It’s a question that’s been asked by aspiring tennis players for years: How long does it take to learn tennis? There’s no easy answer, of course, as the time it takes to become proficient at this sport depends on a variety of factors, such as your natural ability and dedication to practice.
However, with the right approach, anyone can learn how to play tennis in just a few short months. Keep reading to learn more about how long it takes to learn tennis and what you can do to speed up the process.
Time It Takes
The first question that many people ask is, “How long does it take to learn tennis?”
There are several steps you should follow when learning the game of tennis. Obviously, these steps will vary depending on your individual strengths and weaknesses as a player.
For this reason, there’s no way to tell exactly how long it will take for you to learn tennis.
There is, however, a general rule that many people follow when learning a sport or a new skill: it takes about 10,000 hours of dedicated work to become proficient at something.
In other words, if you’re just starting out with tennis and can dedicate only one hour per day to the sport for the next few years, you will probably be a decent beginner by the time you’ve reached 10,000 hours of playing.
However, some people can even learn it in much less time.
For instance, famous tennis players have been known to reach the professional level after playing for just a few years, so your personal aptitude will play a role in how long it takes for you to learn tennis.
Is it Hard to Learn to Play Tennis?
Now that we’ve answered the question, “How long does it take to learn tennis?” you might be wondering if the sport is actually difficult to learn.
For the most part, tennis is not a terribly difficult sport to understand. The basic rules are fairly simple and can be learned relatively quickly.
However, as with any sport, there are always going to be some people who find it more challenging than others.
If you’re someone who struggles with hand-eye coordination, for example, you might find tennis a bit more difficult to learn than someone who doesn’t have that issue.
The same can be said for people who have trouble with their balance or those who are simply not very athletic.
That being said, even people who don’t have a lot of natural ability can learn to play tennis with enough practice and dedication.
Can you Learn Tennis at Any Age?
One of the great things about tennis is that it can be learned at any age. Whether you’re a child, a teenager, or an adult, you can pick up this sport and start playing it relatively easily.
Of course, some people might find it easier to learn than others, but that’s just the way it is with any skill. In general, children tend to learn new skills more quickly than adults, but that’s not always the case.
It really just depends on the individual and how much time they’re willing to dedicate to learning. So, whether you’re young or old, you can definitely learn tennis if you set your mind to it.
How Much Does It Cost to Play Tennis?
One of the reasons tennis is such a popular sport is because it doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment. In fact, all you really need to get started is a racket and a ball.
You can find decent-quality rackets for under $100, and a can of balls only costs about $15. Of course, if you’re planning on playing tennis regularly, you might want to invest in some better-quality equipment.
But for the most part, tennis is a very affordable sport to get into.
Another great thing about tennis is that you don’t need to join an expensive club or gym in order to play. You can easily find public courts to play on in most cities and towns.
Or, if you have a friend or family member who plays tennis, you can probably use their court for free. Either way, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to enjoy this sport.
Tennis is a great way to get some exercise, relieve stress, and spend time with friends or family. It’s also a relatively easy sport to learn, and it doesn’t require a lot of expensive equipment.
Benefits of Playing Tennis
The sport tennis can offer you a lot of benefits. Some of these includes:
- Physical fitness [nutrition and exercise often go hand in hand]
- Socialization [meeting new friends through a common interest is always beneficial. Just don’t be a douchebag.]
- Mental stimulation [once again, going with the theme of having a common interest for friendship opportunities]
- Fun [if you enjoy what you’re doing, you’ll want to do it again and again]
- Improved stress management [stress is boring]
The sport can also help you lose weight.
However, weight loss isn’t necessarily an indicator of your fitness level. It is possible to lose weight when playing tennis without experiencing the benefits that the sport has to offer.
Equipment You Will Need to Play Tennis
In order to get started, you’ll need some basic equipment.
For starters, you will need a tennis racket. You can get a new one or rent it from somewhere. Make sure to pick the right one that fits your height and hand size. A beginner-friendly tennis racket can be easily found in your local supermarket, department store, or sports store. Make sure to pick the racket carefully to make sure that it is easy and comfortable for you.
Recommended tennis racket for beginners: Babolat 2021 Pure Drive 110 Tennis Racquet
Once you’ve chosen your tennis racket, you’ll need some tennis balls. You can usually purchase these either brand new or at garage sales, which are fairly common in areas where tennis is popular. Garage sales are also a good place to find used rackets for a cheap price, but be sure to try them out before you purchase so that you don’t waste your money.
Recommended tennis balls: WILSON Youth Tennis Balls
Finally, you’ll want to have some tennis shoes or other comfortable athletic shoes. Playing in street shoes is not advisable since it can cause injuries and may not provide the level of traction needed for playing well on the court.
Best tennis shoes for beginners: Adidas Men’s Gamecourt M Sneaker
You will also need some light clothes that are comfortable to move around in. Tennis shirts and shorts would work well for both men and women. Keep in mind that playing tennis outdoors will require more protection from the sun than playing indoors.
Recommended t-shirt: Adidas Stay Dry Moisture-Wicking Short Sleeve T-Shirt
That’s all you need to get started! Tennis is an accessible and fun sport for people of all backgrounds to learn.
How Scoring Works in Tennis Games
For those unfamiliar with tennis, it can be a bit confusing to follow as the scoring system used is different from other sports.
In most sporting events, such as football or basketball games, you score points by getting the ball across a goal line or into a basket. In order for points to be scored in these types of games, there must be a clear “winner” and “loser.”
Tennis, on the other hand, awards points to whoever is winning at any given moment during play. In fact, every single point in a tennis game makes a difference. [In other words, if you win 15 out of 17 points, you have won the set instead of winning 2 out of 2 (assuming that there are only two sets in the game)].
If the match is tied, then a player must win by two points. This can be done either by winning both sets or winning at least three out of five sets. If players are tied at six games all (6-6), they play deuce (or advantage). The game is decided by the first player who gets two consecutive points to win the game.
Different Types of Tennis Strokes
Tennis is a game that involves different strokes, or types of hits. Players use these different types of hits to control the placement and speed of the ball as it’s being returned to their opponent. The four basic shots are:
Forehand Shots – The forehand shot requires hitting the ball with your right hand if you are right-handed (or vice versa for left-handed players). The forehand shot is the hardest to master since it requires lifting your arm above your head and essentially hitting in front of your body without twisting or turning much.
Backhand Shots – The backhand shot is much easier than the forehand shot since you are simply hitting the ball with the back of your hand. Hitting with the back of your hand is easier since you are hitting in a natural direction and it’s harder to mess up the motion of this shot.
Volleys – The volley is usually used while standing closer to the net, or at a shorter distance from the net than your opponent. This shot requires you to get more height on the ball and is usually performed with an “up and over” motion.
Serves – The serve is one of the most important shots in tennis since it sets up your play for the rest of the game. Serving requires you to throw the ball up straight in the air and hit it, sending it at least a few feet behind your opponent’s baseline.
Each of these types of strokes requires a slightly different body movement in order to perform them. You will have to practice each one in order to improve your game.
The Right Way to Serve a Ball
For those who have never played tennis before, the serve is a shot that sets up your entire game. It’s important to learn how to serve well if you want to be successful at this sport.
The first step of serving a ball is holding it out in front of you and tossing it slightly upwards with your dominant hand. If you are right-handed, this means you will toss the ball in the air with your right hand.
Next, take your racket in your non-dominant hand and hold it out above your head in an “L” shape. After that, swing the racket down toward the ground while simultaneously tossing the ball forward with your dominant hand. The motion should lead to a follow-through that throws the ball upward and forward.
Finally, your last step is simply catching the tennis ball after it bounces back from the racket. You want to catch it off center, or away from your dominant hand if you are right-handed (or vice versa). The placement where you catch the ball is important since this helps you serve with the correct spin. For a backspin serve, catch the ball off center toward your non-dominant side. If you want to make an underspin serve, catch it off center toward your dominant side.
Spin serves help keep the ball low since they are not traveling as fast through the air as regular flat serves. It may take some practice to get it right, but this is the key to serving well.
Understanding the Lines on a Tennis Court
The tennis court is divided into different sections by the lines (which are also referred to as “cords” or “fault lines”) that surround them. These lines are important because they show players where various shots should land in order to be played fairly. If you hit a shot before the line, it’s an out. If you hit a shot behind the line, it’s called “in.”
The singles court is 18 feet wide and 78 feet long. The outermost lines are called out or in (not to be confused with out/in for shots). There are also lines that divide the singles court into service boxes. The service boxes are where players stand when serving. They are 6 feet long and 6 feet wide. These are called the service boxes because they are where players serve from rather than the lines surrounding them.
The two singles courts meet at a net that is 3 feet high in the middle, with each player’s baseline being 11 feet from their side of the net. There are also doubles areas on either side of the singles court that is 20 feet deep.
Tips to Become a Decent Tennis Player Quickly
Here are some tips that may help you to scale up your performance in the tennis game:
Admit Yourself to a Tennis Academy
If you’re looking to become a better tennis player, the best way to do so is to admit yourself to a tennis academy. At these academies, you’ll receive professional training from experienced instructors who can help you improve your skills and techniques.
In addition, attending an academy will give you access to top-quality facilities and equipment. This will allow you to practice as much as you need in order to improve your game.
Lastly, academies offer a great social environment where you can meet other aspiring tennis players and make new friends. If you’re serious about improving your tennis skills, then an academy is the right choice for you.
Develop Hand-Eye Coordination
In order to improve your tennis skills, you need to develop good hand-eye coordination. This means being able to hit the ball accurately with your racket. There are a few things you can do to improve your coordination
1) Practice regularly. The more you practice, the better your coordination will become. Try to hit as many balls as possible in each practice session.
2) Use a tennis ball machine. A tennis ball machine can help you improve your hand-eye coordination by simulating real-world game conditions. It will randomly generate different types of shots, forcing you to react quickly and accurately.
3) Play games with someone else. Playing games with another person is a great way to improve your hand-eye coordination. If you don’t have a partner to play with, you can buy a tennis ball machine for yourself.
Learn when to attack
In order to improve your tennis skills, it’s important to learn when to attack. Attacking the ball at the right time will help you make better shots and ultimately win more points. Here are a few things to keep in mind when deciding when to go for it:
React quickly. In order to hit the ball accurately, you need to react quickly. The faster you can react, the more shots you’ll have the opportunity to make.
Wait for the right moment. Don’t shoot the ball just because it’s available. Wait for the right moment and then take your shot. This will increase your chances of making a good shot.
Look for an opening. When you’re playing against an opponent, look for an opening. If you see that they’re not covering a certain area, then you should take advantage and shoot at that point.
Watch the ball carefully. The last tip for learning when to shoot is to watch the ball carefully and anticipate where it will go next. This way, you’ll be able to make accurate shots because your reactions will be faster.
Be Consistent
In order to become a better tennis player, it’s important to be consistent with your training. This means practicing regularly and hitting as many balls as possible. It also means working on your skills and techniques regularly so that you can improve your game
In addition, be consistent with your attitude. Stay positive and motivated, even when things are tough. This will help you to push through difficult times and continue improving your tennis skills. Lastly, be consistent with your effort. Don’t slack off just because you’re having a bad day or you’re not feeling motivated. Continue working hard and you’ll see results over time.
Never Stop Practising
One way to improve your tennis skills quickly is to never stop practising. Set aside a specific time every day for practice and stick with it. It can be as little as 30 minutes or as much as an hour, but make sure you set aside the time and don’t skip out on it.
Watch Tennis More Often
Watching more tennis can help you improve your game quickly. Watching professional players play is a great way to learn how the pros handle certain situations and apply this knowledge to your own game. It’s also a good idea to watch live matches with people that have a lot of experience with tennis. This will allow you to ask them questions and pick up some useful tips.
Finally, be sure to watch your own matches immediately after they’re finished. This is one of the best ways to improve quickly because you’ll have the chance to see what you need to work on and how you can apply those lessons in future matches.
As with most skills, it takes time and practice for you to improve your tennis game. However, if you make a plan for how to practice and commit yourself to practice regularly, you’ll see results in no time at all.
How to Practice Tennis Alone?
If you don’t have access to a tennis court or a partner to practice with, there are still many ways that you can improve your game. Here are a few ideas:
- Use a Ball Machine
- One of the best ways to practice alone is to use a ball machine. This will allow you to get in some quality practice time without having to rely on someone else. Be sure to set the machine up so that it’s challenging for you and keep the balls coming at a consistent pace.
- Hit Against a Wall
- Hitting against a wall is another great way to practice alone. You can use any type of tennis ball and hit it against any type of surface. Just be sure to have enough space so that you can move around and get in some good swings.
- Use a Practice Partner
- If you have access to a practice partner, make use of them! This is a great way to get some quality reps in without having to find someone to play with. Just be sure to agree on a set amount of time or number of balls so that you can both get in some good practice.
- Play Some ‘Shadow Tennis’
- Shadow tennis is when you mimic the motions of playing tennis without actually hitting a ball. This is a great way to work on your form and technique. Just be sure to keep your movements smooth and consistent.
- Use a Practice Net
- If you have access to a practice net, make use of it! This is a great way to work on your serve or your volleys. Just be sure to set it up correctly and practice with a consistent pace.
Conclusion
In order to improve your tennis skills, it is important to practice regularly and be consistent with your effort. You should also watch more tennis, both live and on television. Watching professional players play can help you learn new techniques that you can apply to your own game. Lastly, never stop practicing and stay motivated even when things are tough. These tips will help you improve your tennis skills quickly and become a better player.