately with a well-played first serve. Therefore the battle for the opposing player is to break the serve and take away the point. This is a vital element in any match and if you are working on improving your game it is a good area to concentrate on.

For all types of serve, it's important to have a great racquet, and I personally like   rel=nofollow [http://www.stevegtennis.com/shop/best-head-tennis-racquets.php]head tennis racquets as they have been used my some of the worlds best servers over decent decades.

Legalities in the Game

Practising landing serve balls within the lines is a must for any player. When make a serve the player has two chances to get it right. A serve is legal if it is able to land in the court and doesn't touch anything else. When the ball lands outside of the court it is called as a fault. If the server takes two serves that both land outside of the court lines it is called a double fault and this will result in the point being given over to the other player.

You also have to watch your footing with taking the serve. Your feet cannot touch the baseline until after you have hit the ball and you aren't allowed to run when serving or to walk around. Practice staying put on the court and mastering your serves to make sure you get it right.

If you want to improve your server then you can pay a pro to give you a lesson, but you can also just watch some videos of the best players and get some tips. For example if you look at the Sampras serve, he makes it look so easy and it flow in every movement. Of course, Sampras has retired now but out of current player Roger Federer has an awesome server. It may not be the most powerful but the accuracy is superb and he often gets an ace even when not serving that hard.

It also helps to have a tennis racquet that fits your game, and I would recommend you look at some of the latest head racquets, as they are used by many top players like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Of course, maybe the best server of all time was Goran and he also had a classic head racquet frame. Overall, while improving your tennis game is important, you should always remember to have fun on the court, and smile even if you are not playing your best. If you are just starting and want to master all shots, just book a few lessons down your local club and you will be off on a great journey of mastering the forehand, backhand, and serving motions.

I've been playing tennis for over 30 years and the hardest shot I found to master was the tennis serve. You really have to be so confident to have a great serve in tennis, so watch the pro players on TV serve and copy their motion and you will be serving better in no time. Enjoy improving your tennis game.

Article Source:  Tennis Serve - Tips And History Of This Tennis Shot

Tennis Serve Tips

djoker serve

Tennis Serve Tips

Want to improve one of the most important hits in tennis? If so you're in the right place, I'll show you exactly how you can improve your serve.

Choose your style - Before you even hit the ball, you need to decide how you want to hit the ball! There are generally 4 different major types of spins that you can put onto a ball. You can put a top spin, a slice, a combination of the two, or just a flat hit. Look them up and practice all of them, they are all useful depending on the situation.

Throw the ball high! -
A few professionals say that this is one of the key things that hold back beginners. Too many people will not throw the ball high enough, and this holds back their power and control. If you're having trouble try just throwing the ball higher, you'll be surprised.

Practice makes permanent -
Make sure you practice, but make sure you practice correctly. Try to get someone whose better than you to watch your swing, and correct it. Watch youtube videos online, and try to see different ways that people will serve the ball. Remember, practice doesn't help unless you are practicing correctly.

Play consistently -
Some people will get discouraged and quit trying to improve their serve. They get frustrated and stop, and then try again in a few weeks, this is a great way to never get anywhere. Don't fall into this trap!

Want to learn even more?

I've got a great blog post here that can help you learn more, it's all about a cool video that shows you How To Improve Your Tennis Serve.

Master Any Tennis Stroke

Master Any Tennis Stroke
By Thomas Jay Daniels 

Hey guys, what I'm going to share with you today is how you can master any tennis stroke in no time at all. If you do everything I say here, you should take your tennis game to next level today. First thing, make sure that you only focus on one stroke at a time, I know you have heard that before, but it's really true. If you want to master any stroke, you have to be FOCUSED! And its impossible if you are learning two or more strokes, at the same time. Next, get a clear vision of the stroke in your mind, this has to be as vivid as possible. To do this, you can model pros who you like, but it doesn't matter how you do it, just get the vision. Why, because you have to see it, before you can do it. Now, after you get the vision, here come the hard part.

You have to hit about 1000s balls or more a session, trying to get a better feel every time you practice. This is the key to mastering a stroke, repetition and focus. What happens, is while you are doing this, the STROKE WILL DEVELOP on its own. I bet you didn't know this, but this is how the pros do it, and now its time for you to be doing the same thing.Sorry, there is no quick method here, you have to get the hitting time in. The problem I see all the time, is players want to learn the stroke over night, which is impossible. Tip for coaches out there, help your students to get out of their own way.

That's your job as a teacher, stop over coaching and let the process take place and it will if you do it this way. Back to you, tennis is a feel game, never forget this. As a player you are trying to get a better feel for your game every time you step out on the court. So, when learning a stroke, apply the same thing, make sure you are getting a better feel every time you practice the stroke. You should feel that the stroke is getting better,at the in of the day. Also, don't force it, just let it happen. Success formula, REPETITION and FOCUS + hrs of practice= Mastering a Stroke! Get it? As for as how long it will take, that's up to you. The more focused you are, the quicker you will master the stroke. I guess the question is to be or not to be focus. Answer please!

Article Source: Master Any Tennis Stroke

Tennis Fitness- Shoulder Prevention Program

Flickr: Colin Fleming volley

Tennis Fitness - Shoulder Prevention Program That Strengthens Your Rotator Cuff Muscles

By Patrik Broddfelt 
Why is it so important for tennis players to have a shoulder prevention program?

As a tennis player, you will put tremendous stress on your shoulder when you are serving, hitting overheads, high forehands, and high backhand volleys. Because of repetitive forces on your shoulder joint, it's important to have a tennis fitness and conditioning program for the shoulders. A fitness program will enhance performance, avoid fatigue from eccentric overload, and avoid an overuse problem.

Tennis players gets injured to their shoulders mainly because of eccentric overload. In other words, high-intensity decelerating muscle contractions of the rotator cuff during the follow through phase of the serve can lead to tendinous inflammation.

Shoulder Program

The following tennis fitness program will help you to stay fit, and hopefully away from shoulder injuries. It's very easy to do and it doesn't take long time to do. All you need is a resistance band, and you can do this program at home or at the tennis court.

First I'll show you some stretches you should do.It is important for the competitive tennis athlete to maintain good shoulder flexibility in order to allow for full range of motion which improves stroke potential.

Stretches:

Posterior Shoulder Stretch - Cross one of your arms across your body and put your opposite arm on your elbow. Push your elbow so that your arm that is being stretched reaches your opposite shoulder. Hold this position for 20-30 sec.
Sleeper Stretch - Lie down on your dominant shoulder as you would when sleeping on your side. Place your dominant arm directly out in front of you, with elbow bent 90 degrees so that your hand points directly at the ceiling. Using your other arm, push your hand down toward your feet. This will internally rotate your shoulder. Hold this stretch for 20 to 30 seconds.

Exercises:

External Rotation - Tie your resistance band to a stable object. Hold your arm in a 90 degree angle. Slowly rotate your arm out to about 90 degrees, and your arm will now point directly in front of you.
Internal Rotation - Tie your resistance band to a stable object. Hold your arm in a 90 degree angle. Slowly move your hand towards your body.
Straight Arm Rowing - Tie your resistance band to a stable object. Stand in an athletic position with the end of the tubing in each hand. Elevate your arms so that they are at an angle of roughly 45 degrees relative to your body. Squeeze your shoulder blades together, and perform a rowing action by pulling the handles back towards your hips while keeping your arms straight, and return to the starting position.

With these 5 easy   rel=nofollow [http://maxtennisfitness.com]shoulder exercises, you should now be able to stay away from pain in your shoulders. Do these exercises 2-3 times a week. The perfect time to do them is after tennis practice on the tennis court. Just tie the resistance band to the fence or netpost.

To learn more log on to maxtennisfitness.com

Patrik Broddfelt is a professional tennis and fitness coach from Sweden. On my tennis fitness blog you can watch my how to tennis fitness videos. You will find 100's of tennis fitness and conditioning exercises, programs, and articles.

Article Source: Tennis Fitness - Shoulder Prevention Program That Strengthens Your Rotator Cuff Muscles

3 Tips For Preventing Tennis Elbow

delpo back swing

3 Tips For Preventing Tennis Elbow
By Patrik Broddfelt 

2 Stretching Exercises:

Wrist Flexor Stretch - Extend your arm in front of you with your palm up, and bend your wrist so that your fingers is pointing towards the floor. With your other hand, gently bend your wrist further until you feel a mild to moderate stretch in your forearm. Hold this position for about 20-30 seconds.

Wrist Extensor Stretch - Extend your arm in front of you with your palm down, and bend your wrist so that your fingers is pointing towards the floor. With your other hand, gently bend your wrist further until you feel a mild to moderate stretch in your forearm. Hold this position for about 20-30 seconds.

4 Strengthening Exercises:


Tennis Ball Squeeze - Hold a tennis ball in your hand, and squeeze the tennis ball for about 6 seconds. Then relax for about 10 seconds. You should repeat for 8-12 times. Remember to do the exercise on both hands.

Dumbbell Flexor wrist Curl - Hold a dumbbell in each hand and rest your arms and elbows on a bench or on your legs. The palm should be pointing up and your elbows in roughly 90 degrees angle. Bend the wrist so that the dumbbells moves towards the floor, and go back up again as high as possible. Finally, go back to the starting position. Do 8-12 repetitions for 3 sets.

Dumbbell Extension Wrist Curl - Hold a dumbbell in each hand and rest your arms and elbows on a bench or on your legs. The palm should be pointing down and your elbows in roughly 90 degrees angle. Bend the wrist so that the dumbbells moves towards the floor, and go back up again as high as possible. Finally, go back to the starting position. Do 8-12 repetitions for 3 sets.

Dumbbell Pronation and Supination - Hold a dumbbell in each hand and rest your arms and elbows on a bench or on your legs. Your thumbs has to point upwards. Turn the wrist inward as far as possible and then outward as far as possible. Do 8-12 repetitions for 3 sets.

The third tip is to take tennis lessons

I think the main reason many hobby tennis players get tennis elbow is because of wrong tennis technique. They are usually hitting the ball too late, using the wrist too much, or having a short follow through. If you have poor technique and you play tennis a couple of times each week you will get tennis elbow.

You should also check if you have the correct size on the tennis grip, and that you are not holding your racket to tight. And that you are resting your dominant hand during breaks. I see too many tennis players holding their tennis rackets with their dominant hand when picking up tennis balls. Don't do this. You should hold your racket on the throat with your nondominant hand.

Go out and do the   rel=nofollow [http://maxtennisfitness.com]stretching exercises after practice and the strengthening exercises 2-3 times each week. Make also sure to check your tennis technique once in a while.

Patrik Broddfelt is a professional tennis and fitness coach from Sweden. On my tennis fitness blog you can watch my how to tennis fitness videos. You will find 100's of tennis fitness and conditioning exercises, programs, and articles.

Article Source: 3 Tips For Preventing Tennis Elbow

Tennis Backhand Technique

Want to learn how to get a better backhand? 

Today we are going to show you the techniques to do it.

In fact, learning how to do a proper backhand is very similar to learning how to do a proper forehand. All you have to do is focus on the basics, and practice daily in order to improve. What things should you focus on?

The grip - Having a different grip can drastically change the way you hit the ball. For instance if you want to put a backspin on the ball, or a slice, you would use the continental grip. If you don't have the grip down that should be the first place that you start.

The backswing - This is when you're getting ready to hit the ball, this is key. If you have never analyzed what you are doing at this point of your swing you need to do so. Do your swing slowly and see what you're doing, and what you could improve.

Contact - This is also key, when are you contacting the ball? If you hit it to soon it may go flying out of the court, and too late could make it hit the net. Once again slow down how you're trying to hit the ball and figure out when you're making contact.

Follow through - Pretty simple, just make sure you follow through! If you're not getting enough power or control over the ball this is likely your problem. Following through is a key part to every hit, not just your backhand.

And there you go! Follow these basics and fundamentals and watch your game improve, really there is no more than that!

If you're still looking for more tennis advice, look around on this website! I've got countless articles on here showing you how you can improve your game. Check out my article on How To Improve Your Tennis Serve!

The Myth Of Playing Up In Tennis

Escuela Virtual de Deportes 

The Myth of Playing Up in Tennis

By Jim H Klein 

Over the years I have been faced with many parents concerned about their son/daughter practicing with someone whose level is lower than their own. Parents and players are often under the false impression that to get better "you must play better players". Nothing could be further from the truth.

During the 2004 US Open, Mary Carillo told the story of two opponents who were about to face each other in the round of 16. The two players were Andre Agassi and Sargis Sargsian. Carillo goes on to say that Agassi and Sargsian have been good friends and practice partners for years. In fact the two of them had been practicing the entire US Open summer series together in 2004. As most of us know, Agassi's career high ranking has been number one; while Sargsian's highest career ranking is 38 in the world. Over the years, as well as the '04 summer season Agassi had never lost to Sargsian. These two players who are good friends have met seven times in tournaments between 1997 and 2004. Out of the seventeen sets they have played in tournaments, Agassi has only lost two sets to Sargsian and has never lost a match to him.

My point to all of this, Agassi is by far the better player and yet he is practicing with someone who is obviously not his equal. Realize that Agassi and Federer do not get together to practice. The best almost never practice with each other. Then the question has to be, how can Agassi maintain such a high level of play while practicing with someone who can not challenge him? Using most parents and players logic, "one must play up to get better". Agassi clearly dispels this myth, but I have heard this myth repeated by parents, players and coaches too many times to count over the years. But let's not stop there. Let's talk about the fact that Sargsian was playing up and it did not help him become a "great player". Granted, number 38 in the world is good, but you are not going down in the record books. I am sure that Sargsian was not striving to be the number 38th player in the world. As of today Sargsian's career winning record is 155 wins and 209 losses. This comes out to a 43% winning record. Sargsian has only one title to his name where Agassi has 60 titles to his, eight of them Grand Slams. Agassi's career winning record is 864 wins and 270 losses. Agassi has managed to have a 76% winning record practicing with much lesser players. In my opinion it has less to do with your practice partner(s) and everything to do with the player you are. In 20 years of teaching tennis I have never heard of a player losing a match and blaming it on their practice partner.

When Pete Sampras made his return to tennis after several years off in an exhibition match against Robby Ginepri, one of the big questions tennis fans wanted to know was about his preparation for his first match in over three years? In my opinion his answer is very revealing to the topic at hand. Sampras calls Billy Martin, the head coach of the UCLA men's tennis team and invites college level players to his home to help him prepare. Justin Gimelstob had been a practice partner for Sampras over the years, as well as for Sampras' return this past April. Gimelstob's highest career ranking had been 63 in the world back in 1999, as it stands prior to the 2006 US Open Gimelstob is 73 in the world. Why does a legendary player like Pete Sampras invite college tennis players and Justin Gimelstob as his practice partner for his return to the game, if playing/practicing up is so important?

It is rare to see seeded players practicing with each other at tournaments. In 2003 the year Andy Roddick won the US Open, I watched Roddick practice with then coach Brad Gilbert. It is clear if Roddick were to play Gilbert who would win. Put your money on Roddick. The best players prove that it is OK to practice with lesser players before a match even at the US Open.

When it comes to practice partners, one must practice with players who are weaker, this way you can practice your weaknesses. I have had players concerned with the idea of beating a player who is weaker than themselves and risk demeaning said player. I am not suggesting a 4.0 player should ask a 2.5 or 3.0 player to play. Play down one NTRP level to practice your weaknesses and if you are true to the idea of practicing your weaknesses you will most likely find yourself in a very competitive match. Equal to you, now you have a dog fight on your hands, this is the truest test of them all. Better than you, this way you can see how your opponent exploits your weaknesses. Try to find someone who is one level above you. If needed offer to pay for their part of the court time. A second reason for playing different levels is simple; it solves the problem of players playing up. If you want the opportunity to play up, then you must be willing to play down and give someone else a chance to play up. Fair is fair. If it were true that you had to play up to get better, no one would ever play another set of tennis. When parents come to me and insist that their child play up, one has to remember, for one player to play up another player has to play down. If you always play up you will rarely experience the joys of winning only the frustration of losing. Not much fun in that.

Thank you,

Jim Klein

Director of Tennis

Doylestown Tennis Club

Doylestown Pennsylvania

215-345-7897 / email -  jklein1227@comcast.net

Article Source: The Myth of Playing Up in Tennis