How to Become a Better Tennis Player

Tennis players are always looking to give themselves a little extra edge in matches. There's no substitute for hours of practice on groundstrokes, serves, and footwork, but there are also things a player can do once they start a match to be more successful. Here a few tips to help any tennis player with their strategy on the court.

Take your time

Tennis is a sport played without a clock, so players can always play the game at their own pace. One of the biggest mistakes that I see players make is that when they lose a point, they rush to play the next point as fast as possible, rather than slowing down, and focusing themselves to play the next point. By rushing, one bad point can cost a player an entire game.

One easy tip is to keep a towel at the back fence, and walk back to it after every lost point. Not only will this keep you from rushing, it can disrupt your opponent's momentum.

Conversely, if you are playing well, or your opponent is struggling, it is a good idea to take less time between points to capitalize on your momentum.

Put Yourself in Your Opponent's Shoes

Players often get too focused on their own shots, and forget that the person on the other side of the net has to hit the ball too. We would all love to be able to blast winners through the court like Roger Federer, but for most of us, it's just not realistic, and it counts the same whether you hit a winner or if your opponent misses. So instead of trying to hit the perfect shot, think about what shot you could hit that would be the hardest for your opponent to return. For example, if your opponent is at the net, rather than trying to hit a perfect crosscourt winner, just try to hit the ball low at your opponent's feet and force them to hit a tough volley.

Always Stay Positive

Tennis can be a frustrating game, so maintaining a positive attitude can be difficult, but can make a big impact on how you play. Even the best players in the world can only play at their absolute best a few days a year, so it's important to not get too upset if you're not playing at your best. There are no coaches in tennis, so it is up to you to provide yourself with positive encouragement.

Be Prepared

There are enough things to worry about just playing the game of tennis. It becomes nearly impossible to play well if you also have to worry about your racquet, or shoes, or outfit. Make sure everything is ready and up-to-grade before stepping on the court so that you don't have to worry about it once you are out there. Also make sure that you have something to drink like water or a sports drink before stepping on the court, because it is much easier to play when you're not thirsty.

Have Fun

Most of us will never be lucky enough to play tennis for a paycheck. Since we're just playing for fun, it's important to make sure that you're actually having fun. One of the best ways to do this is to find opponent's that you enjoy playing against, and that are evenly matched with you. It's not as much fun playing against someone that you always beat easily, or always lose to badly.

Following these tips will not only make you a better tennis player, but will also make the time you spend on the court more enjoyable.