Is Tennis Hard to Learn?

Tennis has about 1 billion fans around the world, making it one of the most popular sports on the planet. Known as one of the few sports where you can actually play for life, tennis attracts a wide variety of people. From experienced athletes to complete newbies, the burning question for many aspiring tennis players is, “is tennis hard to learn?”. This article breaks down eight aspects of the game that can be a challenge. Tennis has a unique set of difficulties, but that should not scare you from playing. Learn what to expect when you step out on the tennis court.

1. Developing Hand-eye Coordination

Like any racquet sport, a certain degree of hand eye coordination is required. Trying to figure out “timing” when hitting the ball can be a challenge for anyone learning tennis.  If you are up at the net, you have to be reactive with your hands, able to turn signals from your brain into quick, effective movements with the racquet. Watching professionals on television, striking the ball looks easy. Of course, however, hours of practice are required to hit the ball like the pros.

How can you learn hand-eye coordination and timing? One simple trick is to use a wall. All you need is a wall at a park or say, a garage, a racquet, and a ball. Start about seven feet away from the wall and drop the ball, letting it bounce, and hit it against the wall. This is a simple way to understand the timing required during a point. This is not replicating tennis on a court. It is to get you comfortable with hand-eye coordination. 

Hand-eye coordination drills don’t have to be tennis related for you to see improvements. When you have free time, try to draw or paint, play a video game, or even just bounce a ball against a wall. Little activities like this can help improve your hand eye coordination and get you ready for when a live ball is coming your way on the tennis court. 

2. Groundstroke Progression

You cannot play tennis beyond the beginner level without an understanding of the strokes in tennis. It’s like trying to play basketball without knowing how to dribble or shoot. Learning the fundamentals is essential to being a successful tennis player. The fundamental strokes consist of the forehand and backhand from the baseline.

Developing strong groundstrokes is essential to your journey in becoming a well-rounded tennis player. There are many casual players who remain successful despite not rounding out their game. For instance, many beginner-advanced players have strong, solid groundstrokes, but they can’t serve smartly or consistently. If you want to be a successful tennis player, and be able to quickly grow in the sport, you will have to start with understanding how to hit each stroke.

You can watch players on television, check out YouTube videos, online tutorials. Time on the court, however, either with a tennis coach or experienced player, is the best way to hone your groundstrokes. There is an element of technique required to get the ball back over the net but there are plenty of tips for beginners that will lead you down the right path. From racquet grip, to foot positioning, to swing path, it is important to acquaint yourself with the basics so you can progress with a solid foundation.

3. Fitness Requirements

Since a tennis court is not as big as a basketball court or soccer field, many wrongly assume that the fitness level required for tennis is lower. Consider this exchange on the court. Your opponent hits a drop shot. You sprint from behind the baseline and get to the ball. They hit a lob over your head and you sprint back to the baseline getting the shot back. They hit the ball crosscourt and you sprint laterally to hit it back. It’s exhausting just reading that.

The lateral quickness required to play singles tennis while maintaining control of yourself and the racquet cannot be understated. This kind of side-to-side movement is unique because it’s also coupled with sprints for short distances and a full swing of a racquet. If you’re worried you may not have the necessary mobility outlined, don’t fret.

While there is a baseline stamina requirement to play a match, you can adapt your game to fit your fitness level. Some players are not considered the best “movers”, but they know how to use their hands well and can place the ball accurately. If you’re taller you may find that developing a big serve will help you gain level playing ground with more agile players. If you’re not a world class athlete, it should not deter you from getting on the tennis court. It is important though to know what you are getting into when you decide to take up tennis.

4. Difference Between Singles and Doubles

The fact that tennis is only a singles or doubles sport may be a turn off for some people. If you’re an extrovert who loves the camaraderie of team sports, tennis might not appeal to you in the same way. Tennis can be challenging for those used to having the support of teammates when things aren’t going well. In tennis, you are either on the court alone or with only one other person. Mentally, it can be challenging when the responsibility of winning or losing falls squarely on your shoulders alone. If you are, however, the sort of person who is annoyed when things aren’t in your control, tennis might be perfect for you.

Another reason singles and doubles can be a challenge is because they are completely different games. If you’re someone who exudes confidence carrying themselves during a singles match, you might struggle adapting to doubles play. Communication with your partner and establishing a strategy is key to success in doubles. Besides the mental differences, doubles and singles require a different set of skills as well. So if you feel like you’ve just started to get the hang of court coverage and groundstrokes, doubles may highlight your lack of reaction and touch at the net.

The relative solitude that comes with tennis may weed out certain people. While on the other hand you may realize some self reliance is exactly what you’ve been seeking. Once you get comfortable on the court you should recognize whether singles, doubles, or just casual hitting is right for you.

5. Mental Fortitude

The mental fortitude required is unique to tennis. A big part of it is the timing. There’s no set length for a match. It’s not like soccer, basketball, or football when  the clock runs out, the game is over. Tennis points, games, and matches, can go from a quick 30-minute 6-0, 6-0 defeat to marathon matches that leave your entire body exhausted at the end. The same goes for individual points. You don’t know whether it will be a 30-shot rally that requires all your stamina, or a one-shot ace that ends the point. For a lot of tennis players, there is excitement in the unknown, but this can scare many players off. The ability to stay sharp point after point even when it seems like all is lost is a definitive skill that not everyone possesses.

As mentioned in the previous section, tennis can be tough because you are alone on the court. In singles, it’s easy to get in your own head about decisions you’ve made or shots you’ve missed. No one is there to compensate or talk through any issues. Even if you’re playing doubles, what if your partner keeps making errors or isn’t supportive if you’re not playing well? It can be really difficult compared to a big team sport because there are only two of you working through sometimes complex dynamics. If you’re looking to get serious about tennis, just be sure you’re aware of the mental drain you may experience before, during, and after a match.

6. Agile Footwork

Footwork is a tough aspect of any sport, but it is particularly tough in tennis.  Even though the court is not as big as other sports, it’s important to know how to move about the court effectively and efficiently. Various shots and returns require not only fleet feet but the knowledge of the right kind of step to take, like a split step, and the best route to take. It also means lining up your feet with your brain. Over time, you’ll learn to decipher where your opponent’s shot is going and having your feet already moving with anticipation.

It may mean shifting the weight on your feet when you hit certain shots or setting up your feet strongly to pound a deep groundstroke. Footwork is directly intertwined with technique because there is no shot in singles or doubles that does not require footwork. Even if you learn how and where to position your feet for each shot required on the court, you have to have the stamina to repeat those steps over and over. The amount of tiny steps required during each shot is immense and how good you wish to become is directly correlated to the number of steps you take during the average point. Over time your footwork and stamina will naturally improve but there are always workouts you can do off the court that will sharpen your footwork.

7. Multifaceted Nature of the Game

In tennis, it’s difficult to win if you’re only good at one thing. Take basketball for example, you may get by as strictly a sharpshooter, or in soccer get by as someone who can simply run fast and tackle well. With tennis, it’s far more difficult to just be a specialist. Sure some big servers or “pushers” will lean on their one skill to win a few matches, but eventually you will get found out.

Let’s say you don’t like your backhand so you keep trying to run around to hit a forehand. That won’t work for every point. Your ability to hit different shots will not only make it so your opponent doesn’t hit the ball there every single time but also so you can dictate instead of react. That is however, what makes tennis so fun and engaging. There are so many aspects of the game that you can work on and improve that you’d be hard pressed to feel as though you are simply going through the motions during a lesson or match.

8. Understanding Strategy

Like other sports, there is a dimension of playing beyond technical abilities. You have to understand how you and the ball interact with the court. This means seeing the tennis court almost like a chess board. You might know how the pawns work, but do you actually know how to move them strategically? Knowing how to hit a forehand and how to win a point in tennis are two completely different things. You might be a great ball striker, but if you can’t actually place the ball in a good spot, then success will be hard to come by.

An important part of tennis that can make the game hard is visualization. In order to win a point, you have to play and hit with purpose. You have to see the court and your role in it. Visualizing the court entails understanding what shots are effective, where it’s hard for your opponent to move, and knowing where on the court to maximize your effectiveness. Obviously this amount of nuisance can be daunting, but there are plenty of strategy tips and tricks that will aid you if you’re a bit further along on your tennis journey.

FAQ’s

What is the most difficult thing in tennis?

You may get a different answer depending on who you ask, but typically the answer is technique. Technique isn’t just the basic building a foundation such as forehands, backhands, and volleys. This includes tweeners, backhand topspin lobs, or swinging volleys. The initial foundational stroke and footwork technique can be difficult in its own right, but is essential to your success and overall enjoyment. So, if you’re considering starting tennis, don’t just hop onto the court and start smacking the ball. Take some time to read, watch, and learn technique.

How long does it take to learn tennis?

Unfortunately, there’s no concrete answer. Each player is different. It depends on your willingness to learn, your current athletic ability, and the time you’re willing to invest. Like any skill or activity, if you don’t put in the time, your level will stagnate. But, if you make consistent efforts and make a conscious effort each time you’re on the court, then you should improve. If you are the type of person however, or flits from one hobby to the next then don’t expect minimal hours will take you very far.

Is tennis harder than other sports?

No, but it’s not easier, either. Each sport has a unique set of difficulties and challenges, like tennis. Think about all the just mentioned difficulties and challenges with learning tennis, and think about how they relate to you. Maybe you feel super confident now and think that learning tennis will be easy for you, given your background, current situation, and unique skill set. Somebody else might read all those challenges and think that tennis isn’t for them. The beauty with tennis is that for some players, it might be the perfect challenge, but for others they might prefer to just watch. Assess how you feel after reading this article and evaluate whether tennis is for you!