Top Mistakes Beginners Make in Tennis

The first time on the court is always exhilarating. Whether inspired by the Grand Slams or just looking for a new active thing to do in the city, tennis provides this great balance of physicality and strategy. Of course, as any experienced player at the Athletic Kings Tennis Club will tell you, tennis is a game of fine margins. And without proper direction, beginners will inevitably get into some common traps that put a crimp in their development-or worse, leave them injured.

Starting with the right habits can help when you start your journey on professional tennis courts in Dubai. Help yourself avoid some very common mistakes beginners make with a simple rundown of what has gone wrong and how to fix it to help you through your first months on the sand-filled or hard-court surfaces.

1. The "Death Grip" on the Racket

One of the most common mistakes beginners make is holding the racket much too tightly. It's a natural instinct-you want to hit the ball hard, so you squeeze the handle. Unfortunately, a "death grip" inhibits your wrist action and prevents the smooth "snap" that gives you both power and spin. Worse, tightening your forearm muscles for an hour or so can also result in "Tennis Elbow" (lateral epicondylitis).

Your grip should be firm but relaxed-think holding a bird; tight enough so it won't fly away, but soft enough so you don't hurt it. A relaxed hand permits better racket head speed and less jerky follow-through.

2. Standing Still (Flat-Footedness)

In tennis, your feet are as important as your hands. Sometimes, a player is so accustomed to waiting for the ball to come to him, thereby standing flatfooted on the baseline. By the time they realize they need to move, the ball has either zoomed past or dropped well out of reach.

Active footwork is the signature of an exceptional player. You should always be on the balls of your feet, doing "split steps" just as your opponent hits the ball. At our tennis classes in Dubai, we talk about the fact that if your feet aren't moving, then neither is your game.

3. Avoiding the Significance of the "Ladies-Only" Setting

For most female novices, the environment in which they learn can make much difference in their confidence level. A common mistake is that they practice in crowded, high-pressure public spaces where they will perhaps feel uncomfortable making mistakes.

Choosing Ladies Only Tennis Courts in Dubai has the added advantages of being very supportive and private. When you are more comfortable in your surroundings, you are bound to swing freely and ask more questions during your sessions. To date, Athletic Kings has offered these exclusive spaces so our women players can concentrate wholly on technique without distractions.

4. Swinging with the Arm Only

Most beginners think of tennis as an "arm sport." They attempt to muscle the ball across the net with their bicep and shoulder. Aside from creating shots that are inconsistent, this action fails to generate the powerful force from the remainder of the body.

Power in tennis is generated from the ground upwards: it begins with the legs, works its way through the hips, and pivots around the torso. Your arm should be the last link in this "kinetic chain." Learning to rotate your body into the ball is a common focus of any professional tennis lesson in Dubai.

5. Trying to Reach the Lines Too Early

We all want to hit that spectacular winner that falls right on the baseline. However, the tendency of too many beginners is to try to hit edges of the court much too soon. The result is a large "unforced error" count and a lot of frustration.

Forget power; what you want in the beginning is consistency. You want to hit with a large "safety margin"—at least three feet the lines and well over the net. When you can hit ten successive balls over the net and inside the lines, it's time to start working on placement. 

6. Avoiding Professional Advice Perhaps the biggest mistake of all is an attempt to "self-teach" yourself via YouTube videos alone. As great as videos are for theory, they cannot give you real-time feedback on your specific body mechanics.

Bad habits that have been built up within the first few weeks may take months to "unlearn" later. 

Invest in tennis classes in Dubai with a good club like Athletic Kings so that you have the basics right on day one. Our international coaches check your grip, your stance, and your swing path to make all the corrections necessary to fast-track your learning curve. 

Find a Beginning with Athletic Kings Tennis is a lifetime sport that pays for patience and correct technique. By practicing on professional tennis courts in Dubai, avoiding these common pitfalls, you'll find yourself moving from "beginner" to "intermediate" in record speed, much faster than you may have imagined. 

At Athletic Kings, we can provide the perfect environment for this growth. With shaded courts, expert coaching, and a community that cheers for your every improvement, there is no better place to pick up a racket.