The Five Fundamentals: Ready Position

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Roger Federer effortlessly moves through the five fundamentals.

Tennis is a simple game.  You hit the ball, then I hit it back.  The fact that you have to get it over the net and in the court makes it a little more complicated.  Keeping score adds another dimension. For 150 years, these basic parameters have remained unchanged. 

But with every generation, ball striking in tennis has become more dynamic.  The game has become more physically demanding and mentally challenging.  As fans, we are now witnessing the best tennis ever played, by both men and women.  And that is bound to continue with the next generation of players.

As the game has evolved, however, I believe that certain fundamentals have remained unchanged.  I call these the Five Fundamentals. I’ve evolved these concepts in over 40 years of teaching.  During that period, I have had the privilege of teaching thousands of students, and I can truthfully say that I have learned more from them than they have from me.  This series of articles is a synthesis of that incredible experience.   

The Five Fundamentals Are

1) Ready Position

2) Preparation

3) Position on the Ball

4) Stroke and…