Added: 12/02/2005 |
Types of shots and shots tipsThe repertoire of shots that each professional tennis player have at his or her disposal consists of eight basic shots: the serve, volley, forehand, backhand, half-volley, drop shot, overhead smash, and lob.
A service (or, more informally, a serve) in tennis is a shot that starts a point. The serve is started by throwing the ball into the air and then hitting it (as a rule near the peak of ball's trajectory) towards the diagonally opposite box with no touch of the net.
The player on serve may use different types of service: a top-spin, a flat, an American twist (or kick), a slice serves, or a reverse spin. The last is hit in a way that spins the tennis ball opposite the usual spin of the server, the direction of spin depending upon left - or right -handedness, whereas a sternly sliced service is occasionally called a sidespin. There are some servers who are satisfied enough from using the serve just to start the point while advanced players regularly attempt to hit a winning point with their service. The winning service that takes place when the opponent has not managed to touch the ball is called an ace.
The forehand shot is made by swinging the tennis racquet across player's body in the direction where the player would like to place his shot. Forehand is considered the easiest shot in tennis to learn and master, maybe since it is the most natural shot. Advanced players and novices often have more well-mastered forehands than any other strokes and employ it as a main weapon.
There are also different grips for hitting the forehand and their popularity has varied over the years. The most popular ones are the Eastern, the Continental, and the Western.
The backhand stroke is executed by swinging the tennis racquet away from player's body in the direction where the player would like the ball to go. Backhand is commonly considered more complicated shot and is more difficult to cope with in comparison with the forehand. Backhand can be stricken with either one or two hands. For nearly all the 20th Century it has been performed with one hand, employing either a continental or an eastern grip.
A volley is executed in the air previous to the ball bounces, usually near the net. The half-volley shot is made by striking the ball when it rises following the bounce. The lob means hitting the ball far above the ground and deep into the other court. An overhead smash is a hard shot, looking pretty much like a serve that often ends the point. A moonball is only defensive shot, resembling a lob but on a lower trajectory. Drop shot is made by quietly tapping the ball over the net. Chop shots are rather defensive, downward cuts at the ball.
We have compiled a list of quick shots tips to encourage the beginners and spread good playing habits. The following section of the shots tips concerns an important shot type, power shot. The very first of our shots tips says: 'the most important about power shots is to hit them whenever opportunity arises'. Another very important tip is 'Don't make shots you are not capable of.' And the last entry on our list of shots tips sounds plain: 'KIS, keep it simple and stay basic'.
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