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Wednesday, 16 February 2011

Tennis Nutrition for Adults

A complete guide specific to tennis nutrition for busy adults. Starting with the basics and working up to optimising nutrition explicitly to your needs with the aim of supercharging your performance on court. Includes an ebook, videos and audios.


Check it out!

Sunday, 13 February 2011

Instant Tennis Tip - The 5 Elements of Ball Control in Tennis


I like to tell my students that if they can hit the ball over the net and in the court they are good

If they can hit the tennis ball over the net and in the court, and land it anywhere they want, I will sit down and enjoy watching them play.

If they can hit the tennis ball over the net and in the court, and land it anywhere they want, and do so with varying spin and power, I will buy a ticket to sit down and enjoy watching them play.

In tennis, hitting with great power is fun, but ball control is much more important. Anyone who wants to learn how to play tennis should concentrate on mastering the 5 elements of controlling a tennis ball. This will result in the ability to vary your shots according to any situation.

Height

The first obstacle any tennis player must deal with is the net. For a shot to be successful it must first clear the net before it lands in the court. Beginner tennis players should focus on clearing the net by 5 - 8 feet on all their shots from the baseline.

Depth

In general, a ball that lands deep in the court is a better shot than a ball that lands short. However, there will be times you want to deliberately hit the ball short. Beginner tennis players should practice placing their shots to different depths on the court. Remember, where the ball lands is directly related to the height of the ball. Height Equals Depth.

Direction

After you master height and depth, I recommend beginner tennis players move on to mastering direction. Don't get too complicated here. Just try to direct every ball to either the left or to the right.

Spin

After you've mastered hitting the tennis ball with different heights, and to different depths and directions it's time to move on to spin. Learning to put spin on the ball is definitely a more advanced concept and a clear sign that you are moving to the next level as a tennis player. You can hit a tennis ball with topspin, backspin, sidespin, or relatively no spin.

Power

This is the last element of ball control in tennis. A player should move on to hitting a tennis ball with power only after they have learned the previous elements and how they can be combined to create shot variety.

Mastering all 5 elements of ball control takes lots of practice. It's what separates the good players from the elite players. I suggest beginner tennis players focus on the first three in order. Practice hitting the tennis ball over the net, into the court, land it anywhere you please. Then you can work on hitting a tennis ball with spin and power. After that, who knows, maybe someone will buy a ticket to watch you play.








Andreas Radermacher
http://www.InstantTennis.com

Learn how to play tennis at Instant Tennis! It's the internet's hottest tennis newsletter designed especially for people who want to improve their tennis skills.

Published by USPTA Tennis Professional Andreas Radermacher, It's full of tennis tips for anyone who wants to improve their tennis form, expand their tennis knowledge, and just plain learn to play tennis!

Subscribe now to receive the latest updates including how-to videos, expert audios, and other high quality content from Andreas and other top tennis teaching experts.

You'll also get immediate access to The Instant Tennis Report: The Fastest and Easiest Way to Get Good at Tennis in 12 Simple Steps. (a $45 value)


Saturday, 12 February 2011

How to Model Your Tennis Technique After Pro Tennis Players


When discussing tennis technique in general, we normally refer to top players in the tennis. The important question is: Should a amateur tennis player attempt to copy the tennis technique of the pros?

The answer is a cautious Yes if the tennis player is looking to improve their tennis technique and tennis strokes. The takeaway from watching professional players is that something can be learned everytime you watch the pros practice.

World class tennis players usually always share commonalities in their tennis technique that you should model.

It's a bad idea to try to copy little nuisances and rituals of professional players. Things like John McEnroe's exaggerated rock back and forth swing before he serves, or Maria Sharapova's complex ritual before every point may look cute - - but it's far from what the average tennis needs to incorporate if he or she wants to play better tennis

When watching the pros and attempting to model their tennis technique, it's important to know what to look for in their tennis strokes and what is a matter of personal preference. Replicating important fundamentals of their tennis technique is the most vital - - and key to improving your own tennis technique.

For the forehand, a good model is Roger Federer, Andre Agassi and Justine Henin Hardenne. All three of these players have exceptional forehand tennis technique and at the same time are the most efficient and clean forehands in tennis for the average tennis player to model. They are great models because their forehands are top of the game while still staying relatively simple.

Attempting to model Rafael Nadal's Forehand, or Andy Roddick's serve are two very complicated tennis swings. The reason these two tennis shots are not ideal models to copy is simple - - it contains very advanced elements that recreational and club players may not be capable of reproducing without a firm understanding of the fundamental tennis technique behind the strokes.

Nadal's Forehand is a powerful tennis stroke, with a massive topspin forehand. Not a bad forehand by any standards, but one that average player should steer clear of trying to copy until they have mastered the basic elements of a sound forehand. Looking at Nadal's Forehand, we see that his tennis forehand technique is technically sound, but very complex. His wrists, arm and racket goes through several stages just in the preparation phase of the forehand.

Andy Roddick's serve is another difficult tennis stroke to master. It is a tennis stroke that is only possible by first mastering the basic elements of a more classical serve and having exceptional throwing mechanics. The motion itself requires a great deal of upper body and arm strength, as well as athleticism.

Andy Roddick achieves his world class serve through a rapid abbreviated serve motion where the arm flies in and out of the trophy position faster than any other professional tennis player. The ability of his arm to load prior to contact in such a short burst is responsible for his tennis serve being more explosive than any other player on tour. The external rotation Andy Roddick's serve achieves is exceptional This tennis technique requires the player to stretch the body to it's upper limits. It's a serve that only advanced tennis players should attempt, and even so with caution.

Keys of Modeling Tennis Technique

In looking to model the tennis technique of the pros, it's important to look for the basic fundamentals behind the tennis technique. Avoid trying to copy any extreme elements and instead aim for simplicity when trying to emulate the tennis technique of the pros. Try to find a good model to base your tennis strokes off of and then let your natural technique emerge while sticking to the fundamentals of proper technique.

Visualize the correct technique you wish to solidify in your game and observe the strokes of the pros. By watching the pros execute their strokes, an unconscious process in your brain will develop, therefore burning the "perfect image" into your mind. This will help you ingrain the technique, because the brain will have a clear file on the correct technique.








Coach Ed is a former nationally ranked tennis player and coach. Optimum Tennis offers tennis instruction, tennis tips and tennis tips at Optimum Tennis

Click here to find out How to Play Better Tennis


Friday, 11 February 2011

Choosing the Best Tennis Racket

Whether you are just starting out as a tennis player, or even if you
are an old pro, the tennis gear you choose is extremely important. One
of the most important pieces of tennis merchandise that you will
purchase as a tennis player is your tennis racket. Your racket is
extremely important and will set the tone for your game, so of course
you want to pick out the best tennis racket you can find. With so many
different choices out there, it can be difficult to figure out what the
best tennis racket is for you; however, if you consider your skills,
your style of playing, the weight, and the materials of the racket, you
should pick a winner.


Skill Level


When you are looking for the best tennis racket, one of the most
important things that you need to consider is your skill level.
Beginners will want to make different choices from advanced players
when it comes to picking out tennis equipment.


1. Beginners - If you are a beginner at tennis, more than likely you
will want to start out with a cheap racket that has a larger head than
most. Having the oversized head will make it easier to hit the tennis
ball while you are learning. Also, there is definitely no need to spend
a couple hundred dollars on a racket until you have learned the basics
and decided that you want to actively pursue this sport.


2. Intermediate and Advanced - Intermediate and advanced players will
want to pick out a racket that has a smaller head than the rackets for
the beginners. While the oversized head is great for beginners, as an
intermediate to advanced player, you should have more strength in your
tennis swing and a smaller head will allow you a great deal more
control in your hits.


Style of Playing


More than likely if you are an advanced player, you have your own
particular style of playing. Your tennis playing style will also
influence what you will need in a good tennis racket. If you like to
use a great deal of topspin in your game, then a racket that is head
heavy can help you improve your spin. Also, if you are a serve and
volley player, there are tennis rackets that are specifically designed
for your style of play, and the same goes for players whose game relies
mainly on groundstroking. No matter what style of play you enjoy, more
than likely you will be able to find a racket that can enhance and
improve your style.


Racket Weight


To avoid injury, taking a look at the weight of the tennis racket is
important before you purchase it. While you may be inclined to head for
the lighter rackets, actually you will want to choose a racket that is
a bit heavier; however, the head should be fairly light. While it may
sound a bit crazy to purchase a racket that is a bit on the heavy side,
a lighter racket can also lead to injury, such as tennis elbow and
shoulder problems. Also, a racket that is a bit heavier can also
improve your serves as well as your groundstroke.


Racket Materials


When you are trying to pick out the best tennis racket, you will also
need to consider the various materials that they are made of as well.
The most common materials that are used on tennis rackets today include
graphite, aluminum, and boron and Kevlar. Graphite rackets are probably
the most popular, since it provides great hitting power and both
beginners and even advanced players will find that this type of a
racket will perform nicely for them. Aluminum rackets are cheaper than
graphite ones, and they will provide you with excellent feel. The Boron
and Kevlar rackets are very stiff and can cause shoulder problems due
to the shock, so this type of racket should be avoided by a beginning
player.


While there are no set overall rules when picking out a racket, there
are a variety of things to keep in mind so you can pick out the very
best tennis racket. So instead of just walking into a shop and taking a
few practice swings, keep these tips in mind and find the best tennis
racket for you.


YourServeTennisShop.com
has an excellent selection of rackets, equipment and clothing.


Hannah Reid, co-owner

Thursday, 10 February 2011

Learning Tennis For Health


Tennis is one of the most popular competitive sports today. This is because playing tennis offers a myriad of benefits to an individual's health and well-being such as improving cardiovascular health, preventing heart diseases and stroke, strengthening and toning the muscles, enhancing blood circulation, treating anxiety and depression, lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure, speeding up metabolism which helps in weight loss, strengthening the bones, improving mental alertness and tactical thinking, and even in developing positive personality traits.

If you are planning to play tennis, you would need to learn the skills that are associated with the sport. You can do this by taking up tennis lessons.

There are many tennis schools today which offer tennis coaching and lessons on how to learn tennis. They have certified tennis coaches and instructors who teach all about volleying, serving, along with the other techniques used in playing tennis.

Before signing up for some tennis lessons, you would need to make sure that you have the proper equipment first. This would include the appropriate tennis clothing, shoes and of course, the racquet. Do not choose a racquet or a pair of tennis shoes just because your favorite tennis player is using or wearing them. When choosing your shoes, you would need to make sure that they would be a good fit and that they are durable enough to bear the rigors of all the foot movements that are associated with playing tennis such as the lateral, the forward and the backward movements as well as the sudden stops and skids. As for the racquet, you would need to check the material of the racquet frame, the string pattern, the handle size, the weight and balance. All of these racquet characteristics should be checked so that you would have a racquet that would be appropriate for you, ensuring optimum performance.

As you choose which tennis lesson to take up, you could assess the level of your skills first so that you would know what your physical capabilities are. Tennis lessons usually have different stages and it is important that you would be in the one that is appropriate to your level of capabilities.








If you are planning to sign up for some tennis lessons in Singapore taught by a tennis coach, try visiting these useful websites: http://www.1sports.asia/tennis-coaching-singapore/ and http://www.1sports.asia/group-tennis-lessons/. This company offers effective tennis lessons held in Singapore tennis courts. They also offer group tennis lessons, tennis coaching, private tennis lessons as well as classes on how to improve tennis abilities. All their tennis coaches are fully qualified and include among them national level and ex-Davis Cup players.


Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Know About Essential Tennis Equipment


Tennis is also known as lawn tennis. It is a popular international racquet-and- ball sport that is played for recreational and competitive purpose. This can be played indoor as well as outdoor and consists of two players or a team of couple players that hit a rubber ball with the help of their racquets. There is net in between that divides the teams from the middle of the court. The court plays a significant role in this game.

Initially tennis was the game for aristocrats and was known as Court Tennis in USA, Royal Tennis in Australia, Jeu de Paume in France and Real Tennis in Great Britain. There are certain fundamental rules of this game but just like any other sport you need some basic tennis equipments to play this game effectively. Given below is the list:

Racquet: It is one of the most important tennis equipment to play this game. Today market is filled with variety of racquets for professionals as well beginners. There are major brands that specialize in manufacturing equipments.

They have everything that you need to improve the game of tennis. It is game that requires lot of stamina therefore the modern tennis racquet for an adult would be of dimensions 27" to 27.5". While choosing a racquet the following things have to be kept in mind like the head size, grip size, flex, length, sting patterns, weight and balance.

Tennis bag: This is important because you need a storage place where you can carry tennis equipments to play the game. Apart from being durable it should be portable also so that you can carry it everywhere without any hassles. Apart from physical stores there are online stores that sell tennis accessories. With the click of mouse you can select the product of your choice or order online.

Tennis shoes: These should not only be comfortable but court specific since the compatibility and conformity differs from pair to another. Like any other apparel make sure that your feet are protected. The toe area should have better protection than any other part of your foot as most of the tennis players use their toes for foreground grand strokes.

Nowadays tennis shoes come with special shock absorbers as well moisture absorbing mechanisms. Since this game requires a lot of sudden movement so make a wise decision of buying good shoes that will support and protect your feet.

Tennis clothing: This has undergone a complete metamorphosis than what it as several years back. Today tennis players have designer tennis apparels to suit their style and personality.

Most of the tennis shop stock up everything from boys' tennis apparel, girls' tennis apparel, neck tie coolers, ladies tennis apparel, men tennis apparel, stocks, caps, head gear to sweat bands.

Tennis ball machine: This is used by professionals as practice equipment. It helps players to handle all sorts of shots and practice footwork that their opponent might use. They come in different shapes and are great help.

Tennis Ball: This comes in different colors which can be green, yellow, white that is approved by USTA (United States Tennis Association). This has fixed size, deformation and weight.

All these are essential to play a game tennis.








Before purchasing essential tennis equipment it is always advisable to carry out a thorough research. This can also be done over the Internet that guides you through various online stores. These offer top-of-line tennis racquets, tennis shoes, tennis clothing and others necessities required for the game.


Tuesday, 8 February 2011

How to Play Tennis - Keys to Playing Better Tennis


The question of how to play tennis is often one that is a challenge to new players learning the game. Tennis is a great sport with many different personalities. In this article, we will reveal the basics of how to play tennis. It has 3 forms hard, lawn and clay tennis.

Tennis is played by people over the world as a great form of exercise and recreation. There are also many levels of professional play in tournaments around the world. There are four top tournaments called the Grand Slam Tournaments. These are Wimbledon, the US Open, The Australian Open, and the French Open. Millions of people watch these tournaments making tennis a great spectator sport as well. Recently, tennis was added to the Olympics as an official sport.

Tennis is a sport that is playable by all age groups and is enjoyed by players at all levels from kids to senior citizens.

The basic area where tennis is played is call the court. This is a rectangular flat surface of varying types including concrete, grass, and clay. The standard tennis court is 78 feet long and 27 feet wide for singles matches. For doubles matches the width of the court is increased to 36 feet. A 3 feet 6 inch high net is stretched across the court, dividing the court in half. Tennis courts can be found in public parks, schools, and country clubs throughout the world. They can be outside or inside allowing for fresh air when the weather is good and year round play when the weather is bad.

There are three main types of tennis court surfaces. Each surface allows for a different style of play to excel as the bounce and speed of the ball can vary dramatically. These surfaces are:

A hard court surface are generally fast courts that have a good consistent bounce of the ball. Hardcourts are the most popular type of courts in America and most likely the court most tennis players utilize. A clay court is much different than a hard court. It is usually much slower as a surface and tennis balls often lose speed when they hit the court. This surface also causes the ball to bounce higher than on other surfaces. This allows for longer groundstrokes rallies. We see players like Nadal and Federer grind it out all day on the Clay Courts at Rolland Garros.

The third type of tennis court is the oldest form of a tennis court as tennis was originally played on grass. Grass is considered fast court, faster than a hard court. However, the grass court can be uneven and cause the ball to bounce awkward making it hard to return fast shots.

Tennis is a unique game that involves a tennis ball and a racket. Play will be based on a rectangular court, including a net in the center of the court. The tennis court should measures 78 ft by 27 ft, which is divided in half by a net 3 ft (91 cm) high in the middle and 3.5 ft (1.1 m) high at the end posts. The type of tennis balls used to play is used with a felt covered tennis ball that allows for optimum bounce on the court. The tennis ball is served from behind the baseline into the opposite service court.

Once a successful serve is made, players may hit it into any part of the opponent's court until a point is scored. Rallies won by either player score points. A tennis match is divided into sets. In a tournament, men have to win three out of five sets to win the match and women have to win two out of three. In order to win a tennis match, six total games must be won ahead of his or her opponent. The game of tennis can be fun, exciting and enjoyable.








Coach Ed is a former nationally ranked tennis player and coach. Optimum Tennis offers tennis instruction and tennis tips at Optimum Tennis.

Click here to find out How to Play Tennis.