Common Tennis Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Mistakes are something normal in tennis. Even professional players often make them. Some of the most common tennis mistakes include not following the ball, hitting it too low, not using the whole arm to generate a swing, and lacking proper footwork.
Not keeping their eyes on the ball is more common among novice tennis players. They tend to follow their opponents’ actions instead of watching the ball and preparing for the next shot. Knowing where their opponent is and how they will swing their racket is important, but it should not consume the entire player’s attention. Waiting for and trying to figure out the opponent’s move may cause them to lose sight of the ball, which should always be their primary focus. Players must train their eyes to constantly follow the ball before checking on the rest of the court.
Hitting the ball too low and ending up hitting it into the net can be equally disastrous. The fact is it has a double disadvantage because it results in both losing a point and sparing the opponent’s energy as they do not even need to run to score a point. Tennis players should strive to get the ball over the net regardless of whether it will land in or outside the court.
Generally, there are two possible reasons for hitting the ball too low. The first is letting the ball drop too much. In this case, it is quite hard to get it moving upward. Altogether, tennis players should hit the ball at least at the height of their hips.
The second reason is following through a flat motion and not hitting the ball upward. Even players with a quick forehand or backhand are not safe. A ball can never fly horizontally because gravity slightly pulls it downwards each time. Thus, it is best to complete the shot from bottom to top, automatically sending the ball high over the net.
Playing with the entire swing of the whole arm is also vital for the maximum effectiveness of the shots. Many players isolate their elbows and wrists and rather use them than their shoulders. They can use their elbows and wrists, but the shoulder should be the one generating the force to hit the ball. Swings started with the elbow result in weaker and less effective shots. Furthermore, players risk injuring their wrists and elbows by unnecessarily using them. Elbow joint injuries are widespread in tennis. One possible way to avoid them is by using the whole arm to generate power.
Finally, poor footwork is the biggest mistake that stops most players from maximizing their speed and agility on the court. They cannot cover the entire court and position themselves for the next shot, which results in either uncontrollably hitting the ball or not reaching it all. Lacking proper footwork is not energy efficient either. First, players lose too much energy to rush from ball to ball. Second, not bending their knees and transferring their weight decreases the effectiveness of the swing, which, in turn, makes them use more of their energy to hit the ball.
For good footwork, players should always split steps before the shot. The additional step will significantly increase their reaction time. They should avoid standing still at one spot but instead move back to the center of the court, which is the optimal position for covering it all.
