The Net Is the Biggest Obstacle in Tennis
Before we think about how to hit the ball, we need to understand what we're trying to accomplish.
There's one thing I tell players that might sound a little unusual at first:
We're allergic to the net.
We just don't hit the ball in the net.
It sounds simple, but that idea is the starting point for understanding how to play tennis. Before we worry about power, spin, or perfect technique, we have to get the ball over the net. It's the first and biggest obstacle in the game, and understanding that changes the way we approach the swing.
Job #1: Get the Ball Over the Net
Think about it this way: if your only job were to hit a ball over the net, most people could figure out how to do it.
You would naturally get your body into a position to help lift the ball. You'd get the racket below the ball and swing upward to send it over the net.
You might not be thinking about swing mechanics, shape, or spin at all. You'd simply be trying to accomplish the task in front of you.
And yet, by solving that first problem, you'd already be moving toward one of the fundamental ingredients of good tennis: a swing path that lifts the ball.
That's an important distinction. Rather than starting with a list of technical instructions, we can start with the problem the game asks us to solve. When the objective makes sense, the technique begins to make sense, too.
Job #2: Don't Hit the Ball Wide
Of course, getting the ball over the net isn't enough. We also have to keep it in the court.
Imagine playing tennis without any boundary lines. You'd have a pretty easy game. As long as you could get the ball over the net, you'd be in good shape.
But tennis has lines, and the court is long and narrow—almost like a sidewalk. That makes direction our next challenge.
We need to do more than lift the ball. The court is long and narrow, so swing straight.
First, lift the ball. Then, swing straight.
These aren't arbitrary technical rules. They are practical solutions to the two biggest problems the game presents: the net and the sidelines.
And notice what's happening. We're developing a purposeful swing by focusing on what we want the ball to do.
Why Missing Long Can Be a Good Sign
Here's where the pieces come together.
If we can get the ball over the net and swing straight, we're accomplishing our first two objectives. So if we're going to miss, we'd rather miss long than wide.
Why?
A ball that goes long tells us we've cleared the net and sent the ball in the right direction. Now we can work on controlling how far it travels.
A ball that goes wide tells us we've missed the second objective. We need to do a better job of swinging straight.
That's why I tell players: If you're going to miss, miss long.
First, learn to lift the ball. Then, learn to swing straight. Once those two objectives are established, we can focus on developing the control needed to keep the ball inside the lines.
The goal isn't simply to get the ball back. It's to understand what we're trying to accomplish with each swing—and to let those objectives guide how we improve.
The Same Principles at Every Level
These ideas apply whether you're picking up a racket for the first time or competing at the highest level.
The difference is in how players learn to control the ball.
A newer player often needs to hit with less pace. The player is learning to lift the ball over the net and rely largely on its natural flight to bring it back down into the court.
As a player develops, the same upward-and-forward swing path can produce more shape and topspin. That spin helps bring the ball back down into the court, allowing the player to hit with greater pace while maintaining control.
The ball may look different coming off the racket of a beginner than it does coming off the racket of a professional. But the fundamental problems haven't changed.
The net is still there. The court is still long and narrow. The player still needs to lift the ball, swing straight, and develop the control to keep it in the court consistently.
Good technique evolves, but the underlying principles remain remarkably consistent.
Start With the Game
Tennis instruction can get complicated quickly. There are countless technical details to consider, and each has its place.
But I believe we often make the game harder to understand than it needs to be when we begin with the details instead of the objective.
Start with the game.
First, get the ball over the net. Then, swing straight. As you develop those two fundamentals, you can learn to control the ball's depth, shape, and pace.
The technique isn't separate from the game. It is how we solve the problems the game presents.
Understand the problem. Give your swing a purpose. And let the game guide the way you improve.
That's where better tennis begins.
