Pros Speak from the Box

Tip to Beginners

In your first and next play times on the court, just try for solid contact and try to make the rallies last a long time. When you hit a couple of square shots you feel good, and things happen quickly from that point on. After the initial outings, you’ll enter one of the best eras of your game in that the rallies last a long time and you run like a squirrel to work up a great sweat. Gradually over the first month your eyes and reflexes improve, your strokes get stronger, and there comes a moment when you realize you’re hooked on a new sport. Now more fun begins in delving into stroke perfection through endless practice, shot variation and the world of strategies. It’s a good idea somewhere about this time to take a couple lessons not only to ease any growing pains, but to ensure no bad habits pass from your court childhood into adolescence. Branch out from your usual practice partners to play in club leagues and one day, in about a year, you might get an itch to enter your first tournament. That’s where the championship bug may bite, but continue through your career to strive for self-perfection, to be the best you can be.         – Jeff Leon

The forehand comes naturally, but develop your backhand to have a balanced game.                    – Marty Hogan

Play hard and have fun!                                                                                             – Sudsy

Develop your strokes initially by practicing alone, and watch top players’ mechanics, and ask for their instruction.                     – Corey Brysman

Get lessons immediately, and take a peek at one of my teaching or playing videos. Drill the fundamentals that a coach or book will provide.       – Cliff Swain

I can’t stress basics enough: watch the ball, get set up, and swing level. That wins the rallies because other beginning players make mistakes.           – Mike Ray

Once you learn your strokes, it starts to get fun. That’s the time to examine two new areas of study: Court positioning and shot selection. The former allows you to get to shots, and the latter to make them so your opponent can’t.                                                                                                                              – Derek Robinson

Practice the strokes where the force goes from the legs to hips to shoulders down the arm to the contact. Imitate a baseball hitter. Get your strokes in place, and the game follows.        – Ruben Gonzalez

Most players want to play, thus limit their potential because there’s just so much court time. Don’t think it strange to hit thousands of balls a week and chart them to gain true confidence in your ability to strike your opponent with an individual shot.          – Charlie Brumfield

Three pointers: Learn the strokes. Know how to position properly in the rally. Practice.       – Dave Peck

Learn first the swings, and that means repetition. I disagree this can be gotten through just play; at least in my case, there were hours and days of solo practice. It’s easy if you have a persona goal in mind. Get an early lesson on strokes to ensure you are practicing the right things. If there’s no ‘swing doctors’ or you can’t afford one, watch the best players around or read this book. Once you feel good on both sides of the ball, the game is a joy.       – Jim Spittle

Keep a piggybank next to your gym bag and relate how you fill both with coins and dreams. Francis Galton had four fundamental business principles that I’ve applied to sports: Persistence, health, organization and a modicum of ability.         – Victor Niederhoffer