Improving quickly in tennis requires dedication, determination and many hours on the practice court. Goals must be clearly stated and a plan to achieve these goals must be in place and adhered to. Tennis players differ in the length of time it takes to become an accomplished player. With the aid of a knowledgeable tennis professional who you feel comfortable working with and who understands your goals, you might be able to improve at a faster rate.
Step 1
Find a certified tennis teaching professional in your area. This can be done be visiting the United States Professional Tennis Association website. Contact one or two professionals and set up a meeting to discuss your tennis goals. Choose a professional based on his tennis abilities, teaching style and if you feel that he would best help you reach your goals in a short amount of time.
Step 2
Ask the tennis professional of choice to provide you with a written six-month goal plan and a one-year goal plan. This plan should include the type of lessons to participate in, fitness training routines, how to practice, how often to play practice matches and what level to play in local tournaments.
Step 3
Take a private lesson each week. Practice on a backboard or a hitting wall after each lesson. While the instructions are still fresh in your mind, spend 30 minutes working on what was covered in your lesson. Participate in a group lesson or a drill session once a month to meet potential practice partners.
Step 4
Practice three times per week for one hour on the backboard or a hitting wall. If you are able to rent a ball machine, practice with it one hour each week. This helps to groove your strokes and work on your consistency.
Step 5
Exercise weekly to strengthen the key muscles and muscle groups used in tennis. Tennis requires players to have strong legs, core, shoulder and arm muscles.
Step 6
Play a practice match each week. Vary the skill level of your opponents. Play players who you know you can beat. There is no pressure to win or lose when playing these players, and you can work on your strokes and start to develop match-play confidence. Play players you know you cannot beat. With these players, you have nothing to lose and you should be able to play without pressure. You can also learn from the better players. Play players who are your level and you don't want to lose to. With these matches, you can learn how to handle the pressures while working on your strokes, consistency and strategies.
Step 7
Play as many local levels tournaments as possible. If there is a tennis association in your area, become a member. These organizations typically organize and host many tournaments throughout the year. Hire your tennis instructor to watch some of your tournament matches and to provide you with constructive criticism.
Things You'll Need
- Tennis professional
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