In today’s day and age, 99 percent of the players use a two-handed backhand and most players are playing a typical baseline style that is indicative of this era of high tech rackets with a power game that has ruled tennis over the past two decades. Approaching the net, volleying and having a transition game…
The battle between the serve and return is a quintessential case of an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object, and this clash of styles has given us some epic matchups over the years. Every tennis player wants the biggest serve on the block. Who doesn’t want to pop one off, maybe two aces per service…
We have all seen “It,” either as a player, coach or fan. The “It” I am referring to is a player in the throes of a slump. Maybe “It” is a tournament winless streak like Novak Djokovic is currently experiencing due to what he calls “personal issues.” Or maybe “It” is missing the last six…
I’m writing from the terrace of the players’ lounge at the Indian Wells event, where the view is incredible, and the desert mountains in the background resemble a postcard. Fernando Verdasco just finished his match, as the hot temperature reached its peak around 120 degrees Fahrenheit. It was a tough loss … Fernando couldn’t handle…
It’s obvious that speed plays a key role in tennis. However, speed is more than just how fast a player moves on the court. It also refers to reaction time, readiness and the ability to make tactical decisions on the spot. Good tennis players have perfect command of all of these skills. They can move…
Here is the big question: How can we expect players to do something as complicated as serving when they cannot throw and release a ball directly out of their hand? In this article, I am going to stress the importance of the grip and a throwing release as central principles to a great serve. We’re…
I cannot wait for summer tennis! I love all of it … from hard courts to clay courts with all the heat and humidity. The entire country has tennis action for all levels and the courts are packed! There are some really good pro tournament options from coast to coast. The summer season ends at…
On Tuesday, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) announced that Spanish duo Sergio Casal and Emilio Sanchez will receive the ITF’s highest accolade, the Philippe Chatrier Award, for their services to the game as players and coaches. The award will be presented at the 2017 ITF World Champions Dinner on June 6 in Paris at the…
I decided to read a tennis book to improve my game, and complement my practices in drills and lessons with instructors. But let’s face it … I need more than a book, I need a library. To begin my learning-tennis-by-the-book quest, I started with Game, Set and Match (2015) by Mark Hodgkinson. It was there…
Most New York tennis players are familiar with the two most popular tennis-teaching organizations: The PTR (Professional Tennis Registry) and the USPTA (Professional Tennis Association). They both offer workshops and testing to become certified tennis teachers. Each organization has about 15,000 members. Does one need this certification to be a good tennis instructor? Not necessarily….