by Patrick Markey

Created on: January 15, 2010   Last Updated: January 16, 2010

Tennis is said to be a game you can participate in for a lifetime.  The great thing about playing tennis is the ability to improve your tennis training at your own pace.  Tennis is a complex game that revolves around proper stroke technique, physical agility and mental toughness.  Start today on a path to a more developed tennis game.

Find a hitting partner that is better than you.  Playing tennis regularly with better players will get you farther than you know.  Playing with players that are at or on the low end of your skill level will not help you develop those strokes that better players have.  This idea is not new but implementing it might be tough.  Generally most players don’t want to be hitting balls with someone that can’t return their shots.   Try your local courts, an online tennis match finder for your area or inquire at your local tennis club.

Accessing your current level of skills and understanding the next skill set is helpful.  The USTA NTRP tennis ratings are a way to assess your current skills.  If you are planning on playing on any tennis teams it would be a good idea to get rated.  The process is fairly simple and usually done in your local city.  Receiving a NTRP rating will help gauge your current abilities and give you ideas on what areas need improvement.

Learn current stroke techniques early on before your muscle memory takes over.  Many beginning tennis players start off hitting the ball around and never actually learn the proper technique to hit a tennis ball.  Learning proper technique can save you years of practice and keep you less prone to tennis injuries.  Follow professional tennis and analyze players like Roger Federer and watch live practice sessions for a better understanding of stroke techniques.

Find resources to guide your game. A tennis instruction DVD, online tennis instructions, tennis training videos, tennis channel specials and ball machines can all improve your game quickly.  Read as much as you can about playing strategies and ways to improve your speed and skills.

Tennis equipment is an important component that also can help improve your tennis game.  Tennis shoes and rackets need periodic replacement and tuning up.  Visit your local tennis pro shop or an online retailer for more information. 

Find resources at your local tennis club or through the United States Tennis Association.  Some other resources that might help your search are included here:

www.usta.com www.tenniswarehouse.com www.tennismates.com www.amazon.com www.tennismindgame.com

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