How To Improve Tennis Serve

lisiki serve

How to improve Tennis Serve

Your tennis serve is one of the most important parts of your game. A good serve can make your opponent fearful and on their toes, while a bad serve can easily lose you the game. Always look for ways to improve your tennis serve, look at the professionals and see what they do. I promise you it will pay off in the end.

Relax your arm and wrist

If you keep your wrist straight during a serve, you'll lose a lot of power and control. Make sure to keep them loose, and you'll notice that your wrist will do a kind of whipping motion. This motion is key to your serving power, and to your control. Definitely make sure you practice at keeping your wrist loose, it's one of the secrets of a good serve.

Have a fluid motion (follow through)

Sometimes it's too easy to not follow through. This will make your serve choppy and uneasy. Not only that but it will make you inconsistent, plus it will take away some control and power from your serve. Always make sure you follow through and use your whole body in your serve. Keep the whole motion going, if you're having trouble try throwing the ball higher in the air, a lot of people find that that's their biggest problem.

Jump!

Try jumping in your serves, this gives you more power, accuracy, and it gives you some momentum as well. This is of course a more advanced technique, but learning how to do this will give you a good one up on competitors who do not know how to do a jump serve.

Practice

Practice makes permanent. Go out and practice your serve at least 30 minutes a day, you can practice more if you're looking at playing in a tournament soon. Try different strategies, and look up videos that can teach you more ways to change your serve. You could also consider taking a video of yourself, so that you can see what's going on with your serve, and how you can change it.

Conclusiopn

Never stop working on your serve, this is imperative to becoming a better player. if your'e still looking for more help you can check my post on Tennis Serve Tips.

Also I'd advice to check out my thoughts on a cool video about your serve, you can find it on my page about Improve Your Tennis Serve.

Emmett Hume

10 Top Tennis Tips For Coaching Junior Tennis Players
By Rufus Keown 


Mini Tennis, Pee Wee Tennis, Tiny Tots Tennis, Little Mozzies! Coaching Junior Beginners has been called everything. The bottom line for tennis coaches is that having a strong beginner tennis coaching program is the key to a long term sustainable business operation.

Putting together an exciting and challenging tennis coaching program for the young player should be a priority for any serious coach. These young beginners also need some special coaching methods to teach them to love tennis and stay in the game.

Tip 1 - Success equals Confidence equals Fun! Tennis is in the recreation business and coaches are fighting to attract young athletes to the sport so that grass roots programs flourish and we produce players at the elite level. Be constantly positive; play fun games which all players can succeed; create an atmosphere at your club that parents and children can enjoy. Do your best to keep children in tennis for life.

Tip 2 - Use modified tennis equipment. This relates to tip number one because by using lower nets, softer tennis balls, lighter tennis racquets and fun equipment we can help our students succeed and therefore enjoy tennis.

Tip 3 - Use cones to position players. Use cones or spots to position students for games and activities. This will give them a reference point and prevent them from wondering off.

Tip 4 - Refer to the names of lines and areas of the court. Use the names of lines and parts of the court when giving directions. This will provide a "full" tennis education and help when playing matches later on.

Tip 5 - Demonstrate before you explain the drill. Young children are fantastic learners. They learn best from observing and copying; as well as experimenting and feeling how something works. In your tennis lessons give the players lots of visual coaching and have them shadow swing so they can feel the correct stroke. This will be far more effective than explaining to a child with a very short attention span who may not fully understand the meaning of your words.

Tip 6 - Don't get too technical! This relates to tip number five. Technical instruction is wasted on young children but they do understand simple distinctions. For instance using higher or lower; softer or harder; to the left or right are effective words to guide a young player. This is one reason why the use of targets and cones can be a very valuable coaching tool.

Tip 7 - Use targets for students to aim at. The reason for using targets is to compel the players to use control over power. Many young players will associate success with how fast and far they can hit the ball. Studies have shown that in sports that require both speed and precision (like tennis) it is far better to learn slow, controlled moves and then make them faster; than learn fast uncontrolled moves and them slow them down. By hitting accurate controlled shots our players will become better at rallying (which should be foremost goal of any program.)

Tip 8 - Don't take private lessons too early. While some parents will expect us to dress up in a clown suit and entertain a 4 or 5 year old in a private lesson it is inappropriate at this age. The children at this age enjoy the excitement of playing with their friends and social interaction - the coach will soon become weary and lose passion for their job.

Tip 9 - Progress the program. Keep giving the students a reason to come back to the game. Progress from a mini court to full court; a mini racquet to a graduate racquet; low compression balls to championship balls; a 30 minute lesson to a 45 minute lesson. Keep challenging the students or they will feel they are not improving and find another sports which offers a pathway.

Tip 10 - Let them play the game. As coaches we are trying to teach players the game of tennis. Once the fundamentals have been taught modified game play should become an emphasis. While at a young age hitting the ball over the net seems miraculous, and returning an impossible dream; let the students experiment with a modified rally. The coach can help or make special rules so it remains enjoyable and the students can experience some success.

Follow these tennis tips to success in your own junior tennis program!

By Rufus Keown

Club Professional Coach

Co-founder http://www.globaltenniscoaching.com

The global website for tennis coaches and players with 1000's of tennis drills, tennis articles, tennis tips and tennis lesson plans.

Article Source: 10 Top Tennis Tips For Coaching Junior Tennis Players

Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just Thirty Minutes

David Jones

Note: This article is a little old, but still really good!

Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just Thirty Minutes
By Jay P. Granat, Ph.D.
The Australian Open is taking place now and avid tennis fans and tennis players will be tuning in early in the morning, (United States Time) to watch the world's best tennis players compete in this first major tournament of the year.

Highly ranked juniors and weekend warriors will be studying the players and the matches carefully and some will be hoping to pick up a few tips that will allow them to take their game to that next level.

I have coached many top players on the mental side of the game and have worked closely with some elite coaches. I am always intrigued by coaches who are great diagnosticians and who can make the game simple via the way they communicate with their students.

Sometimes, one simple tip can help a tennis player to elevate his or her tennis game.

One man, Oscar Wegner, the well-known tennis guru, has developed a simple methodology which can help skilled players, recreational players and weekend warriors.

Wegner, who has coached many of the top players in the world, encourages players to have three ideas in mind when they prepare to hit a tennis ball, when they strike it and when they complete their swing:

It is quite simple yet very comprehensive: Find it. Feel it. Finish it.

I have used these simple ideas in my own game and in helping others to play better.

Find it refers to locating the ball its pace, its direction, its height and its spin. Your feet will move almost automatically if you do a good job of locating the ball.

Feel it reminds players to impart spin and to keep the ball on the strings. Wegner, like most modern teachers understands and emphasizes the importance of topspin from the baseline.

Finish it encourages players to swing through the ball and follow through after you feel it on your strings. This facilitates and good weight transfer.

This simple method makes it easy to diagnose what you are doing wrong. For instance, if you set up late, you have not done a good job of following the ball.

Similarly, if you fail to impart spin, you have not done a good job of feeling the ball.

Thirdly, if you hit the ball into the net or weakly over the net, you most likely have failed to finish your swing.

In addition, Wegner's method can be applied to some extent to all of the shots in tennis. You can use these concepts are your serve, your volley, your half volley, you lob,your overhead, your slice, and your drop shot. So, this method has a lot of applications to it.

Give this approach a try and see if your tennis game improves.

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D., is a Psychotherapist, Author and The Founder of http://www.StayInTheZone.com. Granat has appeared in many major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, Tennis Magazine, TennisView Magazine, The BBC, The CBC and ESPN. He is the author of Zone Tennis and many other mental toughness and peak performance programs. He has recently formed a partnership with some of the top tennis pros in the world. Dr. Granat is available for private coaching and for seminars. He can be reached at 888 580-ZONE or at info@stayinthezone.com

Article Source: Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just Thirty Minutes

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