How to start playing tennis is much easier than most beginners think. If you’re completely new to the sport, this guide will show you the essential steps, simple techniques, and practical tips to get started. Tennis is one of the most beginner-friendly sports, and with the right approach, tennis for beginners becomes fun, easy, and confidence-building from day one.
Starting tennis for the first time feels exciting, motivating, and maybe a little intimidating — but that’s completely normal. Tennis is a beginner-friendly sport, and you don’t need perfect fitness, expensive equipment, or previous experience to start. This guide will walk you through every step so you can begin confidently and enjoy the sport from day one.
HAC20 is built to help new players learn quickly and comfortably. You can explore more beginner guides anytime on the home page: HAC20.
1. How to Start Playing Tennis: Understanding the Basics
Starting tennis becomes much simpler when you understand the basic structure of the game. This is why learning how to start playing tennis begins with knowing the court layout and simple movements. Before touching a racquet, it’s helpful to understand the foundation of tennis:
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What the court lines mean
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How points are scored
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What forehands, backhands, and serves are
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The flow of a rally
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What happens in a beginner lesson
If you want a clear picture of your first session, read What to Expect in Your First Tennis Lesson — it gives a simple preview of what coaches teach beginners.
2. Choose the Right Beginner Equipment
You don’t need elite gear to learn tennis. Start simple.
✔ Racquet
Choose a lightweight racquet (260–285g) with a medium-sized head. These are easier to control as a new player.
✔ Shoes
Running shoes work for the very first sessions, but tennis shoes are more stable and better for sideways movement.
✔ Clothing
Wear breathable, comfortable sportswear. HAC20 also has a practical guide on What to Wear for Tennis as a Beginner, which you can check anytime.
3. Learn the Basic Rules (They’re Very Simple)
When learning tennis for beginners, understanding the basic rules helps you enjoy rallies sooner. The rules may look complicated at first, but they’re extremely easy once you understand the basics:
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How scoring works (15, 30, 40, game)
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Singles vs doubles boundaries
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What counts as “in” or “out”
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What a “fault” or “let” means
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When players switch sides
If you want a clear and beginner-friendly breakdown, you can read Tennis Rules for Beginners: Simple Guide to Understand the Game.
If you want an extra beginner-friendly overview, you can read the basic tennis guide on Wikipedia.
4. Learn the Simple Techniques First
Tennis technique looks complex, but beginners actually start with very simple movements.
✔ Forehand
Turn sideways, swing low to high, and hit in front.
✔ Backhand
Use two hands at first — it gives more control.
✔ Footwork
Stay on your toes, move lightly, and avoid standing stiff.
✔ Serve
Don’t try to hit hard. Learn the toss + upward motion first.
Your early lessons will focus on these exact skills.
5. How to Start Playing Tennis the Right Way (Beginner Tips)
A lesson is one of the smartest ways to start because coaches guide you through how to start playing tennis with proper form and technique. A single tennis lesson can help you avoid months of frustration by teaching you the right basics from the start.
If you’d like a preview of how a beginner lesson works, check out What to Expect in Your First Tennis Lesson. It shows the warm-up, drills, and teaching style beginners experience.
6. Avoid the Common Beginner Mistakes
Most new players struggle with the same errors:
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Holding the racquet too tight
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Swinging only with the arm
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Standing flat-footed
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Trying to hit too hard too soon
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Looking away before contact
To save yourself time, read 10 Common Mistakes Beginners Make in Tennis & How to Fix Them. Fixing these early makes improvement much faster.
7. Practice Consistently (Short Sessions Work Best)
Short, consistent practice sessions are the fastest way to improve, especially for tennis for beginners. You don’t need long, intense practice. Short but frequent sessions are perfect:
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20-minute wall practice
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Shadow swings at home
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Light rally with a friend
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One lesson per week if possible
Consistency beats power or intensity every time.
8. Tennis for Beginners: Simple Weekly Practice Routine
A beginner-friendly weekly plan could look like this:
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Day 1: Forehand + backhand basics
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Day 2: Wall practice or mini-rallies
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Day 3: Serve fundamentals
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Day 4: Rest
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Day 5: Short drills or footwork practice
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Weekend: Optional lesson + easy match practice
This routine keeps you improving while preventing burnout.
9. Stay Patient — Tennis Progress Takes Time
Tennis feels awkward at first. But with each session, you’ll notice improvements in:
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Timing
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Balance
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Control
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Footwork
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Consistency
Every beginner struggles at the start. Improvement comes with repetition and patience.
10. Use HAC20 to Guide Your Beginner Journey
HAC20 is your full learning hub for tennis beginners. You’ll find:
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Starter guides
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Technique breakdowns
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Rules explained simply
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Mistake-fixing articles
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Clothing & gear recommendations
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Step-by-step practice routines
Key beginner resources include:
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What to Expect in Your First Tennis Lesson
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10 Common Beginner Mistakes & Fixes
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Tennis Rules for Beginners
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And more on the homepage: HAC20
Each article is designed to help you improve confidently at your own pace.
Final Thought
Now that you know how to start playing tennis, the next step is to use HAC20 guides, practice consistently, and follow beginner techniques the right way. Learning tennis doesn’t require natural talent — just curiosity and a willingness to practice. With the right guidance, simple equipment, and helpful beginner resources, you’ll enjoy every step of your progress.
When you’re ready to continue learning, explore more guides on HAC20.
Your tennis journey starts today. 🎾