Online Videos

[pmeth]

I don't have much time these days for actual tennis instruction, so I was thinking I could watch some videos online to get some ideas on things to work on.

Does anyone have links to good online videos, like on YouTube or something? I am pretty much at a beginner level and never had any formal instruction, so something that starts at the very basics would be good.

[charliefedererer]

It will be hard to beat the instructional videos that Will Hamilton has on Fuzzy Yellow Balls http://www.fuzzyyellowballs.com/video-tennis-lessons/. Watch the desired stroke video sequence, go out and practice, then watch it again. Keep repeating the sequence. Some of the subtlties on the first watching or two will "click" on watching after some practice.
And after more practice, check out the Advanced Serve, Forehand and Backhand tips for further understanding on what you want to achieve as you go from beginner to intermediate and beyond.

[spacediver]

fyb is thorough, but I find that the strokes are broken down without giving the student any feel. For example, telling someone that you need to have the racquet drop at such and such an angle at this phase of the serve doesn't necessarily help them. A lot of these positions are incidental and naturally emerge if the player is moving her body in the proper way.

I much prefer Pat Dougherty's approach.

[papa]

Well, there is quite a bit of good stuff out there. Actually, more good than bad if you just look around. Sometimes its confusing and conflicting but there is not one universally accepted method that fits everyone.

Maybe someday technology will allow player to actually improve their mechanics without going on court but that's a way off.

[GetBetterer]

spacedriver:

A lot of these positions are incidental and naturally emerge if the player is moving her body in the proper way.

^ This. Some people analyze too much. Follow the basics, practice it, and then you can look at yourself and try to fix it, or, as some do, post it here and have us help! ^^

A lot of analyzers have this problem. "Look at the angle of his