Coffee helps prevent macular degeneration
Avoiding blindness is of course preferable no matter what but if you're a tennis player, vision is mandatory at least for now.
You can play without hearing but not seeing the ball is something I don't think you can get around until new technology comes along.
Therefore, I feel better about my love of coffee.
LED Light Risk
Consider staying with incandescent lights
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Saturday, October 22, 2016
Nadal Creates a New Shot
Side-spin on groundstrokes is nothing new, but usually when it is employed it is from a specific side. For instance, a left hander that puts sidespin on a forehand will usually pull the stroke from 9-3 on a clock face to cause the ball to move leftward. To go in the opposite direction is almost against biomechanical laws but somehow Rafa has found a way to do it. I first saw him do it against an opponent who stood there at the net as he watched a ball sail down the alley apparently out of bounds only to watch it curve inward which never happens in normal earthbound tennis. Among the gods of tennis this may be a normal event but to see it brought down from on high was astounding to the player on the receiving end, to the announcers, and to me. Rafa just introduced a new shot.
Look for his side-spin pass among this group.
https://youtu.be/jDvR6tgUMLg
Also, go to minute 7:22 to see what looks to be the side-spin curve forehand.
All of his passes are great but he has added a new level of deception to making the pass.
Look for his side-spin pass among this group.
https://youtu.be/jDvR6tgUMLg
Also, go to minute 7:22 to see what looks to be the side-spin curve forehand.
Pickleball Wars - Stay with Tennis
Pickleball causes some problems in tennis communities.
The noise is the issue. No kidding. I have never been near pickleball at this point but do know what the sound of a plastic ball is against a hard object so I can imagine what residents might not like about it.
It may not only be the noise spikes but the tone of the sound that makes it so annoying to players.
If you must
In chess the Queen is the most versatile and essential piece on the board, and without it the game ends. Consider pickleball as a beginning step toward tennis, the Queen of racket sports. Tennis can also be calibrated to cope with your mobility so taking up a sport of less skill requirement should be thought of as your starting point. It's your call though.
As for me, I'd like to find a way to keep people on the tennis court and even if it meant using some of the slower balls for seniors that are currently used for those learning I think that has just as much value as going for the pickleball method.
How about taking out the alleys, using 60 orange dot or 78 green dot balls that are slower and easier to hit. I'd rather be using a tennis racket. How about you?
The noise is the issue. No kidding. I have never been near pickleball at this point but do know what the sound of a plastic ball is against a hard object so I can imagine what residents might not like about it.
What would you do with the noise problem
I wouldn't want a racketball court in my house either or next to it so this may be the same issue. With tennis, it seems that the sound is subdued and not the same pitch and maybe less brittle than the sound of plastic balls getting smacked.It may not only be the noise spikes but the tone of the sound that makes it so annoying to players.
Why
I suspect that pickleball is attracting many of the same players that would have gone for racketball. It takes less skill, and another added advantage is less movement is required.If you must
In chess the Queen is the most versatile and essential piece on the board, and without it the game ends. Consider pickleball as a beginning step toward tennis, the Queen of racket sports. Tennis can also be calibrated to cope with your mobility so taking up a sport of less skill requirement should be thought of as your starting point. It's your call though.
Stay with Tennis but calibrate it for your mobility and skill
I always thought that for seniors it might make sense to remove the alleys from play in doubles after age 60 or 65 just to limit the movement required. You could even add another player too and have two at the baseline and one at the net. It could make things interesting. Safety of course is another issue if more players are added. New ways of not taking head or face shots if you are at the net are in order.As for me, I'd like to find a way to keep people on the tennis court and even if it meant using some of the slower balls for seniors that are currently used for those learning I think that has just as much value as going for the pickleball method.
How about taking out the alleys, using 60 orange dot or 78 green dot balls that are slower and easier to hit. I'd rather be using a tennis racket. How about you?
Thursday, October 20, 2016
Approach Shots: The Flat Approach
Nowadays you see the few pros that come to the net often hitting topspin approach shots. Not only is this difficult to time well when moving forward and attempting to drive a shot while keeping it in the court, it is not the ideal for getting the job done.
Most players now aren't adept at using chip/backspin on approach shots since they rarely use backspin with two handed backhands. A good compromise method for both forehand and backhand approach shots is to hit the ball flat. This is especially useful when the ball is close to net height, or even above it.
Your advantage increases at the net when your opponent trying to pass you is facing a fast moving ball and little time to prepare. You can use this shortened response time to your advantage by virtually eliminating your opponent's chance to plan an offensive lob or a well placed passing shot. You force them to look at the ball and do so in such a rush as to have less of an opportunity to use their peripheral view to decide on a direction to pass you. If by chance they see you coming forward especially if you make a show of the split step you might even distract them from hitting the ball well. In either case you can beat the passing shot by using a quick response since you've eliminated the time for disguise and deception from your opponent on the pass.
This is why I like the forced and flat approach as a great tool for handling higher balls that are not useful for the chip approach. It allows you to use a dynamic forward motion through the approach rather than hitting a static shot after stopping to hit it as heavy topspin shots require except for lateral movement. This allows the same advantage of the carioca step (grapevine) on the chip backhand approach by not excessively slowing the forward motion to the net. You use a balanced pause with your momentum in check but not stopped as you rotate through the shot and then continue forward.
Since on a high ball lift is not required because you are closer to the net all your focus is on racket face direction rather than an upward lift. Get the feel of using your palm to push the ball to the target in an inside out motion on the forehand. Do the same with the back of your hand on a one handed backhand. With the two handed backhand use the palm of the non-dominant hand as your directional tool.
I found the best means of pointing to the target prior to rotation is to point the lead shoulder directly at the target while at finish your are facing forward and then moving forward.
Try it yourself and you might find the flat approach shot is another great tool for your offensive game.
Most players now aren't adept at using chip/backspin on approach shots since they rarely use backspin with two handed backhands. A good compromise method for both forehand and backhand approach shots is to hit the ball flat. This is especially useful when the ball is close to net height, or even above it.
Advantages
With the flat approach you can cleanly target the ball to a corner or fire it directly at the feet of your opponent at the baseline while they are centered on the court. Unlike a chip approach the ball will reach the target quickly and not skid, but instead continue forward and result in a rushed shot for your opponent.Your advantage increases at the net when your opponent trying to pass you is facing a fast moving ball and little time to prepare. You can use this shortened response time to your advantage by virtually eliminating your opponent's chance to plan an offensive lob or a well placed passing shot. You force them to look at the ball and do so in such a rush as to have less of an opportunity to use their peripheral view to decide on a direction to pass you. If by chance they see you coming forward especially if you make a show of the split step you might even distract them from hitting the ball well. In either case you can beat the passing shot by using a quick response since you've eliminated the time for disguise and deception from your opponent on the pass.
This is why I like the forced and flat approach as a great tool for handling higher balls that are not useful for the chip approach. It allows you to use a dynamic forward motion through the approach rather than hitting a static shot after stopping to hit it as heavy topspin shots require except for lateral movement. This allows the same advantage of the carioca step (grapevine) on the chip backhand approach by not excessively slowing the forward motion to the net. You use a balanced pause with your momentum in check but not stopped as you rotate through the shot and then continue forward.
Since on a high ball lift is not required because you are closer to the net all your focus is on racket face direction rather than an upward lift. Get the feel of using your palm to push the ball to the target in an inside out motion on the forehand. Do the same with the back of your hand on a one handed backhand. With the two handed backhand use the palm of the non-dominant hand as your directional tool.
I found the best means of pointing to the target prior to rotation is to point the lead shoulder directly at the target while at finish your are facing forward and then moving forward.
Try it yourself and you might find the flat approach shot is another great tool for your offensive game.
Saturday, September 24, 2016
Book Review: The Singles Game, A novel by Lauren Weisberger
The Singles Game
by lauren weisberger
Book on CD
This is as much a modern story encompassing everything from one nighters, social commentary, and some version of modern love. It does use tennis as the backdrop and I suppose it is the main storyline. I found myself amused at the Valley girl narration, not that there’s anything wrong with that approach, but it gave me a mental image of a relative airhead tennis player. The mistakes made by Charlie, her nickname for Charlotte, leading up to her failures annoyed me mainly because with the type of time investment described in her training she found ways to sabotage her wins with dalliances. The imagery focused mainly on well proportioned male players, hunks with attitudes, and beautiful and fit female players. The male coach Todd that she hired was a real special case of bad attitude seemed overdone. I suppose there are players that would need that or be willing to submit to his methods in order to win, but the feeling was that it was a deal with the devil that inevitably would fail as it did at least in performance terms since she didn’t win her major. Again it was distractions that cost her the win.
I picked this book up because it was about tennis and stayed with it because it had enough reality to it that it is worth the time invested. Plus, I’ve found a new author I might investigate for other books to read.
The title is a play on words since the singles aspect of it has as much to do with the main female character’s personal life as it does with tennis, the backdrop.
There is a dearth of tennis fiction so for anyone looking for tennis related reading I can say it was worth listening to for 10 CDs worth of time.
Recommend ***and 1/2 stars
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
Free Tennis Book Promotion Today - Tennis Basics: Learning the Sport
I'm running another free promotion today for my recently published book called Tennis Basics.
If you're taking an introductory tennis class this is a good companion for review.
Free Book Today September 14th.
Please take advantage of it and let me know what you think by making a comment here on my blog or posting a review on Amazon.
Thank You,
Brent
If you're taking an introductory tennis class this is a good companion for review.
Free Book Today September 14th.
Please take advantage of it and let me know what you think by making a comment here on my blog or posting a review on Amazon.
Thank You,
Brent
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
Can exercise can suppress the immune system? Seniors Take Notice.
New Study says two days in a row of exercise can suppress the immune system.
No kidding. I knew this when I was in high school and used to play basketball all winter for 5 or more hours a day. I kept getting colds and when I finally went to a doctor and told him that I played basketball every day for hours and thought it might have something to do with it he said something simple. "Well, stop playing every day and take some time off for recovery." and I did and solved the problem.
That is easier said than done since exercise can become addictive and is a regimen that many form into a habit.
My routine is to vary the type, intensity, and duration of workouts. For instance.
Weight training: I do minor stretch bands and dumbbells more or less every day but don't stress if I miss a day. I go for more weight in curls and presses on an alternate day or every third day program and do this in the evening where it allows some repair and recovery, plus it manages metabolism for better sleep as blood sugar appears suppressed.
Calisthenics: Pushups, planks, crunches, etc. Every couple of days I find it worth doing this but not every day for me. Avoid the Gym and do calisthenics. - Interesting article.
Stretches: Every day simply for injury prevention, Hamstrings are my primary focus since this helps protect the back.
Cardio: This includes walking and tennis. You can moderate each so that doing them every day can be done without risk to most healthy people. If walking is overdoing it then as humans we've devolved into couch potatoes. It find a light tennis workout against a backboard or just taking serves is something I can do every day without concern. I think my body has acclimated to this as a standard condition whereas a higher workout might cause problems. That falls into the intense cardio category.
Intense Cardio: This can be tennis, jogging, sprinting, or just doing anything that brings the heart to a fast clip relative to your age and health. This is the area where risk seems the highest so learning to calibrate and discipline your workouts tailored to your needs is important.
Final Thought: Do what works for you and observe the results on how you feel. Your body will often let you know. When older it seems that the joints are the place where the most recovery is needed.
Disclaimer: Talk to your doctor, physical therapist, and physical trainer before embarking on a new program. This article is for information purposes only.
No kidding. I knew this when I was in high school and used to play basketball all winter for 5 or more hours a day. I kept getting colds and when I finally went to a doctor and told him that I played basketball every day for hours and thought it might have something to do with it he said something simple. "Well, stop playing every day and take some time off for recovery." and I did and solved the problem.
That is easier said than done since exercise can become addictive and is a regimen that many form into a habit.
My routine is to vary the type, intensity, and duration of workouts. For instance.
Weight training: I do minor stretch bands and dumbbells more or less every day but don't stress if I miss a day. I go for more weight in curls and presses on an alternate day or every third day program and do this in the evening where it allows some repair and recovery, plus it manages metabolism for better sleep as blood sugar appears suppressed.
Calisthenics: Pushups, planks, crunches, etc. Every couple of days I find it worth doing this but not every day for me. Avoid the Gym and do calisthenics. - Interesting article.
Stretches: Every day simply for injury prevention, Hamstrings are my primary focus since this helps protect the back.
Cardio: This includes walking and tennis. You can moderate each so that doing them every day can be done without risk to most healthy people. If walking is overdoing it then as humans we've devolved into couch potatoes. It find a light tennis workout against a backboard or just taking serves is something I can do every day without concern. I think my body has acclimated to this as a standard condition whereas a higher workout might cause problems. That falls into the intense cardio category.
Intense Cardio: This can be tennis, jogging, sprinting, or just doing anything that brings the heart to a fast clip relative to your age and health. This is the area where risk seems the highest so learning to calibrate and discipline your workouts tailored to your needs is important.
Final Thought: Do what works for you and observe the results on how you feel. Your body will often let you know. When older it seems that the joints are the place where the most recovery is needed.
Disclaimer: Talk to your doctor, physical therapist, and physical trainer before embarking on a new program. This article is for information purposes only.
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