The Seeds of Tennis

By William Strain

The instructions in this book will help all levels of tennis players strengthen their games.
The same attitude and no-quit spirit we used to learn to walk is whats needed to be successful in tennis. For a child, daily practice led us to mastering walking. Regardless of the results, we never thought of failure. In fact, we didnt know what failure was. We continued learning, taking one step at a time until we were walking! I hope to transmit this same thought process of determination and fearlessness into your tennis game.
In this book, I stress the contact point, being in the proper position, and being ready to contact the ball at the right time. I discuss using the big engines of the body (hips, thighs, and shoulders) to do the majority of the work in your tennis game.
This book will help you understand the importance of racket placement in contacting the ball properly. I will also review the forehand and backhand grips that are helpful, such as the Eastern forehand and backhand grips and the continental grip for the serve and volley. I also share some scripts that you can teach yourself to help you have more fun in the learning process. I give you tips to help you prepare to receive the ball and stay focusedeven during difficult points.
The photographs of proper grips and positions for receiving the ball will help visual learners. The slow-motion video clips on the website demonstrate how to hit the ball. Being in the right positions, shifting your weight into the ball, and racket placement can be viewed. Common expressions in the book (sky, water, land, step on a bug, and the J stroke) will be demonstrated in the videos.
You will discover the philosophy of a great tennis player and continue to realize that making the game fun depends on you! Investing your time and learning the proper procedures and techniques will develop your tennis game. The results will put a grin on your face. You can do this!

Have a lot of fun!

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Apr 16, 2015
• ISBN: 9781504904452

William Strain

William Strain has been involved with the tennis game for more than fifty years. He has played, studied, taught, invented tennis tools and techniques, and enjoyed playing tennis. He strings rackets, customizes rackets, and repairs rackets. At one time, he operated a tennis store. This book was inspired by his passion for others to understand the game, to learn how to hit the ball correctly, and teach themselves how to have fun in the never-ending process of learning tennis. The main goal of this book is to plant the seeds in you that help you become a better tennis player—and to have more fun.

Book preview

© 2015 William Strain. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse   05/07/2015

ISBN: 978-1-5049-0446-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-5049-0445-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015904989

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models,

and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Contents

Introduction

Acknowledgments

I. Getting Started

II. Fundamental Tennis Strokes and Techniques

III. Tennis Basics

IV. Tips for Tennis

V. The Philosophy of a Great Tennis Player

VI. Developing Your Game Plan

VII. Fun Thinking

A Prayer for Tennis Players

About the Author

To my entire family and friends—keep hope alive.

Thank you to Lea, my wife; Lamont, my son-in-law; Sheila, my daughter; Hardy Baker, my friend; Oscar Payne, my photographer; and all my tennis students.

Introduction

The Seeds of Tennis will help you learn techniques that will strengthen your tennis game. Throughout the book—and in supplemental tools like my website—I use illustrations and slow-motion videos so you can actually see how to perform the strategies I describe in this book. These techniques, winning philosophies, and easy tips will help you know what to do to increase your enjoyment of this great game of tennis.

Seeds must be planted, fed, trained, and nurtured. Seeds are the basics that should be planted deep within yourself to better master the game of tennis. Seeds must be planted in the soil to grow. Then, they must be fed, trained, and nurtured. In time, the seeds begin to sprout. And a short time later, the seeds grow into beautiful flowers. This book offers you seeds to plant in your daily tennis game. These seeds will