No matter how old you are, it's never too late to learn how to play tennis. As one of the most popular sports for men and women in the UK, there are numerous opportunities to pick up a racket and have a go at playing this wonderful game. With low cost facilities around the country, various initiatives that encourage people to start playing, and free equipment in schools, there's no better time to get involved in the game.
It sounds obvious but the first thing needed to play tennis is a racket! Thousands of tennis rackets and balls have been given to schools to aid the development of the sport from a grassroots level. People looking to seriously get started in the sport however, should get a racket for themselves, available from most major sports shops. It doesn't have to be the most expensive top-of-the-range racket to begin with, as any racket is ideal for getting used to the feel of it.
Once you have a racket, you'll want to start testing it out, so you'll need to find a place to play. Park courts are a great option for people who don't want to commit to joining a tennis club and there are many available across the UK. Finding a court nearby couldn't be easier - just click on the 'Find a Court' section on the LTA website and type in the name of your area or post code. Hitting the ball over the net with a friend is a great way to get used to moving around the court and connecting with the ball and your racket. Finding someone to play with is simple too with the LTA's allplay initiative, which helps players to find other players of a similar standard in their local area.
Although you're never too old to start playing tennis, it's fantastic to introduce kids to the game as early as possible. Using shorter rackets, smaller courts and a foam or felt ball that is up to 75% slower than a standard ball, LTA Mini Tennis is a fun initiative aimed at getting more young people involved in the sport. Kids will be able to master the basics of the game before playing with full-sized equipment, which is a great place to start.
Before a player goes any further, it might be a good idea for them to learn the rules of tennis if they're not already familiar with them, as well as the scoring system used. It would also be useful to learn some of the terminology used in the game, such as serves, volleys, groundstrokes, smashes and rallies. Watching tennis - either on the TV or live at the event - is also a good way to become more familiar with the game. Choose from some of the various tournaments that take place over the year including the four Grand Slams, the Davis Cup and the LTA Summer Grass Court Season including the AEGON Championships, AEGON Classic and AEGON International.
People who enjoy playing the game casually and want to take it further should think about getting some tennis coaching lessons with an LTA accredited coach. Not only is it a great way of meeting new people but it will also help to develop their game further. Group coaching sessions take place at many clubs and facilities and are the best way to start, as you'll be taught all about the fundamentals of the game. Once a person gets started in the game, they'll find that tennis really is one of the most enjoyable sports in the UK. With various forms of the game available, such as cardio tennis and veterans' tennis, they're sure to find it hard to put their racket down!
Steve Alexander has been writing about encouraging people to play tennis. For more information on how to play tennis in the UK, as well as many more tips about how to play tennis, go to lta.org.uk.
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