Tennis Serve - Tips And History Of This Tennis Shot

Tennis Serve - Tips And History Of This Tennis Shot
By Jimbo Morris 

The tennis serve is an important part of any tennis match. It is the first action taken at the start of a game and the start of each point. It can be used to intimidate the competition and show off your power which makes it an important part of the sport to master. As it is so important it is not easy and it can take some time to become a great server, in fact some people never manage to learn how to make an impressive serve.

What Serve Do You Prefer?

There are four main types of serve that are most commonly used. The four serves are: the slice serve, kick serve, underhand serve and the flat serve. The differences between these serves relate to the spin of the ball, the direction the spin takes, the twist and if there is a kick (using a heavy top spin) or not. It is a good idea to practice and master all types of serves as they can all be used tactically in any game.

Breaking a Serve

One of the main challenges in tennis is breaking the serve of your opponent. The player that is serving is expected to win the point as the serve can be used offensively and it is possible to make an ace and win the point immediately with a well-played first serve. Therefore the battle for the opposing player is to break the serve and take away the point. This is a vital element in any match and if you are working on improving your game it is a good area to concentrate on.

For all types of serve, it's important to have a great racquet, and I personally like   rel=nofollow [http://www.stevegtennis.com/shop/best-head-tennis-racquets.php]head tennis racquets as they have been used my some of the worlds best servers over decent decades.

Legalities in the Game

Practising landing serve balls within the lines is a must for any player. When make a serve the player has two chances to get it right. A serve is legal if it is able to land in the court and doesn't touch anything else. When the ball lands outside of the court it is called as a fault. If the server takes two serves that both land outside of the court lines it is called a double fault and this will result in the point being given over to the other player.

You also have to watch your footing with taking the serve. Your feet cannot touch the baseline until after you have hit the ball and you aren't allowed to run when serving or to walk around. Practice staying put on the court and mastering your serves to make sure you get it right.

If you want to improve your server then you can pay a pro to give you a lesson, but you can also just watch some videos of the best players and get some tips. For example if you look at the Sampras serve, he makes it look so easy and it flow in every movement. Of course, Sampras has retired now but out of current player Roger Federer has an awesome server. It may not be the most powerful but the accuracy is superb and he often gets an ace even when not serving that hard.

It also helps to have a tennis racquet that fits your game, and I would recommend you look at some of the latest head racquets, as they are used by many top players like Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Of course, maybe the best server of all time was Goran and he also had a classic head racquet frame. Overall, while improving your tennis game is important, you should always remember to have fun on the court, and smile even if you are not playing your best. If you are just starting and want to master all shots, just book a few lessons down your local club and you will be off on a great journey of mastering the forehand, backhand, and serving motions.

I've been playing tennis for over 30 years and the hardest shot I found to master was the tennis serve. You really have to be so confident to have a great serve in tennis, so watch the pro players on TV serve and copy their motion and you will be serving better in no time. Enjoy improving your tennis game.

Article Source:  Tennis Serve - Tips And History Of This Tennis Shot

Tennis Serve Tips

djoker serve

Tennis Serve Tips

Want to improve one of the most important hits in tennis? If so you're in the right place, I'll show you exactly how you can improve your serve.

Choose your style - Before you even hit the ball, you need to decide how you want to hit the ball! There are generally 4 different major types of spins that you can put onto a ball. You can put a top spin, a slice, a combination of the two, or just a flat hit. Look them up and practice all of them, they are all useful depending on the situation.

Throw the ball high! -
A few professionals say that this is one of the key things that hold back beginners. Too many people will not throw the ball high enough, and this holds back their power and control. If you're having trouble try just throwing the ball higher, you'll be surprised.

Practice makes permanent -
Make sure you practice, but make sure you practice correctly. Try to get someone whose better than you to watch your swing, and correct it. Watch youtube videos online, and try to see different ways that people will serve the ball. Remember, practice doesn't help unless you are practicing correctly.

Play consistently -
Some people will get discouraged and quit trying to improve their serve. They get frustrated and stop, and then try again in a few weeks, this is a great way to never get anywhere. Don't fall into this trap!

Want to learn even more?

I've got a great blog post here that can help you learn more, it's all about a cool video that shows you How To Improve Your Tennis Serve.

Master Any Tennis Stroke

Master Any Tennis Stroke
By Thomas Jay Daniels 

Hey guys, what I'm going to share with you today is how you can master any tennis stroke in no time at all. If you do everything I say here, you should take your tennis game to next level today. First thing, make sure that you only focus on one stroke at a time, I know you have heard that before, but it's really true. If you want to master any stroke, you have to be FOCUSED! And its impossible if you are learning two or more strokes, at the same time. Next, get a clear vision of the stroke in your mind, this has to be as vivid as possible. To do this, you can model pros who you like, but it doesn't matter how you do it, just get the vision. Why, because you have to see it, before you can do it. Now, after you get the vision, here come the hard part.

You have to hit about 1000s balls or more a session, trying to get a better feel every time you practice. This is the key to mastering a stroke, repetition and focus. What happens, is while you are doing this, the STROKE WILL DEVELOP on its own. I bet you didn't know this, but this is how the pros do it, and now its time for you to be doing the same thing.Sorry, there is no quick method here, you have to get the hitting time in. The problem I see all the time, is players want to learn the stroke over night, which is impossible. Tip for coaches out there, help your students to get out of their own way.

That's your job as a teacher, stop over coaching and let the process take place and it will if you do it this way. Back to you, tennis is a feel game, never forget this. As a player you are trying to get a better feel for your game every time you step out on the court. So, when learning a stroke, apply the same thing, make sure you are getting a better feel every time you practice the stroke. You should feel that the stroke is getting better,at the in of the day. Also, don't force it, just let it happen. Success formula, REPETITION and FOCUS + hrs of practice= Mastering a Stroke! Get it? As for as how long it will take, that's up to you. The more focused you are, the quicker you will master the stroke. I guess the question is to be or not to be focus. Answer please!

Article Source: Master Any Tennis Stroke

Tennis Fitness- Shoulder Prevention Program

Flickr: Colin Fleming volley

Tennis Fitness - Shoulder Prevention Program That Strengthens Your Rotator Cuff Muscles

By Patrik Broddfelt 
Why is it so important for tennis players to have a shoulder prevention program?

As a tennis player, you will put tremendous stress on your shoulder when you are serving, hitting overheads, high forehands, and high backhand volleys. Because of repetitive forces on your shoulder joint, it's important to have a tennis fitness and conditioning program for the shoulders. A fitness program will enhance performance, avoid fatigue from eccentric overload, and avoid an overuse problem.

Tennis players gets injured to their shoulders mainly because of eccentric overload. In other words, high-intensity decelerating muscle contractions of the rotator cuff during the follow through phase of the serve can lead to tendinous inflammation.

Shoulder Program

The following tennis fitness program will help you to stay fit, and hopefully away from shoulder injuries. It's very easy to do and it doesn't take long time to do. All you need is a resistance band, and you can do this program at home or at the tennis court.

First I'll show you some stretches you should do.It is important for the competitive tennis athlete to maintain good shoulder flexibility in order to allow for full range of motion which improves stroke potential.

Stretches:

Posterior Shoulder Stretch - Cross one of your arms across your body and put your opposite arm on your elbow. Push your elbow so that your arm that is being stretched reaches your opposite shoulder. Hold this position for 20-30 sec.
Sleeper Stretch - Lie down on your dominant shoulder as you would when sleeping on your side. Place your dominant arm directly out in front of you, with elbow bent 90 degrees so that your hand points directly at the ceiling. Using your other arm, push your hand down toward your feet. This will internally rotate your shoulder. Hold this stretch for 20 to 30 seconds.

Exercises:

External Rotation - Tie your resistance band to a stable object. Hold your arm in a 90 degree angle. Slowly rotate your arm out to about 90 degrees, and your arm will now point directly in front of you.
Internal Rotation - Tie your resistance band to a stable object. Hold your arm in a 90 degree angle. Slowly move your hand towards your body.
Straight Arm Rowing - Tie your resistance band to a stable object. Stand in an athletic position with the end of the tubing in each hand. Elevate your arms so that they are at an angle of roughly 45 degrees relative to your body. Squeeze your shoulder blades together, and perform a rowing action by pulling the handles back towards your hips while keeping your arms straight, and return to the starting position.

With these 5 easy   rel=nofollow [http://maxtennisfitness.com]shoulder exercises, you should now be able to stay away from pain in your shoulders. Do these exercises 2-3 times a week. The perfect time to do them is after tennis practice on the tennis court. Just tie the resistance band to the fence or netpost.

To learn more log on to maxtennisfitness.com

Patrik Broddfelt is a professional tennis and fitness coach from Sweden. On my tennis fitness blog you can watch my how to tennis fitness videos. You will find 100's of tennis fitness and conditioning exercises, programs, and articles.

Article Source: Tennis Fitness - Shoulder Prevention Program That Strengthens Your Rotator Cuff Muscles

3 Tips For Preventing Tennis Elbow

delpo back swing

3 Tips For Preventing Tennis Elbow
By Patrik Broddfelt 

2 Stretching Exercises:

Wrist Flexor Stretch - Extend your arm in front of you with your palm up, and bend your wrist so that your fingers is pointing towards the floor. With your other hand, gently bend your wrist further until you feel a mild to moderate stretch in your forearm. Hold this position for about 20-30 seconds.

Wrist Extensor Stretch - Extend your arm in front of you with your palm down, and bend your wrist so that your fingers is pointing towards the floor. With your other hand, gently bend your wrist further until you feel a mild to moderate stretch in your forearm. Hold this position for about 20-30 seconds.

4 Strengthening Exercises:


Tennis Ball Squeeze - Hold a tennis ball in your hand, and squeeze the tennis ball for about 6 seconds. Then relax for about 10 seconds. You should repeat for 8-12 times. Remember to do the exercise on both hands.

Dumbbell Flexor wrist Curl - Hold a dumbbell in each hand and rest your arms and elbows on a bench or on your legs. The palm should be pointing up and your elbows in roughly 90 degrees angle. Bend the wrist so that the dumbbells moves towards the floor, and go back up again as high as possible. Finally, go back to the starting position. Do 8-12 repetitions for 3 sets.

Dumbbell Extension Wrist Curl - Hold a dumbbell in each hand and rest your arms and elbows on a bench or on your legs. The palm should be pointing down and your elbows in roughly 90 degrees angle. Bend the wrist so that the dumbbells moves towards the floor, and go back up again as high as possible. Finally, go back to the starting position. Do 8-12 repetitions for 3 sets.

Dumbbell Pronation and Supination - Hold a dumbbell in each hand and rest your arms and elbows on a bench or on your legs. Your thumbs has to point upwards. Turn the wrist inward as far as possible and then outward as far as possible. Do 8-12 repetitions for 3 sets.

The third tip is to take tennis lessons

I think the main reason many hobby tennis players get tennis elbow is because of wrong tennis technique. They are usually hitting the ball too late, using the wrist too much, or having a short follow through. If you have poor technique and you play tennis a couple of times each week you will get tennis elbow.

You should also check if you have the correct size on the tennis grip, and that you are not holding your racket to tight. And that you are resting your dominant hand during breaks. I see too many tennis players holding their tennis rackets with their dominant hand when picking up tennis balls. Don't do this. You should hold your racket on the throat with your nondominant hand.

Go out and do the   rel=nofollow [http://maxtennisfitness.com]stretching exercises after practice and the strengthening exercises 2-3 times each week. Make also sure to check your tennis technique once in a while.

Patrik Broddfelt is a professional tennis and fitness coach from Sweden. On my tennis fitness blog you can watch my how to tennis fitness videos. You will find 100's of tennis fitness and conditioning exercises, programs, and articles.

Article Source: 3 Tips For Preventing Tennis Elbow

Tennis Backhand Technique

Want to learn how to get a better backhand? 

Today we are going to show you the techniques to do it.

In fact, learning how to do a proper backhand is very similar to learning how to do a proper forehand. All you have to do is focus on the basics, and practice daily in order to improve. What things should you focus on?

The grip - Having a different grip can drastically change the way you hit the ball. For instance if you want to put a backspin on the ball, or a slice, you would use the continental grip. If you don't have the grip down that should be the first place that you start.

The backswing - This is when you're getting ready to hit the ball, this is key. If you have never analyzed what you are doing at this point of your swing you need to do so. Do your swing slowly and see what you're doing, and what you could improve.

Contact - This is also key, when are you contacting the ball? If you hit it to soon it may go flying out of the court, and too late could make it hit the net. Once again slow down how you're trying to hit the ball and figure out when you're making contact.

Follow through - Pretty simple, just make sure you follow through! If you're not getting enough power or control over the ball this is likely your problem. Following through is a key part to every hit, not just your backhand.

And there you go! Follow these basics and fundamentals and watch your game improve, really there is no more than that!

If you're still looking for more tennis advice, look around on this website! I've got countless articles on here showing you how you can improve your game. Check out my article on How To Improve Your Tennis Serve!

The Myth Of Playing Up In Tennis

Escuela Virtual de Deportes 

The Myth of Playing Up in Tennis

By Jim H Klein 

Over the years I have been faced with many parents concerned about their son/daughter practicing with someone whose level is lower than their own. Parents and players are often under the false impression that to get better "you must play better players". Nothing could be further from the truth.

During the 2004 US Open, Mary Carillo told the story of two opponents who were about to face each other in the round of 16. The two players were Andre Agassi and Sargis Sargsian. Carillo goes on to say that Agassi and Sargsian have been good friends and practice partners for years. In fact the two of them had been practicing the entire US Open summer series together in 2004. As most of us know, Agassi's career high ranking has been number one; while Sargsian's highest career ranking is 38 in the world. Over the years, as well as the '04 summer season Agassi had never lost to Sargsian. These two players who are good friends have met seven times in tournaments between 1997 and 2004. Out of the seventeen sets they have played in tournaments, Agassi has only lost two sets to Sargsian and has never lost a match to him.

My point to all of this, Agassi is by far the better player and yet he is practicing with someone who is obviously not his equal. Realize that Agassi and Federer do not get together to practice. The best almost never practice with each other. Then the question has to be, how can Agassi maintain such a high level of play while practicing with someone who can not challenge him? Using most parents and players logic, "one must play up to get better". Agassi clearly dispels this myth, but I have heard this myth repeated by parents, players and coaches too many times to count over the years. But let's not stop there. Let's talk about the fact that Sargsian was playing up and it did not help him become a "great player". Granted, number 38 in the world is good, but you are not going down in the record books. I am sure that Sargsian was not striving to be the number 38th player in the world. As of today Sargsian's career winning record is 155 wins and 209 losses. This comes out to a 43% winning record. Sargsian has only one title to his name where Agassi has 60 titles to his, eight of them Grand Slams. Agassi's career winning record is 864 wins and 270 losses. Agassi has managed to have a 76% winning record practicing with much lesser players. In my opinion it has less to do with your practice partner(s) and everything to do with the player you are. In 20 years of teaching tennis I have never heard of a player losing a match and blaming it on their practice partner.

When Pete Sampras made his return to tennis after several years off in an exhibition match against Robby Ginepri, one of the big questions tennis fans wanted to know was about his preparation for his first match in over three years? In my opinion his answer is very revealing to the topic at hand. Sampras calls Billy Martin, the head coach of the UCLA men's tennis team and invites college level players to his home to help him prepare. Justin Gimelstob had been a practice partner for Sampras over the years, as well as for Sampras' return this past April. Gimelstob's highest career ranking had been 63 in the world back in 1999, as it stands prior to the 2006 US Open Gimelstob is 73 in the world. Why does a legendary player like Pete Sampras invite college tennis players and Justin Gimelstob as his practice partner for his return to the game, if playing/practicing up is so important?

It is rare to see seeded players practicing with each other at tournaments. In 2003 the year Andy Roddick won the US Open, I watched Roddick practice with then coach Brad Gilbert. It is clear if Roddick were to play Gilbert who would win. Put your money on Roddick. The best players prove that it is OK to practice with lesser players before a match even at the US Open.

When it comes to practice partners, one must practice with players who are weaker, this way you can practice your weaknesses. I have had players concerned with the idea of beating a player who is weaker than themselves and risk demeaning said player. I am not suggesting a 4.0 player should ask a 2.5 or 3.0 player to play. Play down one NTRP level to practice your weaknesses and if you are true to the idea of practicing your weaknesses you will most likely find yourself in a very competitive match. Equal to you, now you have a dog fight on your hands, this is the truest test of them all. Better than you, this way you can see how your opponent exploits your weaknesses. Try to find someone who is one level above you. If needed offer to pay for their part of the court time. A second reason for playing different levels is simple; it solves the problem of players playing up. If you want the opportunity to play up, then you must be willing to play down and give someone else a chance to play up. Fair is fair. If it were true that you had to play up to get better, no one would ever play another set of tennis. When parents come to me and insist that their child play up, one has to remember, for one player to play up another player has to play down. If you always play up you will rarely experience the joys of winning only the frustration of losing. Not much fun in that.

Thank you,

Jim Klein

Director of Tennis

Doylestown Tennis Club

Doylestown Pennsylvania

215-345-7897 / email -  jklein1227@comcast.net

Article Source: The Myth of Playing Up in Tennis

Tennis Beginner Tips

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Tennis Beginner Tips
By Marina L Jacobs 

It Starts With Passion

Avid tennis players know that "forty all" in a game is really called "deuce." For me, this is the best part of a game as it means that at that moment, I am on an even level with my opponent, well at least for that game. There is no "love" so to speak as we both fight for those next two points. What a challenge! What you need for tennis to be as exciting as a deuce game is to know what practice tools and accessories are best for you.

Basic Knowledge

To enjoy the fun and success of tennis you need the knowledge of what goes into it. What you learn about tennis can come from resources like magazines and books about tennis available for you to gain expert advice. For instance racket head size or string gauge may be discussed by a pro in a tennis magazine. Learn about tennis ball pressure and which balls to use when just starting out or playing a tournament. You can learn about tennis racket grips and what size to use to prevent tennis elbow. Find out what apparel is most comfortable or which shoes are better for clay or grass courts. Search online to learn about tennis coaching resorts where professionals guide you through basic tennis skills and where you'll also enjoy time to relax.

Where to Learn About Tennis 

It takes time to become a proficient player. Some may believe they can learn about tennis techniques by observing professional players and may think it doesn't seem too hard. Not so. The techniques required, along with an acquired automated judgment of the best way to hit a ball flying in your direction can take many months or more of practice to grasp. If your desire is to become a professional, you need more than magazines or books to learn about tennis and appreciate the required discipline and skills. Starting out in High School on the tennis team is ideal. If you are an adult, finding a good coach that will direct you on a calm repetitive pace will allow you to begin to master the basics. It will become like second nature to you. The best coaches will have certifications and may be found on USPTA, (United States Professional Tennis Association) or ITF, (International Tennis Federation) for international searches. It can be complex, but time in practice makes a difference.

If you can't use a coach, the next best thing is a tennis video lesson. It may take many of these resources to learn about tennis enough to master the game. Importantly, if you want to be a serious player, be patient with yourself, educate yourself and practice as much as possible. If you just want to have fun, do just that while you learn the game.

Marina Jacobs is a 49 year Old Desert Storm Veteran, Homemaker who has played tennis since she was 15. Still loves the game and hopes to help anyone new to tennis. Find what you need for tennis basics, accessories, travel, health, tennis history and some tennis commentaries on the Opens and Wimbledon. Visit her Tennis Blog at http://www.fortyalltennis.com

Article Source: Tennis Beginner Tips

Tennis Forehand Technique

Flickr: Grega Zemlja (SLO)

Want to learn how to use proper tennis forehand technique?

A good forehand is key to your tennis game, of course so is a backhand, volley, and serve. But your forehand is your staple in your tennis skills. Without a good forehand you'll be pretty much lost against any opponent. Here are some tips to help you out:

1. Grip - What kind of grip are you planning to use for your hit? Different grips will supply different spins on the ball, I personally like an eastern grip. Test out a few and see what you like, everyone has different preferences.

2. Timing - One of the biggest things in tennis is timing, when are you hitting the ball? If you have trouble keeping the ball in play, you're probably hitting the ball too soon or too late, try slowing down your swing and analyze what's going on. If you do it enough, you'll probably figure out how you can improve.

3. Follow Through - This is a huge one! I would know, I used to have this problem as well. If you don't have proper follow through, the rest of your swing won't be in proper form. Plus good follow through gives you more power and control, keep up on the follow through!

4. Watch - Find someone who is really good at tennis, and just watch and try to emulate them, you can also try watching youtube videos, these can do wonders at improving your tennis game.

There you go! A few tips and tricks that will help you on your way to mastering tennis! If you're looking at improving other tennis skills just look around on this site! I have some great information on a program that shows you How To Improve Your Tennis Serve!

Mental Toughness For Tennis

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nickhewson/5373587547/

Mental Toughness For Tennis

By Thomas Jay Daniels
How many matches are you losing now, because you are choking under pressure? I know, more then you want to admit here today, but don't worry, after reading this article you will be on your way to grinding out more matches my friend.

Mental toughness is talked about all the time, but never practice enough to help us understand what role it plays in our matches. Tennis is a non-fist mental contest were you are trying to break the will of your opponent, until he doesn't want to compete anymore, never lose sight of this. Make that be your goal from today forward, get so mentally tough that before a ball is hit your opponent knows that they are in for a battle, that's mental toughness. Become obsess with making this a habit by practicing it everyday for the next 21 days in your workouts, it takes about 30 days to make it a habit, so don't let up until you reach 21 days.

Okay, so how do you become more mentally tough? It starts with faith and belief, (He can, who thinks he can!) just as (who thinks he can't, can't) that's simple isn't it? But few player really get this mindset and as a result, their game suffers for it, so start talking to yourself positive all day 24/7, self-talk build up your self-image which helps you become more mentally tough. The reason you are losing now or your game is breaking down is because of your lack of faith and confidence in your game, the great thing is you can turn that around in 21 days if you are determined to make it happen. See, we are all so fragile mentally that we can't take it for granted at all, control your thought and you control your results.

Now lets come up with a game plan, first take the 21 mental day test, for the next 21 days don't think or say anything about your game that you don't wish to be true, if you do you have to start all over again. Don't worry, the first few time you will not be able to do it, but don't stop until you pass this test okay! Also get everybody in your family on the same page, maybe all you guys can do it together to help them become more positive too. Also it rid of all the people who strain your energy in life now, time to take a full inventory of the people in your life and ask yourself, does this person empower me or weaken me.

 Also, start reading books on successful people and take note on what makes them mentally tough and copy them, reach out to someone you admire too and ask for help, tell them what you are doing and they will help you, if they know you are serious about it. As for as practice, start to fight for every point like its do or die, time to stop giving yourself a pass and don't tolerate any weakness in yourself. We all have powers that are lock up inside of us, but we have to push ourselves to do more so we can tap into this hidden power and release it. This is what mental toughness is all about folks, its tapping into the greatness that is inside you and letting it shine! Unfortunately most people die with their music still inside of them, promise yourself today that you won't let that happen. But first you must commit or you will always quit.

Now that you have passed the test and gotten all the negative people out of your life, lets put it all together, get a vision of the type of player that you want to become, this vision has to be clear, while you are doing this go to a quiet place where you can be alone and meditate on this for a while. After you have the vision, act like you are already that player, walk, talk and play just like you think that player would. Let me tell you the power of this method, after a month you will actually become that player! Get it? Read that can and let it sink in your mind, because that's what this article is all about. And that's what mental toughness is all about, see we are all actors on this great stage call life, act like a loser and you will lose, act like a winner and you will win more and often my friend. All it takes is doing it over and over until you become it.

Let me congratulate you before you start on this journey, because the future is going to be amazing when you become mentally tough able to separate yourself from the average players out there, that never buy into this whole process, because they want someone to rely on, no, success is a INSIDE JOB!

Lets me leave you with this question, and ask yourself this everyday, ("I'm I living up to my full potential"?) yeah, its impossible to fool yourself.

For more information on my teaching, go to Kindle (Top 10 Tennis Tips) or one on one coaching online. http://www.newtennisgeneration.wordpress.com

Article Source: Mental Toughness For Tennis

Tennis (Flow With Your Game)

Swing

Tennis (Flow With Your Game)
By Thomas Jay Daniels 
Why do so many players make tennis more difficult then it really is? I think because they try to hard and are too judgmental of their play, this only gets the player more frustrated when they are learning the game. See, tennis is just a feel game where you try to become at one with the ball and you still your mind, when you are doing it, the stillness can't take place unless your mind is free,also this can't be force. So, lets start there, before you step out on the court, make sure you are ready to play, by getting rid of all the junk in your head from work etc. I do this with my players, because I have found out that most of them weren't progressing because they had other things on there mind during our lessons.

After I was able to get them to clear their heads, the results were amazing and they will be for you too when you do this! Tennis being a motor sport requires that we be able to let our body move in a natural way with a free mind, I call this letting go, so your game can flow. It's almost as if we detach from the outcome, but stay in the moment, I know, that may sound strange, but try it, before you reject it. Lets break it down even more, don't get angry when you miss a shot, just adjust your swing and try again, keep doing this until you get a better feel for that stroke. Make sure that you are only working on one thing at a time too, I know you have heard this before, but its true and needs to be repeated, you can't work on two or more things at one time and expect to get any progress with your game.

So, use this repetition for any stroke until you feel the stroke flows without any effort on your part, that's the goal, to develop a effortless stroke that can be repeated over and over again. Some other tips that can help your game flow, be aware of your breathing when you are hitting the ball, you should be exhaling, after every point breath deeply and let go, you should feel the stress, along with all the negative energy release from your body. Notice, I said negative energy, this is the one thing that will prevent your game from flowing, the more you let negativity energy enter your mind, the more your game will break down okay. So, stop it from the get go by breathing more deeply and again be aware of your emotions, don't show any and if you do, catch yourself, then correct yourself. This work folks, it also help you to get ready for the next point, which is what I want to point out to you next, as for as match play or practice, remember, the most important point is the next one, learn to let go mentally of the last point and don't start the next one until you are ready, please keep reminding yourself of this so your game can flow. Now lets put it all together, sit down and get a image of the player you want to be, make sure its vivid, now see yourself playing smooth (flow tennis) in your mind, feel that emotion, feels good doesn't it! Now for the next 21 days walk, talk and play like you are already that player! I mean it, get it in your head that if you want to play smooth tennis you have to picture it in your mind first, before you can be it. This should get you off to a good start with developing a flow tennis game, the key is don't sweat it on the court and never let them see you sweat, then your game will FLOW my friend.

Please go to http://www.newtennisgeneration.wordpress.com for more tips on tennis.

Article Source: Tennis (Flow With Your Game)

Tips Playing Tennis

Practice Serve

Want some good tips for playing tennis?

Here are some great ones that will really help you improve your game. Just remember, these tips mean nothing if you don't act! So make sure you apply  these to your game.

1. Shorten your back swing - A lot of players need to make their movements just a little more compact, you can solve this by practicing the movement slowly, once you get it good and compact, try to do it faster.

2. Use your legs as well as your arms. A lot of players will mainly use their arms and not use the rest of their body in a swing, remember, the power comes from the body, not just the arms.

3. Follow through on ever hit! Too many players will stop after they've hit the ball, this ruins your form! Follow through and you will see a difference, I promise.

4. Toss the ball high! On every serve make sure you're tossing that ball high enough in the air. This is a classic mistake that we can get into, we get nervous that it'll make us lose control, but it can actually help you gain control, so toss that ball!

5. Give it your all, it's easy to kind of give up if you've had one bad game, it's easy to give up the match, but don't do it! Keep your concentration up, if you can do that a lot of times you can create some surprising comebacks.

There you go! 5 tips that'll help out your game! If you want to learn more about how to improve your tennis skills, I would advise checking out my post on How To Improve Your Tennis Serve!

Tennis Athletic Stance

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Tennis Athletic Stance - Your Movement, Agility and Balance Start Here
By Kathy Toon 
Just like any other sport, tennis requires a "ready position" - that is, an athletic stance that will allow you to be prepared to move in any direction the instant the ball is hit by your opponent. This ready position has several major points to it, from feet being spread shoulder-width apart, to knees slightly bent, to arms relaxed and out in front of your body preparing for action, and weight on the balls of the feet preparing for movement and action.

Doing so allows your body to easily and efficiently move in any direction as you react to the ball coming off your opponents racquet, and can improve your reaction time and overall quality of your game as it adequately prepares you for movement and changing direction.

Start With The Base

Start with your feet shoulder width apart. Too wide or too narrow, and you run the risk of failing to move efficiently, or, at worse, falling over and losing balance as you try to react to a ball being hit. With your feet shoulder width apart, you create a strong and stable base that can easily transfer your weight and momentum in any direction.

Where's Your Weight?

Stand up right now and do a test with a friend. With feet shoulder width apart, put your weight all on your heels, and then react by moving in directions toward which your friend points. Pretty awkward to transfer weight off your heels and move quickly, isn't it? Now try it on the balls of your feet. You'll see quickly that your natural movements are made much easier when your weight is up on the balls of your feet and you are prepared for movement. Tennis is no different; always keep your weight on the balls of your feet!

Torso and Upper Body

Your arms and upper body should be relatively loose and relaxed, so that you may react quickly and move, but they should also be upright just enough so that you have a full field of vision in front of you to see your opponent and react to the ball. Too tall and you can lose balance or waste precious time transferring weight; too hunched over, and you may lose visibility and sight contact with the ball as you move.

Prepare For Anything

What the ready position really comes down to is that you must be able to prepare for any movement, at any time. Whether it's a forehand or a backhand, a lob or a volley at the net, you must be prepared to move in any direction and react quickly to any ball being hit.

A good, strong ready position will make a huge difference in your tennis game, as it can make the difference of several feet of range in either direction. That range, of course, directly correlates to how many balls you can return, and in turn, how successful you can be on the court. Tennis is an athletic game, and it requires an athletic ready position in order to be played successfully!

I'm Kathy Toon author of the book Get Your Game Face On! and former Division-1Tennis Coach at UC Berkeley. Discover how to play your best tennis when the game is on the line by grabbing your free copy of The X Factor Report: Secretes to Winning Doubles at http://GlamSlamTennis.com

Article Source:  Tennis Athletic Stance - Your Movement, Agility and Balance Start Here

Training For Tennis

Training For Tennis - Preparing Well For The Game
By Roberta Barrow 

Training for tennis is a crucial undertaking. It is something that involves various aspects that require special attention and consideration. All these aspects must be provided for so you can be well-prepared for the game.

Strength Training

Strength training is definitely to spend time in the gym to strengthen the muscles. Nonetheless, your main goal is not exactly to develop a muscular built. The purpose of strength training is to improve your core and make stable your body parts and joints that are known to receive additional stress when playing. These parts must be strengthened so they will not be injured during games. These parts whose strength must be developed are abdomen, hips, back, oblique muscles, wrists, shoulders and elbows. The lower body also needs strengthening as you would require power from adequate weight transfer that will result from strong legs.

Flexibility Training

Those key parts that need strengthening should also be made flexible and kept lose through proper stretching. If these areas are tight, you will also be prone to injuries regardless of how strong your muscles are.

Footwork Training

Drills that deal with footwork are activity bursts followed by rest periods. These drills also need not be in fixed durations. They can be in short intense rallies, while in double plays, etc. They help improve your agility and speed. Be reminded that these two skills or qualities are not synonymous. Speed is how fast you can move on a straight line; agility is how you can quickly shift from a particular direction going to another direction and requires more acceleration.

Nutrition And Proper Dieting

Tennis is described as both anaerobic and aerobic activity. Thus, your training must also include proper nutrition and dieting. What you eat will provide power or energy for both types of activity. Complex carbohydrates are for aerobic exercises while good quality proteins are for the anaerobic activities. Nonetheless, no particular diet is recommended to fit all tennis players. Your diet will be based according to your own dietary needs and physiological attributes.

Mental Training

In playing tennis, you will use not just your body, but also your mind. Therefore, in preparing for tennis games, mental preparations should also be considered. Before playing any game, it is natural that you would feel some tension and nerves, but you should know how to not turn these feelings into anxiety. Perform some familiar rituals and routines that will help calm your nerves.

Visualization will also help your brain to focus. Imagine the minds of techniques and shots that you wish to perform during your game. This will provide you with a positive mental model that can help fill voids that are possible to occur when the brain does not have something to concentrate on. Visualization must be continued into any match so you can get through games in poor weather, through unforeseen distractions and a difficult opponent. Being mentally prepared for the unexpected will help you to remain focused as you can anticipate and plan your course of actions if ever they happen. It will also be great if you can take time to study the kind of performance your imminent opponent is known to have. Mental Manual For Tennis Winners will show you how to have a winning attitude and sharp mind for tennis. Tennis Stomper is a related program for building endurance and strength for your game.

Article Source:  Training For Tennis - Preparing Well For The Game

How To Play Tennis Better

How To Play Tennis Better

Want to learn how to improve your game? Are you itching for every bit and scratch of information that will give you the winning edge?

If so you're in the right place. Today I'm going to go over a few tips that will really help you improve your game.

1. Practice makes permanent. 
This one is easy, practice makes permanent, and perfect practice makes...well you already know. This means that you should always try to practice with people who are better than you, play with people who challenge you, who dare you to improve. If you're not losing a few of the games, you need to change who you play with.

2. Watch the Pros:
Want to play like a pro? Start watching them and emulate what they do. You can even look up youtube videos to see some of your favorite tactics or strategies that you want to learn. Watch the players that you want to be like.

3. Don't be afraid to slow down.
Sometimes we can become impatient and want everything now. Don't be afraid to step back and work on your fundamentals. Always slow down your movements in practice and correct even the slightest of errors that you may be making. Your body will react correctly when you need to do it at a high speed.

4. Watch videos:
I know this is similar to number 2, but youtube is an incredible source of knowledge. Check out some instructional videos on there, it's amazing the difference that they can make. Or check out my page on a product that teaches you how to improve your serve, you can find it by clicking here.







5. Keep up the work!
Sometimes it's easy to get discouraged and give up. Remember, success is just one more practice away! If you give up you'll never know what you could have achieved, so don't give up!

And there you go, some amazing tips that will help you to improve your game and learn how to really get a better feel for things.

A Flatspin: Will Help You Avoid Love!

 

A Flatspin: Will Help You Avoid Love
By Stanley Clayton

Love, in tennis, is a bad thing. You can avoid love by becoming proficient at one of two types of shots, according to most tennis experts. Most tennis players think that they have to choose between traditional topspin and a flat shot. But wouldn't it be nice if you could have the best of both worlds? Well, you can have your cake and eat it too. Flatspin is an effective and easy to learn tennis stroke.

A flat shot is not actually flat. It would be impossible to hit a completely flat shot with no spin. Even if you could, it would be hard to control, because it would move through the air like a knuckle ball. However, the flat shot is hit with a more level swing than traditional topspin. This level swing allows you to hit a penetrating shot that stays low and is very hard for opponents to run down. The main drawback is that a true flat shot has a velocity limit. Not only, do you have to hit the ball at a low-level over the net, you have to limit your hitting power to keep the ball in the court.

A true traditional topspin shot is generated by moving the racket from low to high. The racket brushes the ball and creates a forward spin. The forward spin creates high pressure on the top of the ball and the high pressure wants to equalize with low pressure on the bottom of the ball. Since the ball is in the way, the high pressure forces the ball quickly down into the court. The more spin you put on the ball, the faster it comes down into the court. Put enough spin on the ball and there is no limit to how hard you can hit the ball while keeping it in the court. The drawback with traditional topspin is that the low to high motion creates a high bouncing ball that a good moving opponent can run underneath which could prolong points.

A flatspin shot is hit with a relatively level swing like that of a flat shot, but because of something called a rising socket, raising your dominant shoulder and dominant elbow up right before you make contact with the ball; you create a topspin that has more of a forward angle. The result is a shot that crosses low over the net, but has enough spin to land deep into the court. The shot is penetrating and when it lands it jumps heavily into your opponent's body. It also stays low and is hard for your opponent to track down.

This shot is definitely the best of both worlds. It makes you lonely at the top and will help you avoid true "love" in tennis.

Article Source: A Flatspin: Will Help You Avoid Love

Fix My Serve - 3 Places You Can Aim Your Serve!

Fix My Serve - 3 Places You Can Aim Your Serve
By Junior Pswarai 

There are three places that you can send a ball into by the service box, if you are looking to fix your serve by improving it then by knowing which 3 areas that you can help you attack at your opponents weaker sides. However, even if you do find out the weaker side then don't continuously hit to this side, you want to mix it up so that you don't allow them to build a rhythm - so that you can keep them on their toes and ready to make mistakes which therefore can keep you in control of the game.
Each of the 3 areas that you go onto hitting the ball to have their advantages and as mentioned there will be one which creates a weakness for your opponent so make sure that you keep it varied from out wide, down the middle and straight at your opponent.

Wide

If you realise that your opponent isn't too fast on their feet then placing your shot out wide is highly effective, this will lead to them having to try and reach the ball in time and even if they do they may provide a weak return which you will be able to hit back to the other side as a winning stroke.

However there is a downside to this shot which is that you are making yourself open to a return, if your opponent manages to get to the ball they can in fact return it across court as well. This return might be easier as well due to the fact that the ball will slow down since it has further to travel so beware of this.

Going down the middle

If you choose to go down the middle then you won't encounter the problem of losing speed as the court is shorter across the middle than travelling all the way across making this a great shot for powerfully placed shots with some spin as well.

This reduces the chances of returning due to the angle but you can expect more of your opponents to return the ball back down the middle. If they manage to return this can put you in the position to place a controlled volley onto their weaker side which can help to win the point.

Serving at the body of your opponent

This is a great shot that you can do which can cause your opponent to make plenty of mistakes. If you serve it fast they will have to back away or get themselves into an angle however a position like this can be uncomfortable for them and can cause them to create a weak return if they are even able to get it past the net giving you the upper hand if done correctly.

Whatever you do however don't hit the ball toward their back or forehand as this is an area where it is simple for them to get into a position to return the ball, you will want to aim straight for the body so that they will have trouble placing themselves in a decent position for a return to take place.

These are 3 different types that you should mix up and learn to use to fix your serve as they can create a lot of trouble for your opponent if they are done correctly.

It's simple to fix your serve by improving plenty aspects of it so you want to make sure that you know as much as you can see as knowledge is power. If you want to make your serve more deadly then something you can do is check out this blog where you can find more information on the serve and how you can improve it.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fix-My-Serve---3-Places-You-Can-Aim-Your-Serve&id=7896679] Fix My Serve - 3 Places You Can Aim Your Serve

Tennis Match Strategy 101: How To Formulate Your Game Plan During The Warmup

By Ryan F Reidy 

Tennis Match Strategy 101: How To Formulate Your Game Plan During The WarmUp

Unlike most major sports, tennis allows you to warm up with your opponent rather than by yourself or with only your own team. This unique difference gives an advantage to those who use the warmup to not just prepare physically but also strategically. Here are three match strategies you can use based on what you learn in the 10 minute prematch hit-around.

Murray cruises

Just Keep The Ball In Play Longer Than Your Opponent - The first strategy you should try using is simply keeping the ball in play longer than your opponent. Let's say that during the warmup you notice your opponent is spraying balls all over and being very inconsistent. If you realize that you can keep more balls in play during a rally, then you have instantly come up with your first game plan. Remember, the scoring system in tennis is different than almost every other sport. Could you imagine how different basketball would be if missing a free throw resulted in the other team's score increasing by a point? How about if kicking and missing a field goal in football gave the other team three points? I think we can all agree that if these scenarios were true, each sport's strategy would change drastically. Well, in tennis, the equivalent is true. You receive just as many points whether you hit a winner or your opponent hits an error. So, if playing it safe wins you point after point due to your opponent's constant mistakes, then just keep play the ball in play and watch how your opponent ends up beating themselves.

Pick On Your Opponent's Obvious Weakness - Now let's say that during the warmup against a different opponent you realize that they have clear strengths and weaknesses. Using a strategy as simple as 'keep it in play' won't work as well as it did against your other 'inconsistent' opponent. Now you'll need to put the other player in their least favorite position as often as possible. But how do you know what that is? Well, for starters, notice what they do well and not-so-well in the warm up. Most people like their forehand more compared to their backhand. If you send a ball to someone's backhand and they try to run around it, that's a sure sign that they don't want to hit backhands. So during the match, do everything you can to serve, return, rally, approach and volley as many shots to their backhand (weakness) as possible. Or, let's say you offer to warm up their volleys and they only hit two or three, miss all of them and quickly move back to practice serves. This is very common and tells you that they don't like being at the net. This is your invitation to hit dropshot after dropshot in an attempt to get them off the baseline (where they are most comfortable) and up to the net where they feel a lot less confident. This strategy really frustrates your opponent because they so badly want to hit their best shots, but can't, because you won't let them.

Work The Angles And Dimensions Of The Court - Finally, you're warming up against a third opponent, and you notice they are very consistent and don't seem to have any glaring weaknesses. This is when you'll need to use real tennis strategy and hit a variety of shots. First, make a high percentage of your serves and returns of serve. Next, attack all short balls and hit them to a corner of the court. Look to hit your approach shots to the side on which your opponent hits higher over the net, then move forward preparing to angle the volley short to the opposite side. If your opponent comes to the net, do everything you can to hit the ball low to their feet. Most people hate hitting low volleys and you might get a short ball that will make it easier to pass them. And last, be mentally ready for a match with ups and downs. It's not over till it's over and there's always a way to win if you keep your mind focused and your strategy evolving.

So the next time you step on the court, don't just warm up your body; warm up your strategic mindset as well. Your opponents will give you clues as how to play them if you just pay attention. Try it out... I bet it results in less frustration and a lot more wins.

Ryan Reidy is a USPTA Certified P1 Tennis Professional and a 5.0 rated USTA player. He invites you to submit a video of your tennis, golf, baseball, softball, basketball and/or ice skating technique to http://www.gurumygame.com. When you submit your video, qualified coaches and professionals in your sport will review your technique and send you a personalized video lesson within 72 hours, showing you exactly how to raise your level of play. To submit your video or view sample videos, visit http://www.gurumygame.com.

Article Source:  Tennis Match Strategy 101: How To Formulate Your Game Plan During The WarmUp

Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just Thirty Minutes

Amazing Roger Federer

Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just Thirty Minutes

By Jay P. Granat, Ph.D.

The Australian Open is taking place now and avid tennis fans and tennis players will be tuning in early in the morning, (United States Time) to watch the world's best tennis players compete in this first major tournament of the year.

Highly ranked juniors and weekend warriors will be studying the players and the matches carefully and some will be hoping to pick up a few tips that will allow them to take their game to that next level.

I have coached many top players on the mental side of the game and have worked closely with some elite coaches. I am always intrigued by coaches who are great diagnosticians and who can make the game simple via the way they communicate with their students.

Sometimes, one simple tip can help a tennis player to elevate his or her tennis game.

One man, Oscar Wegner, the well-known tennis guru, has developed a simple methodology which can help skilled players, recreational players and weekend warriors.

Wegner, who has coached many of the top players in the world, encourages players to have three ideas in mind when they prepare to hit a tennis ball, when they strike it and when they complete their swing:

It is quite simple yet very comprehensive: Find it. Feel it. Finish it.

I have used these simple ideas in my own game and in helping others to play better.

Find it refers to locating the ball its pace, its direction, its height and its spin. Your feet will move almost automatically if you do a good job of locating the ball.

Feel it reminds players to impart spin and to keep the ball on the strings. Wegner, like most modern teachers understands and emphasizes the importance of topspin from the baseline.

Finish it encourages players to swing through the ball and follow through after you feel it on your strings. This facilitates and good weight transfer.

This simple method makes it easy to diagnose what you are doing wrong. For instance, if you set up late, you have not done a good job of following the ball.

Similarly, if you fail to impart spin, you have not done a good job of feeling the ball.

Thirdly, if you hit the ball into the net or weakly over the net, you most likely have failed to finish your swing.

In addition, Wegner's method can be applied to some extent to all of the shots in tennis. You can use these concepts are your serve, your volley, your half volley, you lob,your overhead, your slice, and your drop shot. So, this method has a lot of applications to it.

Give this approach a try and see if your tennis game improves.

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D., is a Psychotherapist, Author and The Founder of http://www.StayInTheZone.com. Granat has appeared in many major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, Tennis Magazine, TennisView Magazine, The BBC, The CBC and ESPN. He is the author of Zone Tennis and many other mental toughness and peak performance programs. He has recently formed a partnership with some of the top tennis pros in the world. Dr. Granat is available for private coaching and for seminars. He can be reached at 888 580-ZONE or at  info@stayinthezone.com

Article Source:  Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just Thirty Minutes

Tennis Lessons Online - Any Good Ones

Tennis Lessons Online - Any Good Ones?

Tennis lessons can be extremely expensive, same thing with a good tennis class.

Looking to cut down the cost while still learning how to improve? Well some online lessons may very well be the answer to your problem.

I first off want to clarify though, if you really want to see improvements, you need a personal tennis coach. You can make a lot of advancements on your own, but a coach really will help you with those small things that make a big difference.

But if you really are looking for some good information that you can get online, well than look no further!

To be honest I just have 2 recommendations for these lessons:

1. I have a bit of information here about a video that teaches you how to improve your serve. This video is great, check it out, you won't be sorry.

2. Youtube, youtube really can teach you a lot of great stuff, here's a few great videos:

Tennis Tips: Top Pro Reveals The Eleven Most Common Mistakes

Tennis Tips: Top Pro Reveals The Eleven Most Common Mistakes Made By Weekend Warrior

Flickr: Julia Görges

Tennis Players
By Jay P. Granat, Ph.D.

Do you love tennis? Would you like to improve your game now?

Tennis fans and tennis players are revved up at this time of the year. Wimbledon just ended and The US Open is about seven week away.

Weekend tennis players tend to make the same kinds of mistakes over and over again. Many tennis matches are won and lost on mental and physical errors.

To learn more about the common mistakes and some of the remedies, I interviewed Rick Macci. Macci, who runs a tennis facility in Boca Raton, Florida, is regarded as one of the best tennis coaches in the country. He has coached many top junior and a lot of top tennis professionals.

Rick is known for his collection of inspiring quotes and motivational sayings. Macci who has been teaching for more than thirty years felt that these were some common problems for adult players. Juniors present different kinds of issues.

1. Many players need to shorten their backswing. A compact swing can reduce errors.

2. Many players use the eastern grip on the serve. Macci feels that they need to use the continental grip.

3. Players tend to not use their legs enough on their strokes. They play primarily with their arms. Macci suggests that players bend their knees as if they are about to sit in a chair and then push down and drive.

4. Players can get too excited on a volley and they tend to take a too large of a backswing on their volley. Remain calm at the net and use a short compact motion.

5. Weekend warriors abbreviate their follow through because they are afraid of
of hitting the ball out. They decelerate and stop the racket. Make a fluid full swing.

6. On the overhead smash, players can get too excited and nervous and they can over swing on this shot. Macci encourages players to be aware of balance, control and placement when executing this shot.

7. Macci feels that players ought to use the backhand slice more often. This shot is reliable and accurate and can be be a real weapon in matches.

8. To be ready to hit a tennis ball, Macci reminds people to use a split step prior to the time that your opponent hits the ball.

9. Many players do not toss the ball high enough on their serve. Macci reminds players that the service motion is a lot like throwing a javelin. You want to hit up and out at the ball. You need a high toss to do this well.

10.  Players stand in the same spot when receiving a second serve. Move up three or four steps on many players' second serve.

11.  When playing doubles, forget about the alleys. Focus on the center of the court.

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D. is a Psychotherapist, the author of Zone Tennis and the Founder of http://www.StayInTheZone.com. He has coached top athletes from around the world in many sports and has been featured in The New York Times, Tennis Magazine, Tennis View Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Good Morning America. He has developed many programs to help athletes perform their best. He can be reached at info@stayinthezone.com and at 888 580-ZONE.

Article Source: Tennis Tips: Top Pro Reveals The Eleven Most Common Mistakes Made By Weekend Warrior Tennis Players

Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just 30 Minutes!

Cilic return

Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just Thirty Minutes
By Jay P. Granat, Ph.D.

The Australian Open is taking place now and avid tennis fans and tennis players will be tuning in early in the morning, (United States Time) to watch the world's best tennis players compete in this first major tournament of the year.

Highly ranked juniors and weekend warriors will be studying the players and the matches carefully and some will be hoping to pick up a few tips that will allow them to take their game to that next level.

I have coached many top players on the mental side of the game and have worked closely with some elite coaches. I am always intrigued by coaches who are great diagnosticians and who can make the game simple via the way they communicate with their students.

Sometimes, one simple tip can help a tennis player to elevate his or her tennis game.

One man, Oscar Wegner, the well-known tennis guru, has developed a simple methodology which can help skilled players, recreational players and weekend warriors.

Wegner, who has coached many of the top players in the world, encourages players to have three ideas in mind when they prepare to hit a tennis ball, when they strike it and when they complete their swing:

It is quite simple yet very comprehensive: Find it. Feel it. Finish it.

I have used these simple ideas in my own game and in helping others to play better.

Find it refers to locating the ball its pace, its direction, its height and its spin. Your feet will move almost automatically if you do a good job of locating the ball.

Feel it reminds players to impart spin and to keep the ball on the strings. Wegner, like most modern teachers understands and emphasizes the importance of topspin from the baseline.

Finish it encourages players to swing through the ball and follow through after you feel it on your strings. This facilitates and good weight transfer.

This simple method makes it easy to diagnose what you are doing wrong. For instance, if you set up late, you have not done a good job of following the ball.

Similarly, if you fail to impart spin, you have not done a good job of feeling the ball.

Thirdly, if you hit the ball into the net or weakly over the net, you most likely have failed to finish your swing.

In addition, Wegner's method can be applied to some extent to all of the shots in tennis. You can use these concepts are your serve, your volley, your half volley, you lob,your overhead, your slice, and your drop shot. So, this method has a lot of applications to it.

Give this approach a try and see if your tennis game improves.

Jay P. Granat, Ph.D., is a Psychotherapist, Author and The Founder of http://www.StayInTheZone.com. Granat has appeared in many major media outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Good Morning America, Tennis Magazine, TennisView Magazine, The BBC, The CBC and ESPN. He is the author of Zone Tennis and many other mental toughness and peak performance programs. He has recently formed a partnership with some of the top tennis pros in the world. Dr. Granat is available for private coaching and for seminars. He can be reached at 888 580-ZONE or at info@stayinthezone.com

Article Source: Tennis Tips: How To Really Improve Your Tennis Game In Just Thirty Minutes

How To Improve At Tennis

How To Improve At Tennis

Want to learn how really start seeing improvements in your tennis game?

Sometimes tennis can be a really frustrating game. I remember when I started out, my instructor never really seemed to help me. I'd do the drills, and try to figure out the concepts, but I just kept on losing.

Really it wasn't until I switched instructors that I found out the secrets to really improving my game, well I don't think secrets is really the right word. But my instructor definitely showed me what makes a good player and a bad.

Really the difference is pretty simple, it's all about the focus of your practice and your play. All you need to focus on is three things :

1. When you prepare to hit that ball!

Preperation to hitting or returning a tennis ball is key, how do you want to hit it? What kind of angle do you want? Where should you stand so you can hit it that way? You'll never ever return a ball if you catch yourself out of position, that's why you must locate the ball, and realize how it's going to come twoards you.

2. Hit it!

The next key is pretty simple, how are you going to hit the ball? I found from experience that learning how to put top spin on a ball made a huge difference for me. You need to use step 1 to judge where the ball is coming from so that you can hit the ball correctly. If you hit it too soon you'll hit the net, and too late and the ball may go flying. Learn where and how you want to hit the ball.

3. Follow through

It took me forever to understand why this one was so important. Follow through is key, you need to follow the swing with your whole body, this will give you more control, and a lot more power. I used to always ignore practicing or focusing on this aspect of tennis, but it really changed my game.

There you go! Three things to focus on! Remember, keep it simple, focusing on these 3 steps is key towards getting a good game.

The only other problem I used to face a lot was my serve, I have on here a bit of information about one of my favorite guys who teaches some great techniques towards perfecting your serve. Check out my review on him here: Improve Your Tennis Serve.

Tips for Playing Tennis in the Heat

Tips for Playing Tennis in the Heat

By Karen Samartha Walker 

With summer approaching and temperatures soaring high, the pressure of playing under the intense heat and humid conditions rises to unbearable level. The surface of the courts get really hot that its temperature may range anything between 10 to 20 degrees higher than normally off-court surfaces. In addition, the direct sunlight which is unavoidable also make the entire atmosphere seem like one being placed inside a microwave oven.

In order to maintain a safe and healthy body, along with the joy of playing tennis under the extreme heat, it is necessary to follow some basic essential procedures which are given below:

1. Hydration - The human body use fluids within to get rid of extra heat. When the external temperature rises, the body reacts to the changing status quo through perspiration and other means. However, if the body is under intense physical pressure and exposed to very hot conditions, the chances of getting dehydrated becomes a high probability. This in turn increases the possibilities of experiencing heat cramps, heat stroke and exhaustion which will lead to nausea, vomiting, paleness and dizziness. Furthermore, people who suffers from heat stroke are likely to become unconscious, delirious and even experience seizures.

Naturally, the need to hydrate is of utmost necessity. However, the question is what and how much of drinking fluids are required. Drinking a gallon of water prior to the day of playing is a good and viable suggestion, or the player may find himself in a position where he has to run into the washroom during the matches to relieve himself, now and then. However, it must be remembered that certain sports drink are added to the water so that one does not flush their own bodily electrolytes. Another thing to be kept in mind is to drink steady amounts during the 90-seconds changeovers.

2. Clothing - Clothes and the fabrics with which the outfits are made of is another very important factor that will help handle the pressure of playing in the heat. For many, cotton seems a good option for wearing, however, cotton fabrics pose a problem if one is indulging in a play where sweats literally drench your whole body. The reason is that though cotton t-shirt is cool and relaxing, it absorbs a lot of sweat and becomes heavy in the process. This could be a potential problem in playing tennis where every little issue counts, and must be avoided. Also, bright colours are better choices for uniforms in place of dark colours.

3. Keep hands and grip dry - Holding a sweat soaked grip is a highly challenging task while trying to keep the hands dry. To avoid your grip from getting soggy, the solution is to wear extra wristbands as it will stop the sweat from dripping down from the arm, and also to have dry towels. Another resort is drying the palms on the bottom of one's shoes.

4. Shade - Wearing a hat is a good idea to shield away from the blazing sun rays and hot conditions. Also, players must make the most of the 90-seconds break during changeovers by getting away from direct exposure of the sun for at least a while. All tournaments do offer umbrellas for the player but it there is none, at least put a towel over your head by yourself or try to sit at a corner of the court where there is shade.

5. Miscellaneous - Though players hardly use sunglasses while playing, there is no harm in wearing one. This will protect your eyes from the intense light and heat, and help maintain your eye health in the long run. Another idea, is to keep extra clothes and socks by your side while playing. This is so because the chances of getting drenched is almost a surety, and one cannot go on playing all wet.

Karen Samartha Walker is associated with the leading tennis website TennisEarth. Over the years, http://www.tennisearth.com has been proving instrumental in nurturing grass-root level tennis. TennisEarth has its unique Rating System for professional and amateur players with other revolutionary tennis development and promotion features and tools i.e. Live Tennis Commentary, Tennis Exchange Game and Tennis Learning Programs.

Article Source: Tips for Playing Tennis in the Heat

Private Tennis Lessons Versus Classes

Private Tennis Lessons Verus Classes

Rafa from Roof Cam

By Ron Darien

When someone thinks about playing tennis, the first thing that comes to mind is tennis lessons or classes. The student is thinking instruction and usually in the cheapest means possible. There are two options for every new tennis student: take a beginner private tennis lesson or join a tennis class for newbies.

In a tennis class, the student will travel to the club at the pre-set times and follow the pre-set syllabus for the class. The pace of the class will be dictated by the average progress in the class, and 70% of the time the student will be sitting in line waiting to hit the ball. The amount of time spent watching other students play will generally exceed the total amount of personal playing time.

In a private lesson, the student is able to progress on their own time. The amount of hitting time is maxed out, because the student doesn't have to wait for others to hit the ball before they can be first in line. Additionally, other students who may not be "getting it" will not be slowing down the learning progress of the student.

Tennis requires a lot of patience and practice. It is vital that every student get as many hits on the ball as possible. The more hits each student get, the better the student will become. Unfortunately, the class setting does not provide the dial amount of practice for a newbie without several sessions.

Private lessons typically cost more than classes. They can cost anywhere from $30 per hour to $100 per hour. On the other hand, classes can cost anywhere from $15-60 per hour.

When looking at lessons, you also want to make sure that the instructor not only has tennis playing experience but also has tennis teaching experience. There are several certification agencies such as: PTR and USPTA and USPA. Ask your instructor if they have any of those certifications. Instructors typically pay a fee, take a test, and then instruct in front of an association professional to ensure their skills, effectiveness, and professionalism.

If you do the math, in order to get the same cost per time hitting the ball, the class would have to ensure that at least 50% of the time, the student would be hitting the ball and have individual attention. While the classes may be cheaper, the private lessons are far more effective in getting beginners to master the basics in a timely manner.

The owner is an instructor forTennispronow.com

Article Source: Private Tennis Lessons Verus Classes