Tennis Book for PDF - Gloucester Academy

Name of Module Tennis
Skills Development Sheet
The beginning stage of learning Tennis is the exploratory phase, where
the player is attempting to learn the correct sequence of movements of
all the basic skills e.g. forehand, backhand, serve. Many errors may be
made and often the skills may appear jerky, although improvement may
be rapid to the next stage.
At the intermediate stage a player will be able to play most strokes, but
not always the correct use in a game situation. The player will be more
consistent, balanced and mobile.
At the advanced stage a player will execute all the skills automatically
and will concentrate more on the placement of the shot, and how to
vary and disguise shots. A player will be able to demonstrate a good
tactical game plan and mental toughness.
Basic Skills The groundstrokes, the volley, the service, the smash (pages 5-16).
Game-play Skills Attacking players may have: strong serve, good volley, good return of serve.
Defensive players may have: good steady groundstokes, reliable service,
steady baseline play, topspin groundstrokes, two handed backhand (page 36).
Tactical Skills Singles: Achieving depth, width, angles; playing to strengths, and
maintaining consistency; hitting the ball away from opponent,
correct positioning and timming; “right” position, disguise and
variety (pages 11 to 14).
Doubles: Covering the net together; winning service games, keeping the ball
deep and opponent back; approaching the net and volleying;
defending from the baseline and return to the attack; disguise and
variety (pages 11 to 14) .
Training Skills Mental toughness (page 21). Muscular endurance, power, flexibility, balance,
speed, stamina and agility (pages 18-20).
Rules Contact the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). Address page 39.
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