The many benefits of physical activity Besides benefits on physical health, engaging in sports and physical activity has well-documented benefits also on the mental health and well-being of children and adults alike. These include decreased depressive symptoms, increased self-esteem, and improved social abilities—and these can be gained from participating in sports, both team and…
Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) presented its annual awards last week during the PTR International Tennis Symposium. The event, which includes more than 40 educational presentations for tennis coaches, was held on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Husband and wife duo, Liezel and Tony Huber, of Bronxville, New York have been named PTR Members of the…
The modern forehand at the professional level, especially on the men’s side of the game, is typified by parabolic swing shapes, leg explosion and hip rotation, mid-air ball striking, lower, reversed and inverted finishes—and most of all—elasticity. Looking back at the evolution of tennis technique over the past 30-40 years, the dramatic change is…
The grip when hitting a one-handed backhand should be held so that the “v” formed by your thumb and index finger is on the first bevel to the left of the top of the grip( for a right hander). From the ready position, turn your shoulders and hips, placing your right foot (for right…
Adjusting your position on the court after hitting a shot can be more important than running after your opponent’s reply. First, move towards the open part of the court which is where most players will hit the next shot. In addition, if you hit your shot well, take a couple of steps forward. In…
Beginning this year, Queens College will begin offering a new course designed to increase the quality and quantity of professionals in the tennis industry. The course is the product of a partnership between the USTA-U and CUNY (City University of New York), who are teaming up to provide an invaluable resource not just for…
There are basically three ways to win a point in a tennis match. The most common, and also most difficult idea to execute, is to hit a winner. This means hitting a shot that the opponent cannot return and it requires a high level of expertise to be successful during match play. I strongly…
I have often talked about how we tend to gravitate towards whatever is comfortable on the tennis court. Many times, this means serving, returning and then recovering to the middle of the court about a few feet behind the baseline to exchange groundstrokes. A good opponent is likely to try to take you out…
After playing a tennis match, it is natural to critique your play and assess how things went. Since every match is different, it is likely that your positives and negatives will change from match to match. It is a great idea to come up with exactly what you are going to do before you…
Many players tend to try to hit all of their shots away from the opponent during a tennis match. Try to use this idea instead: keep your shots deep and towards the middle at the beginning of a point. There are many reasons to start the point this way. Serving to the middle of…