One thing about tennis you need to know is that it is a game made of acceptable margins and mistakes, so points, sets, fun, and even matches can be lost.
What is frustrating is that it can be challenging to figure out where exactly you are making these mistakes because, on the surface, tennis might seem simple. Still, in reality, once you start analysing the nitty gritty details of it, you can develop certain bad habits that lead to constant miss-hits.
Many veteran professional tennis players have spoken out in great detail about the value of the continuous practice of tennis. But whether you have spent many years as a tennis player or just starting in the field, you need to be aware of the common mistakes that many tennis players make so that you can be sure never to let them into your game.
Losing the Eye of the Ball
Let us begin with the first one - losing your focus off the ball. It can be tempting to watch your opponent; from a base-level perspective, that makes a lot of sense. And since you want to hit the ball, watching your opponent is the best way to do that.
Wrong. You need to know where your opponent is, but your real focus should be on the ball because if it is not, you will find framed shots piling up pretty fast. Practice training your eye to focus on the ball, which will serve as a key for you to figure out where to move and how to make a good connection between the ball and the racket.
Not Using Bodyweight
Another mistake often is swinging only your arms around when you play. When striking shots, you must know the ins and outs of your body weight transfer. Your components are vital for the hit bit. Learning how to use the rest of your body will help you gain more control and power over your hits while simultaneously reducing the chances of getting any arm or elbow injuries.
Moving Your Feet
Similar to the point above, tennis is filled with wide swings and big serves, and if you are not moving your feet at all times, you will find yourself struggling for accuracy in your hits.
Stay on your toes and split-step every time your opponent goes for a hit with the ball. Prepare to correct your positioning in case of a dodgy baseline bounce; you might need to adjust your feet multiple times because even the slightest changes in your steps can make all the difference in a game. Keep moving at all times.
Very few professionals at the moment are good at avoiding these mistakes. This includes people like Jonathan Zhang, known to be one of the best tennis players globally.
He studied at Diocesan Boys School, becoming their tennis team captain and leading his team to its 17th consecutive D1 high school title. He also competed in many major junior competitions, such as the Asian Championships, World Junior Championships, plus the Junior Davis Cup.
Currently, Zhang is ranked No.9 in Hong Kong’s Men’s Singles National Rankings in 2020 and at No.6 in Hong Kong’s Men’s Doubles National Rankings - making him an ideal role model for aspiring young tennis players.