As you warm up for the match, notice if you are able to see the spin on the ball before you meet the ball or if you can see a “yellow streak” into and out of your racquet.  If you can see either of these consistently in the warm up – you are probably focused enough to start the match with good results.

2.) Move like the pros… 

The pros average 10-12 steps between each ball they contact.  How about you? Want to be a better player?  Add 2 more steps to your footwork between each ball you hit.  Strokes will improve, speed to the ball will be faster and your intensity will stay high.

3.) Get a grip on your game. 

Practice your ground strokes or volleys with the tightest grip you have (call it level 5) now go to level 4, then 3 then 2 then just barely holding the racquet in your hand level 1.  The pros use mostly level 2 and 3 on their grip tension.  You will not be able to follow through with a grip tension of 5 or 4 on your ground strokes and your volleys with vary between going long and dying on the strings with a 5 or 4 grip tension.  The next time your player misses a shot or has an unusual finish to their shot, ask them to identify their grip tension.  Keep it light for success.

4.) Breathe for success… 

Most errors come from not breathing as you contact the ball which can cause a whole host of errors from no finish to a stroke to feeling fatigue even when you are in good condition.  Do it like you would if you were lifting weights, breathe as you exert your effort – blow the ball off your racquet.  It helps to breathe as your opponent contacts the ball as well so you breathe twice during a point.  You will feel relaxed, have a sense of timing and seldom tire in a match.

5.) Out of sync? 

Try counting as you meet the ball and when your opponent contacts their shot.  Counting at the exact moment of contact with improve your focus, sense of timing, breathing and keep your mind focused in the moment.  Hear the rhythm, as you count you begin to recognize the rhythm of a rally, relax at contact and stay focused on the task at hand.

Photo Credits: heraldpost

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The goal is to place one’s body in a position that is relaxing, yet permits the greatest yield in performance. For the game of tennis, one can find the posture as the professionals all know it by heart, whether they are aware of fact or not. Look at a professional match, and note the players posture before serving, returning the ball and setting up their shots. Try to memorize the posture, without picking it apart. The idea is you want to subconsciously memorize the posture, so that the next time you are in a game, focusing your thoughts there will allow the body to fall into the posture.

What will happen is that the back will straighten, breathing will be easier, the head will be better supported, and your confidence will boost greatly. With greater confidence, comes greater game play, and you will relax even more. The benefit to assuming good posture results in quicker and more accurate serves, faster response times and more powerful returns on tennis serves. It is mostly about not tensing up, since to do so will end up putting extra strain and fatigue on you while you play.

It is somewhat difficult to put so much value into something as simple as posture, but watching the pros, they all have it. It is the secret that can help people improve their game, so long as they put the work in. Failure will come often as the newer player will lose their posture easily. Getting it back is just as easy, but it will result in the chance for an error to occur. Practice in employing the posture, and maintaining it, even as you are running back and forth on the court trying to keep up.

Being able to maintain posture is a great way to improve one’s tennis game. It not only builds the confidence that a tennis player can need, but also their technique in placing themselves for a return, adding power to their serve, and other skill boosts. That is the first key to your better tennis game. Make sure that you practice, and that you don’t forget to keep you posture while playing. In the early stages, you body will tend to revert, but once you have made it a part of your game, it can do nothing but help.

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