It’s a common and often contentious debate among tennis instructors: Should we train young players with the standard yellow tennis ball or use the progressive red-to-orange-to-green approach? The latter—which relies on slower, less compressed tennis balls–is gaining momentum in tennis circles worldwide. In fact, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) recommends this approach because it better…
What’s the secret to sustained peak performance? Let’s face it … this is the million dollar question! Federer, Monfils, Sharapova … all competitors are trying to solve this great mystery. In the next six articles through 2015, I will highlight a key principle called “More Than an Athlete: Person First. Athlete Second (MTAA.A1.P2)” which I…
The tempo of the take-back is the first and most critical phase in the timing of the serve. It doesn’t matter whether you use a classic, abbreviated or somewhere in between motion. Remember you have to organize your feet, legs, hips, torso, shoulders, arms, hands and head in a continuous chain event to get to…
In today’s game, one of the most under-practiced shots is the inside-out backhand. While the inside-out backhand is not the weapon of choice players enjoy with their inside-out forehand, there are key times and reasons you should include this shot into your practice schedule and match play. Return of serve As a right-handed player, returning…
Proper footwork in tennis is as versatile and technical as it is physically demanding. Because of this, footwork is one of the most difficult aspects of the sport to attain a high level in. Furthermore, proper movement is extremely influential on the development of strokes and tactics, which ultimately dictates what level someone can compete…
What are the first things we do when things are not going the way they should be? Let’s say in tennis tournaments you are not getting the results you would like. In fact, you just played in the quarterfinals of a tournament and lost in three hard-fought sets. However in the second set, you held…
If you study sports movement long enough, you learn that most moves are considered to be either rotational (circular) or linear. In reality, most moves are some combination of both, but for easier understanding, it is helpful to look at them as separate moves. Many of you may remember the early teachings on how to…
The USTA has a whopping $30 million annual player development budget, according to The New York Times. Given their goal to "Create the Next Generation of Champions," things are not going too well. While the women's side seems brighter than the men's side, the outlook for the next great American, capable of winning multiple Grand…
Tennis is an old game, not the oldest of games, but certainly an old one. Part of what gives tennis an even older feel is the fact that it has been so resistant to change, but whether welcome or not, technology has played a large part in the changes in the sport of tennis over…
You’re on the court, playing against a similarly skilled opponent. Suddenly, a gust of wind blows your return shot out of bounds. Now you’re behind in the match. The weather continues to be problematic all match long, making you more and more frustrated. Eventually, your frustration consumes your game and your opponent beats you. Keep…