Tennis is one of the fastest-growing sports for juniors, according to the Sporting Goods Manufacturers Association, and with its push toward more adult-friendly programs such as Tennis Welcome Centers, CardioTennis and Combo Tennis, the U.S. Tennis Association is looking to get more adults playing as well. If you find yourself invited to play, or have access to a court, rackets and balls while you're on vacation, knowing a few simple rules and tips for keeping a rally going will help you enjoy what is commonly called the "sport for a lifetime."
Start Small
If you're serious about learning the game, try using one of the starter balls currently available in shops and stores. These foam or low-compression balls don't travel as far or bounce as high, allowing you to keep a rally going as you learn the game. Even professional players start their practice sessions by standing in the middle of the court, playing mini-tennis before moving back to the baseline. These two tips will help you develop ball control--add power later.
Hit High, Not Hard
Many recreational tennis players feel the key to hitting the ball deep is to hit the ball hard. In order to hit the ball hard, you might grip the racket handle too tight, creating tension in your forearm muscles. This leads to a slower swing and later contact point, creating weaker shots. To get the ball to the baseline, aim higher over the net. The more your ball clears the net, the deeper it will go into the court. Even when you serve, try to hit the ball up, not down. Gravity and spin will bring the ball down into the court. A high toss and high arc on your serve will produce the best results.
Serving Rules
To start a point, you serve the ball, hitting it out of the air, into the correct service box, which is the one diagonal from the server's starting position. If your serve clears the net and lands in the service box or on one of the three lines that create the service box, the serve is good. If you miss twice in a row, you lose the point. If the ball hits the net and lands in the correct service box, you play a let, or do-over. There is no limit to the number of lets you can have during one point. The receiver must let the ball land before she plays it. If she touches the serve while it is still in the air, even if it appears to be going out, she loses the point.
Playing a Point
Once the serve lands in, a point starts. The receiver plays the serve on a bounce, sending the ball back over the net, into the court. A point ends when the ball bounces twice, hits the net and doesn't go into the court, touches a player on a fly or lands outside the boundary lines. If the ball lands on any part of the line, play continues. In tennis, you make your own calls on your side of the net. If you have any doubt about whether the ball is in or out, you must give your opponent the benefit of the doubt. You must make all calls promptly--if you hesitate, you are considered to be in doubt, and you must give the point to your opponent.
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