Tennis is
a great sport for fitness enthusiasts of almost any age. If you want a
great aerobic workout - you'll love tennis. Tennis players work
their whole body and can easily run several miles - at short bursts of
speed during a typical match! Your local discount store has tennis
rackets for under $20 and tennis balls are usually less than $3 so
tennis won't cost you a fortune to enjoy! The friendships you develop
playing tennis can last for years!
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Tennis is fun - whether you enjoy a strenuous workout playing singles
or the slightly slower pace of a good doubles match. You can play with
friends at your local tennis courts, or join an organized team. When
you start playing tennis, some of the key strokes you should learn are:
serve, forehand, backhand, two-handed backhand, volley, and smash. But
first, check out these basic skills to get you started!
Holding the Racquet.
The racquet handle has eight
sides
— four are flat and four are angled. Put your hand on the strings then
slowly bring your hand down the racquet to the grip. If you look down -
you'll be looking at the thin side of the racquet.
Now, grasp
the racquet in the hand you write
with as if you were shaking hands. The knuckle on your index finger
should be on the top right angle. Then, grip and make sure it feels
comfortable. Many players like to separate their third and fourth
fingers slightly. Some prefer keeping their index finger slightly loose
and using it for better control.
How to Serve:
Hold the ball with the thumb, index finger,
and middle finger of your free hand (hand not holding the racquet).
Extend the arm with the ball just in front of you and then raise it
above your head. Toss the ball gently, so it goes a few inches higher
than the full height of the racquet extended above your head. Keep your
eye on the ball. Bring the racquet around above your shoulder and hit
the ball while it's in the air. Try to use the same toss every time.
Receiving and
Returning the Ball. Stand in the
middle
of the court and hold the racquet gently with both hands so you can run
in either direction when the ball comes over the net. When the ball is
hit to your forehand side (e.g., right if you're right-handed), step
toward the ball with your opposite leg and swing! If the ball comes to
your backhand side (left if you're right-handed), go for the ball with
your dominant arm in front of your chest and your other hand holding
the racquet as well. Try to always swing your racquet
without moving your wrists.
Playing tennis
causes
you to use quick, frequent bursts of speed and turn your body quickly
in many
different directions. You'll build
stronger abs bending over to get those low balls and reaching
for the higher ones. Tennis works your whole body! You can really lose
that belly if you include tennis in your fitness program and enjoy
eating healthy foods! Have you ever
seen an overweight tennis player? Once you start you'll soon discover
tennis is an effective way
to lose belly fat!
Running around
the tennis court helps you shape
your body faster than many other - less demanding sports. And since
you're burning a ton of calories chasing down balls - Wear a good,
comfortable pair of shoes with good support to protect your ankles and
thick (not cotton) socks that fit well to prevent blisters on your
feet.
To prevent hand
blisters, keep your racquet handle dry by using
sawdust. And keep a towel handy! Try to bend your arm when you swing,
or it
might start to hurt — a problem known as "tennis elbow." Clip your
toenails and make sure there is extra room in your shoes, because
"tennis toe" can be quite uncomfortable too!
To protect other players,
never throw your racquet or
tennis balls, and try to keep loose balls off the courts. Be courteous
and keep yourself and others safe by staying off courts where other
people are playing.
While you're waiting to
play, sit in the shade
and drink lots of water. You'll stay cool and won't get
sunburned. While you are playing, take a break between games or sets to
cool off. And you may want to keep a wet towel around your neck while
you wait. Also, you can keep cool by wearing a cold, wet
bandana on your head or around your neck while you play. Don't forget
to always wear sunscreen!
Always take time to properly warm up your body before you play. Jog in
place
for a few minutes. Then, spend a few minutes stretching those muscles!
And, after
you leave the court be sure to spend a few minutes cooling down. Slowly
let your heart rate come down. Then finish off your fun with
some more stretching. Take care of your muscles and make
stretching a part of every sport you
enjoy. Tennis is an excellent way to burn a whole bunch of calories and
have loads of fun too!