Tennis is a sport that can either be taken seriously or played just for fun, largely depending on the individual or groups playing it. Professional tennis is taken very seriously, but is still fun, while also being challenging and competitive. As with all games, whether one plays professionally or not, the major objective of tennis is to win. Several elements are involved in the winning process.
GAME:
In tennis the main goal is to hit the ball over the net. This is not as easy as it sounds, and in fact several key factors are necessary to accomplish this feat. First, one must develop the proper mental attitude. That is, one should think positively and have confidence in his or her abilities. In short, keep your eye on the ball and your mind focused on the game. Next, one must practice the proper return and serve techniques. Return and serve techniques will determine the proper shot, which one can more easily accomplish by getting the right grip on the tennis racquet handle. Various grip styles include eastern, semi-western, and continental grips. Every player has his or her own unique grip style, largely determined by the individual.
The next step involves getting your body in the right position to hit the ball. The better the position, the more easily one can maneuver the serves and returns. Various types of serves and returns include overheads, forehands, backhands and volleys. The preferred type and the easiest to perform is the forehand. The forehand serve and return involves turning your body to one side so that you “step into” the ball after it bounces once on your side of the net, making sure you return it to your opponent on the opposite side of the net.
SET:
Tennis players need the proper conditioning to play well. The first key element of proper conditioning involves keeping your body physically fit through proper diet and exercise. In general, one should consume a well-balanced, nutritious diet and get enough exercise to maintain his or her correct weight. Second, one should make sure they carry enough fluids to the game to avoid dehydration, especially in hot, humid weather. Dehydration can lead to poor tennis performance and very short matches. Another key element is the type of clothing that should be worn to the match. Basically, the preferred outfit for men are shorts and a short-sleeve tee-shirt, and for women, tank tops and either shorts or short skirts. Tennis shoes, along with tennis socks are the preferred type of footwear because there is a lot of footwork involved in the game, and they are the most comfortable, as well as the easiest to run around the court in. In addition to these elements all players need to carry wristbands, headbands, and band-aids, as well as other first-aid equipment.
MATCH:
One of the key elements of the match involves the type of court played on. Major types of courts include grass, clay and hard courts. The preferred type of court depends on the individual and his or her level of play. Another important element is the type of racquet used. Again, one should choose the racquet that best suits him or her and their level of play.
The rules of tennis are that the ball should land in the proper spot for the player to score points. To insure returning the ball to your opponent, you must keep your body in the “ready” position. The “ready” position involves maintaining a crouching stance with your knees spread apart and your racquet front and center. Another important thing to remember is, you must keep your eye on the ball. Usually it is necessary to run around the court to follow the ball and keep track of it, so that your body will be better positioned to make a good return. If your serve hits anywhere inside the lined court and your opponent fails to return it, you have scored a point. Four winning shots are necessary to win a game.
PING-PONG:
Ping-pong is just another name for table-tennis. In ping-pong, the players use paddles instead of racquets to hit the balls, and the balls are much smaller. In general, the same rules apply as for playing tennis, except that there is a lot more footwork involved. While tennis is a very interesting sport, ping-pong is viewed by some as being much more enjoyable, and easier to play.
CONCLUSION:
Whether playing ping-pong or regular tennis, one should make sure he or she is prepared both physically and mentally to win the game. In addition, weather conditions largely determine how well a match will be played. Ideal weather conditions are a pleasant day with some sunshine and no rain in the forecast. Note that one should avoid playing either game in very hot or humid weather. Type of equipment used, type of court played on, clothing, lots of practice, experience, and level of play all factor into the performance of a great tennis player. Some great and legendary tennis players include: Arthur Ashe, Jimmy Connors, Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Martina Navritolova, Billie Jean King, Zina Garrison and Chris Evert. Current tennis greats include: Roger Federer, Raphael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, James Blake, Venus and Serena Williams, Lindsay Davenport, Kim Kliesters, and Maria Sharapova, to name a few.
Tennis can give you a great work out and winning can give you a great feeling of accomplishment. If you have been wanting to “get your game on”, I hope I have helped whet your appetite for this exciting sport.
SOURCES:
- Winning Tennis by Scott Perlstein
- Winning Table Tennis by Dan Seemiller and Mark Holowcahak
