Tip #1: Anticipation
Tip #2: Movement
Tip #3: Shot Preparation
To be effective with your strokes, you have to hit balls with consistent spin and pace. The grip is foundational to the spin with which you hit the ball. Most of you have heard of the grips that you can choose, but I recommend using a semiwestern grip for the forehand.
The semiwestern grip, shown at the side, offers great power for a forehand and enables heavy topspin shots. It is used by many professionals and is a standard beginning grip for serious tennis players. It is versatile, meaning it can be used to handle balls that come high or come low.
To get your hand into semiwestern grip, hold the racquet out in front of you with your weak hand. Reach out and naturally shake hands with the racquet. Then loosen your grip on the racquet and with your weak hand, rotate the racquet so that the hitting side is facing slightly downwards. Without readjusting your hand, grab hold again. You are in semiwestern grip. If you now hold your racquet perpendicular to the ground, it should look like the picture at the side.
Two more things about grip.
#1. DON'T SQUEEZE THE RACQUET TOO HARD. Keep a relaxed grip, otherwise your shots will not get the proper spin coming off your racquet.
#2. PRACTICE WITH THE RIGHT GRIP. Think about it, make the adjustment, and hit shots with the proper grip. If you just keep picking up the racquet and hitting it however you pick it up, you won't have success!
These are basics, but so important. Little things generally get looked over in hitting shots. This is also a topic that is difficult to write about, it's easier to show you. I'm looking forward to tennis practices so we can do more showing than talking. Anybody else in that boat?
The semiwestern grip, shown at the side, offers great power for a forehand and enables heavy topspin shots. It is used by many professionals and is a standard beginning grip for serious tennis players. It is versatile, meaning it can be used to handle balls that come high or come low.To get your hand into semiwestern grip, hold the racquet out in front of you with your weak hand. Reach out and naturally shake hands with the racquet. Then loosen your grip on the racquet and with your weak hand, rotate the racquet so that the hitting side is facing slightly downwards. Without readjusting your hand, grab hold again. You are in semiwestern grip. If you now hold your racquet perpendicular to the ground, it should look like the picture at the side.
Two more things about grip.
#1. DON'T SQUEEZE THE RACQUET TOO HARD. Keep a relaxed grip, otherwise your shots will not get the proper spin coming off your racquet.
#2. PRACTICE WITH THE RIGHT GRIP. Think about it, make the adjustment, and hit shots with the proper grip. If you just keep picking up the racquet and hitting it however you pick it up, you won't have success!
These are basics, but so important. Little things generally get looked over in hitting shots. This is also a topic that is difficult to write about, it's easier to show you. I'm looking forward to tennis practices so we can do more showing than talking. Anybody else in that boat?
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