Be Like Andy Roddick!

Do you really want to learn fast? Then, watch and videotape the best professionals in action! First, DON'T watch the ball, but instead, the player. Next, review the videotape of the match you watched, in slow motion! This is the best way to get free tennis lessons from the absolute best of the best!

Another Ball in the Wall

If you don't have a partner, ANY wall will groove your ground strokes. Try this free tennis lesson on your own. Play up close to the wall to hit the ball in the center string as much as possible. Then, move back and let the ball bounce twice against the wall, hitting the ball softly! This will give you the rhythm and timing essential for ground strokes!

101 Tennis Tips

Not sure where to find lots of tips to help your game, from serve to volley, forehand to overhead? Get some online tennis lesson tips by going to tennis.com, and locate 101 Tennis Tips. The tips are good for anyone in the "tennis for beginners" stage to more advanced players.

Hand Quicker Than the Eye

Having trouble hitting the ball on the strings? Try this in your tennis lessons. Play catch with one ball, letting it bounce first. Then, one player tosses the ball, while the other bumps it back to the partner. Now, turn with your back to the tosser. Tosser calls "ball!", and you turn to bump it back. Ten in a row, then switch!

Two Important Strokes in Match Play

Whether your taking a tennis lesson or reading a tennis for beginners book, one of the first things you'll learn about are the two most important shots in tennis. The serve and the return. If you're interested in playing competitively, you must have a solid and consistent serve and return. Why? At the intermediate level and below, most shots don't last beyond 4 or 5 shots!

Learn by Doing

Integrating the audio and visual with the kinesthetic are the best ways to learn specific strokes you are learning in your tennis lessons. It's not enough to hear it and see it. You must do it, and do it repeatedly until it "feels right" and you get the desired result you want.

Forehands and Backhands

Having a "cue" word is important if you're learning any new shot. The groundstrokes are no exception. On your forehand, think "palm forward." On your backhand, think "knuckles forward." This will enable you to focus on the correct path of the racquet! Plus, get the most out of your tennis lessons.

The Two Bounce Drill

Here's a little "zest" for your tennis sandwich! Would you like to learn CONTROL from the baseline quickly? The "two bounce drill" is simple, it works and should be used in every tennis lesson. Both players hit from the baseline, striking the ball with a short swing, and targeting the opposite service boxes. Go for 10 in a row, then play first to 11! Have fun!

30 Minutes to a Better Game

This is a great warmup drill taught to me by one of my mentors we did in every tennis lesson. Start with mini tennis, followed by crosscourt baseline strokes. Then move in, volley with the baseliner, then switch. Now volley to volley. Now, baseline to volley. Baseliner alternates groundstroke and lob, net player warms up volley and overhead. Switch. Done!

Play Up Close to Learn Tennis

What is mini tennis? It's tennis played using the four service boxes close to the net--and, it's the best way to initially warm up before you start your tennis lessons! Try it, but remember--no big backswing, and don't wrap the racket around your throat. Just "bump" it back, and establish a mini rally!

Bounce and Trounce Drill

Try this tennis lesson drill with a friend! With a few dozen balls, or preferably a "hopper" of balls, have your friend hit a "blooper" ball (high and slow) around the service line area. Take the ball as it's coming up, and hit it back with controlled power. It's a tough, but fun drill! Switch after 5 minutes!

Learn By Spectating

Not sure whether you're ready to play in a tennis tournament? One way to answer that question is to contact your community tennis association, and observe some matches. It'll be like getting free tennis lessons. You can observe their strokes and skills. Plus, you will find out very quickly whether you're ready or not!

Play 21!

Now it's time to complete the sandwich! 21 is a great tennis lesson that'll "groove the groundstrokes." Both players begin on the baseline, with one person hitting (not a serve) to the other. After 3 balls, the point is "live." The entire singles court is good. Be patient. This will make your groundstrokes great!

Practice Perfectly

Tony Robbins is fond of saying, "repetition is the mother of skill." But, you must repeat the skill you wish to acquire correctly in order to acquire the skill. That's why "perfect practice" is much better than practice. Perfect practice is the habit of focusing on your weaker shots and strokes until they become as strong as the strongest areas of your game. This can be accomplished with a 10 minute rally with the instructor at the end of each tennis lesson.

Learn by Teaching

Here's how to quickly learn what you've been taught at your tennis lessons. Teach it to others. When you learn the use of the opposite hand, for example, you need to immediately find a partner that has NEVER been exposed to that tip. Teach them the use of the opposite hand, and then ensure they understand it; the only way to teach this tip, or any tip in tennis properly, is to first understand it, and finally, to teach it to others!

To learn, you must teach!

When taking tennis lessons try to keep the thoughts of Stephen Covey in mind. He has suggested that in order to learn any new skill well, you must teach it. That places the burden on you to really learn that skill. Additionally, you also need to concisely communicate that skill. In so doing, your skill in that subject will become that much better!

Offensive Tennis!

Welcome to the front lines of tennis! Volleys and overheads are sometimes thought to be the hardest part of tennis lessons, but are not! For the volley, think "catch" to control the racquet and ball. For the overhead, think "relax" and your hand, wrist and arm will then do the work. From the book Tennis For Life.

The art of mini rallys

Want a tennis lesson that'll teach you groundstrokes fast? Then mini rallying is for you! Both players start just behind the service line, near the net. Bump (that means NO big swings)the ball back and forth with one bounce until control is achieved. 10 in a row as a team, then, play first to 11, using all 4 service boxes as your tennis court.

Topspin Lobs

The secret to a solid topspin lob is disguise. Set up your lob like a regular groundstroke. Then, just prior to contact, accelerate the racquet head up, and watch the ball quickly fly over your opponents head! Before you attempt to play competitive tennis you should make sure this is covered in one of your tennis lessons.