The key shots in beach tennis

A little while ago we introduced you to the sport of beach tennis - a great game that combines elements of tennis, beach volleyball, and badminton. Having explained about what it is and how to play it, we thought we’d take a greater look at some of the key shots you’ll need to know when you take to a beach tennis court.

Serving: The starting place of every rally

It goes without saying that the serve is one of the most important shots in beach tennis. Have a good serve and you’ll be able to take the game to the opponent. It’s also the starting place of every rally, so you’ll need to know all about it.

Just like in tennis, you can choose to serve overarm or underarm in beach tennis. The higher up you hold on the grip, the more rotation you’ll get on the ball.

You should be aware that in beach tennis you can serve wherever you want on the other side of the court - and there are no second serves!

Be ready to return

The return from a serve is perhaps one of the most tricky shots in beach tennis. Do you go for a winner or opt for a safety-first approach and get it back in play before deciding on your next move? Whatever the case, make sure you are ready to return by holding your racket high up - about shoulder level. And remember you don’t need to use a big backswing to return.

The range of shots you’ll need

Having looked at the serve and return, let’s take a look at some of the key shots you’ll need and can use to mix it up in your rallies on the beach tennis court:

• Volley: You can actually play this shot in a very similar way to how you would do on a tennis court. The key difference between the volley in the two sports is that in beach tennis, for a backhand volley, players tend to use a double-handed volley to maintain control of the shot.
• Dropshot: The aim of this shot is to hit the ball back over the other side as close to the net as possible and for the ball to almost drop dead, not allowing your opponent the chance to respond. When playing the dropshot, try and take the ball as high as you can, and with the ball in front of you, so you’ll have more control throughout.
• Lob: In terms of style, there isn’t that much difference between playing the dropshot or the lob in beach tennis. The key to pulling off a good lob is to push through a little more so you are able to get plenty of height on the ball.

We hope this post helps explain the key shots you’ll need on the beach tennis court. Now, it’s over to you to pick up your beach tennis racket and get practising. And keep your eye out on the All for Padel website for more tips and advice on how to play.