In the first three months of 2013 the ATP challenger tour will be testing out a new rule, the elimination of the service let. Though there are no immediate plans to implement this rule in a broader scope there is no question that this is the first attempt at doing just that. Would this potential…
This is the calm before the storm, as rumors have circulated for months that the ATP Player Council, led by Roger Federer, is going to strike at this year’s Australian Open over prize money inequities. The players are mad as hell and not going to take it anymore and now unlike the past efforts at negotiations,…
There are many reasons doubles teams may want to stray from the traditional service formation to the “I” formation (also known as the Australian formation). Let’s go over some of them. First and foremost is that one or both of the opponents are returning consistently well. By using the “I” formation you are taking them…
I’d like to bring a small snack and a bottle of water when I go to watch the U.S. Open, but I don’t because it’s just not worth the hassle. The security screening line which ensures that no unauthorized PB and J sandwiches threaten the event is enormous. If convenience is high on your list of…
Andy Roddick announced his retirement at the 2012 U.S. Open on Thursday, his 30th birthday. Roddick was the best male, American player of the last decade, and in this regard, he was in the right place at the right time as Sampras and Agassi were calling it quits. Roddick won the U.S. Open in 2003 and was…
The stance you use when hitting the ball determines the concentration needed concerning your shoulder turn. If you hit in the more conservative closed stance, where there is a turn step and hit, the shoulders will naturally turn sideways because the left leg (if right handed) is pointed toward the net. On the backhand side,…
To improve your level of play a variety of different shots are needed, one of which is the forehand slice. Let’s go over a few tips to help you hit it better, or if you are new at it, get started. Your first question is, I already have a decent topspin forehand why do I…
When playing doubles, we are positioned many times during the match at the service line, or we are attacking forward toward the net, in both cases, we are subject to low, oncoming shots that require us to pick the ball up off a short hop, that’s the half volley. I like to say the half…
Concentrate like anything. Relax and prepare for a long point. Keep the ball in play. Whatever you do, win the first point of every game. It makes it so much easier. Like riding a bike downhill. Once you have the first point under your belt, start concentrating on the second one. Same thing, no let…
If you are taking tennis lessons I hope your pro is explaining why certain ball reactions happen. The best instructors have the ability to teach the same thing by explaining it different ways. I may explain something one way but it is not understood by the pupil, having multiple explanations allows one of them to…