Successful Rallies

It is not uncommon for kids, and adults for the matter, to struggle to keep the ball in a rally when they first start. Whether you are playing points or just trying to hit the ball back and forth, here are some ways you can have success. Keep in mind, these strategies require you to shift from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset. We want to remember that tennis is sending and receiving. We also want to modify the game so you can develop a particular skill. 

Ways to keep the ball in a rally

1. Instead of a net, use a rope or caution tape. If the ball goes under, that is fine, use a rolling rally or dribbling.

2. Play two bounce tennis.

3. A person can trap or catch the ball and drop hit back

4. A person can trap or catch the ball and toss the ball back

5. A person can perform a two hit rally, where they tap the ball to themselves and then lift the ball over. 

Tennis Tip to get topspin

Tennis is  a game of sending and receiving. Here are several games your child can play anywhere that will help them develop the skills to be a better player.
The Rolling Rally
The rolling rally is a great way to develop the skill of being friends with the ball and getting the ball to roll forward. When a ball rolls forward, that is called topspin and when applied to ball in the air, the topspin will pull the ball into the court. The rolling rally will also help your child drop the racket head low and roll the racket head (forearm). 

If you continue to practice this one day you will be stroking the ball like the top players in the world and it will look like this.

Choosing the right tennis racket

How do you select a tennis racket? Will any tennis racket work? The answer to the second question is easy, it depends on how you answer the first question.

When selecting a tennis racket, the first thing to do is consider the grip size. That is how big the handle is in proportion to your hand. If the grip handle is too big you may have a hard time keeping your serve grip when serving. You may also have to squeeze the handle tighter causing your arm to get tired (Woods, 2018).  If your handle is too small, you can end up with a sore arm because you can not grip the racket tight enough. 

The grip sizes for rackets are 4, 4 1/8, 4 1/4, 4 3/8, 4 1/2, 4 5/8, or 4 3/4 inches. To find the grip that will work best for you, wrap your dominant hand around the grip. Then slide your other hand index finger into the space. If you can only fit one finger, it is the perfect size. If you can fit more than one finger, it's too big. If you cannot fit a finger in, you need to go up in size. 

When selecting the length of the racket, you will be choosing from 19,21,23,25,26,27 or 29 in.

For most kids we are going to use a 19-25 inch racket. You can determine this by seeing if they can rest their palm on the end cap of the racket like they are holding a cane (Tennis companion, 2016). If they have a straight arm comfortably, then it is fine. If their arm is bent or they cannot reach the end cap, well you can figure that one out. 

These two tips should empower you to help your child as they grow as a tennis player when it is time to find their new racket.

tenniscompanion.org/kids-tennis-racquet-sizing. "Selecting the Right Size Kids Tennis Racquet for Your Child."  Date accessed: July 6, 2018

Woods, Ron and Kathy. www.humankinetics.com/excerpts/excerpts/choose-the-right-tennis-racket. "Choose the right tennis racket." Date accessed: July 6, 2018.