To be particularly good in a sport, you need to have the right strategies, techniques, skills and the right tactics. In this report I will be explaining all the ways used to be successful in the playing of these sports.
Skills
The ready position is extremely important in tennis. It gets your body set up to return serve, play groundstrokes and make volleys. It allows you to push off to the ball with a lot of acceleration in as short a time as possible. It also starts the shot off technically - if your ready position is wrong then you have little chance with the rest of the shot.
Steps:-
1. Both hands need to start on the racquet, this allows quick grip changes and stronger, earlier body rotation for the shot.
2. Your feet need to be at least shoulder width apart with your head forwards, facing into the court.
Bend your knees slightly, this lowers your centre of gravity and stores all the energy in your muscles.
3. As your opponent strikes the ball try to bounce onto your toes for extra spring in your legs. The timing of this is really important. It's difficult to master but if you get it right it will allow you to accelerate in any direction at maximum speed the moment you see the ball.
4. After hitting the ball return to the centre of the court and the ready position as soon as possible.
Grips
Your grip will depend on the type of shot you play. There are two basic types to choose from for both the backhand and the forehand. Choose a style you find most comfortable. You will know you have it right when your racquet comes to feel as a natural extension of your arm. The examples given are for right-handers - if you are left-handed simply do things the opposite way round.
Forehand:-
This is the most simple, natural and reliable grip and the one most beginners should use.
It is known as the eastern grip or hand-shake grip because as you take hold of the racquet it should feel as if you are shaking hands with another person.
Curl your fingers around the grip near the base so your thumb and index finger form a 'V' along the top right edge of the handle.
This grip places the palm of the hand directly behind the handle. As you follow the racquet through on the forehand side, it should feel almost as if your hand is hitting the ball.
Advanced Forehand:-
Experienced players use a more advanced forehand grip known as the semi-western.
It is the grip used by most of the professionals on the tennis tour because it is the best way to add top spin to the shot.
Andre Agassi, Jennifer Capriati and Martina Hingis, who have three of the best forehands in the business, all use it.
In the eastern grip the palm sits behind the handle, with this grip it lies underneath.
This time your thumb and forefinger form a 'V' pointing into the side of the handle.
An easy way to find this grip is to simply put your racket on the floor and to pick it up by the grip.
It will feel awkward at first but once mastered, it will allow you to return high bouncing balls with more power and aggression than a normal grip. However, it is not so suitable for grass courts, where the ball often keeps very low.
One-handed backhand:-
To play a one-handed backhand shot, place the palm of your hand on top of the handle then move the racquet inwards a quarter turn.
The thumb should fall diagonally across the back of the grip, though some players wrap it all the way round.
The direction does not matter but it is important that the inside of the thumb is touching the flat part of the handle.
An easy way to find this grip is to put the racquet under your left arm with the handle sticking out forwards. Grab hold of the grip and pull the racquet out. You should then have the correct grip for a one-handed, topspin backhand.
Two-handed backhand:-
Beginners are encouraged to learn to play shots on the backhand side with two hands.
The two-handed backhand grip gives extra strength and control than a one-handed grip, especially for junior players.It is also easier to hit top spin.
On the downside, it gives you less reach and you need more time to prepare than with a single-handed shot.
So it is important if you use a two-handed backhand that you also develop a one-handed slice as another option.
The simplest way to form the doubled-handed grip is to hold the racquet with your writing hand in the shake-hands forehand grip, then add the other hand with another forehand grip.
Once you have mastered that, start to nudge your right hand more onto the top of the grip.
This will allow you to hit with more power and spin.
Your hands should be pushed up against each other, but not overlapping.
Serve and Volley:-
This is the grip to hold the racquet for the serve, volley, sliced backhand and smash.
It is known as the chopper grip, because it is the way you would hold an axe.
It allows you to swing the racquet head faster when serving, which is how to add more power and spin.
To find the grip, hold the racquet as if you were using the edge of the frame as an axe, that should be the correct grip.
The V of your thumb and forefinger should be just to the left of the top of the grip.
Shots
Serve:-
To be successful in the modern game of tennis, players have to have an effective serve.
They have to be able to hit the ball hard but also with amazing accuracy.
The more points you can take on your serve with service winners and aces, the harder you will be to beat.
Steps:-
1. It is the one shot in tennis that you are in total control of, so do not waste the opportunity by rushing the serve.
Spend time getting your set-up right and getting your mind focused on what you are trying to do and where you are trying to hit the serve.
Line your feet up with where you want the ball to go.
Have your front foot at an angle but have your back foot running parallel to the baseline.
Point your racquet forwards to the target and use your spare hand to balance by lightly supporting the throat of the racquet.
Ideally, the grip should be the chopper grip.
This can be difficult to begin with, so it is fine to have a slight forehand grip, but look to move it around as soon as possible.
2. The key from here is balance, timing and rhythm.
Raise your hands up together just a short distance then bring them down together.As you do this start to turn your body away from the court so that you are sideways onto it.
You also need to be transferring your weight from your front to back foot.
Try to feel a smooth, co-ordinated action, all the different parts of your body should be working together in co-ordination not against each other.
3. Once you have made the sideways turn and your hands have reached their lowest point, you need to separate your arms and bring them back up in different directions.
Your left arm should be straight to enable you to accurately throw the ball up in the correct spot.The ball should be slightly in front of you and to a height about six inches above your stretched racquet.
Your right arm needs to come back into a throwing position.
This is the most difficult part of the action because at the same time as co-ordinating your arms you need to transfer your weight from your back foot on to your front.
4. As the ball reaches the top of the throw up, push the racquet head towards the ball in a throwing action.Look to reach up to the ball as you hit - the higher you make contact the more power you can generate.
Try to make contact with the ball at the peak of it's height.
5. Follow through across your body, then look to recover quickly ready for your next shot
(i.e. getting back into the middle of the court).
Slice serve:-
The first spin serve to develop is the slice serve or 'slider'.
It happens when the racquet face brushes around the side of the ball.
This results in the ball spinning and it takes the ball out wide which often means the receiver has to run right out of the court to return the ball.
It is all down to where you place the ball in your throw up.
1. To hit a slice serve the ball needs to be in front of you.If you place it a little more to the right (to the left for left-handers) can also help generate more spin.
2. As you jump upwards to hit the ball, slide the racquet face around the outside of the ball.
You should hear a different sound as the strings brush across the ball, adding the spin.
You shouldn't hear much sound as you aren't hitting the ball but just brushing past it, adding as little contact as possible for that extra spin.
3. Try to stay relaxed as you hit the ball. Try to feather the ball and glide the serve rather than smash into it.
This will help you get more swing and angle to the stroke.
Power serve:-
All the best servers hit the ball with immense power.
The key to serving at 100mph or over is taking all the power you can create in your body, and putting it into the racquet speed, which eventually goes into the ball.
The key to transferring power effectively is balance and timing.
Work on creating a smooth rhythm then build up the speed gradually.
1. If you want to hit with more power you need to throw the ball further in front of you.
This will help get your body weight moving forwards into the court.
As your left arm starts to move up drive your left knee forwards, feel the hand and knee move together.
This will start to drive your body weight forwards into the court. It also means your legs will be slightly bent too.
2. As the ball reaches the top of the throw up, drive your legs up and forwards to the ball.
This will transfer power from the legs into the shot and will also give you more height allowing you to hit the ball even harder.Work on developing your throwing action.
As you turn your body away from the court, move your elbow back into a throwing position, making sure that your shoulder is open and feels slightly stretched.
3. As you go to hit the ball your body and elbow should start to move first, this leaves your hand and the racquet trailing behind.
To increase power on the serve, hit the ball with only a small amount of spin.
4. To make the stroke a more powerful serve ensure that the racquet face squares up to the ball on impact.
This is done by turning your hand and forearm out slightly as you accelerate to the contact point.
This squares the racquet face up and also creates even more head acceleration.
Make sure you have got the right grip throughout the serve as it is very important to how all this works.
5. Once you've hit the ball, that's not it... don't waste all that power. Let the momentum carry you onto the court.
Watch how players like Roger Federer follow their serves into the net ready to react to the return with a volley.
Topspin serve:-
The top-spin or 'kick' serve is created by the racket face brushing up the back of the ball.
It creates a serve that loops higher over the net and then dips down into the court.
It can device the opposition, as the ball will swing from right to left in the air (for a right hander) but as it bounces the spin will bite into the court and it will kick high and to the right.
This makes it ideal as a second serve as the looped flight path makes it safe yet the kick on the bounce forces the receiver back and usually on their weaker backhand return.
1. To hit the kick serve you have to have the correct chopper grip.
If you nudge it a bit further around the grip to a slight backhand grip then you can generate even more spin on the ball (this isn't what we want in this stroke).
Bring the ball placement back slightly and to the left (right if you are left handed), almost as if you were trying to land the ball on your head.
2. As you go to hit the ball, arch your back more.
Hold your sideways turn longer and accelerate the racket head up the back of the ball.
Your swing path should be more in line with the baseline rather than forwards into the court.
3. Do not worry where the ball ends up to begin with.
Look to create the loopy direction and develop it from there.
Strategies & Techniques
Strategies and skills categorise the same things, so put them both into action together to achieve that high standard.
Forehand
The modern forehand is one of the most spectacular and devastating shots in the game.
With modern technology and techniques, today's players can use it to hit winners from almost any position on the court.
1.Starting from the ready position, drive off from the legs and look to get to the ball as soon as possible.
As you push off, prepare by turning both your hands towards the ball.
This will rotate the shoulders and upper body away from the ball, storing up energy that will soon be used to create power.
2. Look to bring the racquet head back in a loop.
Think of a circular type movement as you lift it up as you bring it back then drop it lower as you start to accelerate forwards.
3. The key to producing real power is to fire all your different muscles into the shot together.
Start from the legs, then the hips, your shoulder, arm and finally your wrist.
If timed right, all these different muscle groups will combine to produce huge racquet head speed that will send the ball flying.
4. The forward swing of the racquet should be from low to high.
You should be looking to make contact with the ball at around waist height.
As you get more confident, have a go meeting it slightly higher.
This will enable you to get more power into the shot and get further into the court which will put your opponent under even more pressure, making him vunerable.
Bachand Shots
One-handed:-
The one-handed backhand looks like one of the hardest shots in tennis.
But with a bit of practice, it can become one of the most satisfying shots in the game.
Not only is it a very useful, defensive tool but the best tennis players use it as a devastating weapon to attack.
1. From the ready position, twist your racquet into your preferred grip as you begin your backswing by turning your hips and shoulders.
Step out towards the line of the ball, shifting all your weight to the outside foot.
2. Step forward with your inside foot and begin shifting your weight onto it as you start the forward swing.
Aim to meet the ball in front of you, preferably at about waist height.
Do not wait for it to reach your side.
3. Hit through the ball as you bring most of your weight onto your front foot.
Use your whole body - your legs, torso, and body weight should all be contributing to your shot.
Do not make your arm do all of the work.
Especially important with a one-handed backhand is to get extra power by pushing up and forward with your legs as you hit the ascending ball.
4. Keep your weight on the front foot until after contact and remain balanced during the follow-through and recovery.
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Statistics show that the double-handed backhand is now the dominant choice among professional players.
It gives more power and control on return of serve and on high balls, which are two crucial areas in the modern game.
STEP ONE
As you start to move turn your shoulders towards the ball, use your wrists and arms to lay the racquet head back.
Keep turning until your racquet head is pointing towards the back fence and at about waist height.
The further you lay the racket head back the more power you can create.
You will notice that top players turn their shoulders so far that their opponent is able to read what is on the back of their shirt.
Watch out though - the bigger the turn, the more difficult it is to control.
STEP TWO
The key from here is to stay relaxed and feel that you are hitting through the ball with your body.
If you tense up the shot will feel awkward and you'll just end up forcing the ball with your arms and create no power.
A great way to develop this feeling is to practice a few shots just with your left hand (or right hand if you play with your left).
This will help you feel the role that the body plays.
The role of your arms is largely to transfer the power stored in your legs, shoulders and torso into the racquet. |
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Statistics show that the double-handed backhand is now the dominant choice among professional players.
It gives more power and control on return of serve and on high balls, which are two crucial areas in the modern game.
STEP ONE
As you start to move turn your shoulders towards the ball, use your wrists and arms to lay the racquet head back.
Keep turning until your racquet head is pointing towards the back fence and at about waist height.
The further you lay the racket head back the more power you can create.
You will notice that top players turn their shoulders so far that their opponent is able to read what is on the back of their shirt.
Watch out though - the bigger the turn, the more difficult it is to control.
STEP TWO
The key from here is to stay relaxed and feel that you are hitting through the ball with your body.
If you tense up the shot will feel awkward and you'll just end up forcing the ball with your arms and create no power.
A great way to develop this feeling is to practice a few shots just with your left hand (or right hand if you play with your left).
This will help you feel the role that the body plays.
The role of your arms is largely to transfer the power stored in your legs, shoulders and torso into the racquet. |
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2. The key from here is to stay relaxed and feel that you are hitting through the ball with your body.
If you tense up, the shot will feel awkward and you'll just end up forcing the ball with your arms and create no power.
A great way to develop this feeling is to practice a few shots just with your left hand (or right hand if you play with your left).
This will help you feel the role that the body plays.
The role of your arms is largely to transfer the power stored in your legs, shoulders and torso into the racquet.
3. Your footwork at this stage is very important.
As you get to the ball, look to load up on the left foot (right hander) and then transfer your weight forwards onto your right just before you hit.
Don't step across with your right foot as this will send you off balance.
4. If you get the footwork right you will feel the shot start from your legs, then rotate the left side of your body through the ball.
Combine this with a low-to-high arm-swinging motion.
Sometimes the rotation that you create will be so much that you will start to spin around on the follow through.
If this happens you've cracked it, the rotation will create power but will also help you recover back quicker.
Slice
The slice is created by the racquet head brushing down the back of the ball.
The spin creates a lower, flatter direction over the net and makes the ball stay low off the bounce.
Henman uses his backhand slice to approach the net; the spin keeps the ball low forcing his opponents to hit up giving him an easier volley to finish off the rally and win the point.
The Williams sisters use the backhand slice as a defensive shot when stretched out wide.
It is easier to play on the stretch, and again the low bounce will make it more difficult for opponents to attack.
1. As with all the groundstrokes the key is in the preparation. For the backhand slice you need to use the continental grip. To find this put the V between your thumb and index finger on the edge of your racquet's frame.
Then slide your hand down the frame to the grip - this will be the correct grip.
Your spare hand should be holding the racquet lightly at the throat.
2. As you turn to your backhand, the shot starts to change from the top spin.
The moment that you see the ball heading to your backhand take the racquet back by turning your shoulders.
As you turn, bring the racquet head up high with your non-hitting hand, almost bringing the racquet strings behind your head.
3. As you get in position load the weight onto your back foot
and then as the ball starts to arrive transfer the weight onto the front foot and lean into the shot.
The racquet swing should be a knifing action down from high to low skimming the racquet strings down the back of the ball - this should really make the ball 'fizz' with all the backspin.
4. Try to add to the high to low swing by extending the racquet head out through the ball towards the target.
Feel your spare hand extend out behind you as a balance to the forwards swing.
Volleying
The volley is the most demanding shot in tennis.
It is the most difficult, because it requires players to be exceptionally athletic and calls for lightning reactions.
By coming forwards in the court you are putting huge pressure on your opponent and also opening up all the angles - making winners much easier.
It can be a gamble though.
You have less time to cover the width of the court.
Drop Shot
As players hit with more power and more top spin the drop shot has become increasingly effective as a surprise change. Use this when you have forced your opponent back behind the baseline with a series of deep and powerful shots.
Then surprise them with a shot that just goes over the net with some backspin to kill the bounce.
Smash
The smash is the shot that the professional players hardly ever miss, and that club players rarely get right.
The main reason for that is practice!
It is a hugely important one to practise though, especially if you like to volley.
The stroke is quite simple.
It is basically a serve but you're not tossing the ball.
The opponent is hitting it upwards.
Through The Legs
The between the legs shot is played when you have been lobbed and are chasing the ball back from the net.
As you reach the ball, rather than trying to flick it around the side of your body, you stay facing away from the net and hit the ball back between your legs.
When it was first seen in professional tennis, it was viewed as being a shot that was used to show off.
But now it is a common and effective way of getting the ball back in play.
It takes a lot of practising to master the stroke.
Tactics
For the top players, the grass season lasts no more than four weeks and as it immediately follows the French Open, most players who lose in the early rounds at Roland Garros will head to Britain to begin their preparation for Wimbledon.
 Players must contend with low skidding balls and irregular bounces |
They have a very short time to change from the high bounce of the slow clay court to the unpredictability of the grass where the average rally in a men's match is four strokes.
In addition the playing characteristics of the game can change daily depending on the weather, the amount of play the court has had and the length of the grass.
The bounce is generally fast and low so the ability to shorten backswings, serve and volley well and use slice will all contribute to grass court success.
Playing on grass demands that you come up with effective solutions to the following challenges:
The ball bounces low and often skids
The court is often slippery
There are often bad bounces
Top players make it a target to finish the points off quickly and allow the ball to bounce as little as possible on their side of the net.
Younger players should also follow this tactic.
It's important to move in after the serve or the mid-court ball and win the point with a volley or overhead.
The slipperiness demands using a lot of small adjustment steps to get in to the correct position. You will probably need to lower your centre of gravity to get down to the low or bad bounce.
| "It's worth investing in a pair of grass court shoes -the ones with the little pimples on the soles. These will really help you to get a better grip on what can be a slippery surface " |
That means bending your knees!
Quick adjustments in the swing pattern and footwork are constantly needed so any movement or co-ordination weaknesses will show up immediately.
And as points are often short, it is important to keep good focus. Any lapse of concentration can lead to a service break.
On grass the serve and return plays a huge part in determining the outcome of the point, so it is very important to use your serve effectively.
At the beginning of the grass season, the grass tends to be a bit longer and the courts can be quite soft as they have not been often used and there has not been enough sunshine to harden them up.
If this is the case, try to use the slice serve to keep the ball low.
Henman has had his best success on grass |
Later in the season, if the court is hard and the grass is shorter, the flat serve will work better as the courts will be faster.
Top spin second serves will be more effective too as the ball will bounce higher.
Don't forget the body serve, especially if the court is uneven. A slice body serve on grass can be almost impossible to return.
You may also find the following tactics useful:
Serve wide with a bit of slice and attack to the open court. The grass and the slice will keep the ball low, taking your opponent out of position and making it very tough to hurt you with the return.
Attack up the lines. Try to take control of the point by hitting hard, flat and deep up the line off short and mid-court balls. The ball travels very fast off the grass when hit flat, forcing your opponent to defend. Be prepared to follow that shot in so you can put the ball away with a volley or overhead.
Use the drop shot, short slice and stop/drop volleys on grass. If you use these shots effectively, they should land in the areas of the court which are soft and therefore will hardly bounce! Players tend not to play in the front half of the service box so this area of the court does not harden up in the same way as the rest of the court.
By Mayowa Oloke
Practice keeping your chin over your front foot until a second or two after the ball has gone.
Do not try to force it - you will hit the ball harder with a loose, quick motion.
The racquet head is six times heavier than the ball - let it do the work!
Allow your momentum take you into position for your next shot.
Two-handed:-
Statistics show that the double-handed backhand is now the main choice among professional players.
It gives more power and control on return of serve and on high-coming balls, which are two important areas in the modern game.
1. As you start to move, turn your shoulders towards the ball, use your wrists and arms to lay the racquet head backwards.
Keep turning until your racquet head is pointing towards the back fence and at about waist height.
The further you lay the racket head back the more power you can create.
You will notice that top players turn their shoulders so far that their opponent is able to read what is on the back of their shirt!
Watch out though - the bigger the turn, the more difficult it is to control.
slightly forward, but not too much otherwise you'll pike. As long as you're tight, this "lift" of your chest will give you the rotation you need to flip to your feet without arching.
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