According to a recent study this is true. 1 Hour of exercise daily removes the risk of office work.
Fine. So who wants to bounce on a treadmill or do a stair climber to get that hour of activity.
I suggest that tennis is the better choice for regular exercise since it is actually something you can learn to enjoy rather than see it as a chore.
Wednesday, July 27, 2016
Friday, July 22, 2016
College Instructor's Guide for Tennis 1 - Credit Tennis
This is my recently published book available from Amazon.
Tennis 1 - College Instructor's Guide: Tennis Instruction
If you are about to begin teaching a community college tennis class it may be helpful to have a made-to-order course. You can check out the preview on the book to see what is covered. Look at the outline.
Thank You
Tennis 1 - College Instructor's Guide: Tennis Instruction
If you are about to begin teaching a community college tennis class it may be helpful to have a made-to-order course. You can check out the preview on the book to see what is covered. Look at the outline.
Thank You
Sunday, July 17, 2016
In Memoriam Chet Murphy Tennis Player, Coach, and Teacher
Chet Murphy passed away ten days ago on July 7, 2016 reaching the amazing age of 98. I didn't find out about it in the news and still can't find anything. Yet, by chance I was reading one of his books today from the 1970's that I studied so many times in the past. He along with many of that era was a strong proponent of scientific approaches to tennis technique. I decided to find out what he was doing now and thought that maybe he was no longer alive. A web search and wikipedia confirmed that he had passed away just a few days ago. So even though I never knew him personally I knew him through his words on paper and still feel loss as if I had just spoken to a friend recently who now I hear has passed away.
Rest in Peace Chet and may his family know that he is not forgotten. We all shared the same love of the game of tennis and his contribution to the game will stand the test of time in his books.
Here are some of the titles that Chet authored in some cases along with his brother Bill. You can still find them on Amazon in print form.
Advanced Tennis by Chet Murphy
Rest in Peace Chet and may his family know that he is not forgotten. We all shared the same love of the game of tennis and his contribution to the game will stand the test of time in his books.
Here are some of the titles that Chet authored in some cases along with his brother Bill. You can still find them on Amazon in print form.
Advanced Tennis by Chet Murphy
Sunday, July 10, 2016
Murray Wins Wimbledon Again
I didn't expect this. I actually didn't expect his first win at Wimbledon. I'm going to have to give credit beyond just him but also to his coaching. It seems Lendl somehow gets Murray past the mental hurdles and brings forth in him a game approach that leaves his previous tepid and timid baseline game behind and brings out aggression.
Neutralizing Raonic is no easy feat with that monster serve he sends across the net. Murray did it, and did it with an old style approach, blocking returns.
Ready about Murray and his win.
Oh, and congratulations to Murray. I was never a fan since his style always left me wanting to see Federer hit the ball rather than him. His moody antics added to my lack of interest. But you have to give him credit for this one. One Wimbledon can be chalked up to being one of the best in the world and catching someone in the final on a bad day. Two means he belongs in the winner's circle.
Neutralizing Raonic is no easy feat with that monster serve he sends across the net. Murray did it, and did it with an old style approach, blocking returns.
Ready about Murray and his win.
Oh, and congratulations to Murray. I was never a fan since his style always left me wanting to see Federer hit the ball rather than him. His moody antics added to my lack of interest. But you have to give him credit for this one. One Wimbledon can be chalked up to being one of the best in the world and catching someone in the final on a bad day. Two means he belongs in the winner's circle.
Why Controlling your temper matters
On the tennis court there are times when frustration brings players to do stupid things and letting your temper get the best of your can be costly. First off it has the effect of giving your opponent the pleasure of seeing you break mentally and often this makes them mentally stronger.
Additionally, there are rules against this in tournament play especially when it impacts safety which often by accident it can and does. Here is an example.
Time Henman Hits a ball girl at Wimbledon when he loses his temper and smacks a ball that was not in play, but rather in his possession and is disqualified.
He's lucky he didn't hit her in the eye and blind her but an ear hit at close range is definitely not pleasurable and could even damage hearing.
Another aspect of this is ego, that big EGO that many of us have witnessed when a player full of themselves needs to impress the audience however small that losing or not playing a single point well justifies acting out. Often, the player talks to themselves loudly so the audience can hear as they provide excuses for not being the masterful player they fantasize themselves to be and want everyone to know that it is beneath them to be in this situation. I've witnessed this enough times and it is embarrassing to be a witness to such folly.
Do yourself a favor and find a way to contain your rage and anger over mistakes or perceived injustices on the court. It can cost you a match and more importantly cause you to lose enjoyment of the game and will surely do so to your partner if playing doubles. Your opponents often gain from poor behavior on your part.
Additionally, there are rules against this in tournament play especially when it impacts safety which often by accident it can and does. Here is an example.
Time Henman Hits a ball girl at Wimbledon when he loses his temper and smacks a ball that was not in play, but rather in his possession and is disqualified.
He's lucky he didn't hit her in the eye and blind her but an ear hit at close range is definitely not pleasurable and could even damage hearing.
Another aspect of this is ego, that big EGO that many of us have witnessed when a player full of themselves needs to impress the audience however small that losing or not playing a single point well justifies acting out. Often, the player talks to themselves loudly so the audience can hear as they provide excuses for not being the masterful player they fantasize themselves to be and want everyone to know that it is beneath them to be in this situation. I've witnessed this enough times and it is embarrassing to be a witness to such folly.
Do yourself a favor and find a way to contain your rage and anger over mistakes or perceived injustices on the court. It can cost you a match and more importantly cause you to lose enjoyment of the game and will surely do so to your partner if playing doubles. Your opponents often gain from poor behavior on your part.
Thursday, June 16, 2016
My Retirement Racket: Tennis Teaching Pros and long hours
A new study says men can get away with it as long as they don't have the additional responsibilities of managing a household. This is where it seems to work against women according to this study though I wonder if applies to women teaching tennis as well. I somehow don't think so.
One thing about the study that I found quite relevant was the point that arthritis was common among men who put in long hours but they tended to have fewer of the other degenerative diseases.
Meanwhile, women were subject to home stresses added to long work hours that seemed to set them up for many more health problems later in life. This points to the idea of balancing work, family, and recreation. Fortunately, tennis doesn't fall into the category of most corporate jobs that can be loaded with stress. I never felt the stress of hours on the court. If anything it was a relief from the management efforts of running a club.
The point here is that productive work can be okay and even long hours properly spent with time for rest and relaxation can be a good trade off.
Relative to the life of a tennis teacher or some other type of job that is more likely to fulfill personal goals you can see less burn out and greater satisfaction. I found this to be true no matter how many hours I put in on the court.
Having tennis as a career can allow you to combine all of these things with your avocation if your spouse is part of this. Another component that can make it part of a great lifestyle is to have your kids involved. Tennis as a family affair seems like the ultimate example of work, play, and family.
The Everett family comes to mind along with some teaching pros I've known where both spouses worked as teaching pros and their kids became active in the sport eventually getting a free ride to college on scholarship and making it a career as well.
Long days on the court can be a way of life for a tennis pro, but in addition to the satisfaction of helping lots of players you may find that it helps you as well. But for the arthritis, I can say I don't regret any hours I spent on the court whether teaching and coaching, or playing. I earned enough money to pay my bills and with some discipline and delayed gratification set up a safe and reasonably comfortable retirement. And remember, for me teaching tennis was a form of retirement from the hazards of jobs that left you worn out but uninspired no matter how much the pay.
Additionally, tennis gives you the option of doing a slow fade into retirement where you scale back your teaching hours as your energy levels flag and your physical abilities drop off. Stamina is the one thing I found that you lose over time no matter what you do but at least as a tennis teacher and coach you can dial it back as needed.
One thing about the study that I found quite relevant was the point that arthritis was common among men who put in long hours but they tended to have fewer of the other degenerative diseases.
Meanwhile, women were subject to home stresses added to long work hours that seemed to set them up for many more health problems later in life. This points to the idea of balancing work, family, and recreation. Fortunately, tennis doesn't fall into the category of most corporate jobs that can be loaded with stress. I never felt the stress of hours on the court. If anything it was a relief from the management efforts of running a club.
The point here is that productive work can be okay and even long hours properly spent with time for rest and relaxation can be a good trade off.
Relative to the life of a tennis teacher or some other type of job that is more likely to fulfill personal goals you can see less burn out and greater satisfaction. I found this to be true no matter how many hours I put in on the court.
Having tennis as a career can allow you to combine all of these things with your avocation if your spouse is part of this. Another component that can make it part of a great lifestyle is to have your kids involved. Tennis as a family affair seems like the ultimate example of work, play, and family.
The Everett family comes to mind along with some teaching pros I've known where both spouses worked as teaching pros and their kids became active in the sport eventually getting a free ride to college on scholarship and making it a career as well.
Long days on the court can be a way of life for a tennis pro, but in addition to the satisfaction of helping lots of players you may find that it helps you as well. But for the arthritis, I can say I don't regret any hours I spent on the court whether teaching and coaching, or playing. I earned enough money to pay my bills and with some discipline and delayed gratification set up a safe and reasonably comfortable retirement. And remember, for me teaching tennis was a form of retirement from the hazards of jobs that left you worn out but uninspired no matter how much the pay.
Additionally, tennis gives you the option of doing a slow fade into retirement where you scale back your teaching hours as your energy levels flag and your physical abilities drop off. Stamina is the one thing I found that you lose over time no matter what you do but at least as a tennis teacher and coach you can dial it back as needed.
Friday, May 20, 2016
Anti Dementia: Curry and Tennis
Curry may help fight dementia
Anything is worth a try and there are other reported anti-cancer and inflammation benefits as well. One of the best ways is to add curry to chicken as a cooking spice.
Simply Organic Turmeric Root Ground Certified Organic, 2.38-Ounce Container
It makes the meat tastier and it diffuses the sharp taste to those not used to eating the spice.
There are supplements you can take in pill form as well.
My favorite is Zyflamend Whole Body that contains the active ingredient found in curry among many other anti-inflammatory agents.
Exercise as part of a dementia prevention plan
Playing tennis is one element of a healthy exercise effort to protect yourself from mental decline.
Anything is worth a try and there are other reported anti-cancer and inflammation benefits as well. One of the best ways is to add curry to chicken as a cooking spice.
Simply Organic Turmeric Root Ground Certified Organic, 2.38-Ounce Container
It makes the meat tastier and it diffuses the sharp taste to those not used to eating the spice. There are supplements you can take in pill form as well.
My favorite is Zyflamend Whole Body that contains the active ingredient found in curry among many other anti-inflammatory agents.
Exercise as part of a dementia prevention plan
Playing tennis is one element of a healthy exercise effort to protect yourself from mental decline.
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