-Tennis begins with love.
-The trick is to play the ball not the opponent.
-The fun part is "getting better" at the game.

-Start with a Continental Grip.
-Lean the top edge of your racquet back a little to open the racquet face a little.
-You want to hit the ball about chin high so be ready to bend your knees a little
-Step to the ball and use a short, compact swing.
-Make contact with the ball about a foot in front of you.
-Block the ball to the open court away from your opponent.

-Stand sideways behind the baseline.
- Place your racquet face right behind your head, racquet shoulder back, elbow at ear level.
-Lift the ball by extending your ball arm, letting the ball go up into the air about 3 feet over your height so that it is slightly in front of you.
-Using your elbow, swing straight up.
-Your target is the diagonal box on your opponents side.

-There are two types of Groundstrokes; the forehand and the backhand.
-For the beginner, the goal is to keep the ball in play. Keep the ball high above the net and deep into your opponents court.
-Keep the ball alive and let your opponent make the mistakes.

-We call it a Backhand because the back of your racquet hand is facing the net when you hit the ball.
-Get a coach or experienced player to show you a two-handed backhand grip. Your racquet holding hand is at the bottom of the handle. Your other hand grips just above it.
-Step and turn your racquet hand toward the net.
-As you swing to hit the ball be sure to step through with your back leg as you make contact with the ball.

-Stay with the Continental grip on this shot.
-Turn sideways with your racquet holding shoulder toward the back fence and the other shoulder toward the net.
-Your racquet swing will go low to high.
-Leading with your front leg, step into the ball and make ball contact slightly in front of your body. Ball contact should be about hip high.

-For now, this is a defensive shot. Use it to buy yourself time or to get your opponent off the net.
-Look like you are going it hit a forehand but open the face of your racquet by tilting back the top edge of your racquet frame.
-Picture the face of a clock. Place your racquet at the 7 and swing up to the 12. Make ball contact even or slightly in front of your body.
-Your goal is to hit the ball high over your opponents head, if that person is at the net, and have the ball land deep into your opponents court.

-The overhead shot is hit like a serve only the ball is already in play.
-When you see that your opponent has hit a high ball that will fall short into your court turn sideways and point up at the ball.
-Swing up at the ball like Goldilocks hitting a serve, not too hard and not to soft. Make ball contact slightly in front of you while the ball is still over your head.

-Gather yourself before every shot.
-Tennis is often a four step sprint followed by a sudden stop an an explosive shot.
-Getting your feet under you will give you the balance you need to step into your shot.

-See that little line on baseline? Some call it a notch. I want you to call it home.
-Never hit a ball an then stand still. If you are on or near the baseline, hit your shot and move to that notch. Go home.
-If you are at the net, your vacation home is three feet behind the center of the net.
-Hit and move. Move then hit. Hit and move!