Learning the push groundstroke

Sunny Abercrombie, 6, demonstrates the beginner’s “push” groundstroke. Photo: Courtesy/Red Wilder

Start with “mini-tennis,” i.e. with both players standing at the service line rather than at the base line. When you can hit several consecutive shots across the net, take a couple of steps back and hit from there until you can hit several in a row. Then take a couple more steps back and repeat, keeping in mind that it may take several trips to the courts to become adept at this.

Push the racquet through the ball; do not swing it like a baseball or softball bat.

If you have a partner on the other side of the net, hit the ball to them and see how many times in a row you both can hit the ball over the net and between the lines in a cooperative effort!

Grip the racquet like you would grip a frying pan for the forehand stroke. Lay your wrist back and hit the ball with the bottom outside of the pan (racquet).

If the ball comes to your backhand, just grasp the handle with the other hand, lay your wrist back the opposite way and push the inside bottom of the pan (racquet) through the ball from low-to-high, turning your shoulders in the process.