How to get into tennis, what racket to buy and where to go for lessons

Kevin Palmer
Judy Murray leading a drive for more female tennis coaches

Wimbledon inspires a huge boost to British tennis at all levels every summer, as players of all ages flock to their local tennis club to try and emulate the heroes they watch on the BBC’s vast coverage of the tournament every year.

Yet working out how you go about getting into the game can be a challenge, so here is your Tennis365 guide to all you need to know:

HOW DO I GET INTO TENNIS?

Start off by heading to the LTA website and checking out their section on how to get into the game. 

There you will find details of your local club, how to get in touch with a coach near your home and also how to join in with group sessions that are often a great way to take your first steps in the sport and meet fellow beginners who want to play the game.

HOW DO I GET MY KIDS INTO TENNIS?

Children are inspired by what they see on the TV and Wimbledon always inspires thousands of youngsters to ask their parents to take them to a tennis court.

Many will never have played before, so the LTA Youth programme is well worth checking out, as it offers a racket, balls, branded tee-shirt and six lessons in a club near you for just £34.99.

It gives kids a chance to get on court and understand the basics of the game and at that modest price, it is a perfect way to plot a route into the game.

WHAT RACKET SHOULD I BUY?

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This is a tough question as it all depends what level you are aiming to play at.

Babolat offers a great range of Wimbledon branded rackets, with the purple colour on the frame matching that of the All England Club’s own branding.

If you are looking to start playing tennis for the first time, check out their Evoke racket at a reasonable price of £50.

For those setting their sights on a racket that will help you take your game to the next level, the Babolat Boost racket could be the one for you at £90.

More experienced players will enjoy playing with the Pure Drive Lite racket that is a professional level racket and on sale in the Wimbledon online shop for £175 (pictured above with Wimbledon semi-finalist Karolina Pliskova).

WHAT TENNIS SHOES SHOULD I BUY?

This is one area where competition is hot and there are some great options on the market.

Many professional players use ASICS or Adidas tennis shoes, but those keen to stick with the Wimbledon theme will like the look and feel of the Babolat men’s tennis shoe, which is the only trainer that comes with a Wimbledon logo.

HOW MUCH ARE TENNIS LESSONS?

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The price varies on the level of qualification the coach has attained.

Top-level club coaches can charge up to £35 per hour for a lesson, but that price can dip if they are only a level two coach.

Junior players can get good deals on block booking a set of lessons, with the upcoming school holidays a good time to check out local coaching courses that will be running in your area that are both great for tennis enthusiasts and work well for working parents.

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