The Beginner's Guide on How to Hit a Forehand in Tennis

 The Beginner's Guide on How to Start Playing Tennis 

Learn how to begin playing the game of tennis as quick as 123.

Are you a starting and lost novice tennis player and would like to know more about this prestigious  sport? Well this is the guide for you! This step-by-step instruction guide will teach you the fundamentals of the sport that will allow you to quickly begin your tennis career.

  What exactly is tennis?

 Tennis is a racket sport that can be played individually against a single opponent (singles) or between two teams of two players each (doubles). Each player uses a tennis racket that is strung with cord to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over or around a net and into the opponent's court. The object of the game is to maneuver the ball in such a way that the opponent is not able to play a valid return.

What are the basics for the game of tennis?

There is a few things you need to know before even hitting your first ball on the tennis court. These few things hold a large role in how you play this sport correctly.

 Equipment that is needed to begin playing:

Tennis balls,rackets,and shoes

Some of these items are a given, but some of them I like to keep on me just in case I need them. 

Those key items would include:

Tennis racket

Strings

Tennis balls

Towel

Proper tennis shoes

Shorts with pockets 

Hat/visor

Basic shot types:

There are 6 major strokes in tennis some of them have a greater amount of importance when playing then others. These are described below.

Forehand:

The forehand is the 'meat and potatoes', or the 'money shot' for the majority of tennis players.
Basic steps to hit a forehand:

Milos Raonic hits forehand

1. Preparation - Stand Ready and Keep Moving. Getting in proper position is the most important element of any forehand
2. Backswing - a.k.a The Drop.Take your racket back with your elbow close to your body and turn your upper body sideways onto the ball or the net. 
3. Swing and contact.Gripping your racket tightly, keep your eyes on the ball and turn your body towards its direction. Locking your elbow, continue looping the racket to the level of the ball, bending your front leg slightly. Keep your racket face straight as your ball contacts the sweet spot on the racket face
4.  Follow through - Finish it right. After contact, continue to keep your head down and move your racket in the direction you want the ball to travel towards. 

Backhand:

The backhand is executed from the side opposite of the forehand side. So if you are right-handed, your backhand is executed from the left side of your body and if you are left-handed, your backhand is executed from the right side of your body. You can either use a one-handed or two-handed backhand. A one-handed backhand will provide you with longer reach and is better-suited to handling shots coming into the body than the two-handed backhand. However, the two-handed backhand provides more stability and control. Players also generally have less trouble hitting high balls with a two-handed backhand than with one-hand. The backhand is often a player's weakest link.

Serve:

Player goes up to serve the ball.

The serve is the most important shot in tennis. All points begin with a serve.The tennis player that is serving is called the server and the other tennis player is called the receiver. By rule, you can opt to serve anyway you see fit, it is your choice. The serve is placed diagonally from the server

Overhead:
Think of this shot as a slam dunk in basketball or a spike in volleyball. The overhead is basically a tennis serve that requires footwork and does not involve a ball toss.

Volley:

 Simply put, the volley is a short punch technique with little or no back swing from the forehand or backhand side. If you are the type of player who enjoys going on the attack to instigate fast-paced action, this is the shot for you.Other than a serve or an overhead, every shot a player executes before the ball bounces on the court is considered a volley. This skill is frequently used as a reaction to an
out-of-position situation, where you're unable to let the ball bounce.

Ways to get better:

Honestly the only way you get better at the sport and learn more is from gaining more experience by playing more often. By doing that simple task you will start to see the improvements as you progress and grow as a player. With all that being said all it takes is for you to get out there and play.