How to work on your tennis technique: The complete guide

Before concentrating on stroke technique, it is essential to understand the importance of posture and support. A good stance allows you to be balanced and reactive:

• Keep moving : Tennis is a dynamic sport. It’s crucial to keep your feet light and flexible so you can react quickly to every ball.
• Leg position : Adopt a slightly bent position with your legs shoulder-width apart for greater stability.
• Foot movement : Use adjustment steps before each shot so you’re always in the right position to hit the ball.

The way you hold your racket has a direct influence on your ability to hit the ball correctly:

• Racquet grip: Choose the grip that suits you best depending on the type of shot you want to work on, whether it’s the continental, semi-open or other grip.
• Arm position: Keep your racket ready, with the dominant hand behind and the non-dominant hand ready to adjust if necessary.

The forehand is one of the most frequently used shots in tennis. Here’s how to work on your tennis technique to improve your forehand:

• Preparation : The key is anticipation. Turn your shoulders quickly and get your racket ready as soon as your opponent hits the ball.
• Contact with the ball: Make contact in front of you, at hip height, with full follow-through.
• Follow-through : Complete your stroke by following through the ball with your racket for maximum control and power.

The backhand is often a more difficult shot to master, especially with one hand. To work on your backhand technique:

• One-handed backhand: Turn your shoulders quickly, bring the racket backwards and hit with a full extension of the arm.

  Two-handed backhand: Keep both hands on the racket, with a quick rotation of the hips to generate more power.

• Use the lower body: Transferring weight from one leg to the other during the stroke will allow you to hit with more force and accuracy.

The serve is often a tennis player’s most powerful weapon. If you’re looking for ways to work on your serve technique, here are a few key points:

• Ball delivery : The delivery should be even and consistent, just in front of you and slightly forward.
• Body position: Keep a good balance with your shoulders slightly bent back when you throw the ball.
• Follow-through: A good serve requires excellent follow-through, with the racket accelerating all the way through the movement.

The volley is a shot that requires speed and precision. Here are a few tips to improve your volleying technique:

• Move towards the net: To volley effectively, move forward after hitting the ball to reduce your opponent’s reaction time.
• Use the angles : Winning volleys are often those that exploit the angles and prevent your opponent from easily returning the ball.

To make real progress, repetition is the key. Here are a few tips for incorporating repetition into your training:

• Repeat each shot several times: Whether it’s your forehand, backhand or serve, repeat the same movement over and over again until it becomes instinctive.
• Practice with targets: Place targets on the court to improve the accuracy of your shots.
• Film yourself: Record your sessions to analyse your movements and identify areas for improvement.

Training should not be limited to repeating technical movements. To become a complete player, it’s important to train in a variety of situations:

• Points games: Simulate matches to work on your technique in real-life conditions.
• Exercises in motion: Do exercises where you have to hit the ball in motion to improve your reactivity.

Working with a coach gives you the benefit of an outside perspective and specialist expertise to help you improve your technique:
 

• Personalised corrections: A coach can give you advice specific to your playing style and help you correct bad habits.
• Targeted training: A coach can create made-to-measure exercises to help you make rapid progress on specific aspects of your game.

With a coach, you can follow a regular and structured progression:
 

• Regular evaluation: Your coach will be able to assess your progress at each stage and adjust your training plan accordingly.
• Short- and long-term goals : Set yourself goals with your coach, whether it’s to improve a specific stroke or to become a more complete player.