If you are learning to volley, the main thing to keep in mind when using it during play is to hold back on your first volley and save the angles and speed for close in volleys.
Attempting to win the point from the service line when volleying generally loses the point. Work your way forward with a deep volley if possible and one that allows you to easily cover the angle of return from your opponent.
Save the full swinging volleys for high and slow returns commonly known as floaters.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Learning Tennis
Finding the right way to learn Tennis
How do you start yourself or your kids on the way to learning Tennis?
Taking private lessons is the fastest way to get improvement, but it is the most expensive approach. Group lessons can accomplish your objective to improve while keeping the cost of your new sport under control.
Here are a number of reasons why group lessons make sense.
It is a great opportunity to meet other players of equal ability.
Group instruction presents a more social atmosphere than private lessons.
A regular weekly schedule for classes commit you to learning when you have prepaid for a series of lessons, and this is the method most group instruction set up.
It is much less expensive by the hour to learn in a group format where usually the rate is between $10- $20 per hour per student versus private lessons that go from $50 on up to past $100 per hour depending on the market and the background of the teacher.
One of the most important aspects of finding a tennis coach, instructor, or Pro as they are often called is to determine their background in teaching as well as their playing skill.
The term Pro is also used to describe the professional teacher in each of these sports, and has been used interchangeably for both players and teachers.
I often use the phrase term tennis teaching pro to make sure there is no misunderstanding as to what my actual background is when talking to someone. Many very good players never played for money in a professional tournament, but have played college tennis and amateur tournaments. These players make up the majority of the Tennis Teaching Pros throughout the world. Often, the past professional players get into coaching college teams or work at high-end resorts and private clubs where they can claim with some level of authenticity that they were among the best in the world. This cachet is even more valuable with name recognition, and thus you will find many past great players with their own tennis training facility and their names visibly advertised. Still, many of the pros that work at these type of operations come from the vast ranks of college and amateur tennis players that find teaching tennis as a great outlet for their enthusiasm and desire for a tennis lifestyle that it presents.
Instructor Qualifications:
Look for someone with some level of certification from either of the two major Tennis Teaching organizations worldwide, either the Professional Tennis Registry or the United States Professional Tennis Association. Both have Professional certifications that will guarantee that your teacher is a skilled player and has extensive teaching background and knowledge.
Basing your choice of instructors simply on their tournament record is not a sound approach to learning the game. Many highly skilled players have not acquired the specific knowledge necessary analyze strokes and effectively impart playing skills to others. These are distinct areas of preparation that do not necessarily match those found in top athletic performers in tennis.
If you are a beginner it is best to find an instructor that will focus on your ability to acquire the basic skills needed to develop a sound game and hiring a world class player to teach you as a beginner is akin to renting a supercomputer to total up your shopping list when you could do the same with a low cost calculator. It is not only a waste of money and resources, but also most top level coaches generally prefer to work with advanced players rather than beginners.
Here are some characteristics to look for when choosing a Tennis Instructor.
Experience: How long has the instructor been teaching and playing and where? If your instructor is a club Pro at a private or public facility it is more likely they have extensive background.
If you go to many recreation and parks programs you may find that the instructor is a high school student working on a summer job with little experience beyond playing high school tennis, so look for some certification.
Personality: Find one that suits you, be it a fitness coach style with a drill sergeants bark, or someone with more understated demands who will work with you and generally not criticize or require much other than that you hit lots and lots of balls during a lesson. Try to avoid the talker that spends all of their time talking and little demonstrating. Better teachers vary between explanations, demonstration, feeding balls, or running drills with you and the class. If you want a talker you can simply buy or check out a video at the library, or better yet, read a book on the subject. Talkers generally don’t know they are, but haven’t taken the training to avoid this malady.
Methods: Some Pros like to hit balls with you and spend little time on technique while others are technicians that focus on developing your strokes in a methodical fashion. Somewhere in between are those that know the technical requirements needed for developing a good stroke and use simple graduated methods and parcel out your stroke into components that will eventually build your game.
Equipment:
It is not necessary to spend $300 on the latest racket technology that is currently promoted for you to learn the game. Rather than spend this amount, if you can find a racquet that is less than 10 years old with a mid to oversize frame it will most likely work as well for you as the top price models. Spending your money on court time and group instruction will be a much wiser investment than a high priced new racket. A good pair of tennis shoes that offer strong lateral support is a must. Many running shoes do not offer this and can be a source of ankle injury risk.
Ok, so you have your tennis racket and are ready for lessons. Once you begin your classes it is best to remember that it is essential to practice in addition to the time spent in lessons. Not only will this rapidly increase your playing skill, but also you will be able to learn more as your skills increase.
Here is where to find group instruction in Tennis.
Summer group lessons are found at local community colleges, county recreation and park programs, and USTA programs.
Summer camps are a compressed way to get the kids into tennis and depending on the size of the groupings it can be either simply a day of exercise and recreation or a focused way to introduce them into the sport of tennis.
Finding a Pro for private or group instruction is available through online sources.
Tennis Lessons.com
Professional Tennis Registry
United States Professional Tennis Association
Reprinted with Permission from: www.BrentHerrick.com - Copyright 2008
How do you start yourself or your kids on the way to learning Tennis?
Taking private lessons is the fastest way to get improvement, but it is the most expensive approach. Group lessons can accomplish your objective to improve while keeping the cost of your new sport under control.
Here are a number of reasons why group lessons make sense.
It is a great opportunity to meet other players of equal ability.
Group instruction presents a more social atmosphere than private lessons.
A regular weekly schedule for classes commit you to learning when you have prepaid for a series of lessons, and this is the method most group instruction set up.
It is much less expensive by the hour to learn in a group format where usually the rate is between $10- $20 per hour per student versus private lessons that go from $50 on up to past $100 per hour depending on the market and the background of the teacher.
One of the most important aspects of finding a tennis coach, instructor, or Pro as they are often called is to determine their background in teaching as well as their playing skill.
The term Pro is also used to describe the professional teacher in each of these sports, and has been used interchangeably for both players and teachers.
I often use the phrase term tennis teaching pro to make sure there is no misunderstanding as to what my actual background is when talking to someone. Many very good players never played for money in a professional tournament, but have played college tennis and amateur tournaments. These players make up the majority of the Tennis Teaching Pros throughout the world. Often, the past professional players get into coaching college teams or work at high-end resorts and private clubs where they can claim with some level of authenticity that they were among the best in the world. This cachet is even more valuable with name recognition, and thus you will find many past great players with their own tennis training facility and their names visibly advertised. Still, many of the pros that work at these type of operations come from the vast ranks of college and amateur tennis players that find teaching tennis as a great outlet for their enthusiasm and desire for a tennis lifestyle that it presents.
Instructor Qualifications:
Look for someone with some level of certification from either of the two major Tennis Teaching organizations worldwide, either the Professional Tennis Registry or the United States Professional Tennis Association. Both have Professional certifications that will guarantee that your teacher is a skilled player and has extensive teaching background and knowledge.
Basing your choice of instructors simply on their tournament record is not a sound approach to learning the game. Many highly skilled players have not acquired the specific knowledge necessary analyze strokes and effectively impart playing skills to others. These are distinct areas of preparation that do not necessarily match those found in top athletic performers in tennis.
If you are a beginner it is best to find an instructor that will focus on your ability to acquire the basic skills needed to develop a sound game and hiring a world class player to teach you as a beginner is akin to renting a supercomputer to total up your shopping list when you could do the same with a low cost calculator. It is not only a waste of money and resources, but also most top level coaches generally prefer to work with advanced players rather than beginners.
Here are some characteristics to look for when choosing a Tennis Instructor.
Experience: How long has the instructor been teaching and playing and where? If your instructor is a club Pro at a private or public facility it is more likely they have extensive background.
If you go to many recreation and parks programs you may find that the instructor is a high school student working on a summer job with little experience beyond playing high school tennis, so look for some certification.
Personality: Find one that suits you, be it a fitness coach style with a drill sergeants bark, or someone with more understated demands who will work with you and generally not criticize or require much other than that you hit lots and lots of balls during a lesson. Try to avoid the talker that spends all of their time talking and little demonstrating. Better teachers vary between explanations, demonstration, feeding balls, or running drills with you and the class. If you want a talker you can simply buy or check out a video at the library, or better yet, read a book on the subject. Talkers generally don’t know they are, but haven’t taken the training to avoid this malady.
Methods: Some Pros like to hit balls with you and spend little time on technique while others are technicians that focus on developing your strokes in a methodical fashion. Somewhere in between are those that know the technical requirements needed for developing a good stroke and use simple graduated methods and parcel out your stroke into components that will eventually build your game.
Equipment:
It is not necessary to spend $300 on the latest racket technology that is currently promoted for you to learn the game. Rather than spend this amount, if you can find a racquet that is less than 10 years old with a mid to oversize frame it will most likely work as well for you as the top price models. Spending your money on court time and group instruction will be a much wiser investment than a high priced new racket. A good pair of tennis shoes that offer strong lateral support is a must. Many running shoes do not offer this and can be a source of ankle injury risk.
Ok, so you have your tennis racket and are ready for lessons. Once you begin your classes it is best to remember that it is essential to practice in addition to the time spent in lessons. Not only will this rapidly increase your playing skill, but also you will be able to learn more as your skills increase.
Here is where to find group instruction in Tennis.
Summer group lessons are found at local community colleges, county recreation and park programs, and USTA programs.
Summer camps are a compressed way to get the kids into tennis and depending on the size of the groupings it can be either simply a day of exercise and recreation or a focused way to introduce them into the sport of tennis.
Finding a Pro for private or group instruction is available through online sources.
Tennis Lessons.com
Professional Tennis Registry
United States Professional Tennis Association
Reprinted with Permission from: www.BrentHerrick.com - Copyright 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Federer is Back
Winning the US Open in straight sets proves to me that Federer has found his game. The surface at the Open contributed to this of course, and his run for more slam titles is not over. He may never win a slam, but a long list of titles will solidify his position as one of the greatest in the game.
For students of the game, I would have to say that watching Federers feet move across the court, isolated from the rest of his game still gives you an idea of how effortless he makes the game look. He glides while others lunge.
His backhand and forehand are both superb but in the final even his volley began to take on the look of mastery.
Congratulations Roger, it was great to watch you play.
For students of the game, I would have to say that watching Federers feet move across the court, isolated from the rest of his game still gives you an idea of how effortless he makes the game look. He glides while others lunge.
His backhand and forehand are both superb but in the final even his volley began to take on the look of mastery.
Congratulations Roger, it was great to watch you play.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Serena Williams defeats Jelena Jankovic for 08 USOpen
Serena Williams did her usual and overpowered her opponent. There is not much to say regarding her game other than wow, powerful. It was a great match, but I would have liked to see Jankovic win the 2nd set to make them play a 3rd. Selfish of me, I know.
Regarding Jankovics game, those double faults, uh. I grieved.
It is amazing to see the second best player on the women's tour struggle with her serve. With a great serve she might have won this match. Instead she gave away critical points with double faults.
Free advice to Jelena:
Lower your toss, put the ball out in front, and shorten the time interval between the toss and hit.
Regarding Jankovics game, those double faults, uh. I grieved.
It is amazing to see the second best player on the women's tour struggle with her serve. With a great serve she might have won this match. Instead she gave away critical points with double faults.
Free advice to Jelena:
Lower your toss, put the ball out in front, and shorten the time interval between the toss and hit.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
US Open 08 - Murray Defeats Nadal
This was a great match. I missed the first two sets yesterday, but was rewarded with a tremendous effort by both men today. I am pleased that Murray won with the interesting final it predicts, but found myself cheering for Nadal and sad when he was unable to hold back Murray's aggressive play. Nadal worked his usual 200% and it seemed as if Murray was unfazed by Nadal's speed or strength. As is was, Murray carried the power and regularly broke the rhythm with slice backhands and off-speed forehands. His angled two handed backhand was superb and remained a threat against Nadal throughout the match. He seemed to have an answer for any of Nadal's usual weapons and attacks.
Murray had a unique combination of one handed slice backhands to slow down the pace or for wide reaches, and his amazing two handed backhand. This is an area worth emulating for junior tennis players that want to build a long term weapon off of the backhand side.
I have a great respect for Nadal and his unbelievable sportsmanship. Many players that lose in such a hard fought and important match walk away bitterly and humilitated. Nadal showed none of these, but instead was gracious to Murray at the handshake and even spent time signing autographs.
Murray may have completed his breakthrough match that will give him future success in grand slam events.
Great Match.
Congratulations Murray
Murray had a unique combination of one handed slice backhands to slow down the pace or for wide reaches, and his amazing two handed backhand. This is an area worth emulating for junior tennis players that want to build a long term weapon off of the backhand side.
I have a great respect for Nadal and his unbelievable sportsmanship. Many players that lose in such a hard fought and important match walk away bitterly and humilitated. Nadal showed none of these, but instead was gracious to Murray at the handshake and even spent time signing autographs.
Murray may have completed his breakthrough match that will give him future success in grand slam events.
Great Match.
Congratulations Murray
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Roddick Loses to Djokovic
I admit that I was rooting for Roddick I suppose because he was the underdog and also because I can see what he was facing. Djokovic can move unbelievably well and this ability to retrieve almost everything allowed him to come back from his loss of momentum. Still, it was great to see a match of this quality and this only promises to make the match between Djokovic and Federer one to remember.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Roddick VS F. Gonzalez
Roddick is crushing the ball tonight against Gonzalez. Watching his serve reminds me that a great serve can carry you through even the toughest days on the court. Stan Smith and Pete Sampras both had days where their serve is what kept them alive.
This match is now over in less than an hour and a half. It's great to watch Andy when he is playing well.
This match is now over in less than an hour and a half. It's great to watch Andy when he is playing well.
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