Tennis is a very technical sport. It takes a lot of form, power, strategy, and agility. So let's get into it!
First you'll need a racquet
This is mine:
[img]http://www.tennisrackets.tv/wp-content/uploads/Image/2008/Babolat%20Aero%20Pro%20Drive%20Cortex%20Racket%20pic.jpg[/img]
It's a Babolat Aero Pro Drive yo. It's light and it puts spin on almost any shot. Very sexy would recommend.
If you're looking at racquets I would recommend getting a Prince, Head, or Babolat. They really make the best ones. The size and the weight matter a lot too. It really depends on your own playing style so if you don't know it yet try experimenting. A lot of racquet shops let you rent racquets.
Next you'll need some (real) tennis shoes
Here's what I use:
[img]http://www.thegadgetguycolumn.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Babolat-Mens-Propulse-2-Titanium-Roddick-Shoe-Blk.jpg[/img]
The reason I say real tennis shoes is because the term tennis shoe is pretty loosely thrown around. The most prominent aspect of tennis shoes are that they support your ankles because a majority of the sport involves quick bursts of side-to-side movement.
Ok so let's cover a little of the basics
There are there are three (basic) kinds of shots.
forehand:
[img]http://www.yocto-tennis-club.com/images/Tennis-Strokes-Forehand.jpg[/img]
The forehand is a shot that you hit with your prominent hand (so it depends on if you're a lefty or right handed). It's a fluid movement and you should follow it through across your body. For most people it's the easiest stroke to learn because it is a fairly natural movement.
backhand:
[img]http://blue.utb.edu/jloff/1127/ch2/images/gugaall.jpg[/img]
The back hand is a shot you take on your less prominent side (so if you are right handed then the shot will start on your left side and once again you will follow through to the opposite end of your body from where you started.
Slice:
[img]http://thesportshighway.com/Index_files/slice.jpg[/img]
This is a tricky shot that can be done on either the forehand or backhand (most people only use backhanded slices but there are a few who do utilize forehand slices, especially for drop shots (which is basically a shot that is meant to land close to the net on your opponent's side in order to make them run/make them tired/to score an easy point)) Here's a video on how to perform a proper slice because it's a little hard to explain.
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cMCzECUjfLU[/media]
Ok now to discuss the scoring of tennis which is probably one of the most retarded scoring systems ever.
First you win points which goes like this:
Love, 15, 30, 40, Game
Typically, whoever gets to six games (and wins by two games) wins the set
for most professional tennis at least you have to win the best out of five sets. That takes a pretty long ass time in most circumstances so most people play best out of three or even just one set.
I'll add more to the thread if necessary. I have been playing for about 4-5 years and I am self taught. It's a horribly frustrating sport but it's also probably one of the most gratifying when you do well. I recommend it to anyone, it's fast pace and adrenaline pumping.
Thanks for reading!
I currently own the one shown in the picture of Federer, used to love Babolats but my old one developed a crack in on side and eventually snapped off .
Tennis is all about the technique!
ForeHand - Nice top spin grip although i wouldnt recomend an extreme one like nadals because his wrists are fucked when hes older,
- For right handers left shoulder needs to be facing the net and opposite for lefties, weight on your front foot, knees bent and brush up the ball as you hit to get maximum spin adn make sure you accelerate through the ball all the way
- movement should be from low to high in all situtations, if the ball is around shoulder/head height you will have to brush up the ball much more.
- the ball should be struck to the side and infront of your body
Back hand is vertually the same except opposite shoulders and feet position. a one handed back hand greatly increases the risk of tennis elbow so a double handed back hand is best and more versatile. Slice should be used for back hand return serves and to change the pace of a rally
I use a babolat Purestorm GT and wear barricade 5s
I have a head liquidmetal raquet. I love it.
I love Tennis, but the only people who play at the clubs are people who play for county or are just amazing because they've played for so long.
I might get into it this summer though. since i'll have mega amounts of free time.
ahh, I hate grips. My grip is all messed up from badminton in gym class, so when I hold it continental it feels wrong.
Bro, I feel ya. I play racquetball p frequently and it always messes up my tennis game.
I've always found tennis fun, though all of coaches and whatnot say I'm the most unorthodox player they've ever seen. I do everything "wrong," but I still do really damn well. It kind of fucks with people because I love sitting in the famed "no man's land" and I do just fine from there.
However, I never really got a serious workout from it. I've played games that have lasted fucking hours, but those brought on more of a sleepy kind of tired than a muscle tired. It's just not nearly as demanding of sport as football and whatnot. Still tons of fun and a good way to work up a sweat.
Also, I've never liked light rackets. I'd pick a heavy 15 dollar racket over a super light 300 dollar one any day.
It depends on how good the person you play is. If you have someone hitting completely cross court from you or a bunch of lob/drop shots than you'll def get a good work out. It can be really fucking tiring especially if you play a five setter.
There are some really nice heavy racquets. It's all really preference.
I've ran back and forth for entire matches.
Still, tennis courts aren't very big. I've gotten some alright workouts from it, but nothing too tiring.
you're not really restricted to just the court. If your opponent hits a nicely angled shot you can end up running well off the court.
I'm fat, though. So it could just be me.
I just won my second intramurals doubles match in the tournament. I'm predicting that my bud and I will prob make it to the semi's atleast. We're playing pretty well and won 8-3 this match. I got a singles match this week to schedule too.
WORD
I hate my serves. Either I get 80% of them in one day, 20% the next. Also anyone know any good places to get tennis rackets, preferably from a store and not online?
Also does anyone play on their school team?
I didn't learn how to serve correctly until my senior year of high school. Didn't stop me from doing well in tournaments, I just had to resort to some cheap tactics.
I used to keep an old "dead" ball in my pocket during games for when I needed to serve in clutch situations. Would just bring out the dead ball and dink it over the net. Everyone returning a lobbed serve like that expects it to bounce pretty well, but that ball would barely bounce at all. Since I was way more physically imposing than the other players at tournaments, nobody ever challenged it.
It was cheap, but it worked, haha.
[QUOTE=MaverickIB;29049967]I didn't learn how to serve correctly until my senior year of high school. Didn't stop me from doing well in tournaments, I just had to resort to some cheap tactics.
I used to keep an old "dead" ball in my pocket during games for when I needed to serve in clutch situations. Would just bring out the dead ball and dink it over the net. Everyone returning a lobbed serve like that expects it to bounce pretty well, but that ball would barely bounce at all. [b] Since I was way more physically imposing than the other players at tournaments, nobody ever challenged it.[/b]
It was cheap, but it worked, haha.[/QUOTE]
lolololololllooollll
[QUOTE=MaverickIB;29049967] Since I was way more physically imposing than the other players at tournaments, nobody ever challenged it.
[/QUOTE]
oh my god.
LOL you full of yoself, MAV
So can anyone recommend a good racket or something? Preferably under $75 USD.
[QUOTE=Binsky;29052988]LOL you full of yoself, MAV[/QUOTE]
Um, that wasn't really an opinion or anything, that's just fact. I was way bigger than any other kid at my tennis tournaments. Virtually everyone I played against was some really scrawny kid or a fat one, I never, literally never, played against someone that had the build of a football player.
Hell, I remember sticking out my hand to shake hands after a game on a few occasions and the other guys flinched. Doesn't help that I am a very verbal tennis player, I cuss and get pissed a lot, but I get that way in every sport.
Maverick this is gentlemen's sport no cussing.
[QUOTE=MaverickIB;29054118]Um, that wasn't really an opinion or anything, that's just fact. I was way bigger than any other kid at my tennis tournaments. Virtually everyone I played against was some really scrawny kid or a fat one, I never, literally never, played against someone that had the build of a football player.
Hell, I remember sticking out my hand to shake hands after a game on a few occasions and the other guys flinched. Doesn't help that I am a very verbal tennis player, I cuss and get pissed a lot, but I get that way in every sport.[/QUOTE]
haha oh wow
[QUOTE=MaverickIB;29054118]Um, that wasn't really an opinion or anything, that's just fact. I was way bigger than any other kid at my tennis tournaments. Virtually everyone I played against was some really scrawny kid or a fat one, I never, literally never, played against someone that had the build of a football player.
Hell, I remember sticking out my hand to shake hands after a game on a few occasions and the other guys flinched. Doesn't help that I am a very verbal tennis player, I cuss and get pissed a lot, but I get that way in every sport.[/QUOTE]
I don't think you understand. It's one thing to be bigger than them but another to think that they're afraid of you. It makes you sound like you're full of yourself and gives the impression that you think people are in awe of your might or something. That may not be your intention but that's how it comes off.
Also, I yell many profanities when I play. It's a fucking frustrating sport. I would get fined up the wall if I played in the pros lol
I am pretty sure that is exactly what he intended.
I gotta practice my serves. I have most of it apart from actually hitting it, I'm using my arm instead of my wrists.
[editline]8th April 2011[/editline]
My coach is pretty great though, he bags on football because he said that football is a walk in the park compared to tennis, just go there and hit that guy. But I really enjoy tennis and I think the coach is at least part of the reason.
[QUOTE=FalcoLombardi;29049618]I hate my serves. Either I get 80% of them in one day, 20% the next. Also anyone know any good places to get tennis rackets, preferably from a store and not online?
Also does anyone play on their school team?[/QUOTE]
I've never bought from a store. Always online. At least for me, I play on my schools team so I'll try others' raquets. And once you know what your grip size is, online shopping isn't too much of a problem.
I think this was the racket I used. Except mine was yellow, not neon green.
[IMG]http://www.academy.com/images/products/400/0445/0445-40490-0004-P2.jpg[/IMG]
Five-dollar lumbering bastard. Eventually, the strings got so loose that I could be charging the net appearing to be going for a full-force swing, making them back up. Except when the ball hit it, it would just plop down right on the other side of the net.
I won a lot of games simply by being a scheming bastard, which was the only way I could win against guys that had years upon years of experience and coaching.
I just started playing a few weeks ago, fun sport.
[QUOTE=MaverickIB;29063069]I think this was the racket I used. Except mine was yellow, not neon green.
[img_thumb]http://www.academy.com/images/products/400/0445/0445-40490-0004-P2.jpg[/img_thumb]
Five-dollar lumbering bastard. Eventually, the strings got so loose that I could be charging the net appearing to be going for a full-force swing, making them back up. Except when the ball hit it, it would just plop down right on the other side of the net.
I won a lot of games simply by being a scheming bastard, which was the only way I could win against guys that had years upon years of experience and coaching.[/QUOTE]
It looks yellow to me. And I don't get why you wouldn't either get it restrung or get a new racket, you could just slow down right before you made contact, that way you could still hit it hard if you needed to.
Slowing down gives them the hint to start running up. I don't know about you, but I can always tell when someone is trying to fake me out and go for a drop shot. I play almost exclusively at the net, so I didn't need to worry about not having the power for long shots. When I did need to hit from farther back, I did just fine muscling it.
But I didn't restring it mostly because I am lazy and didn't care enough to, haha.
I've got a singles match for the Tourney this week. Get pumpedddd
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