Ace It! The Skills of Tennis

Imagine you are standing on a tennis court. A small yellow ball is flying straight towards you at high speed. What do you do? Do you run left or right? Do you hit it with one hand or two? Tennis players have to make these decisions in less than a second! Before we explore the skills that help them do this, try this warm-up thought.

Tennis is played with a racket and a small felt ball on a court divided by a net. To play well, you need to master several core skills. Let's look at each one. **The Ready Position** Before every shot, good players stand with knees slightly bent, weight on the balls of their feet, and the racket held in front of them. This helps them move quickly in any direction. **The Serve** The serve starts every point. You throw the ball up into the air and hit it diagonally over the net into the opposite service box. A good serve uses a smooth upward swing and a snap of the wrist at the top. **The Forehand** This is the most common shot. You hit the ball on the same side as your racket hand. Swing from low to high, making contact with the ball in front of your body. Keep your eye on the ball the whole time. **The Backhand** This shot hits the ball on the opposite side from your racket hand. You can use one hand or two hands on the racket. The two-handed backhand gives extra power and is popular with younger players. **The Volley** A volley is hit before the ball bounces on the ground. Players use volleys when they move close to the net. The swing is short and punchy — you do not swing back far. **Footwork and Movement** All of these shots only work if you reach the ball in time. Tennis players use small, quick steps called split steps to change direction fast. Good footwork is the foundation of every skill.