Regaining Number 1 Tennis Ranking in America

 Regaining Number 1 Tennis in America

TEN THINGS THAT’S WRONG WITH AMERICA’S TEACHING OF TENNIS TODAY: Old School taboo; Starting too young; Bigger; Better Program Myth; Playing and Practicing; Purposeful effort; Student Immaturity; Inattention to detail; Lacking Sound techniques; Role of better equipment.

1         Old School is considered taboo: Many of todays' players don't come from private clubs, and many have taught themselves, and watched players on T.V., and are not familiar with Old School, that taught basic footwork and ball control.

2         Myth: Starting sooner will get you there faster: Many of today's parents, who themselves have not played tennis, heard that the father of Venus and Serena taught them to play, and believe that starting their youngsters at a very young age 10u might  make the difference.

3         Bigger program the better: Local tennis facilities with numerous courts are filled with instructors that have played, or are playing tennis, and looking for part-time jobs and have taken up teaching Tennis.  These players, often with no tournament, or teaching experience and limited background in sports, see teaching  tennis at the recreational level as an easy way to make money.

4         The difference between playing and practicing: Playing is putting into use what you have practiced. Many tennis players think that simply by playing they will improve.  Unfortunately, this is never the case.  One must practice so that their strokes are performed as they are needed, and done so subconsciously .  This can only occur when you are able to slow down your movement so that you can prepare by getting your racquet back, getting into position, planting you feet, for a good hitting foundation and following through.

5         Purpose of effort: Practice must be done with real results in mind.  One good example is a player who fails to follow through on the serve because of fear it will go too long.  The follow through must be done so that the serve will have control, and direction.  A player must remember that every stroke has three elements: The strokes early preparation, the contact point, and the follow through. 

6         Immaturity of student: Many of todays' youngsters are not mentally, emotionally, and physically mature for the rigors of the discipline of tennis.  For example, some learn to play with two hands because their fingers are to short to control the change in grip necessary for the one hand backhand, though two hands shortens their reach and requires them to run more.  Many don't understand the need for proper footwork that assures proper balance. And finally, losing is a part of the game that players must understand. There has never been a tennis players that doesn't make errors.  Youngsters must be taught that the only time you start at the top is when you're learning to Ski, or learning to swim.

7         Instructional inattention to detail in teaching:  Many teachers, I have observed, fail to correct footwork demands, or the need to explain why certain style, or playing technique is ineffective for that individual player, and often fail to show the cause of certain errors in stroke making because of their limited knowledge, or understanding.

8         Lack of sound approach to teaching: Anyone teaching tennis, must not only have a love of the game, but must have an understanding of the mechanics of constructing the stroke. Simply being able to demonstrate the stroke is not enough.  The instructor must be able and willing to  dissect the stroke so that the problem is evident to the student.

9         Players’ reliance upon equipment: Players must understand that, if they put in the time to practice, to learn the mechanics of producing each and every stroke in tennis, there is no reason to give credit to your equipment bag, your newest racquet, or your colorful shoes.

10     Playing –not practicing to  improve: Being unwilling to play a weaker player for fear it will damage your game, is a foolish idea that can be observed on numerous courts throughout the United States.  Playing against a weaker player is your opportunity to work on shots that a better player doesn't give you time to attempt.

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?