Ball control is the root of every successful tennis game. A good exercise to improve ball control is to practice bouncing the ball up off the strings of the racquet. Flip the racquet head over so the next bounce comes off the other surface. This will help develop control and strengthen your wrist.

Judging the flight of the ball as it comes toward you is an essential skill, and you can improve it with this series of simple exercises:

• Throw a ball back and forth with a partner, catching it before it bounces.
• Bounce the ball to each other and catch it.
• Stretch your abilities by throwing two balls back and forth with a partner simultaneously.
• Use the palm of your hand to hit a ball thrown by a partner. This will develop your basic groundstroke timing, of hitting the falling ball between knee and waist height.

The forehand is the major groundstroke for beginner and advanced player alike, and is the most natural of the groundstrokes. When using the forehand, develop a flowing movement that allows you to run for your next shot or recover to your previous position. Develop the skill of anticipation. When I first began playing tennis, one of the biggest mistakes I consistently made was making my shot and then stopping, standing, and watching to see what happened. I had to learn to always return to the middle of the court, be ready for the next return, and anticipate where the ball was going to go next.