Tennis For Dummies

Title Page
Copyright Page
Table of Contents
Introduction
	About This Book
	Foolish Assumptions
	Icons Used in This Book
	Beyond the Book
	Where to Go from Here
Part 1 Getting Started with Tennis
	Chapter 1 What Is Tennis?
		Tennis: The Sport for a Lifetime
		Getting the Point: Singles, Doubles, and Winning at Both
			Racquet, balls, and an opponent
			Clearing the net
			Keeping the ball inside the lines
			One bounce only, please
			Scoring basics
	Chapter 2 Meet Me on the Court
		Court Dimensions
			Net height
			Line measurements
		Court Surfaces
			Hard courts: Tried and true
			Synthetic surfaces
			Clay: Slow and tricky
			Grass: A rare treat
	Chapter 3 Getting Geared Up
		The Racquet: Your Trusty Weapon
			Sizing up the frame
				Head size
				Length
				Beam width
				Weight
				Balance
				Stiffness
				Swing weight
				String pattern
			Understanding racquet composition
			Deciding on a new racquet
			Try before you buy: Demoing a racquet
			Figuring out how many racquets you need
		Strings: The Overlooked Necessity
			A matter of materials
				Natural gut: Still relevant after all these years
				Synthetic multifilament: The people’s choice
				Polyester: The skilled player’s preference
				Hybrids: Blending the perfect mixture
			The finer points: Gauge, shape, and texture
			String tension: Lower for power, tighter for control
		Lacing Up Your Tennis Shoes
			What makes it a “tennis” shoe
			The different types of models
			All-surface versus clay-court outsoles
		Tennis Balls: Fuzzy, Yellow, and Short-Lived
			The anatomy of a tennis ball
				The nap
				Air pressure
			Which ball should you play?
		Dressing for (Tennis) Success
		Loading Up on Tennis Accessories
	Chapter 4 Scoring in Tennis: Love Means Nothing
		The Anatomy of a Match
		Winning Points
		Scoring Games
			Scoring points
			That darned deuce
		Scoring Sets
		Scoring Matches
			The best-of-three sets
			The best-of-five sets
		Alternative Scoring Systems
			No-ad scoring
			The pro set
			The fast set
		Reading Line Scores
	Chapter 5 Rules and Regulations
		Servin’ ’Em Up
			Deciding who serves first
			Choosing sides
			Getting the point started
			Avoiding foot faults
			Avoiding faults and double faults
			Calling lets during the serve
		Receiving the Serve
		Trading Ends of the Court
		Calling the Lines
		Looking at Other Ways to Lose the Point
			Getting struck by or catching the ball
			Intentionally hitting the ball twice
			Touching the net or your opponent’s side of the court
			Hitting an obstruction
			Throwing the racquet at the ball
		Stopping Play with a Let
		Discovering Doubles Rules
			Taking sides: Deuce versus ad
			Establishing a serving rotation
			Choosing a serving formation
			Receiving the serve
			Playing tiebreakers
	Chapter 6 Tennis Etiquette
		Respecting the Ball and Your Equipment
		Keeping Track of the Score
		Making Those Delicate Line Calls
			Ninety-nine percent out is 100 percent in
			When you question your opponent’s calls
			When your opponent questions you
		Taking Two Serves
		Showing Good Sportsmanship
			Those lucky letcords and other opportunities to apologize
			Not embarrassing your opponent (or yourself)
			Venting anger
			Avoiding gamesmanship
		Being a Supportive Doubles Partner
		Ending the Match with Class
Part 2 Playing the Game
	Chapter 7 Mastering the Fundamentals
		The Basic Strokes
			Groundstrokes
				The forehand
				The backhand
			Serve
			Return of serve
			Volley
		The Essential Grips
			Choosing from the grips
			Finding the grip: Using the bevels
				Continental
				Eastern
				Semi-western
				Western
		Working the Face of Your Racquet
		The Elements of the Swing
			Stance
			Backswing
			Swing path
			Trunk rotation and weight transfer
			Strike zone: Finding the perfect contact point
			Follow-through
		Putting Shape on Your Shots
			Attacking with topspin
			Cutting with slice
		Key Components of a Perfect Swing
			Focused footwork
			A steady head
			A smooth and relaxed sequence
		The Pre-Match Warm-up
	Chapter 8 The Forehand: Your Money Shot
		Finding Your Forehand Grip
		Letting It Rip
		Hitting with Topspin
			Giving yourself more margin for error
			Producing a “heavy” ball
		Defending with the Slice Forehand
	Chapter 9 The Backhand: A Perfect Complement
		Understanding the Backhand’s Split Personality
			The two-handed backhand
			The one-handed backhand
		Hitting the Two-Handed Backhand
			Finding the two-handed grip
			Using your nondominant arm
		Hitting the One-Handed Backhand
			Finding the one-handed backhand grip
			Extending through contact
		Dressing Up Your Backhand with Slice
	Chapter 10 The Volley: An Exclamation Point
		A Half-Stroke with Punch, Possibility, and Risk
		The Volley Grip
		Hitting the Forehand Volley
		Hitting the Backhand Volley
		Taking the Net: Getting There Is Half the Fun
			Recognizing the transition (midcourt) ball
			Following the approach shot
			Organizing your feet at the net
		Lifting Low Volleys and Half-Volleys over the Net
		Adding Touch to Your Volleys
		Swinging Volleys: Finishing with a Flourish
	Chapter 11 The Serve: The Most Important Shot in the Game
		The Ball Is Entirely in Your Hands
		Serving Essentials
			Grip
			Stance
		Preparing to Serve
			Establishing a preset routine
			Visualizing the target
		Taking It One Step at a Time: The Serve Sequence
			Tossing the ball consistently
			Rotating your shoulders in the backswing
			Uncoiling and swinging up to contact
			Keeping a loose arm and a fluid motion
			Allowing your arm to naturally decelerate
		Hitting the Three Types of Serves
			Flat
			Slice
			Topspin
	Chapter 12 Completing the Arsenal: Lobs, Overheads, and Drop Shots
		Loving the Lob: An Underappreciated Asset
			Offensive lobs
			Defensive lobs
		The Overhead: Smashing Success
			Outfielder footwork: Backpedal, side-shuffle, or crossover step
			Taking an abbreviated backswing
			Tracking the ball with your nondominant arm and hand
			To bounce or not to bounce
				Playing the bounce
				Playing the ball in the air
			Contact point: Out in front and above the hitting shoulder
			The backhand overhead: Necessity meets invention
		The Drop Shot: Sneaky and Satisfying
			Prime-time drop shot opportunities
			Drop shot technique
	Chapter 13 Winning Strategies and Tactics
		Serving Up a Storm
			Service placement: Wide, body, and T
			Using serve-plus-one tactics
			Getting a kick out of second serves
		Returning Serve
			Setting up shop to return: In tight or back behind the baseline
			Seizing the initiative with your return
			First serve back, second serve attack
		Riding Your Groundstroke to Victory
			Managing errors: Grinding down opponents
			Playing to your strong side
			Placing your shots
			Picking on an opponent’s weakness
			Playing keep-away, not catch
		Netting Profits with Your Volley
		Passing Shots
			Hard drives
			Two-shot combos
			Lobs
		Winning Ways for Doubles
			Lining up to receive serve
			Seizing the advantage at the net
			Poaching
			Playing the percentages
		Outfoxing a Lefty
Part 3 Taking Your Game to the Next Level
	Chapter 14 Enjoying Your Amateur Status
		Finding Places to Pick Up a Game
			Public parks
			Tennis clubs
			Fitness facilities
			Resorts
		Joining the U.S. Tennis Association
			Player ratings
			USTA League and tournament play
			USTA-sanctioned tournaments
				Earning your prized ranking spurs
				Entering sanctioned tournaments
		Creating a Universal Tennis Rating Profile
		Getting into Unsanctioned Organized Competition
			Playing in unsanctioned tournaments
			Scaling the local tennis ladder
			Playing in school
			Turning to tennis apps
	Chapter 15 Practice: The “P” Word
		Off-Court Solo Practice
			Mirror, mirror, on the ball
			Shadow tennis
			Beating your (racquet) head against the wall
			Hitting with a ball machine
		Starting Small with Mini-Tennis
		Developing Skills with Practice Routines
			A solid one-hour session
			Improving accuracy
				Honing serves
				Sharpening groundstrokes
		Drilling Away at Success
			The crosscourt and down-the-line drill
			The scramble drill
			The high-low drill
			Dink doubles
			The all-advance doubles drill
			Dingles
	Chapter 16 Physical Conditioning for Tennis
		Stretching Your Game to New Heights
			Getting the most out of your stretches
			Mobilizing the neck
			Loosening the shoulders and arms
			Opening up the hips and lower back
			Elongating the calves
			Warming up the hammies
			Activating the quads
		Bulletproofing Your Body: Getting Stronger and Protecting Against Injuries
			Safeguarding the shoulder
			Enhancing upper arms, forearms, and wrists
			Developing powerful legs
			Stabilizing the core
			Bolstering upper and lower back
		Quickness Drills: Building Speed and Endurance
			Running the lines
			Five-ball pickup drill
			MK Drill
		Eating Right and Fueling Your Body for Competition
	Chapter 17 Handling the Physical and Mental Challenges of Tennis
		The Little Aches and Pains
			Blisters
			Cramps
			Pulled muscles
			Shin splints
			Tennis toe
			Sunburn
		Bad Injuries Can Happen to Good Players
			The rotator cuff
			Tennis elbow
			Troublesome joints
		Treating Injuries
		Keeping Injuries at Bay
		The Game between the Ears
			Knowing the downsides of an individual sport
			Remembering that nobody’s perfect
			Zeroing in on performance instead of outcome: Winning isn’t everything
			Focusing on what you can control
	Chapter 18 Improving Your Game with Lessons
		Understanding What Lessons Can (Realistically) Do for You
			Increase your rate of improvement
			Break logjams in your game
		Finding Strength in Numbers
		Hiring a Certified Pro for Private Lessons
		Taking Your Chances with an Uncertified Pro
		Maximizing the Efficiency of Your Hour
		Mining Other Sources for Help with Your Game
			YouTube videos
			Online stroke analysis
			Instructional apps
Part 4 Tennis Aficionados Only
	Chapter 19 The Pro Game
		Alphabet Soup: The Governing Bodies in Pro Tennis
			ITF
			ATP
			WTA
		The Different Levels of Tournaments
			The points system
			Rankings and seeds
		Recent Innovations
			Automated line-calling
			The serve clock
			On-court coaching
	Chapter 20 The Four Grand Slam Events and Cup Competitions
		The Grand Slam: The Sport’s Crown Jewels
			The winners (and the contenders)
			Why the slams are grand
		The Australian Open: Summer Down Under
			The courts
			The atmosphere
		The French Open: Terre Battue
			The courts
			The atmosphere
			Beau gestes at the French Open
		Wimbledon: The Hallowed Grounds
			The courts
			The atmosphere
		The U.S. Open: Under the Lights in NYC
			The courts
			The atmosphere
			Moments of glory at the U.S. Open
		International Team Competitions: The Davis, Billie Jean King, Laver and United Cups
			The Davis Cup
			The Billie Jean King Cup
			The Laver Cup
			The United Cup
	Chapter 21 Tennis from the Stands and On-Screen
		Making the Most of Your Day at a Tournament
			Don’t leave home without . . .
			Who to watch — and where
			The best vantage point
			Spectator etiquette
		Watching Tennis on Television and Streaming Services
			The electronic advantage: ESPN, Tennis Channel, and the apps
			What you can’t see on your screens
		Viewing the Pros — like a Pro
			The first two service games
			Key games
			Statistics
Part 5 The Part of Tens
	Chapter 22 Ten Tennis Tips
		Watching the Ball
		Moving Your Feet
		Getting the Racquet Back Early
		Turning Your Shoulders
		Keeping Your Head Up When You Serve
		Following Through
		Using Your Hips with the Two-Handed Backhand
		Stamping Out Bad Volleys
		Pointing at the Overhead
		Loosening Up Your Competitive Game
	Chapter 23 The Ten Best Men Players of the Open Era
		Andre Agassi
		Björn Borg
		Jimmy Connors
		Novak Djokovic
		Roger Federer
		Rod Laver
		Ivan Lendl
		John McEnroe
		Rafael Nadal
		Pete Sampras
	Chapter 24 The Ten Best Women Players of the Open Era
		Margaret Court
		Chris Evert
		Steffi Graf
		Justine Henin
		Martina Hingis
		Billie Jean King
		Martina Navratilova
		Monica Seles
		Serena Williams
		Venus Williams
	Chapter 25 The Ten Greatest Matches of the Open Era
		Björn Borg Defeats John McEnroe, 1980 Wimbledon
		Martina Navratilova Defeats Chris Evert, 1984 U.S. Open
		Monica Seles Defeats Steffi Graf, 1992 French Open
		Pete Sampras Defeats Andre Agassi, 2001 U.S. Open
		Serena Williams Defeats Venus Williams, 2003 Australian Open
		Rafael Nadal Defeats Roger Federer, 2008 Wimbledon
		John Isner Defeats Nicolas Mahut, 2010 Wimbledon
		Novak Djokovic Defeats Rafael Nadal, 2012 Australian Open
		Novak Djokovic Defeats Roger Federer, 2019 Wimbledon
		Carlos Alcaraz Defeats Novak Djokovic, 2023 Wimbledon
Index
EULA