The tennis footwork- Get it right

Ana Ivanovic doing her forehand footwork

Footwork in tennis plays a major part in the effectiveness of your shots. As you’ve already read The Art of The Forehand and The Backhand , you should know that particularly for beginners, getting your footwork right will play an important role in how easily you return the ball.
For this reason, we have chosen to take a close look at the basic footwork that all tennis players require.

Want to learn tennis? ; Amazing; 4 simple steps to help you start playing tennis
What does it involve?
Footwork for the forehand, if you are a right handed person will essentially involve three steps.
 The ready position
The ready position or stance is one of the most natural positions all players adapt when playing tennis. The approach may be slightly different for each person but, it involves basically the same concepts and ideas.
  In tennis, being ready for the ball means that the player is in a comfortable position where he/she is facing the net with the racket in their hand in such a way that they can hit the ball when it arrives with their forehand or backhand, depending on where the ball goes. In the ready position, the player will need to have maximum concentration as this is the only time they have before the ball arrives.
A great tip to get you to be in the ready position more easily is to spread out your feet just so you are at ease for the arrival of the ball. Next, you would want to bend your knees a little because this helps you to get more easily into the right position when you are making contact with the arriving ball.

Contact with the ball
Now, when the ball arrives, the player moves their left foot across their right foot, such that their side is towards their opponent, they move in for the ball with this positioning and swing the racket across their shoulders fully. The key detail of the footwork at this stage is that, the player must not move in too closely from the ball or be too much further away from the ball either. They would want to find a perfect position just about enough for them to swing their arm with ease with an option of sending the ball where they want it to go instead of just hitting it back to their opponent. If a player does this footwork right and swings their arm fully, they stand a good chance of hitting a good forehand.

Adrian Mannari -backhand footwork

For more insight on the way to swing, read The Art of the Forehand

Recovery
Now that they have hit the ball, the next thing to do is to quickly move back into the ready position again. That means, they move their feet back to face the net and the racket in their hands in the “Crab” hold so that they can move in for your forehand or backhand when the ball is in their court. They then shuffle back to the baseline still keeping an eye on the ball. Recovery in tennis can make a huge difference when you start playing with people with people with different play styles. The extent of your recovery can sometimes determine the ease with which you can take the next ball.

Backhand footwork is not much different from the forehand, in this; the player moves their right foot in instead. I will be posting a short video on the footwork to guide you through the basic steps. However, if you do have any difficulty with it, contact me and I’ll be more than glad to help.

You may want to check out: Packing your backhand-Improve your tennis backhand the right way

Now that you know the basics, go out there, make sure you feel comfortable with the steps, try it out and have a blast! Tennis is fun so adding a new skill to improve your efficiency only makes it more interesting.

Packing your backhand- Improve your tennis backhand the right way

What is the Backhand?

For right handed tennis players, a backhand involves the player swinging from the left side of your body, across your chest and over your right shoulder. This may be done with either one hand and thus is known as the one-handed backhand or with both hands and is known as the double handed backhand.
The choice of which to use is usually a choice of the player. Most players of the game who go for a little more power on their backhand prefer the single backhand as opposed to people who seek a higher consistency and higher chance of landing the ball in the court and go for the double handed backhand.

Vera Zvonerenka playing the double handed backhand

How do I play the Backhand?

To play a good backhand, one needs to first be ready for the ball. So it is advisable that the player is in the ready position for the backhand. The ready position is where the player faces the net with one hand firmly holding the lower end of the racket as the other holds the just a little above the other hand. This creates an angle of about 45 degrees. Most coaches call this the “Crab” hand. At this point, you are ready to play the ball. The racket face should be open during this phase.

Want to start playing tennis? Find a good sparring partner

Footwork for backhand
Now, as the ball arrives, you move your right foot in such in a way that your right side faces the net. To maximize your ball control, keep your eye on the ball all this while as you slightly bend your knees and prepare for contact with the ball.

Contact with the ball
The racket face to during this stage should be slightly closed. When the ball finally arrives, swing across your shoulder– (this is where the decision of whether you swing with the single-handed or double-handed backhand comes in). The swing across the shoulder for the single-handed backhand may not be a complete swing as the human arm can swing to only certain limits. This is one of the advantages of the double handed backhand which has more of a complete swing.

After contact

Move your right foot back again and get back into the ready position. Remember to keep your eye on the ball through every stage. This ensures you hit with higher accuracy with a good chance of directing the ball where you want it to go. Try to do some drills with your coach or sparring partner to increase your consistency and power of the shot over time.






Also for you reading;   The Giant move

My interview with Nam Nha Tho- Learn the basics

                         

Nam Nha Tho- Cathay Pacific Championships Slideshow: Tennismania’s trip from Accra, Ghana to Vietnam was created by TripAdvisor. See another Vietnam slideshow. Create a free slideshow with music from your travel photos.

If you’re a beginner looking for inspiration and a way to boost your tennis, this interview will certainly provide you with the key elements you require to get as good as you can be.
Here’s an interview granted by Nam Nha Tho, a promising contestant at the Cathay Pacific nationwide tournament that took place in Vietnam. He has played in quite a number of minor competitions over the past 3 years and hopes to continue playing in more tournaments in the future. He is a friend but most importantly, a good example of a knowledgeable tennis player willing to share his experiences with other upcoming tennis players. I believe you’ll enjoy the insights he shares with us today as you read along.

Q;  How long have you been playing tennis?

A; I've been playing for only 3 years, starting at the age of 12. My first tournament was the one I played last year and also the one in which I recorded my best performance that was, coming 6th citywide.


Q; What have been your major challenges during these three years of tennis?

A;   I’ve had many challenges. Arranging time for both school and tennis is perhaps the one of the most challenging things so far. Once you've been able to arrange time for these on your schedule, you also need to recover quickly from your training sessions fast enough to prepare for school. So for people who start playing tennis very early and want to take it up seriously, it is advisable to home school so that they can concentrate on their tennis.
There's another challenging issue which is the challenge of finding a good partner. Of course, when you're in the city team already, you have many players to play with, but if you're non-professional, it's usually hard to find a good partner to train with you.

Q; So do you have an official coach then?

A; Generally speaking, yes. As I earlier on said, I'm non-professional so I hire a coach who trains many other players, amateurs as well. He used to be a pro tennis player himself, so he understands my game. He and I combine all the drills we know into our training, but during the school year I don't practice with him regularly. We practice just about 1 or 2 hours a week only. I spend the rest of the time playing with friends.

Q; Do your friends also play in competitive tournaments with you?
What have been your best moments in the game so far?
And what keeps you motivated to play further?

A; Yes actually, there are 3 friends, including 2 junior pros, whom I play in tournaments. Besides this, I don't play with them a lot. My other friends are older, some are even adults, but I improve my game by just playing matches.
To your second question, the best moment of the game is of course, winning matches. My first competitive match ever was a win, and the feeling was ever-lasting with my fighting to come back after a rain delay.
Both wins and defeats keep you motivated. Obvious improvements in mental and technique encourage you too. Most of all, you need to have a passion. Enjoy the sport and you'll keep the fire burning.

Q; So which kind of drills do you perform with your coach to improve your mental techniques for these tournaments?

A; I read many articles on this so I know a lot. Mostly, I do drills which improve my techniques. About mental training, I'd suggest playing matches, or making practice as real as possible. Playing matches don't help you improve you weaknesses much, so playing points would be more advisable if you want to improve both techniques and mentality at a same time. Play as many tournaments as you can also.

Q;So what would you have to say to beginner tennis players out there who want to improve their play

A; Most importantly, find yourself a good partner. Practicing with coaches can be helpful, but a partner who plays better than you will help you improve a lot. Play matches with him/her, and soon you'll find yourself fit for faster paced matches.
At that stage, reduce the number of matches you play, but, practice more to consolidate and improve your play. However, even Federer is ranked no 3 now. At all events, find yourself a better partner, as you can always improve no matter how good you are already.

Nam Nha Tho at the Cathay Pacific tournament

Q; How would you describe your style of play?
    Who is your favorite player and what should we expect to see from Nam Nha Tho in the next few years?

A; I'm a rather offensive player as I take after my idol Federer. I watch him play a lot so I try to be dominant like him on court, and that normally works.
I'm training hard every day for all tournaments down the road. I'm getting into the school team and hope to play tournaments for students only, avoiding all the junior professional tournaments. I know by myself that I started tennis rather late, so the chances of being a good pro are quite small, but if any chances come, I will welcome it!

Thanks very much for having this interview. It's been a pleasure having you and we hope your words encourage other players in their quests.

Sure thanks I had a great time. It'd be lovely to talk to you again in the near future!

         
              For tips on how to achieve some of the successes achieved by Nam Nha Tho you can view my article Amazing: 4 simple steps to help you start playing tennis

Another major blow for Federer fans

        Just when everyone started becoming comfortable with the World rankings, reports indicate we could be in for several other upsets these next few months. It could be the long awaited thriller expected in the tennis world and even better, we are sure to witness this, just before this year ends. 

       When Novak Djokovic started putting up his brilliant performances late last year, most people were expecting him to rise quickly through the ranks to his current World No.1 position. What we did not expect to see was Nadal’s sudden loss of form. Being one of the toughest competitors out on the court, most of his fans thought their hero would find a way of reclaiming his spot soon after his defeat to his Serbian counterpart. With all this activity going on, Roger Federer (then no.2) was pushed out of his position to the 3rd spot on the list. His defeat to Jo-Wilfred Tsonga sparked several remarks that the 16 time Grand Slam winner could be drawing near the end of his career. There was no doubt that match sent a cold chill down the spine of even his most loyal fans. What contributed to the media frenzy was the fact that it was at centre court and on his best surface at Wimbledon that he lost such an important match.

Roger Federer

        

        Just today, Federer seems to have stepped down one more spot to his current 4^th position. Another blow dealt to his fans who wish to see the tennis star’s comeback before a possible retirement. . After Andy Murray recently defeated struggling world no.2 Rafael Nadal, momentum seems to be on his side as he beat David Ferrer in a ferocious encounter a few days back. Talking with a couple of Federer fans reveals their disappointment although they remain quite optimistic that he would make a comeback after his recovery to reclaim his position among the top three.

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While you're here, you should also read; Amazing: List of the 10 most influential tennis players of today

Simple ; 3 effective steps to improve your tennis (the essence of practice)

  Hey guys, so I watched this short but inspiring video made a mentor and friend,  at Performance Corps which touches on a how practice has aided people like you to become superstars at what they do. Enjoy!

If you enjoyed this, you may want to also check out the article Simple; 3 effective steps to improve your tennis.

Developing a play style

Are you a club tennis player trying to identify why you get beaten by certain players? Are you a beginner tennis player seeking more insight about the basic game types? If so, then this topic is designed especially for you.

Every tennis player has their own game or play-style. Learning and mastering some of the major play-styles in the game will definitely make you one of the most formidable players out there! I have tried to describe the various styles and how each one can work in your favor. Before that you might want to consider reading my previous article Tips to finding a good sparring partner.

Baseliner

To be a good baseline player, you should be able to spot a winner and take a chance on one. Being a baseline player provides you with the advantage of wearing your opponent out before the know it. It is about driving the ball into corners of the court or down the line, thus pushing your opponent into defense. Baseliners hit very hard and deep shots. Frustration sets in for an opponent playing against a baseliner, when you don’t miss or tire. This type of play is common among most pro tennis players.

Pusher/Human Backboard

This play style is one of the most effective in tennis today. It is best suited for people who play in local league matches. If you adapt the pusher’s game, you tend to increase the accuracy of your shots during a match. This play style involves mainly returning the ball into your opponent’s court. If they are not resilient, they might want to go for a hard shot or two which could result in an unforced error on their path. Pushers who are capable of hitting very low and deep shots get the job done in a match.

Taking a volley

Serve and volley
Although getting a serve right can a great difficulty for most tennis players, it can be of great advantage in a match as in the case of the serve and volley style of play. This is the player who goes out on the court to deliver very hard shots, runs quickly to the T to hit a hard volley after your return, and continues to do this in the match till they obtain maximum points.
They continue to work out the opposition till they spot a flaw, which they take advantage of. You would constantly be attacking at the net if you are in this category of players. Unforced errors by the opposition are common place for your opponent with this style. 

Counterpunch hitter and Moonballer
I know I might spark some debates for placing both these techniques in the same category. Well I did this because counterpunching players and moonballers adapt each other's game when needed. Moonballers hit with strong topspin on their balls. It can get tricky for your opposition especially if their approach time for the ball is not exactly correct. Counterpunching play as the name suggests is mainly about counter attacking the other player’s shots. It becomes difficult after some time to keep up with this player’s topspin balls and eventually most people give in.

All court king
If you’ve already made up your mind about which style of play to adopt, wait till you read this. The All-court-king is a person who manages to master a variety or all of the various skills and can adjust their play to suit them in a match. Their arsenal is always full and they have the right counter for every shot. Even among pro tennis players, few have completely mastered the art. It involves a lot of practice, but is achievable. This provides you with a wide selection of shots and moves to use when in a match.
To identify which group you belong, you can take this short quiz Which category of tennis players do you fall under?
You may also read one of my most popular articles Amazing :List of the 10 most influential tennis players of today
 

3 effective steps to build confidence in a game

Tennis was never work for me, tennis was fun. And the tougher the battle and the longer the match, the more fun I had -Jimmy Connors

       So, how was that first game? Hope you learned some valuable lessons when you played. Today we're going to look at some 3 ways of building your confidence during a game.

I know a lot of you might be thinking, how important is this to me? Can confidence in a match make a huge difference? Well, the great thing is, by the end of this session, you'd have realized not only the importance of building confidence, but we're also going to teach you how to use your newly found confidence in winning a match.

            "As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world -- that is the myth of the atomic age -- as in being able to remake ourselves."- Mohandas K. Gandhi

1.The first thing we're going to be looking at is identifying the problem. Let's say in the middle of a match, you realize that you are not achieving the goals you set. How do you react to this? Ask yourself these questions. Are you over thinking your moves? Might you have underestimated your opponent? Or could you just be magnifying your errors? Whatever the problem, the key here is to identify it. It would be best to identify the problem before a game ends. This way, you can take some time to resolve the issue. Most people do not take their time in identifying what exactly the problem is so they continue to be frustrated as they play the match. Your ability to identify a said problem about your way of play, can be a  huge confidence boosting factor especially, when you look at it from a positive perspective. You will understand this better as you read on. 

2. As the old tennis saying goes, "You can only achieve if you believe." So the second step to this procedure is going to be, visualizing your success. Though simple, note that this is a very important step.

Visualize previous performance, to remind you of your capabilities and how you felt during that match.

Also, you may want to imagine the various scenarios that could occur, and how you would attempt dealing with each one of them. Finally, set a goal that is achievable yet, challenging and again, visualize how you'd feel if you succeed.

3. Now, get back in the match and achieve these goals. Remember, the most important thing is not to win but rather, to play your best out there. Majority of tennis coaches would prefer seeing their students go all out and play their best than use the wrong techniques and win a match.Again here, you should constantly feed yourself with positive talk. It comes across as something most people find difficult doing especially when they get caught up in a really tense match, but, if you're going to comeback, you need to know how to think and talk positive when things are not going exactly as planned. Note that, using wrong techniques can sometimes result in injury (you can read more on some of these wrong techniques and the injuries you are likely to suffer when you log on to my blog later on. Subscribe to receive free notifications on this). Finally, when you step on the court, relax, take your time, play well and be confident! So, there it is folks. I hope enjoyed reading these helpful tips. Leave a comment below or check out what else I've been up to here. You can also check out part 2 of this article. Have a good game!

Also for your reading; The giant move (Stepping on the court for the first time)

Get in the Game!

At this point, having taken your first few steps, it will be fair to try out something a little more challenging. Today we’re going to look at the possibility of playing your first match.

 After finding a good sparring partner and playing together sometime, you may want to continue the normal trend of rallying a few balls around the court and leaving when you get exhausted, but tennis, though it is a very enjoyable sport, is nonetheless competitive. Of course, we are not asking you to go out and play like Nadal or Djokovic (although that would be excellent). Well, the point is; learning to play in a competitive match would make you that much more aware of which places you are lagging in and why you need to develop the skills in these areas.

There are lots of tennis players who have very good strokes when they play in non-competitive games but become overcautious in a competitive match. They develop this problem because; they don’t know how to blend their strokes in a match and are afraid of losing points. By playing a few matches as you develop the basic skills, you would gain an upper hand as this can make you a lot more relaxed when you play in bigger matches. Don’t be too concerned whether or not you win, rather concentrate on playing well and giving your opponent a hard time on the court. If you follow these simple guidelines, you will be amazed at the results you will achieve in each match you play.

We also suggest that if you do not know the correct scoring system at this point; invite your coach to supervise this for you. The concept of mastering all the skills before you start playing competitive matches is not one that most coaches agree to.Our final suggestion (to make things more interesting) is to play with your sparring partner in this first match. This would definitely give the both of you the Tennis Showdown you’ve been expecting!

So, get out there, go have fun, and remember if you’re not having fun, then it’s not Tennis. You are encouraged to give us feedback in case you encounter any difficulties.

You can also check out this article Amazing: List of the 10 most influential tennis players of today
Other articles by this other; The giant move (Stepping on the court for the first time)