Let's continue our tennis journey with some tennis tips and tips from legendary players so you can improve your game!
Serving
Begin by positioning yourself just behind the baseline, with your body turned sideways toward the court. Place one foot in front of the other, ensuring your weight is primarily on your back foot. Hold the ball against the racquet strings with your tossing hand. Point your left foot toward the right-hand net post. Your left hand, holding the ball, should raise it upright to release above your head—about 18 inches above your normal reach. Avoid releasing the ball prematurely, as this can cause it to fly at an angle, forcing you to lean forward. Ideally, the ball should land about a foot in front of your left foot.
Raise your racquet behind your head. As the ball rises, bring your racket back and upward in preparation to hit it. You should aim to strike the ball at full stretch, with your racket arm fully extended at its highest point. At this moment, shift your body weight from your back foot to your front foot to add power to your shot. Begin to transfer your weight forward, pushing your hips into the court. Let the speed of the racquet head surpass your wrist as you make contact with the ball. Use your non-dominant arm for balance as your body rotates.
Ensure that you strike the ball with an "up and over" motion, as though you were throwing the racquet at the ball. After contact, follow through with your swing, allowing the racquet to wrap around your waist. Keep your eye on the ball and observe where your opponent returns it.
Once the serve is made, the game continues with various shots. The most frequent shot you'll use is the groundstroke, which is played after the ball bounces once. Groundstrokes are categorized into forehands (hit with the palm facing the ball) and backhands (hit with the back of the hand facing the ball).
Success with these shots largely depends on your grip. There are distinct grips for forehand and backhand shots in tennis, making it essential to master each to execute the shots effectively.
Engaging in any sport has its perks, but volleyball provides unique lessons few other sports offer. The volleyball community welcomes everyone, providing a lifetime of play and competition. Volleyball unites families to play, learn, and form lifelong friendships and bonds. From character-building skills like leadership, teamwork, respect, and communication to physical benefits of staying healthy and active, here’s what you can gain from playing volleyball.
Ideal Gifts for Volleyball Enthusiasts
Longtime USA Volleyball Director of Sport John Kessel, a legend in volleyball coaching, listed essential gifts for volleyball players in his renowned blog, Growing the Game. These gifts, inherent to volleyball, are easily shared with players of any age.
The Gift of Play
Play is simple, enjoyable, and fun. Just playing volleyball is the best gift for a volleyball player. It doesn’t need to be a full match; playing 1×1 or 2×2 can be as fun as the typical 6×6 game. Kessel highlights that this play helps athletes learn the game and its skills better. The more you play, the more you touch the ball, and the more you improve. That’s the essence of play.
The Gift of Struggle
Like all sports, volleyball lets athletes experience both success and struggle. Struggle teaches athletes problem-solving, encouraging self-reliance for answers and fixes. Given the mental aspect of sports, volleyball helps build mental fortitude, benefiting athletes in sports and other life areas.
The Gift of a Lifetime Sport
Volleyball, one of the world’s most popular sports, can be played on various surfaces – even atop a mountain. You can play volleyball anywhere and at any age. USA Volleyball even offers a 75-and-over division at the annual USA Volleyball National Championship. From grade school to retirement, anyone can play volleyball.
The Gift of Support
This final gift is perhaps the most crucial. Volleyball is a true team sport, with teammates encouraging each other after every point. Support also comes from parents, coaches, friends, and fans. This support greatly boosts an athlete’s self-confidence and personal strength.