As the first week of Wimbledon ignites courtside excitement, the prowess of the world’s elite players often serves as a powerful catalyst for aspiring enthusiasts to pick up a racket themselves.

Dan Bloxham, the esteemed head coach at the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) and master of ceremonies for The Championships, offers compelling insights into why tennis is a sport for all ages and abilities.

“It’s a sport you can play from three until you’re 93, if you’re lucky, and if you invest time in developing your tennis, it will give you rewards throughout your whole life,” Bloxham explains.

He highlights the comprehensive benefits, noting, “Tennis requires you to use your body in different ways – such as moving forward, going backwards, side to side – and then there’s also the scoring, the tactics and the emotions of winning and losing, which are all things that are really great at keeping your mind and body sharp.”

Beyond the physical and mental advantages, Bloxham stresses the social aspect, adding that playing tennis is a fantastic way to forge new friendships. “You can go to any club in the world and make friends and I think that, in this day and age connecting with people, is so vital,” he says.

For those inspired by this year’s prestigious tournament to book their first court, Bloxham shares eight essential tips to help beginners find their footing and enjoy the game.

Start with transition balls

He advises starting with “transition balls” to build confidence and technique without being overwhelmed by speed. “If you’re really not confident, you might want to consider playing with red balls to start with which, compared to standard yellow balls, are much bigger and have a much slower bounce,” Bloxham suggests.

Wear light breathable fabrics

Comfort on court is also key, making light, breathable fabrics a must. “You definitely need something with pockets to put your tennis balls in, and you ideally want fabrics that are light and take the moisture away from your body, which all of the Wimbledon Collection does,” Bloxham recommends.

He adds: “In this hot weather, I would also recommend wearing light colours rather than dark colours and most importantly make sure you wear something that you feel comfortable in because it is a very physical sport.”

Don’t skimp on footwear

“One thing I would particularly look out for is good socks, because good socks make a big difference to how you connect with the floor,” Bloxham states. “When you play tennis on a hard court you have no softening with your landing, so if you have good socks and good shoes they will act as cushioning blocks between your body and the hard surface.”

Focus on technique rather than power

When it comes to playing, Bloxham emphasises technique over brute force. “Tennis is about athleticism and speed, but you need technique, otherwise it doesn’t work,” he explains. “You can’t just smack it. You’ve got to have the right technique, the right swing and the right grip. Making every ball and finding a rhythm is really important in tennis. If you’re hitting it out all the time in a game, the people you’re playing with won’t have much fun.”

Understanding angles is another critical element

“With tennis, you have to design your own angles,” Bloxham notes, pointing out the different racket face angles required for forehands, backhands, volleys, and serves. “That’s why you’ll see the players spinning the rackets in the hands. If you watch carefully, their base hand moves to change the angle of the shot, and that’s how they create the spins, which creates the opportunity to hit the tennis ball really hard.”

The serve, though challenging, is fundamental

“It’s the toughest shot and the most important shot, without the serve you can’t start the game,” Bloxham reminds players. He advises staying calm, taking your time, and establishing a routine. “You are looking to push the ball up in the air nice and slowly just above your head, to the right-hand side if you are right-handed, and to the left-hand side if you are left handed. Also, try and keep the racket moving. Keep it swinging and stay very tall.”

Consistent footwork is paramount

“Getting the ball in the right place to create the contact point is all about good footwork, which is really important,” Bloxham asserts. “If you don’t move, you can’t create the contact point. If you don’t have the contact point, you can’t be technical. If you can’t be technical, you can’t be tactical. And if you aren’t tactical, you probably won’t win many points.”

He suggests footwork drills with a friend, reacting to calls like “short forehand” or “deep backhand” while keeping the upper body and head still.

For those ready to dive in, Bloxham recommends checking the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) website. “The LTA has a great website that has a list of all the tennis clubs in the country,” he says. “There’s so many tournaments and festivals going on at the moment and various clubs are opening their doors for free, so there’s lots of ways to get involved.”

The 2026 Wimbledon Retail Collection celebrates the long-standing traditions and styles that have defined the sport for generations. Priced from £8 to £155, the collection is available to purchase on-site at The Championships and online at shop.wimbledon.com.