Just like any other competitive sport, tennis is both a physical and mental game. Having the right kind of equipment that suits your style of play is not all that is required in order to play the game and succeed but it helps since having the right equipment with high quality of material and workmanship will have its benefits at any point during the game.
To enjoy the game better, always provide yourself with the suitable tennis clothes, shoes and equipment. Do not choose any equipment, especially your shoes and racquet simply because your favorite player wears them. In choosing your shoes, make sure that it is a good fit and durable enough to stand the rigors of lateral, forward and backward movements including sudden stops and skids especially when you are playing on grass and clay courts. For your choice of the right racquet there are more variables that have to be considered – racquet frame material, string pattern, size of the handle, weight, and balance are critical factors to consider to obtain the best performance results.
Choosing the right ball is also important since you ultimately need a ball that has regular bounce properties in order to learn how to play the game correctly and competitively.
Watching the videos of professional tennis players is also a necessity if you are really interested in playing the game successfully and are eager to join tournaments and competitions. Watching the pros play the game is in itself a learning experience since you can pick up really good techniques and tactics when it comes to feet position, racquet grip, strokes and their style of play. Having audio and visual aids in learning the game considerably helps in advancing any one’s playing style.
Practice your strokes in front of a full length mirror so you can see yourself. This allows you to check if your feet are positioned properly, your shoulders aligned and if you are shifting your body weight correctly. Read as much as you can about the theories of tennis and its rules even before you set your feet on the court. Doing so would prepare you immensely even if you are just a beginner.
It is natural that your progress would not be as fast as you thought it would be. However, do not let your spirits and love for the game get dampened by your seemingly slow progress. All tennis players had to go through the same hardships and are rewarded when in the course of a match they discover that hard work pays off because they were able to hit the ball for a winner with the stroke that they have been practicing for days, even weeks! Being skillful at tennis is not inborn, it is the product of hundreds nay even thousands of hours of constant practice and hard work doing the same thing over and over until it becomes second nature to you.
Learning to play tennis opens up new worlds to the player. Having a tennis racquet in your luggage when you travel easily tells everybody that you are a player and people of the same genre would surely walk up and befriend you because of one thing in common – you play the same game! Tennis offers any individual the chance to relax, exercise, and enjoy the challenge of playing the game after a hard day’s work even when on a business trip. Besides, there is no age limit to playing tennis as long as you enjoy the game.
To better enjoy the game of tennis, you should, even as a beginner, learn to concentrate and improve yourself on the following aspects of the game in order to benefit quicker.
When playing, always put your total concentration on the game, watch the ball with eagle eyes, remember to put your knowledge of foot work and weight control into any stroke you make, be a gentleman and always stay in the game mentally and physically.
Mental court presence is very important during any point in the game since your focus is always on the ball and getting it into play or putting it beyond reach of your opponent for a win. Do not let unnecessary distractions take your mind away from the enjoyment of the game and you will soon see your tennis improve!
A player who can play the game in his mind every single point will surely win the match because of his intent focus!

Although the object of playing tennis is to win the match it is equally important to know how to lose. In losing, a tennis player should accept the loss in a positive manner, cheerfully and without animosity against his opponent. In winning, a tennis player should exhibit humility and kindness without the arrogance.
In tennis, winning is not everything especially if you did not win the match fair and square. If you win and your victory is clouded by unfair and rude behavior on the court then the victory is hollow. In playing a tennis match, always do so with your full concentration; execute your strokes as best as you can and fight with all your strength to hit the ball and return it successfully to your opponent’s court. If you lose at your best, then you can say that your best was not good enough for your opponent and the better player won; if you did not, then you have given your opponent an empty victory which the spectators would realize. In any game, it is necessary to always be fair to yourself and your opponent.
If you take up the sport of tennis, give it the proper treatment required by a gentleman’s game. Enjoy the match and do so whether you play just by yourselves or in front of spectators at your local club. When you do, then you are giving due credit to the game by being at your best for yourself, your opponent and the people watching the two of you exchange strokes and run after the ball!
The competitive nature of tennis gives the game the thrill and excitement known all over the world. Players, professional and amateurs alike, get their recognition by being at their very best whenever they step onto the court to play against somebody. In exchange for this, people come to watch the players give their games the best they can muster during the match, clapping and cheering at every point and sighing at every misplaced shot even if the person who made or lose the point is not the one whom they want to win! Such is the mysterious appeal of tennis that players should realize whenever they play.
The competitive spirit of tennis makes it imperative for players to play as best as they can. It is this spirit that makes tennis a crowd drawer among people from all walks of life.
Since the object is to win, a player must do everything to prevent his opponent from playing his favorite shots. Instead, they force each other to commit errors and miss shots with their vast repertory of strokes, topspins and slices not to mention bullet-speed serves. Whenever you step onto a tennis court to play, be ready to give your best to prevent your opponent from making his favorite shots. Use a variety of well placed shots and you’re your serves to distract his attention from keeping the ball in play. Stay on the offensive as much as possible to win as many games as you can in any given set.
Never play your opponent’s game, always be prepared to attack the net and defend your part of the court from your opponent’s drives and volleys. Never change a winning game in favor of style but always change a losing game until you discover your rhythm and start winning.
Take chances only when you are ahead and never when you are trailing your opponent that is suicide. Never let your opponent determine your frame of mind, keep him off balance with a smile regardless if you lost the last point. It’s better to get him overconfident than you showing open dejection in front of him!
Lastly, always play with a cheery disposition; even if you lose, it’s only a game and you can prepare yourself the next time you meet on the court by practicing your strokes and foot work and give your opponent a run for his money.

Racquet technology is the parent of the modern game. Watch any old footage and you will see the enormous differences in the game; play with an old wooden racquet and you will appreciate why the game was so much slower and played with such a different style.
Today’s racquets are still improving – and are the result of truly “space age” technology. You can purchase a lightweight, comfortable racquet that will deliver you power, spin and control that was unthinkable 20 years ago. Generally speaking there are three types of frame you can purchase – the key is selecting one to suit your game.
Traditional Frame
The traditional frame is characterized by:-
-A thin beam
- A small head (around 90cm²)
- Even balance
- A heavy feel (>300 grams) and
- A tight string pattern with 18 main strings
Its weight and head size make it unsuitable for most social players, but, the feeling of hitting the ball out of the sweet spot of these racquets is unmatched.
The Wilson 6.1 is the most famous of this type of racquet – made famous by Pete Sampras and Stefan Edberg, it is now the weapon of choice for Roger Federer in the modern game. The Head Prestige (Marat Safin) and Dunlop Aero Gel 200 (Thomas Berdych) are other similar racquets that are popular amongst tour players.
You will notice that many of the players who use the traditional frame will have classic techniques. No extreme grips and they can move to the net effectively. If this style sounds like you a traditional frame may be the one for you.
The traditional frame is really only suitable for players who train and play several times each week. They are very demanding racquets with small sweet spots and their weight can cause arm soreness. If you cannot commit to a full training schedule, but like the feel of the traditional frame, consider a racquet such as the Head Radical (Amelie Mauresmo). It has similar playing characteristics to the traditional frame but is a more comfortable, user friendly racquet.
Performance Enhancing Racquet
While the Traditional Frame has been the most popular type of racquet on the pro tour in the past – the performance enhancing racquet is used by a higher percentage of players in the modern game.
Compared to the traditional frame they:-
- A thicker beam
- A larger head (around 95cm²)
- A bigger sweet spot
- A lighter feel (<300 grams) and
- A more open string pattern with 16 main strings
They deliver more power and when combined with the right strings (poly, or a poly blend) they can deliver tremendous spin and control also.
The Babolat Pure Drive used by Andy Roddick and Kim Clijters is the most popular racquet of this type and was almost a revolutionary force on the pro tour when it first arrived. The Head Extreme (used by players such as Richard Gasquet) and Prince O³ White (Maria Sharopova) of racquet offer similar features to the Pure Drive.
Players who favour this type of racquet typically favour fairly extreme grips and like to generate enormous pace and spin from the baseline. Think Rafael Nadal (Babolat Aero Drive) for the type of player this racquet suits. The great thing about these racquets is their versatility and they have great "feel" at the net also. They are highly recommended for developing players (12 years old +) - they are light enough to handle and deliver good control. They will make the player generate their own power through technique and swing speed, but give them the extra "pop" they will need.
Power Racquets
Power racquets are the least used of the pro circuit, although Martina Hingis used the Yonex RQS 11 during her comeback in 2006 - 07 in an attempt to match the modern power players.
Power Racquets are:-
- Light weight
- Have over sized head (> 100 cm²)
- A very large sweet spot
- A lighter feel (<300 grams) and
- A more open string pattern with 16 main strings
These racquets are extremely comfortable and allow the social player to develop a surprising amount of power with limited technique and swing speed. All companies have a range of these Power Racquet’s including the Head Metalix Range, the Wilson KFour and Prince O³ Shark.
The emergence of the performance enhancing racquet is significant as it delivers the best of both worlds. In the past racquets have either provided great feel and control; or increased power. By giving the user good dose of power, control and feel the performance enhancing frame is a great option for all players – get down to your local club or pro shop to try one – it could send your game into hyper drive.

As I have said before, tennis is both a mental and physical game. Preparing one’s body to play the game is easy enough – all that’s necessary is to sleep well, eat the healthy foods, keep fit, stretch your muscles and tendons prior to practice or a game and learn the various offensive and defensive strokes.
If it were really this simple, then any physically fit and prepared individual can learn and master the game quite easily. However such is not the case because mental preparation and control is necessary to win any tennis match. Mental preparation is not simply being able to focus and keep your concentration on hitting the ball and returning it to the other player’s court until exhaustion sets it!
Before a player can understand his opponent’s mental attitude and temperament, it is necessary for the player to understand himself first. For how else would he know if not through his own actions and reactions?
A player must know and determine factors that make him lose concentration, factors that make him lose control and factors that make him confused. Once a tennis player successfully identifies the causes of distraction and their conditions, only then can he truly systematize his game by neutralizing these distractions in order to raise his game at a higher level than his opponent.
After this phase detailed examination of your own feelings, thoughts, and motives only then can an individual identify and remove or ignore the cause. A successful neutralization would then allow the player to accurately study and analyze his opponent in order to recreate factors and causes that would make him lose control of the game.
A careful analysis of your opponent’s temperament and style would definitely result into your winning game. If you are able to successfully analyze your own playing style and temperament and make the necessary adjustments you can also successfully do the same to your opponent and use it to your advantage.
If you were playing against a matter-of-fact baseline player, you can safely assume that he plays only within his comfort zone – the baseline. What would happen if you suddenly drive a ball to his backhand and make it land inside the service court? And then make a return passing shot behind him?
Another tell-tale factor you should look for is the physical appearance of your opponent. Does he stay at one part of the court only or does he cover the whole baseline a few feet away from it?
The first one is easy to deal with since he is usually a dyed-in-the-wool baseline player unenthusiastic about rushing the net. However the second one is a dangerous opponent because he is playing in a position where he can easily mix up the placements of his shots while covering as much area of the court as possible and full of confidence about his abilities as well. This type of player usually has no second thoughts whether he rushes the net or plays the baseline in order to prepare for the kill shot.
Another type of tennis player is one who hits with all his strength, rushes the net every chance he gets and then runs back to the baseline! This player is impulsive and plays without a definite strategy to win but simply tries to win by the sheer power of his shots!
Of the above, the one you should be most wary of is the second type. This type of player has a definite strategy of winning, is very methodical and is very difficult to psych out in a long drawn out game of tennis. The only chance any player has against this type of opponent is better physical conditioning.
One way of making your opponent uncomfortable about playing against you is by returning his shots sing a variety of placement and strokes – regardless if you lose the point! Why? Because it would give him advance notice not to mess around with you since you can return his shot placement! But you missed remember? No problem, the message is still loud and clear: I can get there and return the ball when I want to!
This mental attitude would definitely make an opponent wary of making his repertory of shots and force him to dig deep and commit errors as the game goes on – even if you miss or lose a point!
This is the all-important mental aspect of playing tennis!

I spent nine years on the ATP tour. During those years I was fortunate enough to play with or against amazing players with great forehands. Those players include Roger Federer, Marc Rosset, Sebastien Grosjean, Paul-Henri Mathieu just to name a few. I remember being fasinated about these guys ability to generate great power form their forehand side.
I find that in the tennis game, the forehand is a great weapon to have. Unfortunately it is not a natural shot for all of us. It is therefore important to master the technique. As a tennis coach in resorts in Mauritius, I get to see a lot of the mistakes amateur players make. A common mistake that i have often noticed on the tennis court is that most players have trouble judging their distance to the ball thus hitting the ball too close or too far from their body. This means that their shot is of poor quality.
If you have this same problem, next time you are on the court remember two things while setting up for the shot:
1. Have the non-dominant hand on the throat of the racquet.
2. Point your non-dominant hand towards the side fence.
Next time you watch tennis on TV; keep a close eye on the non-dominant hand. You will see it is a very important help in the shot execution.
This will help you find the right distance,and placement from the ball so you can hit great forehands.
I hope this will help you have more fun next time you are on the court.

Tennis is played in either singles or doubles matches.
A singles tennis match is more often than not a grueling and physically tiring to play, more so if it becomes a best of 5 match series. The game puts considerable strain on a player’s resources both physically and mentally. However, it is during a protracted singles game that the physical equation becomes neutralized and it is the mental set of the player that becomes an important factor in winning.
Since you are playing by yourself against an opponent with possibly equal physical condition, it is the attitude of play, focus, control, and attention that becomes the deciding factors in the match. In this case, tennis becomes a contest not only of fitness but also of psychological readiness and ability.
In any singles tennis match, both players are microscopically scrutinized by the gallery of people watching the game and the spectators can become finicky in their choice of which player to root for or applaud every point that is made or lost. The participation of the gallery in a singles match can either be advantageous or disadvantageous, depending on how the player conducts himself during play.
Singles is more of an individual showcasing his talent of the game and acquired playing depth as each player can take their own calculated risks in order to score a point. Each player tries his best to break the other player’s rhythm and shatter the comfort zone but in such as manner as not to alienate the crowd for doing so can spell a disastrous ending.
Doubles on the other hand is an exact science of proper court position, coordination and hitting angles.
Playing doubles is almost similar to playing bridge because you have to read, interpret and anticipate your partner’s movements, strokes and court position in order to get the upper hand from the opposing team. No matter how good a singles tennis player you may be, if you are lousy in the team work department your doubles team will lose against a mediocre opponent who play with coordination and team work.
Although a lot depends on each individual’s intensity of playing the game, it rests on both team members being able to carry each other on teamwork and protect one another’s weak points as they attack with their own individual flairs.
Winning in a doubles match requires that both members of a team be able to keep the ball in play for as long as possible until they get the opportunity to set up for a kill shot. Passing shots, cross court and down the line drives which are very effective in a singles match become neutralized in doubles since there are two people guarding the opposite court. The game then becomes a battle of wits and shot placements, disrupting the rhythm of one or possibly both the opposing players to get the clean shot for a winner.
The rule of a doubles match is to always go all out to attack the net, poach a host only when you have a clear winner, coordination of court positions and movements, protect each other’s weak spots and always hit a volley or a smash for a winner. Whenever possible, hit the ball between your opponents so that they lose the concentration of who among them should make the return.
In defending your court, use the lob sparingly and only if you are caught flat-footed and out of position. The lob gives you and your partner enough time to get back in position for the incoming smash or volley your opponents would surely do when they get a lobbed ball.
If one of your opponents appear to be the weaker player among the two, always drive the ball to him – his forehand, backhand and even straight at him to tire him out and force him to commit an error.
When it is your team that comes under attack never show disgust or anger towards your partner as it defeats the purpose of a doubles game. When you find a partner, stick with him and practice together as often as possible in order to get a feel for one another’s rhythm of play for better team work.

Aside from the regular forehand and backhand strokes, a good tennis player needs to include an array of offensive and defensive strokes to his armory in order to enjoy playing the game better and to give any opponent a good game. These strokes are the volley, smash and the lob.
Volley and Smash
Attacking the net is the best offensive option of any tennis player. Playing from this position means that the attacking player has the ability to go all out on the offensive and score the much needed point to win. When attacking the net, there are two indefensible shots that a player uses – the volley and the smash.
There are basically two types of volleys, the low (below the waist) and the high (above the waist). Whether high or low, all volleys must be executed with a locked wrist and holding the racquet as steady as possible. No wrist movement or racquet twist is required since the pace of the incoming ball meeting the tilted racquet is enough to send it back for a winner – depending of course on the direction you hit it to.
In making the volley stroke, always hit the ball hard but with a very limited follow through. Your tennis racquet must stop at the point of impact with the ball and the racquet although if you want to give the ball some back spin; let the racquet slide a little under the ball on contact.
A good volleyer must have a solid repertory of basic strokes in order to be able to successfully attack the net and make his volleys count otherwise it would not work against a well-rounded opponent. Even if volleys are difficult to counter, always cover your volley by covering the return at the net for a kill shot just in case. Attack with your volleys. At the net, always be on the offensive not on the defensive.
Complete your offensive arsenal with the overhead smash. Using the smash should always result in a winning point as it is an almost impossible shot to return. Executing the overhead smash is almost similar to making a slice serve, with one foot (preferably both) on the ground and hitting the ball with a twist of the wrist as hard as possible to make it bounce high!
When preparing for the smash, always keep your eye on the ball. A good technique is to track it with your free hand and hit it at appropriate hitting zone, never pull or limit your racquet swing as it would definitely negate the advantage of the smash.
In making the overhead smash, strive to make go as far into the court as possible for the point, hit with the ball with the racquet face towards the open court.
The (Defensive) Lob
The lob is used to buy you time to get back into position and to make your opponent run back and forth to break up his comfort zone and tire him out. It is commonly used in doubles play but equally effective in singles when you are attacked at the net by your opponent.
There are basically two types of lob, the chop lob which carries an under-cut spin that makes the ball hang in the air and the flat lob which packs a top spin. The chop lob is a defensive lob since it allows you to get back in position whereas the flat lob is an offensive stroke since the ball bounces lower and at great speed.
Execute the flat lob like you are setting up for a line drive and then suddenly pull back on your swing and tilt the racquet face upwards just before contact to make the ball sail up into the air over your opponent’s head for the point.
Use the lob sparingly and only when necessary. Doing so, allows you to disrupt your opponent’s game and score the needed point should he attack the net or if you are out of position in a rally.

In executing the chop stroke do so with a locked wrist with the racquet face passing either inside or outside and down the ball in a quick, chopping motion at an angle between 45 to 90 degrees along the ball’s line of flight. This stroke gives imparts a clockwise spin and curve on the ball.
In doing the slice shot, the racquet’s contact to the ball should be less than 45 degrees, either inside or outside the ball depending which direction you want to send it to. This is accomplished with a quick flick of the wrist or a flat racket hit; the wrist action makes the bounce low near the ground while a slap action makes it a go off to either the left or the right which would make your opponent hustle to reach the ball.

Footwork and body position for these shots are not as important since they are executed with a short swing and more wrist play; shifting the body weight on these shots is not as important.

Both the chop and slice strokes are defensive shots designed to break up a driving game to give you more time to get in an offensive position. These shots are very difficult to drive and works best if your opponent is at the baseline. Use these shots in moderation to drop short, soft shots that reach just beyond the net or at the feet of your opponent.

Another equally important defensive shot is the drop shot. It is executed with a wrist twist and a sharply-angled chop stroke with the racquet face passing outside of the ball and under it.

Add these defensive strokes to your game and learn how to use them so you can disrupt your opponent’s rhythm of play to stay on top of the match.

Another defensive stroke is the half volley which requires the coordination of timing, eyesight and your racquet hand compared to other shots. It is executed with a short swing and locked wrist with the racquet face held at a slight angle to meet the ball as it bounces off the ground. Track the ball with your free hand and eyes so that you can hit it perfectly when it reaches the optimum hitting zone.

A tennis court is 39 feet long from the baseline market to net and 27 feet wide for singles play and 36 feet wide for doubles play. A player should only be at two places on his side of the court as he waits for the ball in order to cover as much area as possible: 3 feet behind the baseline near the middle of the court or 6 to 8 feet from the net inside the service court. The first position is the normal position for baseline players while the second is the net position. Always return to either of these two positions as quickly as possible after making a shot from anywhere else on the court.

From the baseline to about 10 feet from the net is called no-man’s-land; although you have to make shots from this area any time during the course of a game, make it a point to go back to the baseline position as soon as possible so as not to get caught off guard with a deep or a passing shot. If you are unable to return to the baseline, go all the way in and establish a net position for a better defensive/offensive position.

Maintaining either of the two positions enables you to track the ball before it hits the ground; run while the ball is in the air not when it bounces after hitting the ground – by then it is too late! This way you are in better position to prepare for your shot, make your shot and make the follow through.

Learn to anticipate where your opponent will hit the ball on the return and at all times. Standing near the baseline allows you to do this especially if you have a difficult time anticipating your opponent’s return as you only have to run forward or instead of backwards if you were standing in the service court area.

Always maintain a position that allows you to cover the largest possible area of the court. It can save you a lot of points and possibly win the game!

Proper tennis footwork is all about weight control. With proper footwork, you achieve proper body position from which you should make all tennis strokes. The following are for right-handers, for left-handed individuals simply reverse your feet position.
One very important ingredient of any tennis stroke is the racquet grip – it is the building block of all strokes. Having the correct grip for any type of stroke – service, volley, half volley, forehand and backhand would greatly contribute to your enjoyment and thrill of playing the game.
For right handed persons to achieve the correct forehand grip, hold the racquet’s face perpendicular to the ground with the handle towards the body; shake hands with the racquet handle and allow it to settle naturally into the hand and close your fingers. To check if your grip is correct, your arm, hand and racquet should be a straight line. The racquet should be an extension of your strong arm with the face as the palm of your extended arm.

For the backhand grip, hold the racquet at the throat with the weak hand and make a quarter turn of your strong hand on the handle, making sure that your knuckles are aligned with the edge of the racquet face.

The forehand and backhand grips described above are the best possible way to hold a tennis racquet; however, your natural grip (the one you are most comfortable with) may differ slightly but should follow the same principles. Practice your grip in front of a mirror any chance you get until you automatically and instinctively hold it correctly.

The next thing you should know is how to position your feet in order to develop you’re your offensive and defensive strokes.

When hitting the ball, the cardinal rule in tennis is to hit the ball ALWAYS with the body at right angles to the net and shoulders parallel to the line of flight of the ball with the body weight shifting from the back towards the front to point of impact of the racquet and the ball. This weight shifting motion ensures that a player’s weight is behind the stroke in order to give the ball indispensable pace.

Pace is not the same as speed. Speed is the rate at which a ball travels through the air when struck by the racquet on the other hand pace is the force with which the ball comes off the ground.
There is a set order of how to learn the basic strokes of tennis.

You should practice the drive first both forehand and backhand. These strokes are also commonly called your ground strokes, the foundation of good tennis player. Mastering your ground strokes allow you to attack and defend the net and the baseline at the same time.

A good service is an indispensable skill in tennis. Practice your serve by taking up several positions just outside the baseline and try to hit the ball in the direction you choose at will. Strive to have accurate ball placement by aiming at a particular area of the court while practicing your serve to gain accuracy. Make sure to vary the pace of your service so that your opponent can not anticipate and predict the point of contact of your service ball.

Have somebody hit high looping balls so you in various areas of the court so you can practice your volley and overhead smash.

Lastly, learn how to make the chop or half volley initially in a standing position and then as you run.

When you have a pretty good mastery of the basic shots, the other accompanying trick shots or showy strokes will come naturally as you play.

The one shot that can make or break a tennis game or set its tempo is the service. The serve executed properly and accurately dictates a tennis’ match tempo right at the very start of the game. Some players who have accurate and speedy serves have won matches with their serves because their service game is unbreakable or because they can hit aces – serves that are so fast the receiver has no chance to make a return!

For the service to be effective, it must be accurate, speedy, and consistent and have a variety of spin. In making the serve, it is essential that the ball must have some twist in order to successfully make it land into the playing court and pack pace and speed so that the receiver does not get the chance to put it in play. However, if the receiver is successful in making a return of the ball, the server must make sure to place the ball as accurately as possible so that he gets the advantage of being able to anticipate exactly where the receiver’s return of serve will land.

The server has one goal when making the serve – to cause the receiver to committing an error of return. Always use your service as a weapon to disturb the receiver’s arsenal of return strokes and as much as possible, serve into your opponent’s backhand. Better yet, if you can accurately place your serve into the corner nearest to the net of the service court or straight to the receiver’s body, you would definitely gain the upper hand as the receiver has to either run or evade the ball in order to make a successful return of serve.

Always hit the serve from as high a point as possible without performing unnecessary acrobatic stretches; vary the pace and speed of your service to avoid being anticipated by the receiver.

A common variation of the flat serve is the slice serve which imparts a spin on the ball. Hit the slice serve at a point above the right shoulder as high as possible. Stand at an angle of forty-five degrees to the baseline, feet firmly planted on the ground with your body weight on the right foot. Toss the ball high enough making sure it passes your imaginary hitting plane; at the same time begin a slow shift of your weight forward to the left foot while bringing the racquet forward in a slicing motion.

When the ball meets the racquet face, your full body weight must already have shifted forward to give the required pace to the ball. Make sure that when you serve, the racquet should be traveling directly towards the court at an angle in order to impart the necessary twist to bring the ball in play at your opponent’s side of the court.

Remember, two of the most important ingredients of an effective serve are the flexibility of the wrist and the twisting of the upper body from right to left as the ball is hit towards the receiver’s service court. These two movements alone can ensure that your serve will land within the boundaries of your opponent’s service court.

A common error of beginners is to foot-fault during the serve. This happens when the server’s foot touches any part of the baseline before the ball is hit. To avoid this, always keep your feet planted on the ground before the service motion. Do not anticipate your service movement by stepping forward on the line before the ball is in play, otherwise, you are liable to lose your serve due to foot faults and not because of a good return!