Position and Stroke for Beginners (Part-1)
A VERY important element in making the various strokes in tennis is position. A player must face sideways to make a proper ground stroke. For a forehand stroke the left foot is forward, but out to one side. The right foot is back. In all this discussion it is assumed that the player is right-handed. The left-handed player needs only to reverse the directions to adapt them for his use.
The reverse position holds for back-hand strokes. On a “follow through" stroke the ball should be taken between the knee and the hips.
In meeting t ball above your waist a “topping" stroke should be used.
It is advisable for a beginner to learn his fol-11 low through stroke first. By follow through stroke I mean hitting the ball squarely in the center of the racquet and finishing out, i. e., letting the racquet follow on after the ball -- on the stroke. A player by using this method first learns to hit the ball in the center of his racquet. Later, when he has more control over the ball and racquet, is time enough to learn a topping stroke.
For the “follow through" start well back for the beginning of the stroke. In this way the player gains in power. He should also remember that from the beginning of the stroke to the finish it is essential to have it steady and uniform, not jerky. Do not slow up or check your stroke when meeting the ball or after you hit it.
The weight of the body is on the foot behind when starting the stroke. It passes on to the forward foot when hitting the ball and in finishing out the stroke. Have the body go forward with the stroke to finish out. The usual mistake of players is that they do not relax the body sufficiently while taking the stroke.
The best time to meet the ball is just as the racquet is coming at a rising angle.
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