There are a lot of people out there who want to play tennis, but they don't know how or where to begin. So I decided to spend a few days putting together the ultimate guide on how to play tennis for beginners. Let's get started. Step 1:

Go to a tennis court and hit with a friend. Get a feel for moving on the tennis court and making contact with the ball. Don't think that just because you are not playing well you should give up. You are a beginner! Everyone starts somewhere. Roger Federer couldn't beat many people when he first started playing tennis. Have fun and try to remember what troubled you most on the court. And don't worry about your level of play right now: the steps that follow will ensure that you keep improving your tennis game. RESOURCES TO FIND A COURT OR PLAYER TO PLAY WITH: 1. Tennis Maps: Plug in your address or zip code, and presto. A map with a ton of flags indicating tennis court locations will pop up. Click the flag and then "more info" for a detailed map of the tennis court. Pretty cool, and helpful! 2. Global Tennis Network: This site not only lets you search tennis courts around your area, it also connects you with other tennis players. You can find tennis leagues, ladders, and tournaments on the Global Tennis Network as well. Pretty cool. 3. Tennis Round: TR makes it easy to find players to hit with according to skill level. You can send and receive text messages and emails to connect with other players on Tennis Round. You can report your scores, accumulate points, and see results of other players on the site. Step 3:

Go to the local library or bookstore and read tennis books. One of the best things you can do as a beginner is to immerse yourself in the game by reading about tennis. As a beginner, I recommend you read books about tennis technique to learn the general principles of stroke mechanics and footwork. You can also read mental training and books about the pros, but as a beginner your priority should be to learn correct technique and practice it on the tennis court. First you need to learn how to play: the mental game can come later. And if you don't know how tennis scoring works, reading books will help that too: most beginner tennis books will teach you the basic rules of tennis. TENNIS BOOKS THAT I RECOMMEND: 1. Inner Game of Tennis (W. Timothy Gallwey): Arguably the most popular tennis book of all time. I love this book because it focuses on the mental side of tennis and shows us how to perform our best on the court, especially in high-pressure situations. The Inner Game of Tennis is a timeless classic. If you are having trouble overcoming mental obstacles or want to know how to properly approach the game, you need to get your hands on this book! 2. Tennis Fundamentals (Carol Matsuzaki): This book will teach you the basics about tennis. It has plenty of pictures and is easy to follow. A great book for those just starting to play tennis. It was published in 2004, so you may be able to find it at your local library. 3. World-Class Tennis Technique (Paul Roetert/Jack Groppel): This book was published in 2001, and has a ton of illustrations and explanations from several of the most legendary tennis coaches of all time. I remember reading this book in the library when I was a teenager. Hopefully they will have this book at your library too. Step 4:

Videos are a fantastic way to learn how to play tennis. Most people learn skills faster when presented to them visually. When you watch tennis videos, take careful notes on how players use their entire body to hit a shot, and the position of the racquet throughout the stroke. Compare what you see to how you hit your strokes and figure out the differences. I especially like watching slow motion videos of pros because you can see each and every small detail. However, as a beginner, make sure to watch high-quality instructional videos. Sometimes beginners make the mistake of trying to emulate professionals after seeing advanced techniques that are best implemented later on in a player's career. Here are my favorite youtube tennis channels that can help you learn proper tennis technique: 1. Feel Tennis Instruction: Tomaz from Feel Tennis Instruction emphasizes using your body's natural mechanics to play tennis more efficiently. His philosophy makes sense and appeals to those who want to feel more relaxed and biomechanically sound on the tennis court. I interviewed Tomaz on Episode 6 of The Tennis Files Podcast, which you should definitely check out! He also has a fantastic online course called Serve Unlocked that will help you improve your tennis serve. 2. Jeff Salzenstein: Jeff Salzenstein is a former Top 100 ATP pro who has a bunch of short but helpful videos on tennis technique. He also has specific tips like "elbow the enemy" and "the buggy whip" that you may find to really help your game. I also recommend that you listen to my interview with Jeff on Episode 28 of The Tennis Files Podcast! 3. Fuzzy Yellow Balls: Will Hamilton has put together a bunch of fantastic instructional videos that breaks down stroke mechanics in an easy to understand fashion. He also happens to live around my neighborhood! Step 5:

To maximize your tennis game, it is vital that you have correct technique. If you have bad technique, it will take a lot of time to fix later down the road (see #10 of this article). Make sure you develop efficient stroke mechanics so that your strokes will not break down under pressure. Find optimal technique and practice it as much as you can (especially your serve!). When you first start playing, remember that it helps to use a shorter backswing . Many players like to overcomplicate strokes by taking big backswings. However, as a beginner, a longer backswing can make it harder to time your shots. Once you get the timing and mechanics of hitting a stroke down first, then you can add in a lengthier backswing if needed, but only if it helps make your shot more effective. You also need to focus on excellent footwork. The foundation of tennis is getting into position to hit the ball. If you can't get into position, then you won't have a chance to use the strokes you learned. Lastly, it is important to have fun while you play tennis, especially when first starting out. If you aren't having fun playing tennis, you might as well do something else. Don't stress on the fact that you aren't very good at tennis. Instead, enjoy the challenge, health benefits, and different skill-sets that you will develop and improve by playing tennis. You are a lot more likely to keep playing tennis if you can enjoy it. Step 6:

If your budget allows, find a good tennis coach and take lessons. Having a coach to examine your technique and give you live feedback can accelerate your tennis growth immensely. Instead of spending hours to figure out a flaw and the solution, a coach can spot issues in your game and give you a solution instantly. Without a coach, you may never recognize your technical flaws, and you will have a tough time changing your technique later down the road. You have two choices when it comes to coaches and lessons: 1. Private Lessons - One-on-one. More expensive but you get all the attention from the teaching pro. Highly recommended if you are serious about your tennis game. 2. Group Lessons - Two or more students to one coach. Cheaper. Recommended if you want a more social atmosphere or cannot find players to hit with. Allows the instructor to analyze your play against other players. HOW TO FIND A TENNIS COACH: Talk to other tennis players and get recommendations. Call a tennis club in your area and ask them for their best or most popular coaches. If possible, watch the tennis coach while he teaches a lesson to figure out if he is any good. I suggest that you first find the name of some coaches that interest you, and google/facebook/linkedin research them to see their resume. Chances are a more experienced and successful coach will be better for you than one without as strong of a record. You can also use PlayYourCourt and CourtPlay to find tennis coaches. After answering a couple questions, you'll be matched up with tennis coaches in your area. PlayYourCourt (use code "TENNISFILES" for $25 off a lesson package) and CourtPlay provide players with a quick and easy way of finding a good tennis coach using the internet or a smartphone. Step 7: