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Ever wanted to get into tennis but not known where to start? Elbow Beach head coach David Lambert's got your bases covered. In his first Bermuda Sun column

this week he details what you need to do, to get started.

The shots

You need five main shots in tennis. Everything else is an extension of those shots.

Learn the serve, the forehand, the backhand, the forehand volley and the backhand volley and you've got it covered.

The shots we always start with are your basic forehand and backhand ground strokes.

Forehand Ground Stroke:

Grip: Hold your racket with your hand in the formation as if you are shaking some one's hand. This is a good grip to begin with and allows your racket's hitting surface to be straight up.

Action: For the right-handed tennis player it's recommended that you step towards the ball using your left foot, for the left handed player the right foot.

Backswing: It's important to take your racket back early, facing the net making sure that your racket points to the back of the court on your back swing will ensure a complete back swing.

Contact and follow through: Body positioning is important, knees bent, weight transfer, swinging from low to high, making contact in front of knees are point to practice to help develop a consistent deep ground stroke.

Backhand Ground Stroke:

This is basically a mirror image of the forehand shot. The same rules apply. It is recommended, to go for a two handed backhand to begin with.

Coaching

One of the most important things for a beginner is to learn the right way to play. It's tough for a coach to help you get better if he has to erase a memory bank of bad habits that you've picked up. It's worth the investment to learn how to play properly from the start.

Proper instruction is always advised and it's not hard to come by in Bermuda. There are around 24 qualified coaches on the island. Most of Bermuda's tennis centres offer both one-on-one coaching and group programmes. The Government periodically runs its own courses. Individual coaching will set you back anywhere between $60 and $90 for an hour session. Group coaching is usually between $10 and $20. Prices and membership privileges vary.

Racket

We all know it's not the racket that counts, but what you do with it. That said it doesn't hurt to have the right gear.

Titanium is the current material of choice for most pros. A lot of retailers will let you try before you buy, which is a good idea.

The important thing is to be comfortable with your racket. For juniors, it's a good idea not to waste money on a racket you'll grow out of in a few months up. Buy a size up and grow into it.

Footwear

A decent pair of tennis shoes is essential. There is a difference between a running shoe and a tennis shoe and if you're taking the sport seriously it's best to get the right pair.

A pair of sneakers is no longer just a pair of sneakers. Look for good cushioning, decent arch support and good shock absorption.

Where to play

The four main hotel tennis centres on the island are at Grotto Bay (293-8333), Fairmont Southampton (239-6950), Elbow Beach (236-3535) and Coral Beach (236-6495)

The three main Government Centres are the WER Joell Stadium in Hamilton (292-0105), Port Royal (238-9070) and Clearwater (292-0105).[[In-content Ad]]

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