one that's, oh, say, 45 and grossly out of shape?My kid made the HS team.so proud of her

lol just be patient with yourself. it looks easy and if you have good eye hand coordination it can be a little easier. just like learning anything else that is new, be ready to get frustrated :)

be patient, and play for fun

stretch and run before you start

Oh man, can l ever relate. l am 43 & grossy out of shape myself. Well, not as bad as l was a couple of years ago. l used to play in H.S. & college & then l got married & put my racquets away for years - literally did not touch them for 20 years. My wife was constantly getting on me for being so out of shape, but l never was much for plain exercising or running. So l found out that there were some tennis leagues in my area & figured I'd give it a shot. Leagues r a good way to get started. Most metro areas have at least one or two & they have different divisions based on ur skill level. l had fallen all the way down to 2.5 which is about as low as u can go, & there were some absolute beginners in that level as well. It is all for fun, so there is no pressure & u usually play once a week (which is good for guys like us so we do not have a heart attack on court) - u set it up with ur opponent so the time is convenient for both players. Some of the biggest organizations in my area (metro Atlanta, GA) r Peach Tennis, T2, Ultimate Tennis (formerly K-Swiss), USTA & ALTA (for doubles). Even in less populous areas, l am sure ur regional USTA office could give u an idea of what is available. You might also try websites like Tennisopolis.com where u might be able to hook up with someone in ur area at ur level who is looking for a hitting partner. Eventually u should be able to hit at least competently with ur daughter (and father-daughter quality time is hard to come by at that age, speaking as a dad with a 15 year old of my own). l would advise u to invest in a good quality racquet (a good one should cost between $50 & $100 - a good salesman at a sporting goods store is a good bet to advise u on choices, but if u have the extra cash a pro is even better at recommending a racquet tailored to ur strengths & weaknesses). A quality pair of tennis shoes is also highly recommended, nothing will ruin ur day faster than blistered feet (plus some courts r really strict about wearing proper court shoes). But that is about it. Good luck, l think u will really enjoy it. I've been teaching my 9 year old to play, she is really into it (fortunately l teach better than l play - my college playing experince may not translate well to my 40 something year old body, but my knowledge of the fundamentals is still strong).

l started at 28, which is considered a bit late, and have been playing for about 4 years. My advice is to take a community college class or a series of private lessons at a tennis club. Private lessons are expensive but they can do wonders to jumpstart your tennis game. The community college classes are cheap and offer great instruction. You should also join a gym to get in shape while learning the game. Its a bit easier if you're in better shape. Good luck!

Stretch before you practice, have plenty of balls handy, they might fly over the fence. Wear comfortable clothes, good shoes. Believe it or not Tennis is a great way to exercise and will have you in shape in no time with daily practice. l am happy for you and your daughter :)

p.s. Do not pull an Elva and make sure you swat balls and not dragonfies :)