Tennis, Strawberries and Cream Please

You now have the baseline game down, and are going for more consistency. This month we focus on the improvement of your groundstroke, movement and recovery, and introduce the serve and volley.

Developing Topspin
Hitting with power and control requires spin and good technique, so when you want to be more aggressive make, sure you practice hitting with topspin. This is achieved by:
- Brushing the strings of the racket up the back of the ball
- From low to high as you contact (see picture; backhand)
- To help generate topspin and momentum, take the racket back using a looping action (see picture; forehand)

Movement and Recovery
When at the groundstroke position, try to recover back to the centre baseline of the court after each shot. This will give you a better chance of getting into a good position for the next shot.
- Use the athletic position for your recovery. (see picture)
- If you are able, stay facing the net with most of your movements.
- Sidestepping to get across the court instead of turning and running will allow you to keep track of the ball more easily and you will find changing direction is also more efficient.

Serve (right-handed):
Take your serve from directly behind the baseline standing sideways on to your target (diagonal service box).
- Start with your hands rested in front of your body.
- Hands should move back together smoothly till they reach the centre of your body
- At which point they should separate, the right arm bent forming the start of a check mark with racket pointing to the sky. (see picture)
- And the left finishes straight after having tossed the ball up. This is called the pre-throw position.

Multi Tasking
- Using your left arm, the ball is tossed up in front of you slightly to the right.
- Your racket arm (right) then uses a normal over-arm throwing action (hence pre-throw position)
- The racket contacts the ball in front, so your body weight falls forward a little into the court.
- Follow through with the racket down by your left hand side.

Volley: The shot taken at the net when the ball has not bounced.
- A punching-style shot, keep it short and sweet
- No swinging.
- Keep the racket in front and high (racket head above you wrist) and your body low, and make contact in front. (see picture)

Enjoy learning these new strokes and advancing your skills so you can surprise your opponents with your new and improved tennis game.

Look out for the free opportunities to give progressive tennis a go at some of the Fernie Summer Social events this August, pick up a racket and play with our professional instructors! All equipment supplied