FitSugar

Tennis Anyone? Getting Into the US Open

FitSugar — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 03:30:25 PDT

Over Labor Day weekend, I tend to watch a lot of the US Open. It inspires me to head to the court and play a set or two. Here are some posts that might inspire you to pick up your racquet. Tennis anyone?

What to Expect From Your First Tennis Lesson	Warm Up Before You Play	Test Your US Open Knowledge
How to Keep Score	Tennis Etiquette 101	Do I Need Tennis Shoes?

Tennis 101: How to Score

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 10:00:03 PDT

Welcome back to Tennis 101. While Maria Sharapova is showing us how it's done during this week's riveting US Open tournament, I'm offering a primer for the rest of us.

Now that you know what to expect from your first lesson and how to behave on the court, it's time to tackle the more complicated stuff: scoring a tennis match. I'm not going to deny that learning how to keep score can be confusing at first. But once you learn the basics, it's actually pretty simple. Here's what you need to know to get started scoring in singles.

The Framework

Each tennis match is made up of two to three sets. To win a set, you must win at least six games.
The games are scored starting at "love" (or zero) and going up to 40, but that's actually just four points. From love, the first point is 15, then 30, then 40, then game point, which wins the game.

For the details on games, sets, and matches,

Tennis 101: On-Court Etiquette

FitSugar — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 04:30:54 PDT

Welcome back to Tennis 101. In honor of the 2009 US Open this week, I'm serving up a series about the sport, from what to expect at your first lesson to trivia about US Open champs.

Today, we'll tackle the topic of tennis etiquette. Tennis has a reputation for being a very polite sport, and while it's less stuffy than it used to be, there are still many niceties you need to know - especially since, as an amateur, you won't have officiates to make the calls. Here are some manners to keep in mind.

If you arrive at a court while other people are playing, wait until the point is over before passing behind to get to your own.
If your ball rolls into the adjacent court, don't run after it. Simply say "thank you" and wait for your neighbor to return the ball when it's convenient. If a ball rolls onto your court, toss it back to the player it belongs to.

For more tips on stray balls and making calls,

What to Expect From Your First Tennis Lesson

FitSugar — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 12:00:35 PDT

Welcome back to Tennis 101, where I'm offering tips to get you started playing tennis just in time for the 2009 US Open. You may be wondering: if I've never played tennis before, do I really need to take a lesson?

Though it's not required, taking a private lesson or attending a group clinic for beginners is the best way to start your tennis career. We may not all be as lucky as the girls in the photo, getting tips from professional tennis players Cara Black and Liezel Huber. But a good teaching pro will be able to hit the ball right to you, for whatever shot you are practicing. They can also offer detailed feedback on exactly what you're doing wrong. Even your best tennis-playing friends probably aren't that good.

To find out what to expect from your first tennis lesson,

Tennis 101: Do I Really Need Tennis Shoes?

FitSugar — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 10:00:04 PDT

The 2009 US Open tennis tournament starts on Monday, so over the next week, I'll be schooling you in Tennis 101, offerings tips for beginners and seasoned hitters.

If you're starting to dabble in tennis, you may be wondering if you need specialized tennis shoes. Growing up, I called all athletic shoes "tennis shoes," but there is a reason we have different shoes for different sports. Tennis shoes have a blunter toe than running shoes and are designed for sharp cuts and forward charging. Though running shoes offer a cushioned sole, they are designed for steady, forward motion and don't offer enough support for all that side-to-side movement. Not wearing the right shoe could lead to injury.

If it's your first lesson, you probably don't want to splurge on a new pair of tennies, but check the regulations at the court where you'll be playing, since many don't allow dark-soled shoes that could scuff the court. If you own a pair of cross trainers, wear those instead of running shoes, as they offer better support. And once you've decided to give tennis a serious shot, it's definitely worth it to buy a pair of tennis-specific shoes.