1.Equip yourself with the best tennis gear that suits your playing style. Before going off to buy what takes your fancy, ask for advice from local tennis club pro as to what type of racquet is suited for you, the grip size, the weight and balance. Only then should you invest in the proper equipment, and when you do, get the best of the type that's right for you! Doing so ensures your enjoyment of the game and save you from changing your racquet once too often. Don't forget to buy the proper tennis attire ? socks, tennis shoes, shirts, shorts and a tennis bag to hold your gear before and after a game.

Make sure that the tennis balls you buy are good quality tennis balls. Cheap balls are more expensive because they are useless ? they have no bounce in them making them no good even for practice. Get the regular balls even if they cost more, at least you are sure that you can use them in as a game ball or in practicing your service.

2.If you want to advance rapidly in the game, it is best to take in all that you can of tennis. Watch all the good tennis you can and as you do, carefully observe and study the various styles of play of the best players and as much as possible copy their strokes. Also, it is best to read up on the game ? tennis instruction books are a great aid especially to beginners. Rules and common mistakes are very clearly explained including how to avoid them in your game.

3.When it is your turn to play (after all the watching and reading of the theories involved) strive to put into your game as much as possible of all that you have learned. There's nothing better than executing all those moves you have seen and read about inside the tennis court against another player. Only then can you determine what really suits your playing style!

4.If your progress in the game is quite slow, do not lose hope. After all, you're still a beginner and it takes months and months of regular play until your game gets polished to such an extent that strokes and counter strokes become second nature to you due to muscle memory. The best tennis players in the world started playing when they were only seven or eight years of age ? that is why they can boast of 150mph serves, vicious backhands and volleys. You can count on the fingers of one hand those who are born geniuses at the game.

5.The physical side of tennis is only half of what makes a complete tennis player. The other equally important half is the mental preparation necessary to win games. No matter how good your ground strokes are and regardless of the devastating speed of your serve, these would not be enough to win a match! The psychological preparation is an absolute necessity if you want to win in tennis.

6.The following physical and psychological qualities should be properly developed by tennis buffs who want to excel in the game in the quickest time possible:

maintaining focus on the game

always keeping the ball in sight

proper footwork and weight control

variety and unpredictable repertory of strokes

strategic positioning in the court

game control

psychological preparedness and motivation

Tennis is a game that anybody can play regardless of age. It is one of the few games that provides respite from emotional and mental burdens of work, exercise and enjoyment.