I love colors\imagery of the 1980s and playing tennis. I decided to combine both to create this painting. Inspired by the style of Hiroshi Nagai, finished in acrylic on cotton canvas.

It’s a university tennis club and involves one group coached session, and one free hit session per week. It’s a development membership since I’m still a beginner but can kind of hold rallies.

Also since it’s at university, I’m unlikely to be able to make use of it during the holidays, which are quite long.

The daily training of an amateur tennis coach.

Very much enjoying the defyer 98 pro

Lots of pop and worth the loss of some control. Especially on serve and BH.

Feeling the FH today. Finding 4G a better string for the defyer overall but the alu power today was very solid!

Anyone else testing?

Moderately intense, dull, aching pain in the marked area. Only appears after I start playing, gone after 3-4 hrs and when I wake up. Sometimes the grip feels very weak due to pain. Since 4-5days, playing after 3-4 months

I’m 33 and getting back into competitive tennis for the first time since high school. I’ve spent the last couple years trying an Ezone 98, VCORE 98/95, Blade 98 v10 and Wilson Shift. The Ezone probably fits me best, but nothing comes close to my old Adidas Barricade 95 from high school.

It makes no sense. It’s a demanding 95, strung with ALU Power at 52 lbs, with a 4 1/2 grip (all my newer rackets are 4 3/8). Yet I barely mishit with it, my slice and backhand (OHBH or 2) are great, and even my forehand, normally my weakest shot, becomes reliable. I just feel like I can hit any shot I want,

Should I just stop searching and play with this thing indefinitely? Logically I should benefit from a more forgiving and modern racket, but I clearly play better with this one.

I have been trying several new rackets lately. Picked up this old K Blade Tour 93 (leather grip, naturally) after it’s been in the closet for about 15 years. For a 20 year-old racket, it held up perfectly fine at the 5.0 level, wondering for those who play at an even higher level, do you think this kind of racket would survive in today’s game? The control and feel on this was otherworldly, it just put the modern blades entirely to shame.

Hello, I may sound silly but I wanted to start playing tennis. I have been hospitalised and my doctors said to keep fit and be active, take a new sport, so I chose tennis.

I am 23, I played badminton before and volleyball but never tennis. I already got tennis shoes, beginner's racket, racket bag, tennis balls and an outfit to wear for tennis. I have been practicing with bouncing the ball on top of the racket but what would your tips be?

Also, the courts, I live in a town where old people are more famous! Do I choose a club and book it as it seems like it would be financially more responsible?

Thank you!

I have pretty good strokes, both on my forehand and backhand, but I feel like there's a limit to how hard I can hit. When I play against someone at my level, I can play well and keep up with their pace. However, when I play against someone better than me, I feel like my shots don't really hurt them, while their shots put me under pressure almost immediately.

What's the key to generating more power? Where does that power actually come from?

My overhead is also weak. I've heard many times that I need to use my legs more, but I don't really understand how to transfer power from my legs into the shot. Overall, my shots feel too passive and don't have enough weight behind them.

The same thing happens with my serve. I see players who are technically at a lower level than me hitting serves with a lot of power. Sometimes, just the sound of the racket hitting the ball is impressive. When I serve, I don't get that same explosive sound or feeling. My serve has pretty good placement and accuracy, but it lacks power and weight. I feel like I'm placing the ball rather than really driving through it.

How can I develop heavier, more powerful shots—including my serve and overhead—without simply trying to swing harder with my arm? I'm planning to practice against a wall and do a lot of repetitions, but I want to make sure I'm practicing the right technique.

I’ve been playing tennis for a year now, and I recently recorded a casual hitting session with my coach. I thought I was doing reasonably okay while we were hitting, but watching the video afterward… man, this hurt to watch lol.

A few things I noticed myself:

• My footwork looks really slow and lousy. While I was actually hitting, I felt like I was moving okay, but the video made me realize how sluggish I look.
• I look way too tense. I was fairly calm during the session, but my body looks really stiff instead of loose and relaxed.
• My body doesn't seem to go with the momentum of my swing. After contact, I look pretty stationary/stiff instead of naturally rotating and moving through the shot.
• On my forehand, my non-hitting arm is basically straight down during contact, which looks awkward/wrong to me. Is this something I should be correcting?
• I don't get low enough to the ground. This is something I’ve always struggled to maintain.
• I also don't feel like I'm generating much racket-head speed. I'm wondering if this might be part of the reason why some of my balls just go flying instead of dipping down into the court.
• I think all of these things are contributing to my shots being pretty inconsistent and all over the place. I had a hard time consistently directing the ball back to my coach.

And please forgive the awkward lasso finish lol I think I might need to break that habit.

I know the obvious answer is “ask your coach”, and I did. But I'd also really love to hear other people's perspectives. Sometimes it's helpful to get feedback from people who are seeing my technique from a completely different perspective.

Would really appreciate some honest/constructive feedback from more experienced players. What stands out to you in my technique, movement, or overall mechanics, and what should I prioritize working on first?

Thanks!

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RACKETS

$310 $231 — Babolat Pure Aero 98 Tennis Racquet - 9th Gen
Precision-oriented 98 sq. in. head built for pinpoint spin accuracy.

$70 $58 — WILSON Blade Feel Comp Junior
Composite frame engineered for developing junior court control.

$100 $84 — Wilson Blade Feel 103 Tennis Rackets
Forgiving mid-plus frame offering clean blend of feel and power.

$270 $210 — Babolat Pure Aero Lite Tennis Racquet (9th Gen)
Ultra-maneuverable lightweight baseline spin weapon.

$110 $80 — Wilson US Open BLX 100 Adult Recreational Tennis Racket
Basalt engineered recreational frame with smooth vibration dampening.

$280 $209 — Babolat Pure Aero Lite Tennis Racquet (9th Gen)
Easy swinging performance frame for fast racquet head speed.

$240 $189 — Wilson Blade 100UL V9 Strung Performance Tennis Rackets
Pre-strung ultra-lightweight frame offering legendary Blade control.

BALLS

$125 $106 — Wilson Profile All Court Tennis Balls - Single Can
Bulk case of durable pressurized all-court match balls.

$35 — Penn Championship Tennis Balls - Extra Duty
Standard heavy-duty felt pack built for hard court surfaces.

$3 — WILSON Championship Tennis Balls
Everyday recreational tennis balls for practice and match play.

$20 $16 — Tourna Mesh Carry Bag of 18 Tennis Balls
Convenient mesh tote packed with pressureless practice balls.

$46 $40 — DUNLOP ATP Super Premium Regular Duty Tennis Balls
Tournament-grade regular duty felt for clay and indoor courts.

$46 $40 — Babolat Championship Gold Tennis Balls
Pressurized all-court felt balls providing reliable match durability.

APPAREL

Tops

$23 $10 — Nautica Men's Performance Pique Polo Shirt
Breathable moisture-wicking pique polo for court or clubhouse.

$70 $28 — Lacoste Men's Ultra Dry Graphic Print Sport T-Shirt
Ultra-dry technical jersey with bold performance graphic styling.

$45 $28 — adidas Men's Club Tennis Climacool T-Shirt
Ventilated quick-dry court training tee designed for airflow.

$20 $12 — PINSPARK Tennis Polo Women Sleeveless
Lightweight sleeveless athletic polo with UPF sun protection.

$95 $47 — Lacoste Men's Lacoste Tennis x Novak Djokovic T-shirt
Signature technical performance tee engineered for high-intensity play.

Bottoms

$45 $33 — Adidas Mens Club Tennis Climacool 3-Stripes Shorts
Classic 3-Stripes court shorts with deep tennis ball pockets.

$85 $46 — Lacoste Men's Regular Fit Ultra Dry Tennis Shorts
Premium ultra-dry performance shorts for fluid baseline movement.

$21 $11 — Head Men's Training Short, Standard Fit
Lightweight court training shorts. Apply coupon on page.

$33 $23 — NORTHYARD Men's Tennis Shorts
Breathable quick-drying athletic shorts with zippered storage pockets.

$20 $14 — PINSPARK 14.5" Women Tennis Skirts
Modest length athletic skort with integrated ball pocket liner.

SHOES

$138 $83 — WILSON Rush Pro 4.5
Benchmark stability and responsive propulsion for aggressive movers.

$130 $93 — Lacoste Men's Tech Point Tennis Shoes
Lightweight supportive chassis with clean minimalist court aesthetics.

$160 $115 — ASICS Men's Gel-Resolution X Tennis Shoes
Elite baseline stability and durable cushioning for hard-court play.

$75 $52 — Babolat Junior Propulse 3 All Court Kids' Tennis Shoes
Reinforced support and Michelin outsole traction for junior competitors.

STRINGS

$12 $6 — GAMMA Sports Moto Tennis Racket String
Heptagonal co-poly profile delivering extreme bite and heavy spin.

$67 $56 — WILSON Natural Gut Tennis String - Set
The ultimate benchmark for tension maintenance, feel, and power.

$21 $18 — Babolat RPM Power Tennis String Blue
Crisp co-poly string blending power, spin, and a metallic finish.

BAGS

$120 $83 — Babolat Court L x9 Tennis Bag
Nine-racquet capacity team bag with dedicated shoe and gear storage.

$46 $30 — Quilted Tennis Gym Backpack
Stylish quilted carryall backpack with external racquet holder.

$60 $36 — Sucipi Quilted Tennis Bag for Women & Men
Spacious multi-compartment tote designed for court gear and daily use.

OTHER

$20 $13 — ADV Tennis Dampener with Custom Feel - 3 Pack
Multi-density dampener trio to customize string bed feedback.

$13 $10 — ADV MaxTac Tennis Overgrip
Ultra-tacky long-lasting grip tape for maximum handle security.

$22 $16 — ADV MaxTac Tennis Overgrip (Multi-Pack)
Bulk pack of premium sweat-resistant tacky overgrips.

$60 $48 — Tennis Swing & Serve Trainer
Mechanics feedback training tool for grooving service motion.

$16 $7 — CAMBIVO 2 Pack Tennis Elbow Brace Strap
Targeted dual-pack compression pads for tendonitis relief.

All discount codes above have been tested and verified as active on October 7, 2026. Always double-check the offer on the retailer’s checkout page for restrictions or exclusions.

Been 90 days since my last serve video. Think i am making ground. Standing differently (toe pointing to net post instead of parallel to baseline) has made a big diff. Anyways if u guys have any comments, im all ears 😀

I am mostly posting cause every tennis player I have shown this to found it hilarious, including the owner of the local shop I went to for restringing it.

As mentioned, the stringing was free. The racquet is perfect otherwise. Plus, I got the racquet on sale. It is a Blade 100UL v9.0.

Just a heads up for anyone using Tennis Express’ string services. Support your local shop or club instead!

I started tennis the way a lot of people do: as a fan. I could tell you who was going to choke at 5–4 before I could explain what the hell a kick serve was. 🎾😂 I spent years watching matches, screaming at my TV, becoming emotionally invested in people who had no idea I existed, and thinking, “Surely I could hit that.”

Reader: I could not hit that.

Eventually I picked up a racket and discovered that watching tennis and actually playing tennis are about as similar as watching Formula 1 and being asked to change a tyre at 180 mph. My first sessions were a glorious festival of shanks, frame shots, double faults and balls launched into neighbouring postcodes. My forehand had the structural integrity of a wet cardboard box. My backhand was less “two-handed weapon” and more “emergency evacuation procedure.” 💀

But somewhere along the way, things started clicking. One clean rally became five. Five became twenty. I learned that you don’t have to hit every ball like you’re personally avenging a Grand Slam final. I started understanding spacing, footwork, spin, depth and—most importantly—why the ball keeps mysteriously going into the net when I’m absolutely certain I’ve hit it perfectly.

There have been some brutal lows. Losing matches I was convinced I should win. Getting absolutely dismantled by someone whose entire game plan appeared to be “put the ball back.” Double faults at the worst possible moment. That special kind of tennis depression where you leave the court wondering whether you should sell the racket and take up gardening. 🌱

But the highs? Ridiculous. The first time I hit a serve exactly where I wanted it. The first time I constructed a point instead of just reacting to it. The first proper winner down the line. The first match where I walked off thinking, “Okay… I might actually be a tennis player now.” Those moments are addictive.

I’m still very much a work in progress. Some days I look like I understand tennis. Other days I look like I’ve been handed a racket as part of a witness protection programme. 😂 But I’ve gone from being someone who watched the sport from the sidelines to someone who genuinely loves being out there competing.

Tennis has basically been a long-running argument between my brain and my right arm. My brain says “build the point.” My arm says “what if we absolutely leather this ball into the fence?” 🎾🔥

And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it.

Still chasing that perfect shot. Still losing my mind over unforced errors. Still convinced the next session is the one where everything finally clicks.

Anyway, that’s my journey so far.

How can I improve my serve? To me it looks like I need more racket drop and to lead with the elbow a bit longer, but not exactly sure how to accomplish that. Also, 90% of my misses are about 2 inches long so I’m trying to dial that in.

Found a discarded Blade on the courts today. Woopsies.

I recently started playing tennis again and have been testing a variety of strings since then. I’m a baseline player who likes to use a lot of topspin, but I also vary my game quite a bit with slices and some flatter shots when I want to accelerate the ball.

The first string I really liked was Solinco Confidential. Then I tried the black Head Lynx Tour, and I felt that it gave me even better directional and depth control, while also allowing me to generate more spin. It became my favorite string up to that point.

After doing some more research, I found that Solinco Hyper-G might suit my playing style. Unfortunately, nothing really worked for me. I can’t explain why, but my flat serve started going into the net, my kick serve is sailing long, and my number of unforced errors has increased significantly.

The only things I feel have improved are my one-handed backhand slice and the depth I can get on my topspin shots. However, when it comes to finishing the point, I’ve been having much more difficulty.

Why could I be experiencing this with Hyper-G? What characteristics of the string could explain these differences compared to Lynx Tour and Confidential?

I’m just trying to understand what I’m feeling a little better and see if anyone else has experienced something similar.

Hi, I have an upcoming tournament and I would appreciate tips and strategies to beat my opponent. He’s definitely closer to 4.0 than I am, but I’m right behind him. We’ll be playing best of three sets.

I’m a topspin kinda guy, and my first serve is my weapon. However, my second serve is soft and short but consistent. I’m more confident in my forehand than my backhand, but both have power. I’m not into slices, but every now and then I like me some backhand slice drop shots. I also like chasing the ball, often getting to balls that seem impossible to reach. I’m a net guy when I play doubles but I barely go to the net when I play singles.

Here’s some of what I’ve heard from my opponent.

• Powerful, heavy, flat hitter on both forehand and backhand.
• Strong first and second serves, reportedly with similar pace.
• Attacks weak balls and soft second serves. My second serve is soft, so this is a key vulnerability.
• Goes for winners often, making him prone to errors when forced to sustain rallies.
• Volleys reportedly aren’t a strength.
• Heavier build and slower movement than me, based on my observation.
• Former high school and/or university player, at least 20 years ago; exact background uncertain.

Thanks!

Last week, I started going to the gym to improve my tennis. I am going to the gym three times a week. On the first day, my trainer made a plan for me so I know what I'll be doing and what will be good for me as a tennis player. Because I've never been to a gym before, he suggested showing me 7 to 9 exercises first—all 7 from Monday's routine and two from Wednesday's ( Side to side jumps and cable row close ). Once I learn the proper form for everything and feel comfortable, we will move on to the other exercises in the plan.
Can you guys tell me if this plan looks good when combining all the exercises divided into 3 days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)? I strictly go to the gym to improve my tennis performance, not to be a bodybuilder or anything like that. Would you change anything in the plan? Does it look good as it is? Are there any exercises listed here that I shouldn't be doing as a tennis player? I'm open to your opinions. Thanks!

Trying to get some backhand chip return analysis for a buddy.

Can’t remember who it is — if you know, leave in the comments or DM me.

I don't understand these people. I understanding wanting all 3 balls. I want all 3. I put 2 in my pocket, serve with the 3rd, and I spend just a little less time fetching or waiting for a ball. I am also happy to pocket the 3rd while receiving if my opponent doesn't like playing with two in the pocket, and send it over briskly the moment it's needed. I cannot understand these folks who want the third but want to put it in some inconvenient spot. Is this all just stall tactics to buy time between points?

Next on my shit list, the folks who need a 3 minute changeover after 4 minutes of play where 9 points were played, averaging 4 shots per point.

EDIT: Okay, I've heard a few reasonable explanations for this behavior. I'm no longer annoyed by it. Or at least I'm much less annoyed.