21 tips for beginners and intermediate tennis players

These are the most important tips about tennis, says our editorial. Some are pretty obvious, some aren't. We hope this small piece of advice will serve you well.

Getting started

1. Your first racquet doesn't matter. If you're a total beginner, just grab any working adult-size racquet and start playing. Expensive gear won't help until you've developed proper form.

2. Practice your swing off the court. Stand in front of a mirror and compare your form to good players. Do this regularly until your swing becomes instinctual when you see a ball coming.

3. Start with private lessons, then join clinics. Get a coach to teach you proper form and shot selection for a few months. Practice between lessons with friends. Once you have the basics, join a clinic for exposure to different playing styles.

4. Play as many matches as possible. Nothing accelerates improvement like match experience. The pressure and unpredictability of real points teaches you things drills can't.

Footwork and fitness

5. Footwork is king. Master the split step and ready position—they'll make it nearly impossible for opponents to hit shots past you. Practice ladder drills and copy the footwork of good players.

6. Get fit. You can beat many beginners just by being faster and not getting tired. When fatigue sets in, your footwork and swings get sloppy. Train like soccer and basketball players: sprints, endurance, and leg work.

7. Master fundamentals before playing points. Many players jump into point play on day one with no idea what they're doing. Focus on form and control first. Once you're ready, live drills and matches become your best teacher.

The serve

8. Prioritize serve consistency over power. Beginners often copy the pros—huge flat first serve, weak second serve—and double fault constantly. Instead, make both serves moderate-speed with topspin-sidespin combo. A reliable 60% power serve beats an unreliable 100% power serve every time.

9. Don't over-practice serves. The serve motion is hard on your shoulder. Focus on technique and consistency rather than cranking out hundreds of hard serves that could lead to injury.

Strategy and mental game

10. Learn to handle big hitters. Against powerful players, shorten your backswing but keep your follow-through. Read their body language to predict shots. Use their pace against them—they usually expect winners, not confident returns.

11. Know how to beat pushers. Pushers are fast with consistent but weak shots. Don't try to out-hit them—they'll wait for your errors. Instead, hit unpredictable spins and rush the net off good approach shots. They usually panic when you come forward.

12. Make your opponent suffer. Craft your game to make opponents uncomfortable. If they're out of shape, make them sprint. Attack their weaker side. The goal is to force mental cracks and poor decisions.

13. Stay calm and have fun. Anger leads to bad play, which leads to more anger. Everyone's watching. Keep your composure, enjoy the game, and learn from losses instead of throwing fits.

Equipment and practicalities

14. Choose racquets wisely as you advance. Intermediates should have two reliable racquets and experiment with different strings and tensions—they make a huge difference. Demo racquets before buying and stick with reputable brands.

15. Take care of your equipment. Don't expose strings to temperature extremes. Never slam your racquet. Buy shoes with 6-month sole warranties to essentially get two pairs for the price of one.

16. Tennis is expensive—find shortcuts. Practice for free with friends instead of paying for every lesson. Don't enter paid tournaments until you're ready. Pay close attention during lessons to maximize value. Look for free court time opportunities.

Practice smarter

17. Always practice with purpose. Show up thinking "I want to improve my serve-and-volley today" rather than just hitting aimlessly. Goals give your brain a reinforcement pathway for improvement.

18. Hit up, not flat. Aim for several feet of net clearance on groundstrokes. Your racquet speed and spin will bring the ball down. A deep miss is better than hitting into the net.

19. Develop unexpected weapons. Practice specialty shots like dipping cross-court passing shots or attacking your opponent's backhand relentlessly. These become match-winning tricks that catch opponents off guard.

20. Recognize when you're out of energy. If you're suddenly playing terribly after a few hours of practice, you're probably just tired—not getting worse. Tennis requires serious fitness. Don't confuse fatigue with regression.

Bonus tip: Learn proper doubles positioning and strategy. Signaling, Australian formation, and constant net movement can help you dominate players who are better than you in singles.