Get out!

The temperature is rising, and the snow is gone.  Hooray!  Now it's time for us to dust off those rackets and shoes and head out to the courts.
So before you start slugging away and rekindling those errant forehands, take a little time to brush up on the basics, and get a little practice time in.
I would suggest a little short court practice.  You know, rallying from just behind the service line.  This is a great time to work on half vollies, slices, chips etc. Then progress to full strokes (still from the service line), slow motion, exaggerating follow throughs and ball watching.  Make sure you do your split steps every time before your partner hits the ball. Move the ball side to side, or work cross court.  If you can sustain this for  a good 8 to 10 mins, you will have a great warm up and maybe even get a little better!  So get out and play!
Please Click Here! to listen to a Podcast by my pal Ian about the importance of short court practice! You can check him out by going to EssentialTennis.com!.  If you would like to see short court in action check out Ian's tutorial by clicking here.

Needing a new racket?

 

Choosing the right racket can be a daunting experience. With the wide variety of rackets on the market and the potential of the wrong racket negatively affecting your game--not to mention your wallet--it is important to understand the variables that comprise the modern racket.

The main thing to consider in choosing a racket is whether you are looking for power or control.

Players new to the game of tennis generally need a lighter racket that can add more power to their swing. Power rackets are lightweight (8-10 ounces) and feature oversized heads (100-130 square inches); they're generally longer and head-heavy to supply that extra torque in the swing. The power racket is also loosely strung for more power, and the oversized head offers a large "sweet spot" for maximum return on the ball. The trade-off is a lesser degree of ball control. The power racket is suitable for players more concerned with adequately getting the ball over the net, rather than with the nuances of advanced tennis like spin and placement.

Control rackets, on the other hand, are all about ball control. These rackets are for advanced players who can supply their own power to their swing, and prefer a racket that offers more control over ball placement and spin. Control rackets are heavier (11-15 ounces), and feature a smaller, lighter head for maximum maneuverability. Control rackets are tightly strung with thinner beams for further ball control.

The idea is to find the proper balance between power and control. This is where the large selection of rackets on the market comes into your favor. Any combination of these variables can be found to best suit your playing ability and desired improvement.

Head size

Probably the most influential racket variable is the size of the head. Larger head sizes create higher speeds of ball rebound and have a larger sweet spot--the area on the racket face where the ball rebound is the fastest and most accurate. A large racket head also dramatically increases the racket's resistance to twisting in off-center impacts. Modern rackets range between 85-135, with around 100 being the most common.

Frame width

Another key design variation is the width of the racket frame. Increases in the width of the frame increase its stiffness and eventually the speed of ball rebound, since not as much energy is spent bending the racket. The cost of such increases is the transmission of a greater impact shock to the arm.

Frame mass

Modern tennis rackets have been getting lighter and lighter. However, greater racket mass is directly proportional to greater speed on a ball, if all other variables remain equal. Greater mass means more power, given that the player can provide the powerful swing. Novice players tend to agree more with a lighter racket that allows them to swing it faster.

The other advantage of a racket with more mass is that this mass helps protect the player's arm by being more resistant to the acceleration of impact. For example, very light rackets are great for the fast movements of a serve-and-volley player, but provide less protection to the arm during the shock of impact. An increase in racket mass may help protect the arm or to mechanically discourage a tendency to swing wildly at shots.

Head-heavy vs. head-light

Lightweight, head-heavy rackets are a good combination for the novice and intermediate player. The concept behind these rackets is to offer a light racket with more weight at the point of impact. Ideally, these rackets can be swung faster while still maintaing weight at the hoop for increased power and control.

More experienced players prefer the heavier, head-light rackets, considered to be the traditionally weighted racket. They offer more control for players who can supply their own power.

Grip size

The most important aspect of grip size is the ratio of comfort to wrist stress. A grip that is too small will be maneuverable, but will cause the muscles of the forearm and hand to work very hard to grip the racket. Larger grips are easier on the gripping muscles, but the hand/wrist will be less mobile.

For example, players with tennis elbow problems might switch to a larger grip to decrease demands on the muscles and increase leverage to resist off-center impacts. A general rule for grip selection is to hold the racket in the forehand position, you should then be able to place your index finger between the area on the grip where your fingertips end and your palm begins.

String pattern

An open string pattern has an increased gap between strings for better grip when applying spin on the ball. A dense string pattern offers more control of the ball, but requires more power for applying spin.

Article from Active.com

Federer it!

 

Probably the most important aspect of tennis, and one of the most difficult things to make yourself do consistently is watching the ball.
I suggest to  players to "Federer" the ball.  It's amazing to see the pics of Roger, and how his eyes are fixed on the ball. I have seen many times photos of him watching the ball hit his racket,  not changing his gaze until well after the ball has left the strings and was well on the way to it's target. Here is a great video on watching the ball by Ian. Please click here to see video  Check it out and try the drill, and see if it helps you learn to focus more on the ball!

Contact Me!

  

There are many things that can go wrong with your volley i.e. footwork, backswing, watching the ball etc.  The trick is to not flood yourself or overthink everything you are trying to do.  Essentially we are trying to direct the tennis ball to a place in the court on the other side of the net. Not much to it, right?   The volley itself is a simple thing that we all try to overdo.  We think we need to do more than it is, hit it harder, angle it sharper, put more spin on it, take more spin off it, hit deeper, hit shorter, hit it harder, hit it softer, do more.  If you watch the better volleyers like Federer, Hingis and others, the key is simplicity.  The form is short, compact, and focused. 
    How do WE do this?  Let's narrow it down.  I want to zoom in on two things.  (This is all contingent on the premise that you have proper volley form as your foundation: Continental grip, ready position, L shape with racket and arm, watching the tennis ball all the way to the strings etc.) 
    First.  The best thing I have heard in awhile regarding volley racket preparation, is this:  When you are going to hit a volley and you get your racket in position, only move it to the place you are going to contact the ball and go forward from there.  In other words, start your racket at the contact point. Then, go forward. Your backswing stops at the contact point then the racket and you move forward.
     Second.  Go forward.  Move your feet through the volley.
 Set up racket at contact point, split and step into ball make contact, then continue moving forward by moving your back foot forward to split ready position.
    That's it, nothing major, simple.  Please check out this great video by my pal Simon, Click here for Volley Video.  This is the best "How to" volley video I have seen in awhile.  Check it out.
     Next time you are doing volleys, start the racket at contact, and move forward!   That's it! 

Here Comes the Sun.. dittin doo doo...

    I am not able to hear or say the words "here comes the sun"  without thinking of the song. What a great tune. Thanks George!


    The arrival of the  warm sun is a sign that  Winter is over!  Summer is coming!  Tennis is here!  Yeay!  This truly is the "most wonderful time of the year" for me especially! 
These hot sunny days make me want to grab my favorite doubles partner and play some tennis!  Yet, every time we do, Sandy tells me "don't forget to put on sun screen"!  Which I promptly do.  But, I know I do not do enough to keep myself protected, especially when I am on the court doing lessons.   Click here to read about skin and sun!
  We all have friends and/or family that have had some kind of skin issue from the sun. Hence, we all need to be more careful or we are going to look like Magda in "Something about Mary" or worse!   One of the biggest things is protecting our face, neck and ears from the sun, but I look so very stupid wearing a big floppy hat! 

Yet I know it's something I need to do.  More than that it's something I must do to protect myself.  So go ahead and make fun of me and my stupid hat, ha ha.
 Now go out play some tennis.  Get out in the sun.  Enjoy the day!  But, don't forget to put on your sunscreen this summer, re-apply frequently, and get a big floppy hat!

Who me?

Spring is here!   You can smell it in the air!   It is an exciting time of year for us tennis fans, the French open coming up, and we are finally able to thaw out and play some tennis!  
    Tennis leagues are beginning , and I know a lot of you are anxious to get going.  One of the great things about our organization the USTA is that it organizes and fosters tennis camaraderie via its league programs.  The USTA oversees a myriad of adult, junior tennis programs and leagues that are played at a community level and expanded nationally.  On a personal level Sandy and I have had the opportunity to play with many different people, in several different communities in our state and others.  The experiences we have had with tennis and the friendships made throughout our travels has been wonderful and fun! 
    Here in Bowling Green and surrounding,  we have a Community Tennis Association (CTA) who's sole purpose is to promote tennis in our area.  Our CTA is the Southern KY Tennis Association (SOKY Tennis).  The USTA and SOKY work together to do things here to promote tennis and make it fun and exciting, by coordination leagues, junior programs and other events here in the area.  Yet, with all the things out there that would be great for SOKY and the USTA to do, they need help.  They need, People.
   People to be team captains, make phone calls, feed balls, help juniors, help adult beginners, run errands, be leaders, be organizers, fill out paper work, send emails, help with marketing, organize programs, run programs, be on committees, find sponsors, write proposals, create business plans, and people that want to do something for tennis here in BG.  My Tip this week?  Be a volunteer, help tennis grow and be more fun here in BG, and you never know you may get more from it that you think!  If you want to help please contact llc@sokytennis.com or let me know!

Strung Out!

      This is a great time of year to be thinking of your equipment.  Whether you want to upgrade, or do some things to maintain or get ready for the upcoming new season.   One important factor in good maintenance and performance, is the string(s) used in your racket.  As a general rule, you want to change your strings as many times a year as you play in a week. For example, if you play 2 times a week then you would want new strings twice a year.   There are all types of strings available. They all vary in material, color, thickness, texture and construction. After finally choosing  string(s), you put them in your racket using any of the variety of recommended tensions.  What are you to do amidst this overload of confusing decisions?  A good tip here is do a little research and ask players you trust, if you know a USRSA stringer they will be a great help.  I would definitely recommend reading the following article written by Salt Lake City Stringer here:  Strings 101.  It will help detangle what's in your racket!

Goooooooaaaaaalll!!

                                                                               

The Australian Open is over and now it is time to get ready for the new season. (Hopefully it will be here sooner than later!) We got to see some great tennis displayed on our TV's.  Stuff that inspires and motivates! While the feeling is still fresh, we need to use this inspiration.  Most of us every new year try to make some resolutions or try to set some goals.  So, to ring in this new year, what about your tennis goals?  This weeks tip: Make yourself a tennis goal, choose something to work on.  Nothing major, not a bunch of things, but one tennis goal that will make you a better player and have more fun out there on the court.  Choose one thing about your tennis game that you are going to work on this year.  Something that you can start on now early in the season.  Will it be your serve?  You want more power? more kick?  some kick? Better placement?  How about your backhand,  More consistency? Power? slice? topspin? How about volleys, or forhands, overheads?  Strategy? Placement?  Anything?  Choose something this year and make it your goal to make it better.  This will make your workouts more purposeful and the time spent with your pro, more meaningful and measureable!  So set a goal and choose to get better,   choose to improve your tennis, and don't let this year go by without getting all you can from your tennis game, and in the words of Neal Peart "...if you choose not to decide you still have made a choice"!  so choose to make a goal this year!




 

Whatcha Lookin' At?

The Australian Open is on!

Finally after such a long drought of tennis on TV, we finally get to see some tennis in action.

Watching some good tennis for awhile always makes me want to get out and play, and when I do I always feel like I play better!  I hope all of you get a chance to watch some of the Open I know there will be some awesome tennis. Click here for TV schedule.

Another great thing about having some tennis on TV is not only do we get the chance to see some great tennis, it is also a great opportunity for us to learn as well!  Watch the matches, and watch the players play.

If you are taking lessons, watch the pros and see if what they do confirms what you are learning or trying to accomplish. Some of you might be thinking "that's all well and good, but I can't hit a forehand like (insert any professional tennis players' name here)!"  My answer is, "Well, you can watch the ball, or follow through, or split step, or move your feet, or have a strategy can't you?"    

Watching the pros play can prove invaluable to your own tennis.  Here are a couple of tips while you watch:

• As you get involved in the match and the ball flying back and forth, take certain moments as you are viewing to watch with a purpose.
• Try watching just one of the players for a game.  Don't watch the ball, just watch him/her move and hit.  Look at their footwork, their split steps, watch their eyes, watch their body rotation, racket preparation and follow through.
• Then, try watching the match as usual but, pay attention to strategic patterns. Ask yourself as you watch a good rally, what are they trying to do?  What is their style of play? Why did they lose or win that point, that game, the match?
• Afterwards, try to incorporate the good things, into your own game and see yourself get better.

So, when you're watching tennis for the next several days, ask yourself, "What am I looking at?"

Staying ready for the new season!

  Happy New Year!  Are you keeping up with your tennis so you can continue where you left off last season?  I hope so! One of the biggest challenges I have as an instructor (and player) is when Spring finally arrives almost every comes out and says "Oh, it feels like I'm starting over" or "I've lost so much".   So, a great  way to at least maintain what you have  is to hit against a wall.  This will help you continue to keep up with your form and consistency.  Bowling Green parks and rec has put up another hitting wall at Kereiakes Park if you want to get out, and as mentioned before you can always use a racket ball court if the weather is too cold (we have!) There are many things you can work on alone or with a partner.  Try it, it's fun!  Here is a video from Ian at Essential tennis, that has great tips for hitting against a wall.  http://www.essentialtennis.com/backboard-or-wall-hitting-lesson/

We are going to use these ideas the next time we go hit!  I hope you do too! 

Happy Holidays!

It's hard to believe it is that time of year again.  I hope yours is a great time with friends and family.  Let's all make this season, one which we appreciate all that we have and strive to put others before ourselves. This is the only gift that keeps on giving throughout the year and definitely would be our best serve!  Happy Holidays to everyone!

It's still cold outside!

      Well gang, if it's not cold it's been wet.  Not at all conducive for our tennis!  So we, have still been visiting our neighborhood racket ball court trying to get some practice in, when we are unable to go outside.  One of the first things we do in the warm up phase is volley-volley.  That is when my partner and I rally back and forth hitting only volleys to each other. You can use a tennis ball, or any of the low compression balls, either will give you good practice.  When doing the drill try to follow the ball totally from racket to racket, see it hit your partners racket, see it hit your racket.  First, just do random volleys keep it going maybe set a goal like hit 50 in a row. Then just do forehands,  then do back hands.  Challenge each other 50, 60, 100 in a row!  If you don't have a partner you can do the same thing using the wall.  Focus on taking little steps, and tracking the ball with your eyes.  Then see how much your volleys will improve!

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's cold and as I type it is raining out.  Yet, I know within me that it is good to be here, good to have friends and family, and I am thankful.  Today I learned that a friend of ours lost her son in a car accident, he was a good guy and very talented. He was 32.  These, things are tragic and painful, but I hope in light of it we can pause for a minute at least, to realize how lucky we all are.  We are lucky to have each other, and have something in common that we all love, enjoy, and brings us together i.e. tennis.   Tennis to me, is more than something I do, it is who I am.  I love everything about it, and moreover, love its people.  I have met extraordinary individuals in my tenure as a player and as a coach.  And it is warming,  to every so often see past students whom I haven't seen in years, come up and say hi, and that they are still playing or are thinking of playing again, but are always appreciative.  It gives me joy to play with my partner and that we have tennis to share. I know I am very lucky that she will even play with me!   I can't describe how it feels to be able to help a lot of you, play with you and see how you have embraced the game and be a witness as your skills increase.  I know it can sound trite, but I am thankful for it all, and am thankful for all of you who have let me work with you in a game we all love.  My tip for you then, is this:  love the game, appreciate the fact they we are able to come out and indulge ourselves in it, and remember that all of its participants are still members of this large, wonderful, and crazy family.  Who knows, if we can do this, it may even help us play better!

Baby! It's cold outside!

Yes, unfortunately it is getting to be that time of year where for us here in BG it is ever increasingly difficult to play tennis.  As for now we do not have any indoor tennis, so how are we tennis enthusiasts supposed to keep our game and not lose what we have worked so hard through the summer to achieve?  Well one way is to bundle up and play, dressing in layers that can be removed as we get warmer.  I am going to try and use golf gloves to grip the racket and keep my hands warm.  I have also heard of using a sock with the end cut out to slide over your hand and your grip as you play and don't forget to use something to keep your head warm!.  If you all have any other suggestions to keep warm, please let me know and I will share them!   Another option you may consider, if it is too unbearable out in the elements is a racket ball court. There are some courts at BG Parks and Rec downtown, BAC, and some on WKU's campus. There could possibly be others, but I am not aware of them.   We went recently and were able to get a good work out.  We used our tennis rackets foam balls, and real tennis balls.  The work out was great and we were still able to practice some things.  So try to get out there and play, and if its too cold try a racket ball court, I think you will be surprised as to what you can do!  Next week I will submit some of the drills we did so you can try them out.  Hope to see you on the courts!

Have a Plan Man!

You want to improve volleys, returns, groundies, half volleys all your shots that you want to do in match play, all at once!  Then have a plan!  All the pros, and high level players have a plan.  The points they construct are done so with an idea or blue print of what they want to happen, and anticipate happening.  Like the great chess masters, tennis players need to have a plan of at least three moves (shots) in advance.  When you are setting up to hit a return, use information gathered during the match, or warmup to decide where you are going to hit it i.e cross court, lob, down the line etc.  Then know where you are going to hit your next shot and the next.  When you are standing at the net and your partner is serving or returning know what you are going to do before it happens.  Have a plan in place, and then you can just hit the ball, the hard decisions have already been made!  It makes that return or volley or next shot, just a little bit easier!  So in your next match 'Have a plan man"!  

Being consistent does count!

How many times have you been in a match hitting groundies, or

volleys only to be foiled by your own lack of concentration.

The inability to hit more than 2 or 3 decent shots in a row?

This leads only to frustration, and perpetuating your inability to sustain a ralley!  One great way to temper this, is to count out loud as you are hitting in the ralley.  After each shot count 1 then 2 then 3 etc.  If you are playing doubles count yours and your partners hit. You hit count 1 then partner hits count 2 and so on.  This is a great way to keep your head out of the games and in the game.  Counting like this, keeps you in control of what you are doing and in the moment.  Try it, you might find it helpful.  I'm counting on it!