Coaching

The New York area tennis community is one that is comprised of people from all walks of life … many of whom make paying it forward a point of emphasis. That is embodied in Michael Nortey, a High Performance Instructor at The Cary Leeds Center for Tennis & Learning in the Bronx, N.Y. Michael...Read more

The following are six easy steps to get you ready for the upcoming outdoor season … 1. Play the baseline: When we play on clay, we normally entrench ourselves way behind the baseline to play high balls and try to force the opponent's mistake, since the court slows down the ball. On a hard court,...Read more

It’s always fun to sit on the dais with some of the great thinkers in the world of tennis. I was recently invited to participate in a panel discussion at this year’s New York Tennis Expo at NYCB LIVE . The panel consisted of Steve Johnson, the California-born powerhouse currently ranked 34th in the...Read more

It’s important that players understand the importance, function and movements of the split-step. When you finally “get it,” tennis becomes a very different game. Split-steps link together movements and create a brief pause allowing players to make decisions, react efficiently, see where the ball is...Read more

Watching singles tennis matches at both the pro and junior levels, I have noticed that these matches are relatively long in duration. A tennis match generally takes anywhere from one hour to five hours to complete, depending on a few factors, one of which is the format of the match (best of three...Read more

At the highest levels of competitive tennis, it can be very hard to know who is winning or losing at first glance. One of the key concepts of understanding the inner game of tennis is that of momentum development. The key questions are: 1. How do you start building momentum … what do you do to get...Read more

I have been treating athletes for the last 20 years, and after all this time, I can conclude that their issues fall into one of the following two categories: They will fail either out of a fear of success or due growing self-doubt. In this article, let us explore the former issue, the so-called “...Read more

In today’s day and age, running a business in almost any industry requires more than just a brick and mortar operation. And the tennis industry is no different. Being able to not only provide quality programming, but creating a recognizable brand to showcase to potential customers, is essential to...Read more

As USPTA tennis professionals, we are often asked questions about strategy. What shot should I use when this happens? When should I try this tactic? I have put together some tips to help singles players better understand how and when to use certain strokes in order to achieve the best tactical...Read more

Classic volleys are shots that have a specific spin and use short arm and hand movements paired with specific footwork. Spin amounts vary, racket work is short, contained and precise. Footwork is dance-like, using repetitive patterns which adapt to different tempos and situations. When racket work...Read more