In this article, we will cover 9 useful tennis techniques for you to start learning tennis in Singapore as a beginner.
1. Tennis Serve Technique
Being the shot that starts the game, it is the most important one that you will need to master. The first serve is usually a powerful technical shot to help you set up the point.
The stronger your serve, the weaker your opponent’s return will be. Most players use the first serve to try and ace (win a point without their opponent making any type of contact). The second serve is for when you fault on the first attempt—they either step over the baseline, hit the ball out or hit it into the net.
Both of these serves must travel cross-court and land diagonally within your opponent’s opposite service box to count as in play. If you fail to make the serve a second time, you will incur a double fault and lose the point.
Read more about the steps to improve tennis serve techniques
Tennis Groundstroke Tips
2. Tennis Forehand Groundstroke
Once you've perfected the serve, your next strongest weapon is likely to be your forehand. It is also usually the first groundstroke all tennis players learn.
The forehand shot is hit across the body with your dominant hand, traveling low to high with the follow-through over your shoulder. Once you have mastered your grip, your forehand groundstroke is usually hit with only one hand.
A forehand with topspin is achieved when you hit the ball on the top, causing it to spin forward.
3. Tennis Backhand Groundstroke
After the forehand, the backhand groundstroke is the second tennis stroke most players will learn.
Since it plays on the non-dominant side (left side for right-handed players and right side for lefties), players usually use both hands for this shot or could also adopt a single-handed backhand (usually only for males).
With the double backhand, the dominant hand is placed on the bottom of the grip, and the non-dominant hand above it without any gap in between.
While a one-handed backhand offers more reach and power, a two-handed grip provides more advantages like stability, topspin, and control.
Tennis Techniques At The Net
4. Volley At The Net
Forehand volleys and backhand volleys are performed when the player returns the ball when it is still in the air before it bounces on the ground. It is usually performed right up at the net or half-court.
Since you are much closer to the net, volleys require impeccable timing. You must keep your racket up at all times and block the ball in front of you as quickly as possible, which means you have no time for a wind-up or backswing.
5. Hit A Great Lob
Lobs are high, defensive shots that help to reset the pacing of a point. Lobs arc high over the net and are performed with groundstrokes or volleys.
In addition, lobs are especially useful if you have an opponent who is dragging you from side to side on the tennis court. By hitting the ball up high into the air, you are giving yourself an extra second or two to re-position.
6. Overhead Smash
To counter lobs, overhead smashes are your best bet. Overheads use the same motion as a tennis serve and usually occur at the net (if the ball is high enough, you can hit one from the baseline).
It is a powerful smash technique where players whip the racket in a downwards motion or drag the opponent off-court to set themselves up for an easier win.
Types Of Tennis Trick Shots
7. Slice in Tennis
Slices are tricky to master but can come in handy when you need to slow down a point or change the tennis ball’s bounce and pace of the game.
A slice shot uses sidespin or backspin to undercut the tennis ball, which removes the topspin, causing the ball to sit lower on the court. The opponent must crouch and stretch downwards to retrieve a sliced ball, making it difficult to return with power.
8. Tennis Drop shot
Drop shots are trick shots that gently drop the ball right over the net, forcing your opponent to sprint forward to retrieve it before it bounces twice.
Besides, drop shots are difficult to execute and are to be hit softly. If done with the right amount of power, they are most effective during long-drawn, intense baseline rallies.
On top of that, a drop shot can catch your opponent off guard by suddenly changing the direction and pace of the point. Your aim is to hit it so gently and close to the net that the ball bounces twice before your opponent can react to reach it.
9. Tennis Passing shot
Lastly, the passing shot is not technically a trick shot, but it is done in reaction to a drop shot.
It is executed when one player rushes to the net to try and volley, but the opposing player at the baseline performs a groundstroke that passes the net player on either side just out of their reach.
Also, it is a critical shot to master if you aren’t confident in your lobs or playing against an especially aggressive net player.
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