Finding the Best Tennis Ball Machine

Tennis Twist is undoubtedly the best value when looking to purchase tennis ball machines. This product is priced very reasonably at around $230, making it the most affordable tennis ball machine available by far. Despite being the lowest priced tennis machine, the Tennis Twist is also very light and battery operated, making it very transportable and it will fit in the backseat of any SUV. The Tennis Twist also supplies tennis balls at a constant rate providing great repetition that will make a practice session valuable. Whether you want to practice your backhand or just need someone to play with, this tennis machine will make you better at tennis. And because a tennis machine doesn't screw up, you don't have to worry about bad hits while practicing. You get to hit a consistent shot practicing your form for 28 repetitions to help structure your muscles and develop your mental discipline.

Unique Features of the Tennis Twist

Tennis Tutor wanted to design a lightweight machine and they were looking to create a cheap tennis ball machine that would provide basic features that would allow any skill level, basic to intermediate to advanced, to get a excellent and reliable experience. The distinctive spiral design automatically feeds the 28 tennis balls. The ball machine then lobs out a ball every 5 seconds giving you time to take the shot, evaluate it, and recover in time for the next ball. The best way to use the unit is to position it at various spots based on the style of shot you want. Because the tennis system doesn't have any oscillation features, the only means of changing the shot is to change the position. You'll also want to place the Tennis Twist on the same side of the net because it only shoots about 10 feet or so. Although if you want to practice the overhead smash you'll need to put it on the opposite side of the net.

These are just a few examples of what makes this tennis machine different from other tennis machines. To get a better look at how the tennis machine works and some additional benefits (and even some weaknesses) you'll want to check out a Tennis Twist review.

Comparing the Tennis Twist

The Tennis Twist is the best value for the money when it comes to tennis machines, but how does it compare to other, more expensive machines? One popular brand of tennis ball machine is the Lobster Elite line. Just looking at the cheapest lobster tennis ball machine, you would spend $850 which is nearly 4 times as much as the Tennis Twist. Is it worth four times more? The Lobster Elite Freedom, which is the cheap tennis ball machine, has adjustable speeds, a higher ball capacity, and a nice horizontal oscillation feature that will alternate the shots around the court. The speed adjust feature is helpful because it allows you to hit the ball faster;however, the key to a good practice is solid form and hitting more balls doesn't necessarily make you better. As far as the hopper capacity goes, the unit provides a 2 minute rally and unless you are in fantastic physical shape, 2 minutes is a good workout. And with the Lobster's oscillation feature, it can be good practice running to each side of the court, but you can effectively do the same thing with the Tennis Twist with some creativity. For an extra $630 you get some nice features, but not really necessary.

Another popular ball machine is the official Tennis Tutor model. This system costs around $950 and is practically the same as the Lobster Elite Freedom when it comes to features. So when reviewing the Tennis Twist against the Tennis Tutor ball machine, you save close to $700. Don't get me wrong, these expensive tennis ball machines do have their place. If you are a competitive player or a coach, many of these models will have valuable features, but if you need a cheap tennis ball machine to help you get better at tennis, there is no better value.

Where to Get the Best Price on Tennis Twist Tennis Ball Machine

Whether you live in the US, UK, or anywhere else in the world, in order to get the lowest price on a Tennis Twist you'll need to look around online. There are many physical stores that have an online website and frequently will advertise specials. A surefire idea would be to check out a Tennis Twist review as many times they'll give you ideas on how to save money buying a tennis ball machine.

Tennis Humor - The Gift Of Making People Laugh At The Game Of Tennis

To those of us who love to play the game of tennis, it is the competition, the athletic challenge and the potential for artistic shot making that usually gets us going emotionally. There's little time for tennis humor as we focus on ripping that next shot for a winner.

But take a step back or just start watching some tennis matches at your club and you'll begin to see the humorous situations that abound in our game. Of course, just like mother-in-law jokes are a staple of marriage humor, dysfunctional tennis dynamics are the source of most tennis humor. And tennis humor in the form of tennis jokes or tennis cartoons on mugs, tshirts, mousepads, or greeting cards make great tennis gifts.

So, without further adieu here are a number of tennis dynamics that lend themselves to humor:

1. The married mixed doubles team. Need I say more? This classic dynamic has caused guffaws at the best of times and divorces at the worst. And for those still in dating mode -- tread very carefully!

2. The poseurs -- look great in their new tennis clothes which they claim they received as tennis gifts from a well known-touring pro, carry at least 3 of the latest hi-tech rackets, and are the epitome of style until they have to hit that first ball. Of course, if truly desperate, they will feign injury while opening up a new can of balls to avoid public display of their atrocious strokes.

3. The emotional player versus the " classic tennis dinker". Nothing can drive a tennis player more quickly to the asylum that having to play a talented retriever who gets everything back with no pace. Sit back, have a drink, and start betting pools on the number of times you're going to see a racket tossed in frustration.

4. The obsessive tennis nut -- can't be standing in a line anywhere without starting to practice his or her swing - without a racket of course. Observers often inquire if they're watching some new martial art.

5. The interfering tennis parent -- can't play, never studied the game except for having watched an instructional video or two, but feels free to walk on the court and correct former Wimbledon champ who is instructing his or her child. Just watching the tennis pro try not to explode at this preposterous chutzpah is priceless.

Of course, there are many more of these funny tennis dynamics which I'll address in a later article. So for now, keep your eyes open at the club and you may be very entertained by the gift of tennis humor happening right in front of your eyes.

Glenn Sheiner M.D. is the author of the world's top selling tennis cartoon book THE WACKY WORLD OF TENNIS. Treat yourself to a laugh and split step over to http://www.cafepress.com/wackytennis . Check out great tennis gift items or just browse some of the cartoons.

How Do You Play Tennis?

Always wanted to learn how to play tennis but don't know where to start? Don't worry, there's a bunch of different ways you can learn how to play tennis online. Books is a great way to explore what tennis has to offer, not to mention videos which is even better since you get to see all the moves and techniques get preformed in front of you. So how do you play tennis? This article will teach you the basics of tennis, reveal the tennis scoring system, discuss court differences and hopefully give you some insight on the subject.

Technique in tennis is just a little part of the abilities and skills required to play tennis. I've encountered many instructional videos and books which hasn't understood this. They are all about how you play tennis, and how to make the correct move with your arms or legs, not twisting your wrist etc. when you actually might have problems with judging the balls landing spot or getting into position for the ball within the time limit. How do you play tennis? You study the rules of the game, learn the basic moves and perform them over and over again until you feel like you can evolve and try performing some more advanced techniques that will let you get that score advantage against your tennis partner.

To describe the tennis scoring system as simple as possible, a player must win four points to win a game, six games to win a set, and two or sometimes three sets to win a match. Game points will be counted 0(love)-15-30-40-game, and if the score between two players is 40-40 it's called Deuce. To win the game at deuce, a player must first acquire an advantage by winning a point, and then win the following point. If a player gains an advantage but loses the following point, the score is reset back to deuce. The first player who wins six games by margin of two points wins a set, and the first player to win two (or sometimes three) sets wins the match. The outcome of matches can often depend on which type of court the match is played on, so it is important to know the differences between them.

There are many types of courts used for tennis, but do you know what a fast or slow court is? A fast court is a court which has a faster surface, in other words is slowing the ball down less then a slow court. The ball also generally bounces higher on slower surfaces then on faster surfaces and vice versa. As expected the fast court surfaces suites a big server and serve-and-volley player best, although shorter strokes are easily executed on a fast surface compared to longer strokes. Slow court surfaces are baseliners favorite courts with their long strokes and/or a consistency based game. To sum up, slow courts makes you run less while fast courts make you run more, which by the way is a good thing as a game of tennis is a fabulous workout opportunity.

Tennis requires flexibility and agility to keep up with the ball, raw strength for powerful shots, endurance to be able to play a whole match and a good mental mind to stay ahead of ones opponent. Tennis allows you to train all of this while having fun, relieving stress and energizing your spirit. Tennis shapes the body as well as sharpens the mind. Each time a ball is hit, one is forced to react and respond fast. Some might want to find a strategy to use against an opponent. This keeps your brain young and helps relieve tension. Hitting the ball with a racket for an hour or two will leave you stronger and surely tone and sculpt your entire upper body. Tennis players often have good core strength (abs and lower back muscles) because they do the hard work when hitting a tennis ball but also keeps you balanced when you run and provide power to your strokes along with your legs and upper body. And the fact that your legs will get a full workout should be apparent when playing tennis, but you might not have known that you stretch muscles all over your body, (increasing your flexibility) including a few you didn't even know you had just by playing tennis. Your heart is also getting a piece of the action when you play tennis, interval training improves your heart function and you might well say tennis is interval training since you get a few seconds rest in between the points.

As you probably can tell this is only a fraction of the subject, but what you've read in this article is the basics of playing tennis. So if you're still asking "How do you play tennis?", maybe this game isn't for you.

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The Common Thread of a Polo, Tennis and Golf Shirts

A tennis shirt is actually what most people are referring to when they say "polo shirt" or "golf shirt." These are a type of t-shirt that has a collar, two or three buttons down the front slit, and two side slits on the bottom. They often come with a chest pocket and made from such fine fabrics as; knitted pique cotton, merino wool, and silk.

Rene Lacoste, a 7-time tennis Grand Slam winner from France, is credited as the first person to create the tennis shirt when he introduced his shirt design in 1929. The idea of creating the shirt came to Lacoste because the tennis apparel up to that time consisted of long-sleeved shirts, trousers and ties. The clothes worn by tennis players on the tennis court during the 19th and early 20th centuries were more appropriate for offices. Besides, the dress shirts worn on the courts were stiff and the ties heavy.

On the other hand, Lacoste's tennis shirt had a thick collar, was loose and non-starched, was made of pique cotton, had side slits at the bottom, and sported a longer shirt-tail. The thick collar, when turned up, provided protection to the neck so that the player didn't get sun burned.

What's interesting about Lacoste's tennis shirt was that polo players were already wearing shirts of the same design since the late 19th century. Back then, they wore long-sleeved shirts that had a button-down collar. These shirts were made of thick Oxford-cloth cotton. Even though the collar of this shirt-style was thick and didn't constantly flap from the wind, these polo shirts were still not comfortable nor were they convenient to wear. Thus, when polo players discovered Lacoste's shirt design during the 1930s, they didn't think twice about adopting his design for their polo shirt.

It didn't take long for tennis shirts and polo shirts to be synonymous. When the 1950s came around, polo shirts were regarded as formal tennis attire in the United States. Even tennis players were calling their attire "polo shirt". In reality, though, the "polo shirt" was actually first worn during a tennis game and not during a polo game.

The polo shirt reached its peak of popularity in 1967 when Ralph Lauren introduced his original clothing line aptly named Polo. Ralph Lauren's shirts weren't made for players to wear during polo games but the association of the polo shirt with the idea of leisure propelled his shirt into an instant hit with non-polo players.

Golf attire used to be formal, but in the 20th century, golf players started to wear less formal and more easygoing golf apparel. It wasn't just polo players who started adopting the tennis shirt as standard sports attire, but golf players as well. Today, you'll see most golf players wearing these shirts at tournaments. However, since golf is very different from tennis, the tennis shirts for golf players has to have a different cut design which differentiates the golf shirt from a tennis shirt.

Tennis shirts are so common today; they are worn by practically anyone whether they play sports or not. Men and women wear them regardless of occasion. Clothing companies typically have their own version of Lacoste's shirt. These shirts are the perfect attire for times when round-collar t-shirts are too informal and formal business wear is too overdressed. You'll find semi-professional people and those in the retail industry often wearing tennis shirts to work. In many workplace environments, these shirts are acceptable work attire as they're smart and casual.

Then in the 1990s, the tennis shirt became the standard attire (business informal/casual) in the high-tech industry. This eventually spread to other industries. Companies eventually started printing their logos on tennis shirts when they became the corporate apparel. This way, the shirts provide the ultimate casual work wear while setting corporate identity and uniformity among employees at the same time.

In sports, tennis shirts are the standard attire. Caddies, umpires, and sports announcers wear tennis shirts. The shirts are also commonly worn in schools both by teachers and students. In many schools, these shirts are actually the required uniform.

Tennis shirts are, above all, associated very closely with sports, so most tennis shirts come in light colors, with white being the most typical color. Aside from the color, the "tennis tail" is another feature of the shirt design. Tennis shirts typically have a back that is a few centimeters longer than the front of the shirt. This is actually an original design by Lacoste. The tennis tail is designed such that when a tennis player leans forward, the back of the shirt remains tucked in his shorts.

Tommy has a collection of Lacoste Polo shirts that he has worn for several years without the fabric looking worn or the colors becoming faded. At a reasonable price, he recommends Lacoste Polo shirts and for outdoor headwear, Lacoste hats. He even keeps the money he saves from buying online, at less expensive prices rather than in his local mall, in his Lacoste wallet.

Is Online Tennis Training For You?

There are many benefits you can get from online tennis training. There are a variety of resources including eBooks, online videos and articles written by expert tennis instructors. Some of the online training can give you information on the best tennis techniques, best tennis equipment and the best ways to play a better game of tennis through exercises designed specifically to improve your stance and swing. Many people like the convenience that online tennis training offers, which has made it one of the more popular ways to perfect your tennis game.

There are online tennis training websites that feature lessons for every tennis stroke, how to mentally prepare to think and play tennis like a pro and you can take advantage of free lessons that teach you everything a beginner should know or teach you some of the more advanced tennis playing techniques that the pros use. There are thousands of people that learn to play tennis by watching the pros play and many of the online tennis training videos feature the best techniques that are easy to master.

The great thing about training online is that you can learn at your own pace and put what you have learned into practice on the court as you learn the techniques. Some people might criticize that learning online is a one-way street with little feedback from an instructor, but there are many forums and chat sites where you can ask questions and get tips from expert players without paying the high costs associated with a gym membership or private tennis lessons.

For those that love to play tennis recreationally, online tennis training can improve your game. By taking advantage of the free online tennis courses and videos, you can learn the basics and some of the more sophisticated tennis techniques, which is all that most amateur tennis players need to know, when it comes to beating their opponent.

Because tennis and many other sports involves some visualization and mental attitude to be successful, it is believed that tennis training online can offer a lot of benefit to many tennis players that want to improve their game. Of course, professional athletes can gain some additional perspective from online tennis training, even though they may be involved in professional lessons from the pros.

Tennis is a game that requires good hand-eye coordination and a great degree of agility. Some of the online lesson give you warm-up exercise routines and upper body strength building exercises that can improve your swing. Getting expert advice about the best tennis equipment is part of the improvement that many beginners find out about, but they can learn new techniques that they might not come across any other way, as well.

If you have an interest in tennis and are looking for ways to improve your game, you should consider some of the excellent online tennis training that is available. You might be surprised by what you can learn from watching the videos and most of the eBooks are quite affordable, convenient to download and have a lot of information you can use to improve your tennis game. It is the convenience that online tennis training offers that makes it so popular with those that want to learn about better tennis in the comfort of their home.

Learn about some of the available online tennis lesson plans such as Tennis Insider Strategies and the Ten Laws of Tennis

Tennis Shoes: A Buyer's Guide

While the term "tennis shoes" is commonly used in reference to athletic shoes of any type, you should not wear running shoes, walking shoes, or cross-trainers when playing tennis. These types of shoes do not provide the correct support and can increase the risk of foot and ankle injuries. In addition, such shoes can also damage the tennis court surface.

There are several criteria tennis players should consider when selecting tennis shoes. First, the court surface you primarily play on will dictate the type of tennis shoe you need. Second, the characteristics of your feet and body will determine what type of tennis shoe is most comfortable and effective. Finally, as with any type of shoe, different people value certain shoe attributes and qualities more than others.

Tennis players that play on hard court surfaces should choose tennis shoes that are durable and resistant to wear. Repeated play on hard (i.e. concrete) courts will wear the tread off the soles of tennis shoes. Loss of tread leads to loss of traction and increased slipping. In addition, the part of the tennis shoe that covers the big toes should have extra protection on the outside. Tennis players often drag their toe while executing shots, especially the serve. It is crucial for right-handed players that the inside toe area of their right tennis shoe have extra protection to prevent premature wear. This area of the tennis shoe is particularly vulnerable because most right-handed players drag their right foot when serving, and often when executing forehand groundstrokes.

Tennis players that play primarily on soft court surfaces (i.e. clay) should select tennis shoes that are comfortable and provide good traction. Durability is less of a concern. It is also vital that the tennis shoe have a smooth, flat sole. The knobs and bumps found on the soles of running shoes and cross-trainers can damage clay court surfaces. In fact, most clay court facilities do not allow players to wear such shoes, instead requiring appropriate tennis shoes.

Feet and body characteristics are an important consideration when selecting tennis shoes. People who are prone to blisters must wear tennis shoes that fit properly and are well cushioned. Advances in tennis shoe technology have created cushioning systems that are lighter, more comfortable, and better at removing moisture. Body type is also an important consideration in tennis shoe selection. For example, larger and heavier players may prefer heavier shoes that provide extra support.

Finally, as with all types of shoes, personal preference and taste often determines what type of tennis shoe a person purchases. Many players desire a tennis shoe with a certain look or color scheme. On a more functional level, some players may select lightweight tennis shoes in an effort to enhance foot speed and agility.

After you determine the type of tennis shoe is right for you, it is important to select a shoe that fits properly. Because tennis involves a lot of sprinting, cutting, stopping, and starting, you should select a tennis shoe that fits snugly across the width of the foot. You should, however, make sure that your tennis shoes have at least a half-inch of space between the toes and the end of the tennis shoe.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis shoes.

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Female Tennis Stars

There are many female tennis stars around the world who have won the hearts of millions of people. The list is simply never ending, but still you can spot few female tennis players that have left special mark on the game. The history of tennis is not clear but the major grand slam events gave birth to famous female tennis stars.

The female players were included in prestigious Wimbledon in 1884. But the start of 20th century was the real period when female tennis stars began to leave their impact on the game. The four grand slam tournaments Australian open, French open, Wimbledon, and U.S. open allowed many women to prove their talent in tennis. American female tennis stars Elisabeth Moore and Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman won many U.S. championship titles in early part of 20th century. Molla Mallory created history by winning eight titles from 1915. Suzanne Lenglen of France and Helen Wills Moody of the United States were the rising female tennis stars, and Moody created records by winning eight Wimbledon titles, seven U.S. championship titles, and four French championship titles.

The dominant female tennis stars in 1940s included Pauline Betz who won four U.S. championships and Louise Brough who won four Wimbledon titles. Maureen Connolly dominated tennis by winning the grand slam in 1953. Althea Gibson won both U.S. and Wimbledon titles in 1957 to become the first black woman player in history of tennis. The female tennis stars in 1960s included Maria Bueno from Brazil, Margaret Smith Court from England, and Billie Jean King from the United States.

The start of 1970 gave birth to one of the real legend in female tennis stars. Martina Navratilova from Czech Republic ruled the tennis world from 1970-1990. The only player to compete with Martina was the American Chris Evert who managed to won seven French opens and six U.S. opens in her entire career. The games between these two female tennis stars were the most intense games in history of women tennis. Martina Navratilova, a left-handed player was declared as the greatest tennis player of all times. She won 18 grand slam single titles, 31 grand slam womens doubles titles, and 10 grand slam mixed doubles titles.

Martina was unstoppable until the arrival of another legend Steffi Graf. Steffi, from West Germany is still considered to be the one of the hottest female tennis stars of all time. Steffi Graf ruled hearts of millions of people around the world by winning 22 grand slam titles. She also won a gold medal in 1988 Olympics and became the first tennis player to hold No.1 spot for a record of 377 weeks. Many other great female tennis stars such as Gabriela Sabatini of Argentina, Arantxa Sanchez Vicario of Spain, were over-shadowed by this great legend, Steffi Graf. The injury in 1992 allowed Monica Seles to enter the exciting world of tennis. Monica Seles from America also managed to won nine grand slam titles in her entire career.

The 21st century was regarded as a new beginning in female tennis stars. The quality of play was raised and many hot tennis beauties entered the world of tennis. You can now easily enjoy the true combination of beautiful game and beautiful girls. The competition became tough and not a single player was allowed to stay on the No.1 spot for long time. Martina Hingis from Switzerland, Maria Sharapova from Russia, Daniela Hantuchova from Slovakia, Elena Dementieva from Russia, Anna Kournikova, Jelena Dokic, Jennifer Capriati, Kim Clijsters, Lindsay Davenport, Sania Mirza from India, Maria Kirilenko, Anastasia Myskina, etc. and above all the black beauties William sisters Serena and Venus are the most beautiful and eligible female tennis stars in history of tennis.

Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about Female Tennis Stars [http://mytennisnow.info/female-tennis-stars/], please visit My Tennis Now [http://mytennisnow.info/] for current articles and discussions.

How To Play Tennis: Instructional Videos For Tennis Beginners

49 step-by-step tennis instruction videos covering all 6 basic strokes in tennis.

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