Judy Murray’s 5 top tips for tennis beginners

A fun way to get your daily cardio fix, the quintessentially British game of tennis is one that, with practice, can be enjoyed by anyone – so to get you started, here are Judy Murray’s top tips for tennis beginners. Go, ace that match!

1. Find a coach who suits you

If you don’t know one end of a racket from the other, the first step is of course to find a good coach. However, don’t just pick the most expensive coach you can find who teaches all the pros – Judy recommends shopping around to find one who’s personality suits you. Often, coaches who teach children are also great for beginner adults, as they are used to going back to basics and won’t be deterred by any wild mis-hits!

2. Get a great practice partner

According to Judy, it doesn’t matter who hit those forehands to – be it your friend, husband, or even the dog! The important thing is that they enjoy it too. There are also plenty of social tennis groups that are geared up to beginners, and give you great motivation to progress together.

3. Practise the basics

When you’re starting out in any sport, it’s important to practise as much as possible. With tennis this is especially true, as it relies so much on co-ordination, and uses many muscles that don’t normally get used. Judy advises heading to the local park or council courts to practise basic skills, like one-handed throwing and catching, footwork and basic shots. Even when you’ve progressed on to those kick serves and slice backhands, make sure to go back to basics every so often – mastering those basic skills are where the magic happens.

4. Choose the right racket

It’s amazing how different rackets can affect how you play. Therefore it’s so important to make sure you are using the right one, especially when you’re starting out. Your coach or a specialist shop will be able to give you a good idea of ones that will suit your game, but as a rough guide Judy recommends a lightweight racquet with a larger head for beginner ladies.

5. Learn from the best

This summer there’s plenty of opportunity to watch the pros in action, whether you’re one of the lucky ones holding Wimbledon tickets or not. Watching professional matches can help you get an eye for the rules of the game, so why not check out Queen’s, Davis Cup and of course Wimbledon that will all be showing on the BBC this summer. As far as women’s tennis is concerned, look out for young Brit Laura Robson, and Judy’s pick of the women, Polish pro Agnieszka Radwanska, who has a great all-round technique for beginners to learn from.

If you are looking to get into tennis, check out HEAD equipment at tennisnuts and for all-year round coaching go to livingtennis.