By Eli Buenaventura
For Variety

WHETHER it is due to athleticism, genetics or years of practice, tennis pros are admittedly graceful players. We are fascinated the way they play the game. They play their forehand and backhand shots with finesse and uncanny consistency. As recreational weekenders, however, we don’t have to be professional players to become graceful players as well. We can play our regular after-office-hours or weekend matches with such relative ease and grace too. Here are 10 tips to become good looking on the court.
1. Begin with a proper dress code. Come to the tennis court in proper attire. There is nothing morale-boosting than appearing on court wearing a well-coordinated tennis t-shirt, short, and tennis shoes. I have a very high regard to former British top ranked player, Tim Henman. He looks neat all the time on the court from the ground and up. I have similar respect to Chris Evert and Jimmy Connors. I always admire them for their on court sartorial elegance.
2. Play shots on bended knees. A lot of recreational players often underrate this tennis movement. As result, the shot is weak and awkward. By bending your knees, you will see the ball coming to you on a higher plane and that gives you plenty room to brush the ball to produce spin. Micro Games tennis player Lila Mailman appeared beautifully last week in this paper playing her two-hand backhand shot on bended knees. That is the best tennis photo that I have ever seen for a long time.
3. Maximize the use of your free hand. The Lord did not give us two hands for nothing. Raise your left hand to prepare for the shot. The benefits of spreading your left hand while waiting for the incoming ball are two-fold: It gives you the consistency of always keeping your eye on the ball and keeps you well balanced to give you a powerful cut at the ball. Put your left hand as you hit your forehand and ask your friends how awful you look like.
4. It’s all on your feet. You can’t be graceful in any shot you want to play unless you teach your feet to move. As I have always emphasized, tennis is a game of movement. If you don’t move your feet, it will be very tough for you to enjoy the dynamic of the game. The right form you maybe looking for are right down on your feet.
5. Do shadow tennis. Get a life size mirror and see yourself there while you do shadow tennis. Doing these 30 minutes a day will give your muscles time to memorize the movement. As you “shadow box”, condition your mind that you are actually hitting the ball. Otherwise, you will be like my golfing friends. They have the best golf swing without the golf ball.
6. Hit the ball with a follow through. Unless you are returning a strong serve where you are forced to abbreviate your swing, play your forehand and backhand shots with a follow through and you will be okay. The good thing about the follow through aside from making your swing beautiful, is it also helps relax your muscles after the ball left the string.
7. Use your imagination. No two tennis players are exactly alike. That is why duplication of talent and skills is out of the question. You can, however, learn gracefulness the way they play their shots regardless of your physical limitations. Imagine your serve like a trophy pose. As you hit the serve, imagine your left hand has sling you don’t open up too soon. Think of the javelin athlete as he prepares to throw his stick.
8. Idolize a graceful player. I can’t think of any player to idolize other than Roger Federer. For me, he is the epitome of a court general. He has all the answers to the shots heaped upon him on the court. Tennis great Rod Laver said after Federer dismantled Andy Roddick, in their semifinal encounter at the 2007 Australian Open, that it’s unfair that Roger can do many things on the court.
9. Play a movie on your mind. Picture yourself playing the forehand shot with an extended left hand and complete it with follow through. See yourself playing a backhand shot with both of your hands extended like an eagle spreading its wings. Watch your feet moving nicely and you are always in the right position to execute a shot. You also picture yourself hitting an approach shot and going to the net with the right form. Do these five minutes a day before you sleep and you will see how graceful you will be on the court next time.
10. Face the reality of change squarely. It is very tough to be graceful on the court if there is something wrong on your strokes production. A lot of recreational players think their techniques are already good enough. But in reality, it is the other way around. Check with your tennis pro for the areas of your game that need to be refurbished. Work on the changes and pursue it relentlessly. I have seen a lot of players who went to tennis clinics only to backslide to old habits days after the session.