We don’t know whether it was a need for the perfect socially distant activity or the sheer desire to rock a tennis skirt authentically, but no one can deny that tennis is having a major moment on the court and in our Instagram feeds. A classic sport, where you get to dress up and look cute?! That is a win, win in our books, but starting any new activity, job or hobby can be daunting. You are probably wondering, “Where do I even start?”

As always, the RH team has you covered, and we broke down our Top 10 Tips for Tennis Beginners below. Remember, the hardest part is stepping onto the court for the first time - you totally have this!

1. Don’t be ashamed to be a beginner or first time tennis player. Everyone that plays tennis has been in your shoes before and the only way to get better is to practice, so invest in a few lessons. They will help to develop your swing and get you feeling comfortable on the court

2. Play mini tennis! Mini tennis is a great way to begin to get a feel for the ball, racquet, net, court and your footwork.

3. Hydration! It is so important to be well hydrated prior to stepping onto the tennis court and to keep drinking water while playing, and after. We also love to eat a banana an hour before playing for additional potassium and healthy energy.

4. After a few lessons or between lessons, play with a friend! Playing tennis with a friend is a perfect way to spend an hour getting in a great cardio workout and spending time together. RH Tip - Don’t keep score. This isn’t meant to be a competition, it is supposed to be fun.

5. When you look the part you feel the part! We always feel our best when we are wearing something that empowers us for whatever activity we are up to. So for tennis, purchase a cute tennis outfit that makes you feel confident before you even step onto the court.

6. If you are playing with your parents’ old racquet you found in the basement or garage, that is a great start, but once you feel ready to purchase a new updated racquet, ask your pro or the professionals at the tennis store for their advice on which one to get. They are very knowledgeable and will steer you in the right direction; helping you find the right string tension, handle size, model, etc. Bad news is that tennis racquets are roughly $200, but the good news is that they will still be great in 10 years so it is a worthy investment.

7. Proper footwear is very important when playing tennis. As you are mostly running and sliding side to side, it is easy to roll your ankle or get injured. Tennis sneakers have a wider base to support your foot and ankle, and have less grips on the bottom so that you can slide. Playing tennis in Converse or running sneakers can be dangerous and could potentially end your tennis career before it even begins as you will be nursing an injury.

8. When you are off the court, it is very helpful to work on your stamina. Oftentimes matches are won based on who can maintain their stamina over long stretches, so go for a short run a few times a week to compliment the work you are doing on the court.

9. “Tennis elbow”, tennis elbow is a common and unfortunately painful injury that many tennis players will encounter at some point. Good news is that it goes away if you let your body rest and restore, so if you are feeling pain in your elbow, do not ignore it. Take the next week off and massage it with tiger balm or icy-hot.

10. Stretch! Stretch before and after you play, and give extra attention to your achilles and your shoulders.