i'm a beginner tennis player.  how many months will it take

I really want to make the tennis team but my schools team is really good. I've never played tennis until this june but i've been playing everyday this summer and I'm getting pretty good, just not good enough for the team yet. So i've made a plan that will hopefully have me at a point where i can make the jv team sophomore year.

So I play tennis competitively and I used to have a slice serve. However I stopped taking lessons because of the cost and I started playing with one of my friends who is way better than me. But now I have lost that serve but my shots are all great and my speed ws way better than before, why did this happen, is it possible to fix without a coach?

Okay, been playing tennis for about 3 years. I took it serious this past summer and increased my forehands performance ten folds. But I seemed to not have improved my backhand. In fact, i think its gotten worse. I want to know a simple technique to use to improve it. I don't want something too complex and super competitive. I currently try a one handed, and i don't have much luck. So please, it'd appreciate it.

I have really good strokes but i get really really tired. i want to improve my fitness and my footwork on my backhand side.... i cant chase balls when its on the backhand but i can hit almost every ball on the forehand. how do i improve?

Even the freshman are better than me! I know it shouldn't make me feel less confident, but it does...I'm really sensitive and I'm really hardworking but I'm extremely nervous for this season. Please give me some advice!

Free Tennis Lessons and Tips daily from CoachV - William Vazquez in Atlanta GA
Visit www.Tennis Lessons GA .com

Understanding the positive and negative aspects of the shot before is a good start to understanding how to play doubles. Understanding and realizing the point was lost due to the shot before will help reduce the your frustration level.
For more doubles strategy tips log on to www.tennisoxygen.com

In order to truly understand this next article, you should read the article I wrote about shot perception. Too often my students make the common mistake to gauge the effectiveness of their shot based on what it felt like hitting the ball versus how did their shot affect their opponents. Many players make the assumption that a hard hit ball is an offensive shot while a “blooper”, “dink”, “shank” or a ball hit with no pace is defensive. Learning to evaluate your shot based on the outcome and not what it looked like or felt like is the secret to understanding how to anticipate.  For more Doubles strategy tips join www.tennisoxygen.com

USE MORE SPIN TO REIN NERVES IN FROM TENNISOXYGEN.COM

One of the biggest differences between intermediate and advanced player is how they handle their nerves in difficult situations. The more nervous a lower level player gets the more likely he or she will “push” the ball caused by the deceleration of the racquet. In contrast, a nervous advanced player will hit the ball with more spin caused by the acceleration of the racquet. That’s right, advanced players get nervous too.

It is only natural to want to do less with the racquet and shorten your stroke in order to “play it safe” but that false sense of security will only make your shot more tentative and it will stunt your growth as a tennis player. With a shortened stroke you can’t create spin. Advanced players have realized that spin is what controls the ball.

For more great stroke and doubles strategy tips go to www.tennisoxygen.com

We all know the first team to the net has a greater chance to win the point. But how close should you get to the net? You and your opponent’s court positioning plus the characteristics of the ball you have hit will determine how close you should get to the net. Too many of my students shy away from going the net because they are afraid of being lobbed. This only leaves them vulnerable to low volleys at their feet or passing shots.

For more doubles strategy tips visit:www.tennisoxygen.com

Be a neutralizer and not a terminator from the baseline from www.tennisoxygen.com

Before I get into this particular strategy you must buy into the theory that winners should be hit from inside the service line making contact above the net and not from the baseline. Learning to setup, build a point or as I call it “to set the table” is what separates players that know how to play doubles from players that just play doubles.

To “set the table” in baseball lingo means that you want players safely get on base with boring singles or walks ahead of the big sluggers who hit home runs and clean up the bases to score runs. Well relating this to doubles strategy, you want to set up the point with safe and boring low shots to and at the net players forcing short defensive volleys so you can then move in and hit winners when closer to the net.

By imitating roll-models like Michael Jordan, we can increase our learning potential exponentially!

Lately, warm ups for USTA Tournaments and Leagues have evolved into playing mini-tennis with the opponent for 25 minutes (!), followed by hitting competitively, instead of cooperatively! Please view video, to remind ourselves how the warm up should be conducted.

Hans Romer describes his humiliating experience playing Wii-Tennis with his family

a detailed description of the service technique and how to learn it.  This article covers Grip, Stance, Toss, Swing, Contact, Pronating, etc.  Great Article

Do you play like a star in practice or practice matches, but then under perform in competition due to a lack of confidence or poor focus? In my new tennis confidence video series, I’ll discuss the top five mental game reasons tennis players under perform in matches compared to practice.

Do you play tennis with a ton of confidence in practice, but have trouble taking your practice game to matches? If so, you are not alone. Many of my players are more comfortable in their practice routines than in matches. They lose trust in their strokes that worked well in practice. I recently received the following mental game of tennis question:

OK, I keep thinking about the Nadal-Federer match up. The finals at the Australian Open were filled with tennis psychology gems. I talked about how Nadal knew who he was before the match and it did not change after the match.

How Roger Federer Hits Wicked One-Handed Backhands - And How YOU Can Do It Too!

This video talks about the first move to the volley.  Many players pivot and lock the feet.  Gustavo demostrates this common mistake and how to efficiently move forward for the volley.

This video shows how to hit the flat serve with the same continental grip as the spin serve.

This video shows how to hit and use the topspin serve more effectively.  The spin serve gives more margin for error and also causes the ball to bounce higher above the returners comfort level.   Learn about the contact point and finish point.   

A common mistake for many players is to get caught in the court after the serve.  Gustavo demonstrates how players find themselves in trouble before the point begins and how to correct it.

This video explains a very important move involving high deep ball.  Many times players are not set up correctly.  Gustavo demostrates how to set up in time and properly handle this shot.  

A breakdown of the processes of the return of serve.  This video explains how to get a rythm, come forward and learn to cut off the angles.   

The crossover is very important to in order to get back into the court for any player at any level of the game.

This video demonstrates the neutral stance which is used when you have a ball in front of you and you can step into the ball and attack the opponent. 

This video shows the transition from the baseline to the net using a doubles position.  The split step is what allows a player to explode to the next shot.   

This is a demostration of a shorter ball that you will not be able to come in on

This video talks about your readiness on the baseline and how quickly you get to the ball by not standing and watching.  The key is to be explosive on the ball of your feet.

The recovery and where to recover in the right position on the court.  Many times players watch their shot and love it, but not quite get back for the next shot.

This clip demostrates the open stance and how to recover from it.

Gustavo demonstrates how to get to the ball properly by avoiding one of the common mistakes seen by club and sometimes tournament level players.  

Video about where the power comes from on the one handed backhand!

Please refer to Gustavo's website at http://sanchezg.usptapro.com

ADDvantage magazine (December 08) features an article (page 26) by Hans Römer about the USPTA certification process.

I would like to come up a simple "practical mental plan" that will allow the competitive tennis player to walk onto the match, with a clear idea about how they should think, and feel, to perform better and, to achieve  more positive results when competing.  Following, I will summarize, what I call "The Five Keys to win more matches"

In my first article, I was explained the basic technical components of the backhand slice. Now I would like to present the tactical application when executing this still wonderful and very effective shot in tennis!
I will describe four different scenarios, where any player who possesses a solid backhand slice, should try to use it :

The Slice serve is called just that because of what it does - it 'slices' away from you as it hits the ground. The reason for this is because of the sideways spin dynamic on the ball. This is very basic. The sideways spin on the ball is caused by the string bed on the face of the tennis racket hitting the tennis ball slightly to the right of center relative to the front of the ball, and hitting it from a horizontal bias

Coach Kyril explains where the power and 'feel' comes from on the two-handed backhand.

The poach is a job for both the net player and the server. This article will outline the roles of  the server and the net player.

Good teamwork in doubles is essential as it not only allows for partners to communicate what they're doing to one another, and builds a rhythm but also can allow for a much stronger attack or solid defense.

This articles is a must for players who are within their first several months of playing tennis or for players at any level who have never taken a lesson. This article lays out the fundamentals of the stroke and is an absolute must.

This articles is important for players who are within their first several years of playing tennis or for players at any level who are beginning to play matches and set up points. This article answers the question of half volleys and advice on hitting one.

This articles is great for players who are beginning to play matches. The article lays out what exactly an approach shot is and some advice on how to use it

This articles is great for players who are beginning to play matches and are building control on shots. The article lays out what exactly a drop shot is and some advice on how and when to use it.

Understand all of the benefits to hitting the ball Crosscourt. Crosscourt shots are the smarter shot click to find out why.

This articles is a must for players who are within their first several months of playing tennis or for players at any level who have never taken a lesson. This article lays out the fundamentals of the stroke and is an absolute must

This articles is a must for players who are within their first several months of playing tennis or for players at any level who have never taken a lesson. This article lays out the fundamentals of the stroke and is an absolute must.

This articles is a must for players who are within their first several months of playing tennis or for players at any level who have never taken a lesson.  This article lays out the fundamentals of the stroke and is an absolute must.

This articles is a must for players who are within their first several months of playing tennis or for players at any level who have never taken a lesson.  This article lays out the fundamentals of the stroke and will also cover the recommended grip

These quick and easy three minute exercises will show you how to unlock powerful serves, deliver crushing forehand and backhand shots, get to balls quicker, charge the net with greater speed, and leave your opponent awestruck and gasping for breath like never before...all in 14 days!

The tennis training program consists of 5 specific running speed exercises as well as 5 racquet speed exercises. Program is been provided by AthleticQuickness.com

Start your isometric training and purchase resistance bands today. The link will take you directly to AthleticQuickness.com for transaction.

Most athletes know how to get stronger, or increase endurance - but very few know how to get faster - You are about to discover how simple 3 minute exercises will condition your muscles for speed and quickness like never before and how to avoid the same mistakes others are making when training for speed

The secret to quickness on the court is to condition the fast twitch fibers in your leg muscles to perform what is called a 'fast twitch response' – which basically means to contract with speed and acceleration.

Tennis is much like golf and other technique intensive sports in that all of the top players do certain things the same way, and yet no two players ever look the same while executing their game. How is that possible?

Coming to the net immediately after a serve is a great way to mix things up in your singles play, and something that everybody should be doing most of the time in their doubles play.

One of the most common things among top pros, for the forehand and two handed backhands, is to follow through upwards but across the body, ending up near the opposite shoulder

Ever watch a professional tennis match on TV, and wonder to yourself "why do they keep hitting the ball back to each other?". Often times you will see pros get into repetitive cross court court rallies. The reason is, each is waiting for an opportunity to hit down the line that would give them an advantage. Hitting cross court is safer, and they know it, so a smart player will often only hit cross court unless there's an opportunity that out weighs the risk.

I say "good miss" to my students often when their technique was solid and their resulting shot was close to being very successful. I often get cross eyed looks from people who haven't taken many lessons from me before when I say this, and I find that most people are incredibly difficult on themselves when missing a shot by the smallest of margins. That is why I'm writing on this topic today.

If you don't know how to keep the ball in play first and foremost, trying increase how aggressive you hit the ball is going result in more errors, keeping your ratio of points won to lost the same if not worse. So lets look quickly at the three main ways that a tennis point can end:

This week's article is about why you need to be at the net as much as possible in your doubles play. In lower level and intermediate team practices that I teach there seems to be a constant debate over whether coming to the net all the time is good or not

Modern topspin forehands and two-handed backhands are very similar. Players find the ball from below and lift it up, swinging across the body, and finishing over or close to the opposite shoulder

In today's game the ground stroke is becoming a very obvious necessity for anybody wanting to be successful at tennis, and in my opinion the first thing that must be mastered by anybody wanting a strong singles game is the ability to create deep, penetrating ground strokes.

In my teaching of both singles and doubles players I encourage my students to come to the net a great deal. I love the net personally, but if approached incorrectly this strategic move can become much more difficult that you bargained for. I will split up this article into three main parts: when to approach, where to place your shot, and where to place yourself when approaching the net in singles. Enjoy!

So how do you hit an overhead correctly? I'll break down the basics into three main parts including the turn, positioning and contact.

Doubles compliments your overall game by forcing you to become comfortable at the net using volleys and overheads, so if you're not already mixing up your play time with both singles and doubles definitely start!

The best volleys in the world are not a full swing, but a firm block of the ball...

One of the highest capabilities in life is feel. You might have been sold a bill of goods when you were told that thinking is paramount in tennis. Most top tennis pros won't admit, perhaps under the idea that they would be considered "stupid", that they don't think much when they are playing.

Most of the top pros excel in getting the second serve deep, with a high kick, preventing the other player to hit a winner or to advance on the court.

Tennis has been considered for a long time a very difficult sport to learn. One has to mind where to place the arms, the feet, watch the balance, weight transfer, how you take your racquet back, etc. This is false, cultivated from the late 1920s on, and still very much in vogue in most of the world. The truth is that tennis is a simple game and easy to learn. Just watch the top players to see how loose, natural and fluid they play.

There is a misconception that top players play flat on hard courts. The latest research, which was done during tournaments on hard court surfaces, which you can see in www.advancedtennis.com, a non-profit endeavor, will show you that top players included on that study, such as Agassi and Pete Sampras, Venus Williams, hit their groundstrokes with plenty of topspin, well above the 1,500 RPM.

This article could also be called "why some people learn better than others" or "is it the student fault or the teacher's?"

When you watch a top tennis pro, you marvel at his ability to place the ball regardless of the power generated by the shot. You may also admire the player's focus, graceful moves, demeanor, attitude, will to win, and how he handles the power of the other player.

Kids that are taught "footwork" with the conventional teaching usually have two barriers created: first, the way they are taught in conventional footwork coaching, brings about that they have to think about the way they move, and second, that those moves are not natural. The end result is clumsiness, no speed (huge, but common problem, mostly in the USA).

Hans Romer, certified Tennis Pro, demonstrates cool little drill for improving eye-hand coordination at the Portland Country Club

Without any question the slice backhand is still alive!, we do see, especially in men's tennis, more and more the use of this beautiful shot to watch, when executing well. Players like Roger Federer, Andy Murray, David Nalbandian, Rafa Nadal, among many others; have brought us this shot used in many different situations during their matches.  Following I would like to share with you some of the most important elements, in order to posses a very solid slice backhand, I will break it down, in three components:

I would like to talk to you about the strings in your racquet.  Have you ever played guitar with bad strings? It sounds aweful.  New strings give your racquet the fresh feel and that popping sound.

Certified Tennis Pro Hans Romer demonstrates a one handed backhand and compares this stroke to a Frisbee throw

Rafael Nadal (Currently ATP #1) warming up with Tommy Robredo during the ABN/AMRO ATP Event in Rotterdam, The Netherlands on February 2008

Tennis Pro Hans Romer demonstrates Tennis Tip Regarding the Service Motion

Outlines the importance of pronation in the power serve. These six instructional videos teach you how hit the power serve, drills to practice, and the physics behind it

Outlines the importance of pronation in the power serve. These six instructional videos teach you how hit the power serve, drills to practice, and the physics behind it

Outlines the importance of pronation in the power serve.  These six instructional videos teach you how hit the power serve, drills to practice, and the physics behind it

Outlines the importance of pronation in the power serve. These six instructional videos teach you how hit the power serve, drills to practice, and the physics behind it

Outlines the importance of pronation in the power serve. These six instructional videos teach you how hit the power serve, drills to practice, and the physics behind it

Outlines the importance of pronation in the power serve.  These six instructional videos teach you how hit the power serve, drills to practice, and the physics behind it

Outlines the importance of pronation in the power serve.  These six instructional videos teach you how hit the power serve, drills to practice, and the physics behind it

Coach Daniel Spatz explains two ways of utilizing an aggressive strategy and the elements needed to succeed at utilizing this tactic.

How to play...and try to win against that opponent who always beats us and complicates our game!

These are Coach Daniel Spatz 9 favorite tactical plays that will work with players of all levels.

In this article coach Daniel Spatz covers the best ways to use consistency as a strategy and outlines the elements needed for using the strategy successfully

Time and time again tennis players find themselves losing a match they know they should have won.  It is impossible to diagnose exactly what went wrong in your own individual match, but many times players tend to mock their opponents style of play.  This is never good.  It can be a serious issue when two players with completely different styles clash!

Second serves are not just a backup for a missed first serve. A player’s second serve should be a different shot altogether. For first serves, ATP pro tour players generally use a flat serve with little spin; for the second serve, the same players use either slice or topspin. Competitive and recreational players should use the same format when hitting their first and second serve.

The key to a great second serve is consistency. Between 4 and 8 points per set are lost by the average player. Therefore, between 2 and 4 total service games are wasted during a match. There are several solutions to this problem.

This articles is a must for players who are within their first several months of playing tennis or for players at any level who have never taken a lesson.  This article lays out the fundamentals of the stroke and is an absolute must.

There are two types of spin to add to your second serve. The first is slice (learn more here); the second is topspin. Slice causes the ball to hit the ground, stay low, and curve (kick) to the left. Topspin serves tend to hit the ground, bounce high, and kick to the right (opposite for lefty players).

The important thing to note is that there is no mention of skill level in our definition of a pusher.   There are pushers at every level of tennis (yes, even pushers on the pro tour too).  This article will help you understand why the pusher should be respected and even why people continue to lose to pushers time after time.  The typical pusher, who has found it a goal to destroy you from the inside out, has certain characteristics about his style, mental toughness, and physicality that puts him among the elite.

The key to hitting a great shot in tennis is preparation.  If a player is unprepared for a shot, the ball will not go where they expect.  In fact, the result may be an out of control shot.   This article addresses preparation and the importance of a split step.  For those players that are unfamiliar with the split step, I will give an in-depth explanation and talk about when it should be used.