What to know before you buy a racket, how a first lesson goes and realistic goals for your first three months.
You don’t need special talent or expensive equipment to start playing tennis. What you need is regular practice and the right start. This guide answers the questions you probably have before picking up your first racket.
1. Lessons first, or court first?
For beginners, the most efficient path is to spend the first few weeks with a coach. Teaching yourself is possible, but a wrong grip and poor stroke habits can turn into mistakes that are hard to fix later. Once a few lessons have taught you the basic grip, stance and how to meet the ball, practising on your own or with a friend becomes far more enjoyable.
2. What happens in the first lesson?
- Warm-up: Light jogging and dynamic stretches get your body ready.
- Grip: You’re shown how to hold the racket, usually starting with a natural forehand grip.
- Feel for the ball: Bouncing the ball on the racket and short exchanges at close range.
- Mini tennis: Short rallies with slow balls between the service lines.
The aim of a first lesson isn’t to hit hard but to learn to control the ball. Most coaches ask about your level and goals at the first meeting and build the programme around them.
3. What do you need?
At the start, comfortable sportswear, tennis shoes (running shoes don’t give enough support for sideways movement), water and a racket are enough. You don’t have to buy a racket straight away; ask your coach or the facility and start with a demo racket for the first lessons. See the tennis equipment guide for details.
4. How often should you practise?
One lesson a week is a good way to get to know the game; two sessions a week speed up progress noticeably. A short practice between lessons (hitting against a wall, mini tennis with a friend) helps what you learn stick.
5. Realistic goals for the first three months
| Period | Focus |
|---|---|
| First weeks | Grip, stance, meeting the ball in the middle of the strings |
| Months 1–2 | Short rallies with forehand and backhand, tracking the ball |
| Month 3 | Rallying from the baseline, an introduction to the serve, simple scoring |
These timeframes vary from person to person; your sporting background, how often you have lessons and how much you practise make the difference.
FAQ: Am I too old to start tennis?
No. Tennis can be learned at any age, and it’s an active, social sport for adults too. What matters is a pace that suits your level and a warm-up habit that prevents injury. Have a look at the warm-up guide.