Deadliest Sin In Tennis

Unforced Errors = Cardinal Sin #1

Unforced errors hurt your game in more ways than one:

1. Giving away free points.
   
2. Losing confidence in your strokes.
   
3. Increasing your opponents' confidence.
   
4. Keep you from 'getting into the groove'.
5. Letting your opponent into the game, or regain his/her composure.
   
6. Annoys your double partner.
   
7. No fun to even play singles with you (too few chances to hit the ball!).
   

Decrease them. Quickly.

Think of an unforced error as a 2-point swing. You're giving your opponent the point AND not getting it. No it doesn't make mathematical sense, it's more of a psychological scoring.

Getting The Ball In Play

Try hitting at 70% pace first.

Get good net clearance. Miss it long if you have to but not in the net.

Use spin to keep the ball in the court, but avoid brushing the ball too much as it will mess-up your follow-through, which should be forward instead of sideways across your chest.

Move your feet. Adjust your hitting position with little quick steps.

Stay balanced.

Get your shoulders turning. Keep your backswing compact but push a long follow-through. This helps to warm-up the hands.

Start increasing the pace only when:

1. You feel that you are getting into proper hitting position.
2. You feel the racket has 'fused' with your hands.
3. You are putting no less than 5 shots in consecutively.
4. You are confident in moving the ball left and right.
   

Remember, control and accuracy are infinitely more important than pace.