When it comes to your tennis training, the saying “quality not quantity” holds. You can improve faster as a player by hitting 2 hours a week using focused practice sessions, rather than playing more with no structure. Regardless of your level, there are several ways you can enhance yourself as a player. Here are some ways to get better at tennis.
How Can I Get Better At Tennis By Myself?
#1 Vary Your Training
You can make your practice sessions more engaging and effective by diversifying your routine. Instead of following the standard warm-up and hitting routine, consider breaking down your sessions and incorporating specific drills to enhance your skills. By mixing in these tips, you’ll be able to narrow your focus and achieve clearer improvements. Additionally, varying your practice routine will keep things fresh and exciting, making your practice sessions more enjoyable.
#2 Practice Alone
How can I improve my tennis game for beginners? If you don’t have a tennis partner, it’s common to skip playing because you may not know how to train alone or practice at home. Fortunately, there are various ways to incorporate additional tennis into your routine.
You can utilize shadow swings at home to increase repetitions, rally against a wall, or utilize tennis training equipment like the TopspinPro. Additionally, you can never have enough practice serving! Experiment with drop feeds to work on your technique.
Training alone allows you to fully focus on yourself and your game, so it’s worthwhile to schedule some alone time from time to time. Instead of using the lack of a partner as an excuse to skip, consider engaging in activities that complement your tennis, such as flexibility or strength training.
#3 Learn From The Professionals
Although this may not seem useful, you should watch competitions, performances of successful tennis players, and online lessons. You can watch BeIN Sports, they often broadcast sporting events, including tennis. Do you want to know how to watch BeIN Sports for free? VeePN and its free trial version will help you with this. You just need to change your region and use fuboTV and Sling TV, both services offer free trial modes. VPN provides free access to broadcasts and training.
#4 Sharpen Your Right Forehand Grip
Many players often overlook the crucial role of their grip on a tennis racket, but it is one of the game’s most significant aspects. Professional players predominantly utilize a grip known as the ‘continental’ for their serves and volleys. Achieving this grip is simple: just pick up the racket as if you are shaking hands and position the knuckle of your index finger on the top right bevel of the racket.
However, for groundstrokes, the most commonly used grip is called the ‘semi-western.’ Just move your index finger’s knuckle to the bottom right bevel of the racket. Most professionals prefer this grip because it generates a significant amount of topspin, resulting in more power and control.
#5 Mirror Game Technique
One of the most common mistakes in practice is failing to replicate how you will hit the ball during a game. Consider this example: Many players practice their serve toss by pushing the ball up with just their hand, standing still, and without a racket or body movement (back swing). However, when they incorporate a racket, weight shift, and backswing, things start to go wrong. It is crucial to mirror the technique used in a game scenario. Hence, practice the toss with the same backswing you would use in an actual game to make it more realistic. Even when breaking down a swing into progressions, ensure that each progression captures all the correct elements for your entire body, not just your arms.
#6 Practice Realistic Scenarios
To enhance your tennis skills, it’s crucial to have a variety of strategies in your playbook to choose from. You can try different techniques, such as hitting side to side or targeting your opponent’s weaknesses. Developing a handful of options in practice will make them second nature to you during a match. This way, you’ll have confident choices at your disposal instead of playing random shots. You can go further and try foreign techniques. You only need the VeePN extension to see unusual game strategies and tips from China, Brazil, or any other country. Probably, a creative approach will yield results.
#7 Prepare Early For Groundstrokes
When you anticipate where the ball will bounce, position yourself in a way that feels comfortable for playing the shot. A higher backswing generates more power, but a complicated swing can lead to errors when under pressure. Therefore, it is crucial to find the right balance. Use your other hand to support the racket during the backward movement, ensuring proper rotation for more powerful strokes.
Conclusion
What is the best way to improve your tennis skills? It’s all up to you and how you feel about the game. Perhaps you should try all of the techniques listed and choose the ones that suit you best. Only you can determine the best exercises for developing tennis skills and they may not be suitable for another person.
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