Tennis Anyone

 Tennis Professional Demonstrates hard to teach concepts in tennis

by: Daniel A. Young, Sr. nttcacemaker.com, @nttctennis 919 6510-5255

Understanding, and applying suggestions, and tips provided by well-meaning tennis coaches, and instructors often lack the necessary hook to make the message stick.

That problem has been solved in the instant use tennis techniques used by NTTC Instructors.  For example, “Get your racquet back," intones the coach, who demonstrates by holding a tennis ball head high, and tells the student to watch the ball.   When they see the ball leave the instructor's hand, they are required to throw their racquet back with the other hand, point the butt of the racquet at the ball, while the non-racquet hand points to the oncoming ball.

“Wayward ball toss.” 

You know by now that the Serve is 50% of the game of tennis, and the Toss is 50% of the Serve.

When you can’t control your ball toss: “Start with both your hands together:  As you cradle the ball, in the “Praying Mantis Position.”  Then drop both hands.  Let the back of the ball tossing hand hit the players’ inner thigh on ball tossing side.

This stops the ball's downward movement and permits the ball tossing hand to change direction.  Now, both the Racquet hand, and the ball tossing hand are raised simultaneously to shoulder height in opposite directions.  This is repeated until it becomes fluid, and natural.  It should look natural as well.

As the last set of arm movements are stopped shoulder height, Stop!  Now, brush the back of your head with what would be your racquet hand—think in terms of making a muscle--with the racquet-hand, while looking up towards the upward facing palm of the ball tossing hand.

When this can be done in a smooth, rhythmic motion, let the ball tossing hand continue upward and extend as high up as you can reach.  The palm of the ball tossing hand should be facing towards you.  This may feel awkward for a while.

Now unwind.  Doing the same movements, just doing them in reverse very slowly.

Professionalism and Fairness in today's Tennis

Better Tennis Bureau 919-610-5255

For the most part, Tennis is considered a fair sport.  Supposedly, players, according to Nick Powell, who wrote the Code of Tennis Etiquette, were required to settle any question of doubt of a ball being considered “In” or “Out” [no pun intended] was always to be decided, awarded, given, unquestionably, in favor of your opponent.  That’s fairness, Right?

Playing two on one, or what’s called Australian Tennis, is not considered fair, right; but, good practice for singles and doubles!  But usually, when a qualified fourth comes along, they might be invited to play, Right?  What if the fourth is not as talented, or is just learning to play; that competition would not be considered fair either.

Competition is pitting your ability, talents, skills, agility and mental prowess, against an opponent of equal stature; if not, what’s the purpose?  If the players are not equal, the “game” or “pursuit” is not competition at all, it’s bullying. No one likes, or wants to be bullied.

Many will tell you that tennis is the fairest sport of all. They will argue that there are linesman, or lines-women lines persons [Let’s be fair] in the Umpire’s Chair, calling the many lines, keeping the score, deciding who is to serve first, all in the exercising of fairness.

Ball persons at the ready with towels, new balls, giving equal time and attention to the professional player.

In all competitive sports, the element of fairness is taken into consideration to make the competition equal; or to “level” the playing field, to be politically correct, as real journalist like to say.

Depending upon the sport, most team chose players, depending upon their ability, skill, speed, agility, height, weight. Take the sport of Baseball.  Nine players, of different, but known abilities and talents assembled as a unit to play a game.  The same requirements are to be found in most team sports like Football, Basketball, Hockey and La Crosse.

Tennis, the sport of a life time, [and there is a reason it’s called the Sport of a Lifetime time], does not chose its players in this fashion.  As anyone knows, in an individual sport, i.e., Skiing, Ice Skating, Boxing, Wrestling; you can be as good as you want to be, without exception. Practice, Practice determination, and hard work are all that is required and, perhaps an entry fee.

Think about the team sports per se, these players are physically trying to hinder the opposing player.  Catchers, Pitchers, other opposing team members, are trying to spoil the batters attempt to get a hit or get on base, through movement, different fielding positions and signaling. 

In Football, the coaches might call the plays, or the Quarterback might stutters is signal calling to get a penalty advantage of being off sides, etc.

Tennis given all of its effort to be fair, and claiming to a professional sport, has missed one opportunity to be fair.  While you might not make the team because of your height in Basketball, because of your weight in Football or Boxing.  Tall or taller Tennis players do gain a distinct advantage in height because of the serve elevation. 

Thus, pitchers have decided advantage over hitters because of the raised pitching mound.

For this reason the Better Tennis Bureau, a creation of the National Tennis Teacher’s College, believes and advocates, that all tennis players should be given just one serve per point. 

Think of it.  One serve per point would shorten matches, would eliminate double faults, and the wait, while another ball is retrieved. One serve would save wear and tear on the arm, back, shoulders and knees. Players would have more stamina, for the third, or fifth set, if they serve and volley, by not having to go back to serve the second ball.

One serve would take away the server’s advantage, we’ve all heard about, and receivers would be mentally set to receive serve, and the rally would be immediate.

Finally, if these are truly, professional players and capable of doing what you and I aren’t capable of doing, they should be able to be just as effective with one serve; however, in the interest of drama, the Better Tennis Bureau would suggest awarding two points for a one serve “Ace.”

That's my perspective.  What's yours?

 

Getting your money's worth out of your tennis lesson

Every year, more and more people are taking up the game of tennis.  Perhaps you even got a tennis racquet for Christmas.  My first racquet was bought at Rexall Drug Store in Washington, D.C., in the early 70's, but that was then, this is now. 

Tennis is indeed the sport of a lifetime, but you won't enjoy those benefits of better health, increased social activities, and self-esteem in learning, and doing something well, unless you devote some time to learning the nuances and fundamentals of the game and practice, especially in tennis.

If you  take the time, expend the energy to go, and put out your cold, hard, cash for a lesson or two, why not take then the time to put that knowledge you've acquired into effect?

You might not see immediately the results of the lessons, but once you acquire the knowledge, you must utilize it.  It's been said: "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink."

Another platitude worth repeating is this Persian Proverb: "He who knows not and knows not that he knows not, is a fool. Shun him.

He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not is a child, teach him.

He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep, wake him.

He who knows, and knows that he knows, is wise follow him.

To get the most out of any lesson, you must at least attempt to apply that knowledge immediately, and it must be applied consistently for maximum results.  Once any stroke is demonstrated, and you feel, it might help your game, put that knowledge to use immediately.  Start mimicking the stroke every chance you get. Any time you have your racquet in your hand, make it a point to be practicing, mentally see yourself slowly stroking through the ball.

Even better if you can see the reflection of yourself in a mirror, car window, club house window, any thing that will give you feed back as to how the stroke should look, and feel when you are under no pressure to execute. 

Then, take this same knowledge, feel to the courts and take on some of those duffers that are hanging around, hoping to get in a match.  Here's your chance to become better known as being friendly, and approachable about the courts.  While at the same time you are actually sharpening your game, so long as you don't become lazy, and sloppy with your stroke production, just because there is little stakes on the line.

And remember this, as well: "You're not nearly as good as you think you are, and only half as good as they say you are.