The tennis serve is the shot that starts a point. Unlike most shots in tennis, you are not reacting to a ball hit by your opponent. You control when the motion begins, where you stand and how you put the ball into play. That control
The tennis overhead is the shot you use when the ball rises high above your head and you have enough time to move underneath it and strike it before it drops too low. For beginners, the goal is not to smash the ball as hard
A tennis volley is a shot you hit before the ball bounces. Volleys are most commonly played when you are closer to the net, where there is less time to react and less space for a large swing. For beginners, the goal is not to
The backhand is the stroke you use when the ball arrives on the opposite side of your body from your dominant hand. For a right-handed player, that is usually the left side. For a left-handed player, it is usually the right side. Beginners sometimes feel
A reliable forehand is one of the most useful shots a beginner can develop in tennis. It is commonly used when the ball comes to the dominant side of your body and gives you a practical way to return shots, extend rallies and direct the
Before you begin learning serves, groundstrokes, volleys, or match play, it helps to understand the parts of a tennis court – the space you are playing on. A tennis court contains several lines and areas, and each one has a specific purpose. At first, all
Tennis becomes much easier to understand once you know the basic rules that control each point. You do not need to memorize an entire rulebook before stepping onto a court. As a beginner, the most important things to understand are where to serve, what counts
Tennis scoring can look strange when you first encounter it. Instead of simply counting points as 1, 2, 3 and 4, a regular tennis game moves through love, 15, 30 and 40. Then those points are used to win games, games are used to win
Pickleball can be played as singles, with one player on each side of the court, or doubles, with two players on each side. The court dimensions stay the same, but the way you cover the court, serve and position yourself changes significantly. For beginners, this
Playing doubles means sharing the court with a partner, and good communication can make that partnership feel much easier. You do not need complicated signals or constant conversation. A few clear words, used at the right time, can prevent hesitation, reduce collisions and help both