1) Tennis is a hand game. As tennis history tells us, the palm of the hand was used to hit the ball when the game flourished during the 13th century France until tennis racket took over years later. Now do this drill. Ask a friend to throw 20 balls to your right side. And hit them back on single bounce with the palm of your hand, finishing your hand motion close to your left ear. Do the same to your left side. Hit the 20 balls back over the net using the back of your hand, finishing your hand motion to your right.
2) Your eyes should find the ball. As you do the above drill, use your eyes to track down the ball before you hit it with your hand. It is significant that your hand and eye must work together at all times. Or you will completely miss the ball.
3) Direction is all about the angle of your hand. As you use the palm of your hand and eyes to hit and track the balls thrown to your right side, you notice that when your hand faces the sky, the ball goes up. The ball goes to the net if you hood your palm. The same result happens when you hit the balls thrown to your left side. If you point the back of your hand down the line, the ball will go down the line.
4) Racket and hand are single unit. Now put a racket on your hand. Make sure that as you hold the racket, the back of your hand is aligned to its face. As you hit the ball with your racket, keep in mind that the angle of the racket will determine the direction of your shot because the hand is at the same angle. The racket is just an extension of your hand.
5) No need to worry about your footwork. You also notice that as you do the above, your feet move naturally. When the ball is a little bit away from you, you run for it automatically. Just like a baseball fielder, he runs for the ball and focuses on it without worrying his feet and the ballpark fence! In other words, without thinking, your lower body is responding to the motion of your upper body.
6) Apply the same to hit the ball before it bounces. This stroke is called volley. Stand at the net. Instead of hitting the ball with your hand, catch it. Try catching 20 balls thrown to your right side. Then hold a racket and let it do the catching. Two things you will notice in doing so: First, you easily hit the ball and it directs in relation to the angle of the racket; second, your lower body moves instinctively.
7) Tennis serve is even easier. Stand at the baseline. Get a tennis ball and from there, throw the ball in an upward direction enough to straighten up your arm. Without noticing it, you already spread your legs and bend your elbow so you can throw the ball with more distance. Now hold a racket and do the same motion. That is tennis serve.
One more advice to keep your learning tennis easy: Watch and imitate your favorite pros. There are three reasons for this counsel: First, tennis pros are the inventor of shots; second, by copying them, they will be your best teacher; thirdly, it is absolutely free.
