There are some tennis memories that are burned in my mind and they will never leave me. One for example, is watching a Bjorn Borg – John McEnroe Wimbledon final, one is saving up to buy my first second hand Donnay Borg Pro racquet. Another is the day that I learned that I was focusing…
Open any tennis book, and 90 percent of online technical videos, and you will find some amazing information on swing lines, impact points and grips. Much like Harry Potter can’t cast a spell without his wand we are obsessed with the role of the racket and shape of the stroke. It’s logical that when…
It’s an implied truth in coaching, and an inferred truth by many parents, that a coach with great students must be a great coach. I admit that I use the marketing tactic of, “Who I coach and have coached”, because it is a powerful sell, but here’s a dirty little secret: “Great player results…
Three years ago, right before my annual High School Coaches Clinic I sat on the couch at my club and listened to Nick Bollettieri as he told me the first thing he does with a new student: “I say nothing. I just listen and observe.” I’ve followed this principle with new students my entire…
Throughout my professional career, I have been fortunate enough to have worked closely with a variety of parents and junior tennis players who have been able to make tennis their profession. Furthermore, I have helped many players achieve academic success through scholarships by ushering them into the next level of their developmental play on…
Tennis is such a globalized sport which means many things for a growing tennis player. It might mean traveling away from home at a young age, living abroad or meeting new people weekly at tournaments, and therefore the most essential skill is that of being able to adjust constantly. Learning to accept being uncomfortable…
At the height of her playing career, Ahsha Rolle reached the third-round of the U.S. Open back in 2007, and peaked at No. 82 in the WTA Rankings. A competitive tour player with a unique playing style and graceful one-handed backhand, Rolle also competed on behalf of the United States in both Fed Cup…
It’s no secret that confidence is the one defining factor of winners and those who remain at the top. Confidence seems to be the reason the ball drops in when it should not, that luck is on your side and that you can come back from behind and always believe in your ability to…
This article is partially excerpted from the forthcoming Secrets of Spanish Tennis Second Edition, coming soon in 2023! Vamos! I have recently been working hard to finish the Secrets of Spanish Tennis Second Edition and get the manuscript to my publisher. The original book was published in 2014 and a lot has changed in…
Every year I receive numerous calls from college freshmen who seemingly out of the blue have lost their feel, instincts and confidence. Their mental game used to be reliable but now they are experiencing anxiousness, anger and an unstable attitude playing for their new team. They can’t believe what they are experiencing: some describe…