how do i become a pro tennis player?
447118
The older you are currently the harder it will be,  many of the professional tennis players on the circuit today started as young as 5 and have been having coaching and training hard ever since.\n\nThis does not mean that you cannot make it though, you just need exceptional self belief and personal drive. If you want it badly enough, anything is possible!\n\nOn a practical note I would firstly recommend joining a tennis club if you havern't done so already. Get some coaching which is essential to helping you improve your technique and always try and play people that are better than you and will challenge your game.\n\nEnter tournaments as other people have mentioned and basically strive to play as frequently as possible.\n\nFinally you constantly want to set realistic but challenging goals.\n\nGood Luck! \nIf you believe you're going to make it, I believe you will too! Let me know your name and I'll watch out for you.
313519
Get yourself a ranking/rating within your country and play tournaments. As you work your way up the rankings, you will get the opportunity to participate in bigger tournaments and eventually, as soon as you have at least one ATP or WTA point (obviously depending on whether you're a guy or gal), you will then officially have turned professional and can continue climbing up the world rankings in internationally sanctioned tournaments anywhere.
256974
There often are several possibilities. First is to be invited to play as a member's guest. Second, you usually can take lessons from the pro, and often the pro will allow you to play there before or after your lessons. Often country clubs have special memberships for tennis only, rather than golf and tennis, and these memberships will be considerably cheaper.
1168490
Just go down to their offices and sign up -- it's that simple!  You see, not many other people would like to play professional sports, so it's really easy.  Pardon my sarcasm if you're under the age of 12.  But really, the way someone breaks into sports like that is usually by playing that sport in high school, then college, etc. So I would focus on just trying to play baseball as much as possible in little leagues and school. If you're good enough, the path to pro will probably be shown to you by coaches and others.
306538
Keep practicing and playing as much as you can.\n\nGet in a gym by yourself and shoot from all areas of the court within your range.\n\nWork on your release and use proper form.\n\nConcentrate on every shot from each different angle and spot you are shooting from.\n\nIn a game try to realx and shoot the same way as you do in practice even though there will probably be someone running at you or getting a hand up to bother you.\n\nIn baseball get out on the diamond and have a pitcher or pitchers thow some balls in to you and again concentrate on using good form and technique when swinging the bat.\n\nYou also have to have a good eye and know what pitches to swing at.\n\nYou can't expect to hit pitches that are out of the strike zone with any consistency.\n\nIf you practice and play a lot you will become as good as you possibly can and you should become a fairly good player and be able to enjoy the game.\n\nMost of us will never become pros and remember you have to have a certain amount of natural athletic ability to begin with.\n\nSome people do and some don't so don't feel bad if you are not that great but also just enjoy being the best player you can possibly be if you are on a team at any level.
594341
I'd recommend you go to the website for the PGA (pgatour.com).  It'll give you an idea of the requirements for the various levels.\n\nYou will need to be playing to a max handicap of 2 or 3 (typical round <76) in order to join PGA as a trainee pro. You willl be required to maintain at least that standard while you are a trainee (three years). You can attend \nthe so-called Qualifying Schools with all the other hopefuls and compete for entry to the pro scene. You will have to be pretty good - this is a gruelling series of matches at top standard and is sudden death if you fail to qualify. You have to wait another year in order to compete again  (and if \nyou made it into the final two days of the comp. you will have lost your amateur status, which is cruel if you don't qualify). In order to succeed as a pro golfer you need to be regularly playing to plus 1 or better (rounds of better than 71/70) at your own club. This is only a guide ...
907421
Each state has a Athletic Commission. go to your states website, look up athletics and that should put you in the right direction. Most states have a test plus a certification in order to be a professional referee. You can start out at the amateur level and build a solid reputation as a good referee then make the transition to the Pro's. USA Boxing.com will have all the information you will need to pursue this goal.\n   Good luck.
241623
I recommend going to a local pro shop and working with someone to find an appropriate racquet to match your physical characteristics and skill level.  You can often "demo" (try out) a few different frames at a time, allowing you to get a feel for the different technologies and vendors.\nSecond, enroll in a group lesson at a local tennis facility.  This is a low-cost way to be properly introduced to the game.  I highly discourage starting to play without getting professional instruction.  You will naturally develop bad habits that are nearly impossible to break once established.
81745
1. Depending on how much you can spend, you should:\na. Take private lessons from a knowledgeable pro;\nb. Take group lessons from a good pro;\nc. Take lessons at a public park or recreation program;\nd. Find someone who is a good player to work with you for free. (At almost any popular public courts you'll find players who love to provide assistance, usually for free, to any eager learners. The big drawback is they don't always know what they're doing!)\ne. Ask your high school coach to recommend someone to provide lessons. This also lets the coach know you are interested.\n\n2.  You really need to have someone to hit with and to play on a regular basis. Try to find another high school player that you can practice with.\n\n3.  Supplement your lessons and hitting by getting a good book on tennis and/or by going to some of the Web sites with quality instruction. I've listed a useful book and a couple of Web sites below.
490581
I'm a nationally certified Tennis Instructor. In the 37 years I've been involved in tennis, I've taught many, many students.\n\nTO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION HONESTLY...\n\nNot only do I not know of a good, cheap tennis camp, but I also do not know of a good, EXPENSIVE tennis camp.\n\nTruly, the best way to improve your tennis game is to take PRIVATE tennis lessons from a well-respected and CERTIFIED Tennis Instructor.\n\nYou see, tennis needs to be learned progressively, one step building upon another. This not only requires a great deal of concentration, it also requires a great deal of TIME.\n\nIn fact, it typically takes between 30 and 60 minutes to make a reasonable advance, and this definitely requires INDIVIDUAL instruction, not group lessons.\n\nSure, group lessons are fun. But, they don't provide you with enough INDIVIDUAL instruction to make a lasting change.\n\nTennis Camps are also fun, but they provide you with even less INDIVIDUAL instruction.\n\nDon't waste your money on a tennis camp. Instead, find a good local CERTIFIED Tennis Instructor, and be prepared to concentrate on technique.
621020
First you must practice the ball toss. Before even using your racquet, just throw the ball up at about 1 o'clock in front of you. Make sure the toss is high and accurate and u point to it the whole time, with ur other hand held behind your head. \n    After doing this for a while, now take the hand that was behind your head and try and follow through and catch the ball.  \n    After doing this for a while, now pick up your racquet.\nGo against a high fence or wall and once again begin throwing the ball up while pointing to it. Try and follow through with your racquet and catch the ball againts this high fence or wall.\n    Now you are ready to start serving on the court. Use these same forms that you used practing the ball toss. Make sure you are following through every time and the face of your racquet is pointing at the box you are serving to. Practice serves from each side of the court. Hit them slow and steady for now, just making sure they get in for the next couple months.\n**Grip--- In order to get the correct grip, turn your racquet on its side so that the non-string side is facing up. Put your hand on the racquet so that it is directly in between your thumb and pointer finger. It may feel wierd for the first couple days but eventually you will get used to it, and it is the only effective way to hit a powerful or slice serve later on when you get good at serving.\n\nGOOD LUCK, These things all worked for me and now I'm one of the best servers on my school tennis team.
1136630
Yes, I do. You don't have to play something your entire life to be good at it. I know someone who started playing tennis when they were 10 and they're the best tennis player I know. They went to state, and they're only 16 years old. They've only been playing for six years and they're good enough to go to state, so if you play for 15 years, who knows what you could do... Just stick with it, and if you really love tennis, you'll be willing to put all the hard work that's needed into it. \n\nBest of luck!\nSarah ^_^
821280
The best thing for you to do is obviously hit  a ton of balls.  Practice your serve as much or more then you do other strokes.  It has become a game of serving and returns because of the advances it racket tech.  \n        Try and play USTA tournaments in your section as often as you can.  At a minimum one each month.  Matches are key.  If you do that you will find yourself feeling less pressure then you do  when playing for your high school.  \n         Matches are also the best way to identify what you have to work on.   Do some off court training as well.  Jumping rope, sit ups , push ups.  If possible take a private lesson every once in a while.  When you take your lesson , know going into it what you would like to work on going into your lesson.  Not only practice your weak areas , but work on your strengths also so you can develop a few weapons.  The best ones are as I said before Serve, return of serve.  Make your footwork a priority . of you are quick it is a major help.  Big forehands once you get into a rally are important.
1117329
Two people before me, Bella and Cruzer, have answered your question. Cruzer's answer was quite long and detailed while Bella's answer was very short and sweet.\n\nI'm a nationally certified Tennis instructor, and I can tell you that Cruzer's advice, though impressive in its detail and volume, is completely uninformed and incorrect.\n\nAlthough Bella's answer was quite short, she's completely correct. \n\nIndeed, taking PRIVATE Tennis lessons from a renowned Tennis instructor is the surest and shortest route to improvement. Rest assured that the only way to control the ball is by learning proper technique and spin, be it topspin or slice.\n\nYou might be tempted to take group lessons, but do yourself a favor and leave this to beginners. For sure, if you've been playing tennis for a while and have seen too little improvement, only PRIVATE tennis lessons will do.
258783
Tennis is a rather simple game to understand scoring and rules wise, and one that you will be able to pick up rather quickly if you have the ability to swing the racquet on an even plane.  Your best bet for learning about the game is to visit the USTA website.  As far as playing, all you need is a racquet, a ball, and a wall. I would spend some time hitting in that fashion prior to spending any money on a lesson.  However, I used to be a certified pro and very often we would get beginners no matter what age.  Tennis is, as they say, for everyone.
1050135
I've been playing tennis for 6 years, so i think i can help. Now with your aim, just watch the ball at all times and make sure you step into the ball. Keep your racket straight and hold on tight as you swing through over your shoulder. Lifting weights doesn't have any part in tennis. To swing hard, you need strength in your wrists, not so much in your arms. So just keep practicing. To make the ball go further, be positive you have your form right. Then one of the most important is to remember to swing all the way through. Yes, all the way to your opposite shoulder. This will make the ball go way further. Much of this you achieve with practice though. So good luck with it all! *Val*
856506
I agree with the first answer, and being a tennis pro myself, they are the best to judge what level you are. Just an honest guess though, if you don't know about ratings and those things, you are probably a 3.0 level player. The best way to join the USTA is either at the tournament (they should have a signup sheet), or online at www.usta.com under membership. Also on usta.com, they will have a section devoted to understanding what level you are.