Beginners and pros alike understand the importance of keeping the ball in play. A common complaint is that every shot feels like an adventure, even while demonstrating consistent play. An important goal is to FEEL consistent, because movement familiarity promotes supreme confidence. I've heard this feeling described as "being grooved," and it's that great zone when…
One of the most widely played live ball practice games is commonly called "Sweeper." It's essentially a singles rally game started with a neutral feed from the baseline. Sweeper is a staple game of junior practice sessions everywhere, and a fun way to build a solid foundation for point construction. It's a bit unrealistic, however, for the more advanced levels…
The calendar may say "Spring," but the thermometer says "Winter" and the wind chill says "Brrr!" You don't have to suffer and waste valuable energy shivering. Save your movement for the match by dressing wisely. Wear wool or synthetics instead of cotton. When cotton gets wet, it has negative thermal properties. Wear a mesh vapor layer. "Craft" and Under Armor" both make…
I've learned a few "hacks" in my years of coaching that I would like to share weekly in this blog, beginning with "Part 1: Impress the School Coach at Tryouts." So your trying out for the school team with numerous other players and you want to make your best impression on the coach? Here's a foolproof way to…
Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic, taking a page from the Academy Awards, tried to take a "selfie" during their exhibition match last night during the BNP Paribas Showdown at Madison Square Garden. Fail! How come these guys can't master how to use a cellphone on the court? Well perhaps they just don't spend much time with their…
Disco was popular and the best doubles team in the world was "John McEnroe & Anyone." That was a long time ago. The BNP Paribas is coming to Madison Square Garden again this year and in one of the matchups John McEnroe, the "Michael Jordan of Doubles" is teaming with his brother Patrick (let's call him…
While switching channels between NFL playoff football and the Australian Open, I could not help but notice the difference in the production value of each broadcast. The NFL telecast is polished like a Broadway show. Their graphic technology is cutting-edge, and the announcers are polished journalists, likeable, interactive, knowledgeable and aware of when to let the action speak for itself. No one would expect…
The $399 Babolat Play Pure Drive was showcased at the 2014 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas last week. This racket features tiny sensors embedded in the handle to measure swing consistency, power, spin and just about everything else that happens between the racket and ball. This information is instantly sent over a Bluetooth…
Ladder drills, shuttle runs and cone drills will help your footwork on the tennis court, and according to a recent study in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, they could make you smarter. People who did agility training three times a week for six weeks raised their scores on a memory test by 11 percent. The…
Is hitting tennis balls on a racquetball court (or squash court) helpful to your tennis game? The answer is unequivocally … YES! I am living proof … 63-years-old and still improving. It is amazing! For 100 days in a row (a little extreme), I have been hitting on the racquetball court at my local JCC for a half-hour. That's a lot…