Description:
Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., CSCS and USPTA Professional, demonstrates three exercises that will help improve the loading stage of the serve. Key points are: loading the back hip, back leg strength and stability, exploding, coordination, balance.

Tip:

This week’s tip examines the loading position on the serve. This is the stage where the energy is created by bending the knees and creating maximum explosion up into the ball. The legs are pushing into the ground to generate power and release it through the kinetic chain and throughout the remainder of the serving motion.

Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., presents three exercises that will improve the loading action on the serve. The exercises emphasize core and lower body strength, stability (loading the back leg) and exploding up into the ball.

These exercises should not be done without the supervision of a certified strength and conditioning trainer or a certified tennis-teaching professional, who is knowledgeable about biomechanics and specific tennis training.

Watch more videos on the serve at TennisResources.com. Simply type in a key word into the Quick Search field or choose the Advanced Search where you will click on General Performance Components – Specific Shots – Serve. You will find a variety of resources that will enhance your training ideas. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
Watch USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci demonstrating one of his all-time favorite drills. He has the player working on hitting slice backhand approach shots down the line and finishing at the net with a forehand volley.

Tip:

This week’s tip features USPTA Professional Rick Macci with a fun drill that demonstrates slice approaches down the line and volleys along with the proper movement and footwork to hit these shots.

The drill begins with the player hitting a slice backhand approach shot down the line and finishing at the net with a forehand volley. As the player moves in after the approach shot, he tries to position himself close to the net strap to finish the point. The same drill can be done on the forehand side.

Try out this drill with your players during their next practice! Make the drill scalable by adjusting the feeds according to the player’s level!

Watch more drills at TennisResources.com. The search allows you to browse through our variety of drills, video clips, audio seminars, drill templates, articles and other asset type of your interest. If you are interested in finding more drills featuring Rick Macci simply type his last name into the Quick Search or choose the Advanced Search, which allows you select pre-existing categories. Have fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
Jim Loehr, Ed.D., and USPTA Master Professional, defines the mental subcomponent of sportsmanship, explains why it is important for a player to develop good sportsmanship and describes the kind of effect it has on a player.

Tip:

Good sportsmanship is all about the character and conduct of a player who reacts graciously during competition. It is important to show good sportsmanship in both victory and defeat. This means sincerely congratulating an opponent when he has won the match and not gloating or acting pompously toward an opponent when you have won a match.

Good sportsmanship is a quality that carries over from life to the tennis court. Bad sportsmanship can often be traced back to a high level of pressure to perform well. Jim Loehr, Ed.D., explains that sometimes the reason some young players succumb to cheating and unsportsmanlike conduct is pressure from the parents. It is up to the coaches, he says, to do their best to instill positive values in their players so they can learn to counter such pressures.

Sport is an opportunity to build character, respect for others, for the opponent, and learn how to deal with unfair situations. We, as coaches, have the duty to teach our players to be the best they can be, both in tennis and life. Emphasizing character over and above winning will do an invaluable service to a player and to his game. The behavior on the tennis court will reflect how he will behave in society.

Watch more videos on the mental component or videos featuring Jim Loehr at TennisResources.com. Simply type in a key word or his last name into the Quick Search field and a variety of resources will match your search. You can also choose the Advanced Search and click on General Performance Components, Mental and choose from the nine subcomponents. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., CSCS and USPTA Professional, demonstrates an exercise that focuses on the contact point of the serve. The exercise works on serve explosion and full-arm extension while increasing total body explosiveness.

Tip:

In this week’s tip we have Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., CSCS and USPTA Professional, talking about the contact stage on the serve. He presents an exercise that will help improve and strengthen the explosive action prior to and when making contact on the serve.

The exercise utilizes a 3- to 4-pound medicine ball. The player starts into the loading position, which looks similar to a shot-put setup. The purpose is to explosively throw the ball while getting a full extension of the arm. It’s important to consider the position of both hips and shoulders (shoulder over shoulder and hip over hip) while keeping the head and eyes up, and the legs push into the ground for good explosive movement. The nondominant arm tucks in close to the body as the release is made. Kovacs recommends two to three sets of eight to 12 repetitions.

Go out and try this drill with your competitive players!

This exercise should not be done without the supervision of a certified strength and conditioning trainer or a certified teaching professional who is knowledgeable about biomechanics and specific tennis training.

Watch more videos on the serve at TennisResources.com. We provide you with an extensive collection of videoclips, articles, drills and much more. Simply type “serve” into the Quick Search field or use the Advanced Search for more specific results. Select the “Specific shots” category and click on “Serve.” A variety of useful resources from several of the world’s top teaching professionals will match your search. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
The video features USPTA Professional Brett Hobden explaining how a coach can train a player to successfully incorporate all of the tactical subcomponents in a match.

Tip:

This week’s tip features USPTA Professional Brett Hobden talking about tactical components and how a coach can train a player to successfully incorporate all of the components during a match.

Hobden recommends making practice sessions closely reflect the situations encountered during match play. Since every opponent is different, players need to be prepared to play against any type of game style, a left-hander versus a right-hander, a one-hander versus a two-hander, and on different court surfaces. They also must understand how to respond and tweak their tactics to each and every situation.

Practice should include scoring and pressure situations, so players are familiar with the competitive atmosphere and are not intimidated when it comes to match play.

Watch more videos on tactics at www.TennisResources.com. Simply type “tactics” into the Quick Search field or choose particular categories under the Advanced Search. You can click on “General performance components,” then click on “Tactical” and browse through all the tactical subcomponents. Various resources featuring some of the world’s best coaches will match your search! Expand your knowledge and have fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
USPTA Master Professional Luis Mediero defines the patterns of play and explains that the most important thing is for the player to understand his pattern of play and have a clear picture of what he needs to do.

Tip:

This week’s focus is on patterns of play and their importance to a player’s success. To define patterns we could say they are combinations of shots and shot sequences utilized during a point that emphasize a player’s strengths and exploit the opponent’s weaknesses. Simply stated, a player’s goal should be to hit his best shot more often and force the opponent to play his worst shot more often. At the same time, a player must be prepared to respond to a variety of different patterns and tactics that the opponent might choose to mix in, even if the shots may not fall within the player’s preferred game style.

Watch USPTA Master Professional Luis Mediero from Spain discuss his views on patterns. He explains why it is important for players to understand their own style of play, their preferred patterns and how these can improve tactics.

To watch more videos featuring Luis Mediero, visit TennisResources.com and type “Mediero” into the Quick Search field. If you would like to search by topic choose the Advanced Search which gives you the option to choose from our different categories. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
Get a better forehand topspin by improving your racquet head acceleration with this drill presented by USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci.

Tip:

Since last week’s tip talked about spins, this week we will emphasize the topspin – the type of spin that is generated by a low to high racquet path, causing the ball to arc over the net and drop into the court with forward spin. It is the preferred spin used by most players because it allows them to hit deep, heavy groundstrokes and still keep the ball in the court.

USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci presents one of his favorite drills that works on developing and improving topspin.

Check out this drill and try it with your players in your next practice! Make the drill scalable by adjusting the feeds according to the player’s level!

Look for more drills at TennisResources.com. Simply type your key word into the Quick Search option and a variety of resources will match your interest. You can also choose the Advanced Search, which allows you to select from pre-designed categories. Browse through our library and have fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
Spin as a tactical subcomponent is defined in this video interview from USPTA Master Professional Jim Parker. He explains why it is important for players to understand spin as a necessary part of match tactics.

Tip:

As we all know, spin is a very important aspect of the game. Whether we refer to the underspin common years ago or today’s dominance of heavy topspin baseline rallies, spin is a factor that expands the tactical options.

Spin is used to change the pace and height of the ball during a point, which adds greater versatility to the shots. It is also the main way to control powerful shots. Different shots require different amounts and types of spins, but we could say that spin is basically the controller of the strokes.

This week’s tip features USPTA Master Professional Jim Parker explaining why spin is important and why players need to understand the use of it in their tactics.

Learn more about spins and other tactical subcomponents from www.tennisresources.com. Simply type in the word “spins” or any other key word into the Quick Search field and a variety of resources should come up. You can also choose the Advanced Search, which allows you to select predesigned categories. Have fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
USPTA Master Professional Emilio Sanchez Vicario simulates a point-play situation when the player is the server. The drill focuses on the player working his or her way to the net.

Tip:

This week’s tip features USPTA Master Professional Emilio Sanchez Vicario presenting one of the drills he uses at his academy. The exercise focuses on the serve, approach shot and finishing at the net.

The player begins the drill with a serve and then moves in to take charge of the point with a forehand down the line or inside-out forehand. The shot needs to transition him to the net to then hit three volleys, one overhead and one last volley to finish the point.

The drill consists of seven balls and it can be used as a pattern of play. The player’s goal is to move into the court after the serve, take charge of the point and finish at the net. Vary the feeds according to your player’s level!

Watch more of Sanchez’s drills at TennisResources.com. Simply type in “Sanchez” into the Quick Search field or any other key word and an extensive number of related videos will come up. You can also try out the Advanced Search, where you can choose from our wide number of categories. Browse through our tennis library and have fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
This video provides a definition of the split step and an explanation of how and when it is used during a point. The footwork and movement used for getting in position for a shot is demonstrated as well.

Tip:

Tennis is a game of footwork and movement. You may have great racquet skills, but if you don’t get to the ball in time you can’t hit it properly. A tennis player must be able to quickly move in various directions while maintaining good balance.

A proper split step is a very important aspect of footwork. It allows the player to gather his or her balance and then move in any direction to intercept the ball. Since the variety of incoming balls is typically very broad, it’s important to keep the feet constantly moving to be able to get a quick start and get behind the ball. Adjusting the feet before and after the shot is key to a good setup and recovery. In fact, the speed of today’s game makes the recovery as important as the actual setup.

Learn more about the split step, footwork and movement at TennisResources.com. We offer a wide variety of helpful tips, drills and lessons on how to improve footwork on the tennis court from several of the world’s top teaching professionals. Simply enter “footwork” into the Quick Search field, or use the Advanced Search for a more detailed search. You can choose “Speed, Agility and Quickness” or “Footwork and Movement” under the General Performance Components to find useful resources. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
Fitness expert and USPTA Professional Adam Brewer demonstrates a fitness drill that focuses on developing a player’s coordination, reactions and reflexes. In this particular activity, six players quickly toss four large balls to each other in a pattern to improve reaction time.

Tip:

Tracking, hand eye coordination, reaction and good reflexes are a few of the many skills required in tennis.

This week’s tip highlights USPTA Professional and fitness expert Adam Brewer with a drill that combines all of the skills mentioned above. The exercise involves six players who quickly throw several large balls to each other in a particular pattern. The drill starts with one ball and more balls are added as the drill is performed.

This exercise is exciting and fun. It can be used in the warm-up or at the end of practice. Try it with your players in your next practice!

To watch more drills visit TennisResources.com. Simply enter the term “fitness” into the Quick Search field and a variety of resources will match you search. You can also choose the Advanced Search which allows you to select pre-designed categories. Click on the Drill/Lesson category and then click on “Fitness” or any other topic of your interest that is listed within the category. Have fun with the search and enjoy the drills!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
The Bryan Brothers, World No.1 doubles team, demonstrate this volley drill that emphasizes closing and sticking the volley. This drill helps improve the low and difficult volleys from the middle of the court.

Tip:

This week’s tip features USPTA Professional Wayne Bryan introducing a doubles drill that the Bryan Brothers use on a regular basis in their practices.

One of the players feeds the ball deep crosscourt to his opponent and tries to close in as quickly as he can while sticking the volleys into the chest of his opponent. The drill works on different types of volleys, starting from inside the baseline all the way to the net while moving properly and maintaining good balance. Gliding through the volleys while approaching the net is a key point in this drill.

Go out and try this drill with your players in your next practice. Have fun!

Watch more drills at TennisResources.com. Simply type the word “volley” or any other subject of your interest into the Quick Search field and a list of results will match your search. You may also choose the Advanced Search that will provide a more precise search on your topic. Browse through our broad selection of drills, interviews, audio seminars, articles and much more. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
The video features USPTA Master Professional Jack Groppel, Ph.D., offering his definition of speed, agility and quickness. He discusses the importance of the first step, explosiveness and recovery. Explore the tips he has for you!

Tip:

Tennis is a game of movement that involves the interrelated components of speed, agility and quickness. Tennis players need to master these skills in order to perform at a high level.

This week’s tip features USPTA Master Professional Jack Groppel, Ph.D., talking about these important skills. He explains quickness as the first step. What’s important is to have an early start, an explosive first step. Speed is described as how fast players can cover those 4 to 7 meters to get to the ball after the first step. And agility implies the ability to change direction quickly while maintaining good balance and control. It’s about recovery and the ability to explode back into position for the next shot.

Speed, agility and quickness should be emphasized early in a tennis player’s development. Try incorporating different drills into your lessons that will help your students improve these athletic skills.

Watch other related videos or search for drills at TennisResources.com. We offer an extensive number of resources featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals speaking on various aspects of the game of tennis. To access these resources enter the term of your interest into the Quick Search field and a variety of selections will come up. You can also choose the Advanced Search which allows you to select specific categories. Enjoy the browse!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
Watch USPTA Master Professional Lorenzo Beltrame demonstrating a drill that works on developing a player’s placement and shot selection based on the different types of balls he receives.

Tip:

This week’s tip features USPTA Master Professional Lorenzo Beltrame demonstrating a drill in which the player works on shot selection and placement based on the type of ball he receives. The drill involves a combination of deep shots and short angles and finishes with a dropshot. If the player receives a deep ball he will also return a deep shot, preferably to the opponent’s backhand. If the player receives a shorter ball, he will try to open up the court with short angles followed by a dropshot. By varying the speed of the feeds and using the concept of scalability, this drill can be adapted to players of any level!

Go out and try this drill in your next practice!

To watch more drills visit TennisResources.com. Simply enter a key word into the Quick Search field or choose the Advanced Search, which allows you to filter your results by choosing specific categories. A variety of resources featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals will match your search. Enjoy the browse!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
Watch USPTA Master Professional Emilio Sanchez Vicario demonstrate an exercise in which players work on developing a solid transition game. The drill requires players to hit a combination of approach shots and volleys. By varying the feeds, this drill can be used with players of any skill level, as demonstrated in this video.

Tip:

This week’s tip features USPTA Professional Emilio Sanchez Vicario demonstrating an exercise in which players work on the transition game and finishing at the net. The drill requires players to hit a combination of approach shots and volleys, all from the upper-level strike zone. The approach shots are hit crosscourt and the volleys are hit down the line. The drill requires great movement and footwork, along with very good balance. By varying the feeds and using the concept of scalability, this drill can be adapted to players of any skill level.

If you want to watch more videos on the same topic or more drills from Emilio Sanchez Vicario, visit TennisResources.com. Enter his last name into the Quick Search field or simply type in the topic of your interest and a variety of resources should match your search. You can also choose our Advanced Search, which allows you to select predesigned categories. Browse through our variety of videos, articles, audio seminars and drills that will expand your knowledge of the sport you love! Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
The video features USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci talking about how to put more spin on your serve. Check out his drill now!

Tip:

This week’s tip features USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci giving advice on how to get more topspin on the serve. He suggests going out on the court with a bucket of balls to hit serves and focusing on how high over the net you are able to hit your serves. He explains that this drill will improve the “up-and-out” hitting action, providing good net clearance and margin of error. Applying more spin on your serves will give you more control and increase the percentage of successful serves.

Improve your topspin serve now! Go out and try this drill in your next practice!

Watch more videos on the serve at www.TennisResources.com. Simply type “serve” into the Quick Search field or choose the Advanced Search, click on “specific shots” and then “serve.” Various resources featuring some of world’s best coaches will match your search! Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
The video features USPTA Professional Otis Sadler demonstrating a drill players can use to improve their preparation and positioning for an overhead shot. He explains how practicing catching the ball with the opposite hand when getting ready to hit the overhead puts a player in the proper position for hitting the shot.

Tip:

How many times have you witnessed some of your players having difficulty hitting overheads because their bodies and shoulders were facing the net? Or perhaps you have seen them fail to keep the nondominant hand pointing up at the ball?

This week’s tip features USPTA Professional Otis Sadler giving a tip about the use of the nondominant hand when hitting overheads. He suggests that the nondominant hand should point at the ball as if the player is trying to catch it. He adds that keeping the arm up ensures that the body remains turned, the head is up with the eyes on the ball, and the player’s weight is on the back foot, ready to transfer forward into the shot. All of these details help create a well-balanced upper body position for hitting a successful overhead.

Go try these tips with your players in your next practice!

To watch more videos on overhead, visit TennisResources.com. To access these resources type the word “overhead” into the Quick Search field or choose the Advanced Search, which gives you the option to select a predesigned category for overhead. The search should bring up a variety of resources featuring some of the best coaches. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
The video features USPTA Professional Mark Bey providing tips on the one-handed backhand volley. See what he has in store!

Tip:

The one-handed backhand volley is a challenging shot for some players. For this week’s tip we have USPTA Professional Mark Bey talking about the backhand volley technique. He explains that the early contact point should be aligned with the hitting shoulder, and the knuckles of the hitting hand should move toward the target. He also discusses the nondominant hand and how it should push backward as if the player is holding a cup of water in his hand.

Go out and try these tips with your players in the next practice!

Watch more videos on backhand volley at TennisResources.com. Simply type “backhand volley” into the Quick Search field or use the Advanced Search, clicking on “Specific shots” and then “Volley” to choose from the different volley categories. A variety of videos should match your search. Enjoy the browse!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
USPTA Professional Brett Hobden explains why it is important for a player to exhale at the point of contact. In addition to improving a player’s breathing throughout the point, exhaling helps release energy into the swing and improves intensity.

Tip:

When we watch professional matches we notice that some players exhale loudly as they hit the ball. Breathing out on the hit is very important. It helps to release energy into the shot and allows the body to stay relaxed. When you hold your breath as you hit, you create tension and minimize your power and flow in striking the ball. Whether you exhale quietly or more intensely, making a sound or not, the goal needs to be the same – to release the energy and be relaxed and loose when you strike the ball.

Learn more about breathing and many other topics of interest at TennisResources.com. Simply type in a key world into the Quick Search or choose the Advanced Search where you can click on predesigned categories. A variety of resources featuring some of the world’s best coaches should match your search. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
The video clip features USPTA Master Professional David T. Porter, Ed.D., explaining and demonstrating the advantages of hitting the two-handed open-stance backhand. He discusses the ability to recover easily for the next shot and get into the correct position for proper hip and body rotation.

Tip:

Today’s tennis has developed into a game based on powerful groundstrokes and weapons from the baseline. When we watch the professional players today we see very long and aggressive side-to-side baseline rallies that are extremely reliant on movement and footwork.

Because the speed of the game has increased so much we see players hitting more open-stance shots, primarily on the forehand, but also on the backhand side. Open-stance backhands are more dominant when players are pulled out wide. The open stance allows them to recover faster for the next ball, yet hit a solid, effective ball.

To learn more about the modern backhand visit TennisResources.com. Simply enter “modern backhand” into the Quick Search field and a list of resources will come up. You can also choose the Advanced Search, which allows you to select predesigned categories. You will find a large number of videos and articles that can help you understand and expand your knowledge regarding today’s game! Enjoy the browse!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
The video features USPTA Master Professionals Jim Loehr, Jim Parker and Dave Porter defining and explaining concentration as a mental subcomponent.

Tip:

As we all know, concentration plays a huge role in tennis. Lack of it leads to poor performance and bad losses. Concentration does not only imply channeling one’s mental focus but also the ability to control one’s emotions such as nervousness, anger, fear and so on.

Concentration is a player’s ability to control the direction and attention of his thoughts and focus on the primary task at hand. It involves narrowing one’s focus to his shots and other technical skills, tactical decisions as well as the ability to block out any surrounding distractions for an extended period of time, such as a long match or rally.

Learn more about concentration or any other mental subcomponent by visiting TennisResources.com. You will find a large number of videos and articles that can help you understand and expand your knowledge regarding the mental game. Simply enter “concentration” or any other term of your interest into the Quick Search field and a list of resources will come up. You can also choose the Advanced Search, by clicking on General performance components-Mental and then Concentration. Expand your horizons and learn more about the game you love!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
In this video interview clip, USPTA Master Professional Jack Groppel, Ph.D., describes and defines the technical subcomponent of movement in tennis.

Tip:

The game of tennis requires many skills other than mastering the racquet. One of the most critical ones is movement. If you can’t get to the ball you cannot hit it. And even if you get to the ball but you are not properly balanced, you will still not be able to hit an effective shot. Great athletes are not only strong and fast, but they also are balanced and always seem to be moving effortlessly. They rarely appear awkward and almost always seem to be moving in the right direction.

Work with your players on developing effective movement, the proper use of footwork based on the situation, good balance and good upper body posture.

Watch more videos on movement at TennisResources.com. Simply type “movement” into the Quick Search field or choose the Advanced Search for more specific results. Click on General Performance Components, Physical and then Footwork and movement. The search should bring up a variety of resources featuring some of the world’s best tennis-teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
In this fun and exciting doubles game, USPTA Professional Mark Bey introduces a drill that features the counterattacking team on the baseline versus the finishing or forcing team at the net. It helps players understand the phases of play and practice anticipation and finishing skills at the net. The game is timed. Both sides take turns and the fastest team wins.

Tip:

This week’s tip features USPTA Professional Mark Bey with a fun and enthusiastic doubles drill that implements lots of footwork, movement, reaction, finishing skills and communication.

Get better at defending against the team at the net, but also improve your finishing skills and learn how to be aggressive when playing up.

Doubles is a team game. It is essential for players to complement each other and not play with a singles mindset, where the focus is only on winning in one’s own half of the court. Communication between partners is vital in order to keep enthusiasm up.

Try out this drill with your players during their next practice!

Watch more videos at TennisResources.com. Our youtube search type allows you to search for drills or any other theme of your interest. If you are interested in finding more doubles drills simply type those keywords into the Quick Search or choose the Advanced Search, which allows you to select pre-exisiting categories. Have fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
USPTA Professional Adam Brewer demonstrates a fitness drill players can use to develop better reaction and reflexes using a large ball or a light medicine ball.

Tip:

This week’s tip features Adam Brewer, USPTA Professional and well-known fitness trainer and speaker, demonstrating a drill that can be done with a big ball or a light medicine ball. The exercise involves multiple players and works on developing and improving hand-eye coordination, footwork and movement patterns, reaction and reflexes.

Go out and try this fun drill with your players!

Watch more drills at TennisResources.com. Simply type your key word into the Quick Search that will find drills on the topic of your interest. You can also choose the Advanced Search, which allows you to select from pre-designed categories. Browse our library and have fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
This video features USPTA Master Professional Bill Tym explaining the fundamentals of the slice forehand stroke. He covers the grip, stance, backswing, forward swing, contact point and follow-through.

Tip:

When the continental was the predominant grip among players, slice shots were very much a part of each rally. While the slice is still used in today’s game, it perhaps is not a primary shot. It is used to change the pace of a rally, return serve, approach and also as a defense mechanism.

If you look around the courts at your facility, you probably see the club members using the slice pretty often, especially when playing doubles. A lot of times they use it as a substitute for their topspin shots. If executed correctly, the slice can be very difficult to return due to its skid or low bounce, which creates different contact points for the opponent.

This week’s tip features USPTA Professional Bill Tym as he explains the progression of teaching a slice forehand. Help your players get a better forehand slice!

To watch more videos visit TennisResources.com. Type the subject of your interest into the Quick Search box and you will find a variety of videos that will enhance your knowledge. You can also choose the Advanced Search, which gives you more options to filter your results.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
This conditioning drill, featuring USPTA Master Professional Lorenzo Beltrame, develops both the physical and technical aspects of a player’s game. Using a 2- to 4-pound medicine ball, players can improve the pace of their shots with this drill by simulating a groundstroke while catching and throwing the ball.

Tip:

Medicine ball exercises are a very efficient tool for developing and improving tennis-specific strength and explosiveness. It is a training method that not only strengthens the core, but also helps with stroke production by getting a player to feel how his body works and establish a more efficient kinetic chain. The weight of the ball forces players to use their legs, core, shoulders and arms to throw the ball. The purpose is to get their entire body involved in the shots.

When performing the throws focus on speed and quality of execution rather than how heavy the ball is. Use a relatively light ball to allow players to explode with their execution. Once a player can easily execute the exercises with a light ball, advance to a heavier one.

Watch more drills at TennisResources.com. We provide a library of tennis-teaching resources that covers all the areas a player should develop. Simply go to www.TennisResources.com and enter the word “kinetic chain” for instance or any other term of your interest into the Quick Search field. You can also do a more complex search by clicking on the Advanced Search which allows you to select the predesigned categories. Browse and have fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
This video features USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci explaining the importance of the contact point on the one-handed backhand. Explore the tips he has for you!

Tip:

Today’s game is dominated by power, but the finesse shots should not be neglected. It is important to have them as part of your arsenal, for those difficult situations. Slice shots may be used for several reasons: changing the pace of the rally, returning serve, approach and also defense.

This week’s tip features USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci talking about the contact point on the one-handed slice backhand. He explains that it is very common to see players let their racquet get ahead of their hand/wrist, resulting in a disconnect between how the arm and hand perform during the shot. The slice should be executed with firmness, yet feel, and should not be used for power, but for control.

Watch other related videos at TennisResources.com. We offer an extensive number of one-on-one video interviews featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals speaking on various aspects of the game of tennis. To access these resources enter the word “slice” or any other subject of interest into the Quick Search field and a variety of clips will come up. If you select the Advanced Search, click on “Specific shots,” followed by “Backhand” and then “Slice” category. Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
Using video footage of Andre Agassi, USPTA Professional Brett Hobden explains how to intercept a short ball and take it at its peak. Hobden demonstrates how this tactic can be used at the baseline or on an approach shot.

Tip:

Timing the ball well and hitting it in the proper strike zone are very important skills in shot execution. On the shorter balls especially, you want to make sure to move to the ball and not wait for it to come to you. Whether the ball is inside the baseline or closer to the service line, you want to make sure you get behind it and catch it on the rise. As the ball comes up, hit it off the bounce. Your attitude should be to play the ball and not let the ball play you!

Taking the short ball on the rise will take time away from your opponent!

Watch more related videos at TennisResources.com. To access the resources, enter the a key word into the Quick Search field or select the Advanced search, which allows you to choose from the already designed categories. Learn from the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
This volley drill demonstrated by the World No. 1 doubles team, the Bryan Brothers, focuses on volleying from behind the service line and hitting to a target (working on accuracy). This drill can be performed defensively by hitting 50 volleys in a row or offensively by hitting straight at the opponents, making them miss.

Tip:

Volleys are critical in the game of doubles, and a key point to a successful technique on the volley is to keep it simple. Also, a player must have good balance when moving to the ball and a simple backswing with a lot of control over the racquet face at impact. The more moving parts and the bigger the swing on the volley, the harder it is to master the stroke.

This week’s tip features the No. 1 doubles team in the world, Mike and Bob Bryan, demonstrating a doubles drill they have used on a regular basis since they were young. Wayne Bryan, their father and coach, stresses the importance of mastering the volley from behind the service line. He explains that the drill can be performed as either offensive or defensive and adjusted according to the level of players.

Watch more volley drills at TennisResources.com. Simply type “volley drill” into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of results related to your search. You may also choose the Advanced Search, which gives you the option to select particular categories. USPTA offers you a wide variety of assets featuring top teaching professionals from all over the world.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
Jim Parker, Master Professional, addresses the question of whether or not a particular game style can be taught to a player. As he explains, there are some suggestions that can be made in teaching a style.

Tip:

How do you help your players figure out what style of play matches them best? Is there a particular game style you would like them to adopt?

This week’s tip features USPTA Master Professional Jim Parker discussing the topic of whether a game style can be taught. He explains that each person is unique and has certain things he prefers and feels comfortable doing – whether hitting aggressive shots, keeping the ball in play with consistency, or maybe using touch shots and rushing to the net. For this reason we should try to build a game style that fits a player’s preferences and personality. At the same time, in order to be complete, a player needs to know how to adjust or shift his game to compete against different opponents, thereby expanding his own style and being able to handle all the other types.

Watch more videos about game styles at TennisResources.com. We provide you with an extensive collection of clips and articles on all of the tennis areas. Simply type in “game style” into the Quick Search field or use the Advanced Search for more specific results. Select “Game styles” under the “General Performance Components-Strategic” category to find more useful video tips from several of the world’s top teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Run around side to side drill

Description:
Former ATP player Emilio Sanchez Vicario demonstrates the hand-fed run-around drill in which players move side to side hitting inside-in forehands and backhands. This drill can be tailored to all levels of players based on how the ball is fed.

Tip:

How many times have you witnessed your players missing easy shots because they were either too far from or too close to the ball? How many times did you see them doing too much or too little with their feet and not controlling their bodies? Perhaps they were doing a great job getting to the ball, but their balance was off.

Footwork and movement along with balance and body control are key points in tennis. Our sport requires multidimensional movement capability, and players must be able to move in various directions quickly while maintaining good balance.

If developed and used correctly, balanced footwork and movement consumes less energy for a player during a long match, thus creating less fatigue. It is important to maintain great body control while moving quickly and getting into position.

To watch more videos on footwork, visit TennisResources.com and type “footwork” into the Quick Search field or choose the Advanced Search, which gives you the option to choose from different categories. You will be able to find several video clips featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their advice and drills on how to improve this element of the game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
In this video interview, USPTA Master Professional Jim Loehr, Ed.D., defines and explains the different types of discipline that are important for a player to possess.

Tip:

Discipline in tennis, just as in any other area of life, plays a very important role. Discipline in tennis means developing self-control, including how a player behaves while playing or practicing. Setting a goal, staying focused and doing whatever it takes to reach that goal demonstrates discipline. The more disciplined a player is, the better his chances of reaching his goals.

This week’s tip features USPTA Master Professional Jim Loehr, Ed.D., discussing the types of discipline that are important for tennis players to possess. He brings up some very interesting points about how discipline in a player’s diet, sleep and rest, fitness and workouts affects his or her performance. He explains that the ability to execute a very precise shot in the heat of battle represents a huge amount of physical, emotional and mental discipline.

Watch more clips on the same topic at TennisResources.com. Simply type in “discipline” into the Quick Search field, or choose the Advanced Search which gives you the option to select specific subjects. Browse into our tennis library and you will find helpful videos featuring some of the world’s top professionals! Enjoy!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
The following video features USPTA Professional Otis Sadler offering a tip that will help you hit a better return.

Tip:

The return of serve is as important as the serve itself. Since it’s the shot that starts the point out when receiving, it is critical that we are successful at it. Having a high percentage on the return of serve will pay big dividends.

Some key points for this shot include the split step, quick turn of the front shoulder, compact backswing and early contact with the ball. A very common mistake on the return is that the backswing is bigger than necessary and the ball is caught late. The harder the serve, the shorter the backswing. Players must stay alert and move their feet to be able to hit the ball in the strike zone.

Learn more about the return of serve at TennisResources.com. Simply type the word “return” into the Quick Search field or search in more detail under the Advanced Search by clicking on the “Specific shots” and choosing from Forehand or Backhand categories. The search will bring up a wide number of videos related to the topic. Each of these clips features some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their tips. Learn more!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
In this video, David T. Porter, Ed.D., and USPTA Master Professional, addresses the key elements a player should look for when picking a compatible doubles partner.

Tip:

Since the game of doubles is played as a team, it is very important that we pick the right person as our partner. Whether playing competitive or social doubles, it is important to get along with our partner and enjoy each other’s company.

A successful team is usually created from players who complement each other. Find a partner who is compatible with your personality and style of play. Contrasting skills tend to blend very well, making the team effective.

Learn more about the game of doubles from TennisResources.com. Simply type the word “doubles” into the Quick Search field or search in more detail under the Advanced Search by clicking on the “Demographics” followed by “Type of game-doubles” category. The search will bring up a wide number of videos related to the topic. Each of these clips features some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their tips. Learn more!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
USPTA Professional Mark Bey uses this drill to teach players to dominate the court with the forehand. Players work in teams and they get rewarded for hitting forehands. The feeder starts the point out. This drill can be adjusted to any level and age!

Tip:

The forehand groundstroke has become one of the most used shots in today’s game. It is the shot that dominates the game of most advanced players during baseline rallies. It is important for players to practice building points around their weapon and know when they need to pull the trigger.

There are different methods of training including hitting/rallying, playing points and drilling. Drills are a valuable tool for learning and perfecting the shots and may be used to train players at all levels. Each drill usually has a particular goal such as technique, hitting to targets, movement, conditioning, point development, and strategy and tactics, and players should try to practice with each specific goal in mind so they are drilling with purpose.

Get drill ideas for your next practice from TennisResources.com. We offer drill diagrams along with detailed explanations as well as drill videos featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals. To access these resources enter the word “drill” into the Quick Search field or choose the Advanced Search which gives you the option to select boxes. Keep the drills competitive and fun!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Evolution of the game

Description:
Lorenzo Beltrame offers his perspective on the various factors that have contributed to the evolution of today’s game, including equipment technology and the quality of training available to players.

Tip:

We can probably agree today’s game is quite different from the one played many years ago. Several factors have contributed to the evolution of the game: the advanced equipment technology in racquets, strings and tennis gear, technical changes such as grips and stances, the players’ emphasis on fitness and strength training and the sport psychology research that teaches players how to act in between points and on changeovers, to name just a few.

The speed and power of the game dominates pro matches today. We now see very aggressive, almost violent swings versus the smoother, long-flowing finesse strokes that were more predominant in the past. This has led to changes in stances and extremely fast-paced rallies. There is no surprise that today’s game is predominantly played from the baseline!

As the game of tennis evolves, it is important that we as tennis professionals keep up with technology and any other changes that occur. To watch more videos on game evolution, visit TennisResources.com. Type into the Quick Search field a key word such as “changes” or “modern” and a variety of resources should come up. You can also click on “modern shot technique” under the Advanced Search for more detailed results. Learn from the top teaching professionals!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
Using a large ball, USPTA Professional Adam Brewer demonstrates several types of strength exercises designed to improve a player’s fitness.

Tip:

Playing tennis involves all kinds of muscle movement in the legs, trunk, upper body and arms. Therefore we need to train all of the major muscle groups to ensure the development of overall strength and to balance the muscles. A quality strength training program will enhance a player’s power and reduce the risk of injuries.

Whether you are just starting to play tennis or have been playing for a while and your goal is to have fun while getting fit, the following routine might be one of your options.

This week’s tip features Adam Brewer, USPTA Professional and well-known fitness trainer and speaker, demonstrating a variety of exercises that can be done with a large ball or a light medicine ball. He emphasizes different movements to work muscle areas most often used in tennis, such as legs, the core, arms and shoulders. Depending on your level and goals you may use different types of medicine balls and adjust the intensity and number of repetitions and sets. Be creative and have fun!

Watch more videos related to the physical aspect of tennis at TennisResources.com. Simply type in “strength” or “fitness” into the Quick Search or choose the Advanced Search, which gives you the option to select topics. We offer you a wide number of one-on-one video interviews, audio seminars, articles and much more featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
Page Love presents a list of the medical issues tennis player may encounter. She discusses: iron deficiency, hypoglycemia, loss of muscle mass, loss of bone density, heat illness, overall fatigue and low energy level. She explains why these medical issues happen and what needs to be done to prevent them, with food instead of pills.

Tip:

As players and coaches, we have all encountered different types of tennis-related medical issues over the years, but may not have thought about the nutritional links behind them. It is very important to understand the role nutrition plays in our lives and what we can do to prevent or overcome specific problems by including the right foods in our diets versus taking pills.

Nutritionist Page Love discusses some of the medical issues encountered by tennis players:

Iron deficiency – A condition resulting from too little iron in the body and a leading cause of anemia. Include in your diet iron-rich foods, such as lean meat, fish, poultry, eggs, peas, beans, potatoes, rice, etc.

Hypoglycemia – A condition that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) is too low. It indicates insufficient, infrequent, low-carb intake. It is recommended that players/coaches eat snacks in between meals/matches/practices that provide little amounts of protein and carbs such as energy bars.

Loss of muscle mass – This condition indicates low protein and calorie intake leading to a low level of energy.

Loss of bone density – This may be caused by insufficient amounts of minerals and nutrients, a low-fat and low-calcium diet, amenorrhea and also overtraining. It can lead to bone fractures.

Heat illness – This may be caused by not drinking enough fluids, low sodium intake and/or combined with high plain water intake and a high level of caffeine consumption. Replacing the large sweat losses that occur during matches/practices in the heat is essential.

Overall fatigue and low energy level – Many factors can rob you of energy, but the main cause for a tennis player/coach is usually related to the carbohydrate and energy intake. Make sure you combine the excessive effort with proper rest and fuelling your body with the correct foods.

In all the causes mentioned above, nutrition remains a top priority, because if we don’t feed our body the right foods, we will not have the building blocks for health and high performance.

Learn more about nutrition and medical issues at www.TennisResources.com. Simply type into the Quick Search key words such as “food,” “nutrition” or “medical” or choose the Advanced Search where you can choose from the outlined options and a number of resources featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals will match your search.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Secrets of today’s serve – hit up and out

Description:
The video features USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci, explaining the technical elements of the contact point for the serve.

Tip:

The serve is the most critical shot in the game of tennis and the only one over which we have total control of its execution. The opponent has no input. However, if the serve does not go in, the point does not begin. On the other hand, if you get the serve in accurately and efficiently, you may ace your opponent and win the point.

This week’s tip emphasizes the contact technique for the serve. The hitting segment begins with the rotation of the hips, trunk and hitting shoulder, followed by a deceleration of the right hip (for right-hand players), transferring the energy to the shoulder and arm. The racquet then ascends on edge, allowing an optimal internal rotation of the shoulder and pronation of the forearm. When contact is made, the hitting side is in a full extension, continued with pronation of the forearm and outward roll of the wrist through impact. It’s important to stay relaxed and let the arm rotate naturally!

Learn more about the serving technique by visiting TennisResources.com. Simply enter the term “serve” into the Quick Search field or check the “serve” box under the Advanced Search, which allows you to filter your results. You will find several video clips featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their advice and drills on how to improve your serve!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
Luis Mediero of Spain discusses the impact that the environment has on a tennis player. He explains each of the subcomponents: the competitive, the social, the economic and the home environment and how all these contribute to a player’s career. Hear what he says about junior players in Spain!

Tip:

With this week’s tip we get to the last element of the general performance components – the environmental. This component includes everything affecting the player off the court, particularly his or her social, personal and home life. The environmental subcomponents that affect a player are fun, home, social, economic and competitive.

Fun – Fun means enjoying the competition and enjoying being in the moment of battle. If that element is present in a player’s attitude, it is easier to accomplish the goals that have been set. An enjoyable and pleasurable atmosphere must be created in all aspects and levels of learning, training and playing, and you must also be able to recognize when the element of fun is no longer present in a player’s game.

Home – The home life of a tennis player can often be the foundation of his attitude on court. The better a coach can understand a player’s home life, the better he will know how to successfully communicate and interact with that player. Recreational players tend to play tennis as a family, which contributes to both their tennis game and family life.

Social – It is important to structure a social environment that will enhance the likelihood of a player reaching the desired level of play. A player will feel more comfortable if he is surrounded by people/friends, who play tennis, share the same drive, focus, goals and work ethic providing motivation and a positive effect on their overall game.

The economic aspect can play a key role in a player’s development because the amount of financial resources available for coaching, equipment, travel, tournament fees and other expenses can determine the level to which the player progresses. The coach or parent should know or try to find where economic aid is available for less privileged players.

Competitive – development/existence of a competitive environment on and off the court in which a player needs to be nurtured, starting with a competitive spirit driven from home, at the club/academy where he practices and continued along his career.

Learn more about the environmental component at TennisResources.com. Simply type “Environmental” into the Quick Search field or go with the Advanced Search where you will select “Environmental” under the “General Performance Components.” You will find various videos and other helpful resources featuring top teaching professionals as they discuss the general performance components.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Define the mental component

Description:
The video features USPTA Master Professional Jim Parker describing the mental component. He explains how emotions can affect a player’s game and why it is so important to be mentally aware and balanced when competing.

Tip:

While the physical, technical, tactical and strategic learning components play a vital role in a player’s success on court, there is another component that is, at times, even more critical. However, this component cannot always be seen or analyzed by only watching a player’s movement, stroke or style of play. It is the mental component and it generally makes or breaks a player.

The nine mental subcomponents are:

Self-esteem plays a significant role in a player’s success. If the level of self-esteem is too low, it will negatively affect the player’s confidence, his ability to play good tennis and the belief he can beat his opponent.

Confidence is a player’s strong belief in his abilities and his conviction that he can accomplish any task, whether it is beating an opponent, winning a critical point or successfully hitting a particular shot. Confidence can be built through consistent practice and training.

Independence includes handling pressure situations on your own, looking to yourself for answers on finding a way to win, and thinking through challenging situations on your own.

Discipline affects many components in a player’s development, from his decisions on nutrition to finding the right balance between tennis and his social life. Distractions and temptations can easily disrupt and hinder a player’s discipline, so it is important for a coach to instill a strong sense of discipline in a player early on in his playing career.

Temperament implies the development of a stable and ideal manner of thinking, behaving, and reacting that is characteristic of a successful tennis player, which includes a combination of inner calmness and urgency of action.

Concentration is defined as a player’s ability to control the direction and attention of his thoughts and focus on the primary task at hand, as well as the ability to block out any surrounding distractions.

Goal setting is a player’s ability to determine tasks and outcomes that must be accomplished and understand the steps necessary to reach those goals. To begin setting goals a player must ask himself: Where am I now? Where do I want to be? What must I do to get there?

Sportsmanship is the character and conduct of a player who reacts graciously during competition. It is important to show good sportsmanship in both victory and defeat.

Competitive readiness is a combination of each of the eight mental subcomponents to create a supreme level of mental and physical performance in a match.

Learn more about the mental component and its subcomponents at TennisResources.com. Simply enter the word “Mental” into the Quick Search field or do an Advanced Search by clicking “General Performance Components-Mental.” You will find articles, video interviews and other assets that address the mental/emotional aspect of the game and the important role it has in a player’s training and performance.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
This video is an excerpt from an “On Court with USPTA” episode and it defines the term strategy and how it is used in tennis. It explains the various principles of strategy as well as the importance of recognizing when it is working and when it should be changed.

Tip:

This week’s tip features the strategic component, which involves a player’s overall game plan and usually incorporates two or more of the tactical elements. Strategies may change during the course of a match, so a player must learn how to adjust his strategy in certain situations based on outside variables such as an opponent’s style of play, the physical environment and the particular game or match score.

The seven strategic subcomponents are: repetition, recognizing strengths, game style, surfaces, game situations, match situations and tournament situations.

Repetition is the ability to reproduce tactics that have proved successful against the opponent. The player needs to be able to recognize and identify which tactics are working and make adjustments when needed.

Recognizing strengths – knowing your own strengths and weaknesses and how to use them in developing a game plan or tactics against the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses.

Game style – a player’s game style depends on his personality, strengths and weaknesses. These traits determine the strategies and tactics he implements in competition.

Surfaces – knowing all types of playing surfaces with their individual characteristics and the ability to adapt to each one of them appropriately.

Game situations are conditions that exist in a game such as the score, whether the player is serving or returning, winning or losing, environmental conditions such as sun, wind, etc. A player’s ability to handle and adapt to different situations is critical.

Match situations involve adapting to situations that unfold during a match such as when to change a losing strategy, starting the match during the day but finishing at night, playing a morning versus an evening match, the score – whether it is an eight-game pro set or best-of-three sets, etc.

Tournament situations – adapting to the variety of challenges that occur in the normal course of a tournament, such as if a player will be playing one or two matches per day (sometimes more if doubles are involved), if it is a weekend tournament or a week-long tournament, draw size, rain delays, etc.

Learn more about the strategic component at TennisResources.com. Simply enter the word “strategic” into the Quick Search field or choose the Advanced Search by clicking on “General Performance Components-Strategic” and you will find a large number of videos and articles that will expand your knowledge.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
In his assessment of the tactical component of learning, USPTA Master Professional Jim Parker explains how important the use of tactics can be in a player’s game.

Tip:

This week’s tip covers the tactical component, which involves the variables a player implements during a point, such as power, spin and placement. Where a player hits a shot, how early he takes it, the speed and trajectory at which he hits a shot and the type of shot he chooses to hit all require the implementation of certain tactics. A player’s use and combination of tactics with every shot create an overall strategy.

The seven tactical subcomponents are: consistency, placement, patterns, spins, power, shot selection and competitive situations.

Consistency is a player’s ability to get the ball back more times than the opponent using optimum pace and control, while hitting shots to a specific target or area without error.

Placement represents the ability to hit the ball to the selected target. It allows a player to run the opponent, pick on his weaker side, wrong-foot him or hit into the open court.

Patterns are combinations of shots and shot sequences utilized during a point that emphasize a player’s strengths and exploit the opponent’s weaknesses.

Spin is simply the direction the ball is rotating when it comes off the racquet. Spin can be manipulated by the path and angle of the racquet face at contact, and it allows a player to control the speed and trajectory of his shot, making it more accurate.

Power is the amount of speed put on a shot and the ability to develop pace on a ball. It is generated through the combination of a player’s strength and the kinetic chain. It is imparted on shots for both offensive and defensive purposes.

Shot selection is a player’s ability to recognize what is going on in the point, understand the shot options available to him and choose the best possible shot based on all the information he has gathered. It requires fast thinking and split-second decision making.

When faced with a competitive situation in a match, it is essential for a player to know how to best select his tactics and shots to play and win the next point or game. Mental focus and toughness play a significant role into choosing the right shot, going with the proper patterns, and using optimum placement and consistency.

To learn more about the tactical component visit TennisResources.com. You will find a large number of videos and articles that can help you expand your knowledge. Simply enter “tactical” into the Quick Search or choose the Advanced Search, by clicking on General performance components-Tactical. Expand your horizons and learn more about the game you love!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
USPTA Professional Brett Hobden describes the importance of the technical component, stressing the idea that technique must be developed soundly to the point where it can hold up at an optimal level, even under pressure, without failing the player.

Tip:

Following last week’s tip, we will discuss the technical component this week. The technical component includes all of the elements involved in developing sound shot technique, such as getting into position, setting up for a shot and the biomechanics of correctly hitting a ball.

The eight technical subcomponents are: tracking skills, racquet skills, shot fundamentals, ball control, movement and footwork, modern shot technique, developing weapons and developing game styles.

Tracking skills involve judging the incoming ball’s characteristics and flight path such as spin, speed, height, depth and direction. A player needs to anticipate where the ball is going to be and when it’s going to be there and prepare properly.

Racquet skills imply the ability to use the racquet as an extension of the arm to maneuver, manipulate and control the racquet based on the type of shot the player wants to hit. Knowing how to use the different types of grips in order to manipulate the angle, speed and direction of the racquet face is also very important.

Shot fundamentals involve the foundation of all shots, from anticipation to execution including knowledge of the hitting zone, the use of proper posture, head position and the follow-through, to name a few.

Ball control is one of the secrets to shot making and tactics in tennis. It represents a player’s ability to hit the ball with accuracy, consistency, proper pace, spin, direction, angle and trajectory. It is extremely valuable to be able to have your shots accomplish your intentions.

Movement and footwork are the foundation for a solid technique and can briefly be described as getting in the right place at the right time using the adequate footwork pattern. The more a player uses the feet, the easier it is to hit the ball. It requires several skills such as predicting, intercepting, preparation and recovery.

Modern shot technique has been influenced greatly by the addition of power and speed to the game. It implies the popularity of the semi-western grip, open and semi-open stances and the use of the kinetic chain and angular momentum.

Developing weapons means having one or more punishing shots that are hit as winners or that force errors with great regularity. Weapons do not necessarily have to be limited to specific shots, but can also be some of the intangibles within the game such as speed, movement, footwork, touch or even mental toughness. A weapon must, however, be something a player can and will use most often in the course of a point or match.

Developing game styles involves drawing on a player’s personality, skill level and ability, and is based on stressing strengths while minimizing weaknesses.

Watch more clips on the technical component at TennisResources.com. You will find numerous video clips, audio seminars and articles featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals. Simply type in “Technical” into the Quick Search box or choose the Advanced Search and click on General Performance Components, selecting the component of your interest.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
The video features USPTA Master Professional Jim Parker offering his definition of the physical component of tennis and its importance to successful tennis.

Tip:
The foundation of learning and teaching tennis is based on the progression of six components: physical, technical, tactical, strategic, mental/emotional and environmental. Each one of these components has seven or more subcomponents. While each component is important, success in tennis depends on a shifting balance of all six components to create a well-rounded player.

The physical component is the basis of any player’s ability to play the game. It includes motor skills, conditioning, along with speed, agility, quickness, strength, nutrition, flexibility and medical aspects.

The technical component describes the stroke mechanics, or how a player hits a shot. It includes tracking and racquet skills, shot fundamentals, ball control, movement and footwork, modern shot technique, developing weapons and game styles.

The tactical component is the shot-by-shot choice, using the shots in a predetermined way. It includes consistency, placement, patterns, spins, power, shot selection and game situations.

The strategic component refers to putting the tactics together into a game plan. The plan of action includes repetition, recognizing strengths, game style, adapting to various surfaces, and handling game, match and tournament situations.

The mental/emotional component describes the maturity of a player and the ability to handle competitive situations. It includes self-esteem, confidence, independence, discipline, temperament, concentration, goal setting, sportsmanship and competitive readiness.

The environmental component includes any off-court aspect that can affect a player’s game. It refers to fun, home, social, economic and competitive environments.

A player must balance all of these components in order to be successful in tennis. Learn more about the general performance components at www.TennisResources.com. Simply type into the Quick search the name of the component you are interested in and a multitude of assets should come up. You can also choose the Advanced Search, which gives you the option to select boxes for a more accurate search. Several videos will match your interest featuring some of the most famous tennis-teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
The video discusses the six general performance components of learning. A definition is provided for the physical, technical, tactical, strategic, mental and environmental components.

Tip:
The foundation of learning and teaching tennis is based on the progression of six components: physical, technical, tactical, strategic, mental/emotional and environmental. Each one of these components has seven or more subcomponents. While each component is important, success in tennis depends on a shifting balance of all six components to create a well-rounded player.

The physical component is the basis of any player’s ability to play the game. It includes motor skills, conditioning, along with speed, agility, quickness, strength, nutrition, flexibility and medical aspects.

The technical component describes the stroke mechanics, or how a player hits a shot. It includes tracking and racquet skills, shot fundamentals, ball control, movement and footwork, modern shot technique, developing weapons and game styles.

The tactical component is the shot-by-shot choice, using the shots in a predetermined way. It includes consistency, placement, patterns, spins, power, shot selection and game situations.

The strategic component refers to putting the tactics together into a game plan. The plan of action includes repetition, recognizing strengths, game style, adapting to various surfaces, and handling game, match and tournament situations.

The mental/emotional component describes the maturity of a player and the ability to handle competitive situations. It includes self-esteem, confidence, independence, discipline, temperament, concentration, goal setting, sportsmanship and competitive readiness.

The environmental component includes any off-court aspect that can affect a player’s game. It refers to fun, home, social, economic and competitive environments.

A player must balance all of these components in order to be successful in tennis. Learn more about the general performance components at www.TennisResources.com. Simply type into the Quick search the name of the component you are interested in and a multitude of assets should come up. You can also choose the Advanced Search, which gives you the option to select boxes for a more accurate search. Several videos will match your interest featuring some of the most famous tennis-teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
The video features Jim Loehr, Ed.D., addressing the difference between good and bad storytelling and the impact it can have on a player’s life. Loehr also explains what storytelling means to becoming a strong player and person.

Tip:
Each one of us has stories about our work, our families and relationships, our health, about what we want and what we are capable of achieving. We also have a story about tennis. Our stories represent our goals and shape our lives. As Jim Loehr, Ph.D., author of the “Power of Story” says, “Many of our stories are dysfunctional, in need of serious editing.”

One of the most important stories to get straight in terms of your future as a coach or tennis player involves your reason for being involved in or playing tennis in the first place.

So what is your tennis story?

Ask your players about their reasons for being involved in tennis. Is their main purpose to win trophies, to be professional players and make lots of money? Or is their primary purpose to become a stronger, multifunctional person through tennis and enjoy the process?

Who are your students becoming because of tennis? Are they becoming stronger, more confident, disciplined, positive and focused individuals? Do you and they like what tennis brings out of them?

Skillful storytelling is a powerful tool that can be effectively used to ensure success. When your stories are grounded in truth, they take you where you want to go and help reach your highest potential. The stronger you are as a person, the stronger you are going to be as a tennis player!

The storytelling skills you learn for success in tennis will also drive extraordinary success in life! Watch more videos featuring Jim Loehr at TennisResources.com. Simply type in his name into the Quick Search field, or if you would like to watch additional related videos by other top tennis professionals, go to the Advanced Search and click on General Performance Components, Mental and a variety of resources should match your search.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
The video features USPTA Professional Stan Oley describing and showing examples of the upper- and lower-level strike zones, their importance and characteristics.

Tip:
Many players think that there is only one strike zone, but balls can be hit at various heights and the strike zone can change depending on the shot you are trying to hit and your ability level.

Being familiar with and understanding the strike zone is a very important part of shot technique. To define it we can say that it represents the height and distance of the contact point in relation to the body. The striking zone needs to be a comfortable distance from the body and allow the shots to be executed easily. Tracking, predicting and intercepting along with good footwork play a role in creating the optimum strike zone.

As USPTA Professional Stan Oley explains, there are two strike zones: the lower-level and the upper-level. The lower-level strike zone is between the knees and waist and is mostly used for rally balls, while the upper-level strike zone is between the waist and the shoulders and is mostly used to take balls early and attack shots. The optimum strike zone will also depend on the grip a player uses.

Watch more videos about the strike zone at TennisResources.com. You will also find various audio seminars, articles, and other helpful resources. Simply type the subject of interest into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of related results featuring top teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
USPTA Professional Brett Hobden and Master Professionals David T. Porter and Jim Parker define the various game styles a player can develop, and they explain the importance of the ability to implement each style when needed.

Tip:
Each person is built differently; even most twins have individual features. Some are taller, some are shorter, some are stronger and some might have a great touch. It really depends on the individual’s genetics or natural instincts. What’s most important is that based on their strengths and weaknesses, players find the type of style that fits them best, but at the same time are able to handle other skills when facing certain types of players.

What type of game style does your player use?

Is he doing a good job on the baseline by being consistent and moving the opponent around, or does he prefer to win points by hitting outright winners? Is he successful by being a counterpuncher and getting every ball back while making it difficult for the opponent to hit winners? Is he forcing his opponent to miss? Or maybe he likes to attack and come into the net a lot? Does he perhaps fall into the best-case scenario by being the all-court player, which successfully mixes the different styles and is able to select and transition easily from one style to the other, making it very difficult for the opponent?

Help your player develop a variety of skills that will lend themselves to making mid-game adjustments, when necessary, while still emphasizing a preferred style!

Watch more videos about “game styles” by going to TennisResources.com. Simply type in “game styles” or any other combination of words into the Quick Search field and an extensive collection of clips and articles will match your search. You can also use the Advanced Search for more specific results. Simply select “Game styles” or any of the other subcomponents under the “General Performance Components-Strategic” category to find more useful video tips from several of the world’s top teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
USPTA Professional Tom Gullikson explains the role of the server’s partner during doubles play, including what the partner should look for, where to move and what areas of the court to cover.

Tip:
In the game of doubles, each of the four competitors plays a significant role and carries certain responsibilities in order to form a successful team with their respective partner. This week’s tip features former professional player and U.S. Davis Cup captain, Tom Gullikson, talking about the positioning, responsibilities and role of the server’s partner.

The server’s partner plays an essential role. He has the ability to complete his partner’s serve by putting fear into the returner about what to do after the return and by intimidating the returner’s partner, especially if he already has poached a few times. Gullikson’s advice is that the server’s partner should try to win at least two points in his position in order to reduce the burden of the server and work as a team.

Some helpful tips for the server’s partner:
- Position yourself in the middle of the service box, not too close to the net
- When poaching, lead with racquet and try to cut the angle
- Use the net strap as a guide for movement when poaching
- Try to move in closer to the net when poaching
- Do not stop poaching after missing a few balls. Your attitude puts pressure on the returner
- Cover your own lob
- Always be ready
- Be aggressive
- Get into the head of the receiver, by moving a lot and poaching a few times in the first couple of games

Learn more about the game of doubles and the players’ responsibilities at TennisResources.com. You can choose the Advanced Search where you can click on “Demographics,” followed by the “Type of game” which would be “Doubles,” or just simply type “Doubles” into the “Quick Search” bar and a variety of resources will match your search.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
This video is an excerpt from the seminar “Control your mind to win” by Anne Smith, Ph.D., and USPTA Professional. The clip highlights the importance of a coach’s attitude, emotions and word choices when talking with a player and how all these details can affect a player’s response.

Tip:
We cannot be effective as coaches unless we successfully communicate with the people we teach. Each athlete is different in personality, attitude, sensitivity and how he or she handles criticism and adversity. It’s not only about what we say, but how we say it. Our tone, body language, mannerisms, ability to control our emotions, either frustration, anxiety or excitement, all play very important roles in our communication with the player.

It is important to get to know the athlete’s individual features and style so we can adapt our delivery method according to his or her needs. Successful communication results in a player understanding our messages and responding positively to them. Our goal is to find the best approach so we can achieve maximum coaching effectiveness.

Learn more about communicating with players at TennisResources.com. Enter the term ”coaching” into the Quick Search field or any other term of your interest and an extensive number of related videos will come up. Also try out the Advanced Search, where you can choose to search within our wide number of articles from the ADDvantage magazine. These clips and articles feature some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering definitions and tips that focus on how to become the best coach you can be.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
USPTA Professional Mark Bey talks about the five phases of play and the court positioning that goes along with them. He explains that it is critical for players to use the proper technique and determine shot selection based on their court position.

Tip:
This week’s tip covers the five phases of play as USPTA Professional Mark Bey discusses them: the attacking phase, the forcing phase, the rally phase, the counter-attacking phase and the defensive phase. It is very important for your students to understand that their shot selection and technique should be based on their court position.

The attacking phase – oftentimes inside the service box or even close to the net. This phase consists of aggressive overheads, swinging volleys, putaway shots with increased racquet speed and downward trajectories.

The forcing phase – also known as “no-man’s land” – the balls in this phase are taken early and hits driving, forcing shots. Examples can be second-serve returns or short balls that you move in on.

The rally phase – This involves hitting rally shots using spin, pace and trajectory options, while working with shot patterns and directions to try to set up opportunities.

The counter-attacking phase – This phase means your opponent has hit good shots and forced you back. You are compromising, abbreviating your swing to use the opponent’s pace or hitting a lob to stay in the point.

The defensive phase – In this phase you are in trouble, on your heels behind the baseline, using the continental grip to stretch and reach and get the ball up to buy time to recover.

Understanding the court position, using the right size of loops and racquet head speed will help players make better decisions about shot selection and improve their game plan. To learn more visit TennisResources.com. Type in the subject of your interest into the Quick Search and you will find a variety of videos that will enhance your knowledge. You can also choose the Advanced Search, which gives you more options to filter your results.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
This video is a part of the seminar “From sports beverages to vitamins: how tennis players use supplements,” given by nutritionist Page Love. She discusses why it is important for tennis players to get enough of the good and natural fats such as vegetable fats, fish oils, unsaturated fats and omega 3s.

Tip:
The human body is similar to a machine that needs fuel in order to function. Quality and appropriate fuel makes the machine run even better. Therefore, the foods we eat are extremely important to our lives and especially to the lives of tennis players. They need the right fuel in order to train and perform at high levels.

Healthy fuel for the body includes proteins, carbohydrates and fats. This week’s tip addresses the subject of fats that we must have in our diet. Nutritionist Page Love discusses the amount of fat intake tennis players need in their meal plans and why. She explains that certain fats normalize hormonal regulation, raise metabolism, and help promote healthy skin, hair and bones. She adds that fat is a dense energy source, and it also helps your body absorb antioxidant vitamins.

Fats can be acquired from foods or via supplements. Examples of healthy fats are: avocados, olives, nuts, oil-based salad dressings, nut butters, fish oils, unsaturated fats and omega 3s. People should have at least one tablespoon a day in a healthy diet.

If you want to learn more about fats, proteins, carbohydrates or any other information regarding nutrition, visit TennisResources.com. Enter the word “nutrition” into the Quick Search field or choose our Advanced Search. The search will bring up a variety of videos, articles and audio seminars that will assist in expanding your knowledge in this matter.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
Flexibility, one of the physical subcomponents, is defined and explained in this video interview with Master Professional Rick Macci. He also offers a tip on what a player should do to improve his or her flexibility.
Flexibility is an important part of a player’s physical development and also one of the most overlooked. It is probably the least applied subcomponent for different reasons: Players don’t really like stretching because it doesn’t feel good, perhaps flexibility benefits are not obvious on the tennis court, or it could be that most players don’t understand the importance of flexibility nor have a guideline for how, why and when to stretch.

Tip:
We define flexibility as the range of motion of the joints and the degree to which the muscles, tendons and connective tissue around the joints can elongate and bend. There are many factors influencing flexibility, including heredity, neuromuscular components and tissue temperature. An important factor for a tennis player is tissue temperature. Heat increases the elongation and bending properties of soft tissue. Warming up before stretching by raising the body’s temperature or by breaking a light sweat will give you greater gains in flexibility with less microtrauma to the tissues you are stretching.

It is very important for tennis players to include stretching as part of their routine – a warm-up with dynamic stretching and a cool-down with static stretching at the end of every practice or match. Maintaining a good level of flexibility is important in order to get to those difficult balls and play tennis effectively.

Learn more about flexibility and its types at TennisResources.com. Simply enter the word “Flexibility” into the Quick Search field or do an Advanced Search by clicking “General Performance Components-Physical” and then “Flexibility.” You will find articles, video interviews and exercises that address the subject of flexibility and the important role it plays in a player’s training program.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
USPTA Master Professional Lorenzo Beltrame explains and gives examples of each of the three different types of balance situations: off balance, in balance and ideal balance. It is important for players to understand the different types of balance and make the right choices in important situations.
Balance, like agility and several other skills, is an important part of a tennis player’s performance. There are three types of balance situations that a player encounters during point play: The player can be off balance, in balance or in ideal balance. It is important for tennis players to recognize these situations and know how to react to them.

Tip:
An off-balance situation means that the player is moving away from the intended target and the momentum carries him wide or backward, depending on the opponent’s ball. In this situation, players should not go for a big shot, but instead learn to defend safely and gain time to get back in position.

An in-balance situation means that the player got the ball early and has time to stop and hit the ball with more accuracy. He is able to hit an aggressive or attacking shot.

An example of being in an ideal-balance situation would be as a player moves to the short ball, organizes his steps to get into a good position and hits a winner or moves in to the net for a winner volley.

When you understand how balance affects your strategy, you will be able to make better decisions in those difficult moments of the match. Players should try to achieve the ideal balance as often as possible to become aggressive and finish points.

Learn more about balance and any other factor that influences shot selection at TennisResources.com. We provide you with a varied selection of audio seminars, articles and videos that address each specific skill that tennis requires. Simply type the word “balance” or any other subject of your interest into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of results related to your search. You may also choose the Advanced Search that will provide a more precise search on your topic.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Highlight

Description:
USPTA Professionals Jim Parker, Brett Hobden and David T. Porter explain the use of spin as one of a player’s tactical weapons during a point. They describe how different spins can be used to implement different strategies depending on a player’s purpose, as well as the advantages of using a variety of spins.

Tip:
Most of the rallies in today’s game are played aggressively from the baseline and the use of spin is a dominant tactic among players. Groundstrokes generally are hit with two types of spin: topspin and backspin/underspin. Each one is used for different tactical purposes during a point.

Topspin is generated by a low to high racquet path and is usually accompanied by a slightly closed racquet face at contact. This causes the ball to arc over the net and drop into the court with a forward spin.

Backspin is achieved by a high to low racquet path. This produces a spin that causes the ball to skid upon the court, resulting in a lower bounce for the opponent.

As a tactic, spin is used to change the pace and height of the ball during a point. By creating these changes with a variety of spins, a player can take control of the point and dictate what kind of ball he wants to receive from the opponent, thus setting himself up to win the point. The more spin you use in your game, the more unpredictable it is for the opponent!

Learn more about the spins and other tactical subcomponents at TennisResources.com. We provide various audio seminars, articles and videos that address the tactical aspect of tennis. Simply type the word “spins” or “tactical” into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of results related to your search. You may also choose the Advanced Search that will provide a more precise search on your topic. Choose the Tactical component under the “General performance components” category and click on “Spins” or on any of the seven subcomponents that you may be interested in, and you will find a wide number of helpful resources.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
USPTA Professional Adam Brewer demonstrates seven basic fitness exercises players can do using a large ball or a light medicine ball. Exercises include squats, push-ups, lunges, reaches, rotations and chops.

Tip:
Strength plays a tremendous role in the game of tennis, however, a lot of people neglect its importance. Strength training should be an integral part of a tennis player’s development to improve strength, increase muscle endurance and power, decrease injury risk and enhance performance.

This week’s tip features Adam Brewer, USPTA Professional and well-known fitness trainer and speaker, demonstrating a variety of exercises that can be done with a big ball or a light medicine ball. He emphasizes different tennis movements to work muscular areas most often used in tennis, such as legs, the core, arms and shoulders. He encourages working with partners and making the exercises competitive.

Since tennis demands that a player repeats powerful actions over a long period of time, a player needs to develop muscular endurance, power and explosive movements. Players should participate in overall body strengthening programs in addition to tennis-specific activities.

At TennisResources.com, you can find various audio seminars, articles and videos that address the strength aspect of tennis. Simply type the word “strength” into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of results related to your search. You may also choose the Advanced Search that will provide a more precise search on your topic. Choose the “Physical” component under the “General performance components” category and click on “Strength,” and you will find a wide range of helpful resources.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
USPTA Master Professional Jim Loehr explains the role of independence in a player’s life and how tennis, as an individual sport, can help develop a player’s self-reliance both on and off the court.

Tip:
Besides the large number of benefits that tennis provides, this sport teaches players how to become independent and build a strong character. In order to be successful, a tennis player must learn to think independently on the court. As we all know, players are not allowed to get help from parents, coaches (except certain events) or teammates; they must learn how to deal with every situation on their own. This independence includes handling pressure situations, looking to themselves for finding a way to win and thinking through challenging situations.

A player can receive countless hours of coaching, guidance and training during practice on how to handle certain situations during a match, but once the player steps out on the court, he is on his own. It is solely up to him to understand what it takes to win the match against a particular opponent and use what he has learned during practice to do so.

The more a player can be self-sufficient and deal with tough situations on his own, the more confident and stronger he will become, not just as a player, but also as a person.

TennisResources.com, provides a wide range of clips on the mental component and its subcomponents, with Independence being one of them. Visit the website and enter the word “Mental ” into the Quick Search field. You can also use the Advanced Search by selecting “Mental” and then “Independence” under the “General Performance Components” category to find more useful video tips from several of the world’s top teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Rick Macci presents a drill that shows how coaches can vary placement of a feed in order to improve a player’s chip shot. This drill also improves a player’s agility and quick first step.

Tip:
Most of today’s tennis players are able to play well from the baseline. Everybody likes to bang the ball back and forth from the back court, but when a shorter and softer ball comes in, it becomes interesting. Players need to master some fine motor skills as well as excellent speed and footwork in order to get to the softie and get it over the net.

This week’s tip brings you a drill that USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci uses to improve players’ speed, agility and quickness. It also focuses on fine motor skills necessary to chip and maneuver the racquet in uncomfortable situations. The ball is being fed in different places and at different speeds and heights. The player needs to find a way to get the ball over the net and can only chip it.

Macci emphasizes the first step, the sprinting required to get to the ball, creating space around it so that hitting is possible, bending to the level of the ball, and being able to maneuver the racquet in uncomfortable situations. Endurance will also improve with this drill.

TennisResources.com is your library of video tips, seminar clips, drills and articles dedicated to helping you improve your tennis. If you would like to see more drills, simply enter the subject of your interest into the Quick Search field or click on the Advanced Search for a more specific search. You can filter by clicking the Drill/Lesson category and choose the purpose of the drill you are trying to find. Several drills will match your interest featuring some of the most famous tennis teaching professionals, that you can incorporate into your practices.

Watch this drill and go try it yourself or with your players. You will see a difference!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
In this video clip, the topic of court surfaces is addressed, and renowned USPTA coaches discuss how different surfaces can affect a player’s strategy. They each explain how the speed and conditions of a particular surface will often influence the use of one strategy over another and force a player to adapt accordingly. Depending on the player’s game style, one surface may give him or her an advantage when compared to other surfaces.

Tip:
Tennis is played on different surfaces such as clay, grass, hard and indoor. In general people grow up playing on a certain surface that is dominant in their country. But when players get to a higher level and begin to travel and compete worldwide, they start encountering different playing surfaces in their tournaments.

Each surface has its own unique qualities and they affect a player’s game and strategy.
Clay courts are the slowest surface, favoring the baseliner and counterpuncher. Grass courts are typically faster than the other surfaces and favor the attack or serve-and-volley style because of the faster, low-bouncing ball. Hard courts are not as fast as grass and can be characterized as medium-speed courts that favor the all-court, attack, counterpunch and aggressive baseline games almost equally. Pushers also have a measure of success on hard courts. In general, indoor courts are fast and the conditions are usually favorable to baseliners, all court-players and attackers.

Depending on their gamestyle, players may prefer and perform better on one surface over another, but it is critical for them to be able to adjust their styles and strategies as the surface changes. The key is for a player to gain more experience on each surface to learn how to adapt and perform at a high level.

If you would like to learn more about the various playing surfaces and the best strategy for a specific surface, visit TennisResources.com and enter the term “surfaces” into the Quick Search field. You can also choose to do an Advanced Search by clicking on the “Strategic” component under the “General Performance Components” category. Click on “Surfaces” and the search will bring up a wide number of videos explaining the topic. Each of these clips feature tips from some of the world’s top teaching professionals. Learn more!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
In this interview with USPTA Master Professional Jack Groppel, we learn the definitions of aerobic, anaerobic and strength and flexibility conditioning. He also explains the differences between each.

Tip:
Aerobic and anaerobic conditioning are two terms that you probably hear pretty often. But what do they actually mean and how do they relate to tennis?

Aerobic activity needs oxygen to take place. This type of activity includes longer duration and steady-paced movements that require the body to receive energy from burning carbohydrates and fats while using energy pathways that include oxygen.

Anaerobic activity does not need oxygen to take place. It includes high-intensity, short duration events that use stored energy in the muscles or energy made rapidly when you initiate it.

Tennis is an anaerobic sport because it requires sprinting, stopping, changing directions and explosive movements. In addition, most points do not last longer than 90 seconds. At the same time, it is extremely important for tennis players also to develop aerobic conditioning since it helps with a quicker recovery in between points and enables them to last through a three-hour match or longer. Strength and flexibility conditioning are also very important and need to be improved along with aerobic and anaerobic fitness.

TennisResources.com has various resources that discuss the physical condition a player should develop. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “physical” or “conditioning” into the Quick Search field. You can also do a more complex search by clicking on the Advanced Search, “General Performance Components “and then “Physical.” There, you can find articles, video interviews and audio seminars that address the subject and the important role it plays in a player’s life.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
This Sweet Spot tip with Rick Macci focuses on improving footwork and moving around the ball. He emphasizes the idea that a player should adjust his or her footwork between shots in order to be better prepared and set up for the next shot.

Tip:
You might have heard the line: Footwork is the name of the game. Why do you think experts tend to emphasize this statement? Is footwork really that important in tennis?

As a matter of fact, it is. Movement and footwork on the tennis court are critical. If your player does not move well, you need to address the concern immediately because if he can’t get to the ball, he will not be able to hit it properly. Being able to move to the ball and get into the right position makes hitting easier. The feet must do the work. Players must make footwork adjustments for every ball they receive to ensure they hit the ball in their strike zone. You can judge the ball better by adjusting your feet.

During your training and practice sessions you should always spend some time focusing on the movement and footwork aspect. TennisResources.com has a large number of articles, drills, videos and audio seminars available that discuss and demonstrate how a player can best improve this part of his game. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “movement” or “footwork” into the Quick Search field. You can also choose a more detailed search by clicking on the “Advanced Search,” “General Performance Components” and then “Movement and Footwork.” A variety of resources should match your interest.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
In this video clip, USPTA Master Professionals Jim Loehr, Ed.D., David T. Porter, Ed.D., and Jim Parker offer their definitions and explanations of temperament as it relates to a player’s attitude.

Tip:
Temperament is the aspect of an individual’s personality that is often regarded as innate rather than learned. Each individual thinks, behaves and reacts in ways that are unique to his or her personality.

A person’s temperament can make or break his performance on the tennis court. If a player becomes physically and verbally angry and loses his cool during a match because things are not going his way he is demonstrating a bad temper. Other examples might include throwing the racquet, screaming and yelling at himself, creating negative self-talk. This type of frustration has a profoundly negative effect on a player’s game, giving way to lack of focus. It also may allow the opponent to swing the match his way and get a mental advantage.

A player with a good temperament stays positive and level-headed no matter what the situation. Staying mentally focused and balanced is the key to competitive success.

It is important for players to control their tempers and be able to solve problems on the court with a positive attitude. TennisResources.com offers a number of one-on-one video interviews featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals speaking on the mental aspect of tennis and its importance to a player’s game. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “mental” into the Quick Search field. If you select the Advanced search, click on “Mental” under the “General Performance Components” category.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
In this video clip USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci explains the ball toss and where it should be released in relation to the player’s body in order to hit successful serves.

Tip:
The serve is a critical shot in tennis and the only shot that you fully control. In other words, since you initiate the serve, you don’t have to prepare for an incoming ball from your opponent. In order to hit a good serve, however, you need to toss the ball properly because your swing will be determined by where you place your toss.

In order to make a good toss, the ball needs to be held on the fingertips. The palm should face directly toward the sky as the arm goes up and the ball should be pushed into the air using the straight forward and up technique. These factors help to limit spin on the ball and enhance overall control of the toss. The tossing arm should go up and out to the side of the body assisting trunk and shoulder rotation. The weight starts to move forward as the arm moves upward.

To learn more about the serve and how to improve this important aspect of your game, visit TennisResources.com and enter “serve” or “ball toss” into the Quick Search field. There, you will find several video clips featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their advice and drills on how to incorporate this element into your game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Jim Parker explains in this interview how a junior player’s social environment can affect his or her play.

Tip:
Even though a tennis player’s environment might not seem as important as it relates to competition, outside factors and issues unrelated to the game of tennis certainly play a significant role in how a player performs on the court. Outside factors include the player’s social, personal and home life.

As a player develops his game, the presence of peers who are also developing their games at the same level is important because not only does it provide a motivating factor for that player, but it also brings in the positive subcomponent of fun because he or she is playing the game with friends. Therefore, social relationships play a significant role in supporting a player and determining how long he participates in the sport.

Whether there are problems going on at home or in the player’s social life, environmental issues can create mental distractions.

In order to decrease the impact of these issues on a player’s game, it is important for coaches to know about potential environmental issues and keep the player focused on the court. To gain a better understanding of this aspect of the game, visit TennisResources.com and enter the word “Social” or “Environment” into the Quick Search field. There, you will find a number of videos featuring one-on-one interviews with top teaching professionals as they address the issue of how a player’s environment outside of tennis can affect his or her game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Brett Hobden explains the concept of the segmented swing and illustrates how much backswing and how much follow-through is needed for certain shots to control the ball.

Tip:
Shot fundamentals involve all of the skills and techniques necessary to properly execute a sound stroke, from preparation to finishing of the shot. This week’s tip refers to two important fundamentals: the backswing and the follow-through. USPTA Professional Brett Hobden breaks the swings into five segments each: five parts on the backswing and five parts on the follow-through, five being the longest backswing and longest follow-through. He explains that the segmented swing is a great way to illustrate how much backswing and follow-through is needed for control. For example, a player will be using a five-five swing to hit a groundstroke, which means five parts backswing and a five parts follow-through, whereas a two-two swing will be used for a drop shot. The video provides a visual representation, which helps you understand the concept and explain it to your students in your next practice.

To learn more about shot fundamentals and how to improve this important aspect of your game, visit TennisResources.com and enter the term of your interest into the Quick Search field. The Advanced Search gives you the option to choose from our criteria. You will be able to find several video clips featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their advice and drills on how to incorporate this element into your game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
USPTA Professional Brett Hobden, and Master Professionals David T. Porter, Lorenzo Beltrame and Rick Macci each provide their definition of repetition and its use in the development of a player’s game.

Tip:
During the course of a match, it is important for a player to be able to recognize and identify which tactics (a shot or/and a combination of shots) are proving successful. Once he finds something that consistently works to his advantage and creates trouble for his opponent, he should repeat the tactic over and over until the match ends or the opponent makes an adjustment and finds a way to counter the specific tactics.

In order to repeat a tactic successfully, players must first master the technical aspects of a stroke and then repeat the desired tactics during practice. By doing so, players will gain confidence and will be able to perform and repeat the specific shot or shot combinations effectively during a match.

If you would like to learn more about the tactical aspect of the game, visit TennisResources.com and enter the term “tactical” into the Quick Search field. You can also choose to do an Advanced Search by clicking on the “Tactical” component under the “General Performance Components” category. The search will bring up a wide number of videos explaining the topic. Each of these clips feature some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering definitions and tips that focus on developing a player’s tactics.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
This video clip on the tactical component of tennis addresses the question of how coaches can create game-like situations during practice. USPTA Professional Brett Hobden explains the importance of relating practices to game situations and how experiencing them in practice can help a player be comfortable when those same situations develop in a match.

Tip:
When faced with a competitive situation in a match, it is important for a player to know how to best select his tactics and shots to play the next point or game. The key to being successful in a competitive situation is to practice game-like situations. This will allow the player to get into the mind-set of how to play and win the next point. The tactics chosen and shots selected should be sound decisions that reflect the situation the player faces. As with most aspects in the game of tennis, the more experience a player has in these kind of situations, the better prepared he will be because he will know what tactics work best and be comfortable when faced with real match situations.

To learn more about competitive situations or any aspect of the tactical component visit TennisResources.com and enter “competitive situations” or “tactical” into the Quick Search field. There, you will find hundreds of video clips featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their advice and drills on how to incorporate this element into your game. For more specific results you can also choose the Advanced Search.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
In this video, Luis Mediero of Spain defines ball control and ball characteristics including, direction, depth, spin and power.

Tip:
Ball control is one of the secrets to shot making and tactics in tennis. It is a player’s ability to hit the ball with accuracy, consistency, proper pace, spin, direction, angle, depth and trajectory. With developed ball control, players can manipulate their shots to have their desired effect.

This week’s tip is presented by the well-known Spanish teacher Luis Mediero, USPTA Master Professional. He defines ball control using the Spanish terms and explains the Spanish teaching method regarding ball characteristics.

Learn more about ball control or any other technical aspect of the game at TennisResources.com, where you can find many videos that can help you improve your tennis knowledge. Simply enter the words “ball control” or any other terms of your interest into the Quick Search field and a variety of resources will come up. You can also choose an Advanced Search for more specific results.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Wayne Bryan discusses the importance of incorporating the element of fun into a player’s practice session so that he or she will continue enjoying the sport and want to learn more.

Tip:

Like any other sport, becoming a great tennis player requires many hours of practice and devotion. However, an important ingredient that should not be left out is fun. Tennis can become boring and unenjoyable if players don’t have fun. When we speak about fun, it doesn’t mean that a player should be laughing and joking around on the tennis court and not being serious. An enjoyable and exciting atmosphere must be created in all aspects and levels of learning, training and playing. Kids who have fun learn faster and enjoy the game more, which helps keep them interested in playing.

Making tennis fun for kids and adults will get more people playing this great game!

Watch more videos about the “fun” element of tennis by going to TennisResources.com. We provide you with an extensive collection of clips and articles on all of the tennis areas. Visit the website and enter the phrase “Fun” into the Quick Search field. You can also use the Advanced Search for more specific results. Simply select “Fun” or any of the other subcomponents under the “General Performance Components-Environmental” category to find more useful video tips from several of the world’s top teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
In this video interview, David T. Porter, Ed. D., discusses how the game of tennis has evolved over the years and how players today can learn to develop weapons that are effective in the modern game.

Tip:The game of tennis has developed from a game based on consistency to a game based on weapons. In today’s game, it is not enough to have only one weapon. A player needs multiple weapons in order to put the opponent in trouble before the situation is reversed.

Learning how to develop and hone weapons is a very important part of improving a player’s game. Weapons need to be used to hurt the opponent or even finish the point. Players should not base their game on waiting for the opponent’s mistake. They need to be able to win their points. Spend lots of time practicing your weapons until you feel like you own them, and then, you will feel confident using them during matches.

TennisResources.com has various resources that cover all the areas a player should develop. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “weapons” or any other term you are interested in into the Quick Search field. You can also do a more complex search by clicking on the Advanced Search. There, you can find articles, video clips and audio seminars that address the subject of your interest.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Master Professional Rick Macci explains and demonstrates the importance of timing the split step before hitting a shot in order to be in a better position for the incoming ball.

Tip:
Tennis is a game of movement and footwork. A tennis player must be ready and able to move in various directions quickly while maintaining good balance when starting, stopping or changing directions.

While most players have heard of the split step, not many know its importance or why you need to time it well. The split step is a slight upward hop that, on landing, enables the player to move quickly to the oncoming ball. Players should keep their head up and maintain good upper body posture with their weight forward. It is extremely important to time it well, so the split step should be done right before the opponent makes contact with the ball. From the split position players can make explosive movements in any direction, either laterally, diagonally or vertically.

TennisResources.com offers you more helpful tips and lessons on how to improve footwork on the tennis court from several of the world’s top teaching professionals. Visit the website and enter the phrase “footwork” into the Quick Search field, or use the Advanced Search for a more detailed search. You can choose “Speed Agility and Quickness” or “Footwork and Movement” under the General Performance Components to find your useful video tips.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Master Professional Jim Loehr provides examples of both negative and positive storytelling, and discusses the importance of the story a player creates around a match.

Tip:
As humans and athletes, we talk to ourselves every day. This self-talk, which creates a “story” can be either positive or negative, consciously or subconsciously. However, most of us do not realize that the stories we tell ourselves reflect the path on which we are going to walk. More important than what is about to happen, what is happening or what did happen is the story we create around the event.

As players we also tell tennis stories on and off the tennis court. We tell ourselves a story before, during and after the match. What is critical is that we understand the difference between good and bad storytelling and that in order to reach our best potential we need to tell ourselves the right story. It is easy for players to tell stories that will make them feel nervous, negative, unfocused and unsure of themselves before or while they compete. What is challenging is to create the story that will enable them to enter their ideal performance state even when facing the most difficult competitive situations. If you got nervous, angry, negative or gave up, you have the wrong story going. If you remained energized, confident, positive and calm your story worked for you.

As a coach, it is important for you to help instill the right mentality and positive values in your players. TennisResources.com offers a number of one-on-one video interviews featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals speaking on the mental aspect of tennis and its importance to a player’s game. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “mental” into the Quick Search field. If you select the Advanced search, click on “Mental” under the “General Performance Components” category.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
USPTA Professional Brett Hobden explains the shoulder-level dip drive and offers a few examples of the shot, as well as reasons why it has become such an effective shot today.
Throughout the years tennis has developed into a game based on powerful groundstrokes and weapons. Today’s players win points outright by hitting winners from the baseline. It is very common to see the ball being taken on the rise or sometimes even out of the air, taking time away from the opponent.

Tip:
This week’s tip is on the dip drive. This modern shot occurs when a player moves in, meets the ball between shoulder and head height and hits down on the ball with great velocity. This type of shot was difficult to hit many years ago mainly because of the grips players used. Today’s grips and swing patterns have changed and players are able to use the dip drive as a weapon to win their points.

To learn more about modern shots visit TennisResources.com. You will find a large number of videos and articles that can help you understand and expand your knowledge regarding today’s game. Simply enter the words “dip drive” or “modern shot” into the Quick Search field and a list of resources will come up. You can also choose the Advanced Search, by clicking on General performance components-Technical and then Modern shot technique. Expand your horizons and learn more about the game you love!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Check out this video featuring USPTA Master Professional David T. Porter, Ed.D., who defines both linear and angular momentum.

Tip:
In the previous era of traditional tennis, linear stroke technique was more predominant, which meant players used a linear momentum to execute the shots. For example, the well-known terminology of turn-step-hit is linear movement. Today’s stroke technique is largely characterized by angular momentum, which is defined as the rotation on an axis. The terminology used is load-explode-land. Instead of hitting in a straight line, by shifting the weight from the back foot to the front foot as done before, a lot of players today hit the ball by shifting their weight using a rotational movement. 

How familiar are you with these terms? Are you comfortable teaching the modern shot technique? 

Expand your knowledge by visiting our website TennisResources.com. You will find various audio seminars, articles, videos and other helpful resources that talk about linear and angular momentum and the modern game. Simply type the words “linear,” “angular” or “modern” into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of related results. If you want to learn more about the technical aspect of the modern game choose the Advanced Search and click on “Modern shot technique” under the “Technical” General Performance Component. You will find a large number of videos featuring top teaching professionals as they explain the modern shots of tennis. 

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Epicondylitis is also called the tennis player’s injury. It is probably the most common injury among many others. Todd Ellenbecker demonstrates exercises and stretches that will strengthen and prevent elbow injuries.

Tip:
Tennis is a demanding sport that uses many parts of our bodies and for this reason tennis players deal with injuries all the time. One of the most common injuries is epicondylitis, also known as tennis elbow mainly because it is a tennis-specific injury. We use our dominant arm in all strokes and place a lot of stress on the elbow and forearm muscles. 

In order to prevent this injury or rehabilitate an already-injured arm, players should strengthen the forearm muscles. There are several recommended exercises that emphasize low resistance, light weights and high repetition sets. The following video explains how to implement these exercises in your tennis program, before and after practice, to prevent injuries or rehabilitate faster. 

At TennisResources.com, you can find various audio seminars, articles and videos that address the prevention and rehabilitation of the tennis injuries. Simply type the word “injury” or “medical” into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of results related to your search. You may also choose the Advanced Search that will provide a more precise search on your topic. Choose the Physical component under the “General performance components” category and click on “Medical,” and you will find a wide number of helpful resources. 

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Check out the video clip taken from the “On Court with USPTA” series featuring USPTA Professional Townsend Gilbert. He discusses how to help young children have fun learning basic tennis skills, such as gross motor skills, tracking skills and shot fundamentals, while building confidence and self-esteem in a social learning environment.

Tip:
Tennis is the game that we all love and for this reason we chose this career. Every day we get to pass on our knowledge of the sport and share it with others, so we can grow the game and develop great players.

Teaching the little ones might seem like an easy job, but it can be very difficult if you don’t have the knack to work with them. Children’s attention spans are much shorter than those of adults, therefore it is very important to keep your instruction fun and change activities frequently. Your goal should focus on teaching them the basics: develop their hand-eye coordination, get them familiar with tennis terms, get them to understand what impact the racquet has on the ball and how it makes it go over the net and so on. This video will provide some ideas that can use in your practices.

To view more clips and learn more about this topic, go to www.TennisResources.com, and enter the words “Little Tennis” into the Quick Search field. You can also use the Advanced Search and select the “Demographics” category, “Age Group” and then “Little Tennis” in order to find more clips related to this category. We provide a wide range of audio and video seminars as well as articles from several of the world’s top teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Description:
Check out the video clip called “Transitional footwork,” which is a premium clip made available to basic subscribers this week. This clip is taken from the “On Court with USPTA” instructional DVD “The All-court player,” in which USPTA Professional Mark Bey discusses the type of footwork one needs to use when moving into the court to hit approach shots.

Tip:
Footwork is sometimes difficult to teach because we try to emphasize something that should happen naturally. Baseline shots in today’s game require rotational movement in order to have a more efficient recovery, although the movement and footwork for approach shots is quite different. Instead of the lateral movement that is used a lot on the baseline, approach shots require you to move up on angles in order to make it to the net and finish the point with a volley. During practice, emphasize making the passing shot player uncomfortable and create floating balls on which you can come in and win an offensive position in the service box. Later you can use these same tactics during your match.

TennisResources.com has a large number of videos that can help players improve their footwork for the transition game and make them more confident and comfortable when moving in to the net. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the words “approach shot” or “footwork” into the Quick Search field. There, you can find tips on how a player can improve his footwork in order to effectively move forward and put himself into the best position to close out a point.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
An interview with USPTA Master Professional Jack Groppel offers his definition on nutrition and how it serves as fuel for a player’s body. Groppel also discusses hydration and how food can change body chemistry.

Tip:
Nutrition is a critical aspect of our lives and especially of the lives of athletes. As a coach or as a player, do you ever take the time to think about your diet? How often do you reflect on how you are fueling your body? Are you getting the right proportions of proteins, carbohydrates and fats? What about vegetables, fruits or grains? Are you consuming foods that have a low to moderate glycemic index?

Nutrition can be viewed in two interesting ways: as fuel and also as a drug. Food is the fuel we need to keep us going and perform our daily activities. Also, based on the type of food we eat and when we eat it, food can act like a drug. Dr. Jack Groppel describes what a well-balanced diet means and why it is important to follow one. He describes how nutrition can change the body’s chemistry and influence one’s physical, emotional and mental performance.

TennisResources.com has various resources that discuss the proper nutritional habits a player should develop. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “nutrition” into the Quick Search field. You can also do a more complex search by clicking on the Advanced Search, “General Performance Components “and then “Nutrition.” There, you can find articles, video interviews and audio seminars that address the subject of nutrition and the important role it plays in a player’s life.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
The kick serve is an effective and useful weapon to use on a clay court. In this video tip, Lorenzo Beltrame explains the benefits of using a kick serve and teaches the technique on how to hit a kick serve, including the grip, shoulder turn, ball toss and racquet face at contact.

Tip:
Unpredictability is an important characteristic of a successful tennis player. Keeping the opponent guessing about the shots he has to return and making him uncomfortable is a tactic that many great players use. The serve is one shot that can be disguised if a player has numerous serves in his repertoire. If you can hit the flat, the slice and the kick serve and make appropriate choices and adjustments throughout a tennis match, you will be successful.

Today’s tip is on the kick serve. This serve offers control and good placement, creating difficulty for the opponent on the return. The forward swing of the kick serve allows clearance over the net and a high rebound of the ball for the return. You can hit the ball with high racquet speed and still make a safe shot. Most players like to return a flat, powerful serve because it comes into their preferred strike zone, which is around waist level. The high bounce of the kick serve might cause some discomfort for the opponent.

To learn more about the serve and how to improve this important aspect of your game, visit TennisResources.com and enter “serve” or to be more specific, “kick serve” into the Quick Search field. There, you will find several video clips featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their advice and drills on how to incorporate this element into your game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:

Description:
In this drill, USPTA Professional Emilio Sanchez Vicario demonstrates how to help a player improve his or her footwork, body control and shot selection. This drill forces players to hit both defensive and offensive shots, and it can be tailored for any level of player, as seen in this video.

Tip:
As we all know, Spanish players are famous for their excellent footwork and endurance on the tennis court. Each time you encounter a Spanish opponent you know that you will not have an easy match. Today we will show you an example of the Spanish method of training by presenting one of the drills Emilio Sanchez Vicario uses in his academies to improve players’ footwork and movement. It also helps players control their bodies when moving side to side and adjusting the feet around the ball that is being fed.

TennisResources.com is your library of video tips, seminar clips, drills and articles dedicated to helping you improve your footwork and movement. Simply enter the word “footwork” into the Quick Search field or click on the Advanced Search for a more specific search. You can filter by clicking the General Performance Components category and choose “Footwork and movement” under the “Technical” component. You will find several definitions and drills featuring some of the most famous tennis-teaching professionals, that you can incorporate into your practices. Watch this drill and go try it yourself or with your players. You will see a difference!

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Master Professional Jack Groppel answers the question, “I’m confused by the term “Modern Game.” It seems to refer to changes that have occurred in tennis over the years but there appears to be an uproar over exactly what the “Modern Game” represents. Can you help clarify?”

Tip:
Evolution in the game of tennis has and will continue to occur and we, as professionals, must keep up with technology and changes in the game. Whether you refer to it as “today’s” game or the “modern” game, changes are evident in equipment technology (racquets, shoes, etc.), fitness training, psychology and, last but not least, technique.

At TennisResources.com, you will find various audio seminars, articles, videos and other helpful resources that talk about the modern game. Simply type the word “modern” into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of results related to the evolution of the game. If you want to learn more about the technical aspect of the modern game choose the Advanced Search and click on “Modern shot technique” under the “Technical” general performance component. You will find a large number of videos featuring top teaching professionals as they explain the modern shots of tennis.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
In this video clip, USPTA Professional Wayne Bryan discusses three important factors to consider when warming up for a match: practicing on the court you will be playing your match on, using new balls and practicing every shot.

Tip:
Have you ever coached players who have a difficult time at the start of a match? Do they lose the first four to five games or the first set and then seem to improve as the match progresses? If this is the case, it is probably because they did not warm up properly.

The warm-up is the first and critical step in playing a good match. Please take a few seconds to ask yourself the following questions and see what your player needs to do in order to be prepared to start his or her match.

1. Does your player arrive 10 minutes before the match starts and immediately jump on the tennis court instead of arriving at the court one to two hours early to be able to warm up?
2. Before a match, does he or she warm up using used balls instead of brand new?
3. Does he or she warm up practicing all the shots including first serve, second serve, as well as the other shots that will be used during the match?

 USPTA Professional Wayne Bryan, father and coach of the world’s No. 1 doubles team, explains how important the warm-up period is for a player to play well during a match. Among the thousands of tips offered at TennisResources.com, you can find a number of helpful tips and examples on the warm-up. Simply type in the words “warm-up” into the Quick Search field, and you will find helpful videos featuring some of the world’s top professionals as they speak on the importance of the warm-up in tennis and present warm-up drills.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Master Professional David T. Porter, Ed.D., defines and discusses the technical subcomponent of tracking skills and explains how these skills are important when developing a player’s technique.

Tip:
Have you ever witnessed your player misjudging the bounce of the oncoming ball and getting either too close or too far from it? Were there times when his or her contact point was either to high or too low? If your answer is yes, you may want to focus on the player’s tracking skills.

All shots or tasks in the game of tennis rely on tracking skills. Tracking is defined as the ability to follow a moving object smoothly and accurately with both eyes. In tennis, a player needs to “anticipate” where the ball is going to be and when it’s going to be there, and then move to the predicted spot and be there ahead of the opponent’s ball.

If you would like to learn more about tracking skills and the role they play in tennis, visit TennisResources.com and enter the term “tracking skills” into the Quick Search field. You can also choose to do an Advanced Search by clicking on the “Technical” component under the “General Performance Components” category. A click on “Tracking skills” and the search will bring up a wide number of videos explaining the topic. Each of these clips features some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering definitions and tips that focus on developing a player’s tracking skills.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
In this article, Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., explains that training for tennis is very complex and requires a well-structured endurance-training program. He mentions that it is important to train the metabolic energy systems that dominate during match play and advises coaches to follow training programs that are tennis-specific.

Tip:
Competitive tennis requires players to compete in many matches that last longer than two hours and also involves short and intense bouts of exertion combined with brief rest periods. Training for tennis is complex and it requires a committed coach to plan and implement a structured endurance-training program based on an athlete’s physiology, playing style and competitive level.

How tennis-specific is your training program?

Mark Kovacs, Ph.D., explains how to incorporate your current drills and movement patterns (both on- and off-court) into a scientifically and physiologically based tennis conditioning program.

At TennisResources.com, you will find various audio seminars, articles and videos that address the specific training that tennis requires. Simply type the word “footwork” or “conditioning” into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of results related to your search. You may also choose the Advanced Search that will provide a more precise search on your topic. Choose the Physical component under the “General performance components” category and click on “Conditioning” or on any of the seven subcomponents that you may be interested in, and you will find a wide number of helpful resources.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
This video clip is an excerpt of the USPTA’s “Sweet Spot” featuring Wayne Bryan who explains how to perform the Romanian Davis Cup drill, which is a volley drill in which players shuffle side to side while hitting volleys back and forth. Professional players Bob and Mike Bryan demonstrate the drill.

Tip:
Having great volleys is critical to playing a successful game of doubles. Players need to have excellent footwork and racquet control in order to adjust and hit effective volleys. The world’s No. 1 doubles team, Bob and Mike Bryan, demonstrates their favorite doubles drill. Two of the world’s famous doubles players of the ‘70s, Ilie Nastase and Ion Tiriac, used to practice the same drill back in the day, says Wayne Bryan. This fun drill teaches independence of the hands and feet and the adjustments needed to hit different types of balls.

For additional tips on how to develop a better doubles game visit TennisResources.com and enter the word “doubles” into the Quick Search field. You can also choose our Advanced Search that will provide even more videos on your topic. All you need to do is click the Advanced Search, followed by another click on the Demographics category. You will have the option to choose the type of game and so your final click would be on “Doubles.” The search will bring up a variety of videos featuring top tennis professionals and world-class doubles players explaining, demonstrating and offering their advice on how to improve your doubles game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
This video clip, “What to do in extreme heat,” features Jack Groppel, Ph.D., as he discusses ways to prepare for and play in extreme heat. He explains how heat can be a limiting factor in a player’s game if he is not prepared to handle it.

Tip:
Hot weather is not an easy thing to deal with when it comes to practicing or playing tennis matches. Being exposed to intense heat and/or humidity for several hours can seriously affect your body.

Jack Groppel, Ph.D., shares essential information about heat illness and its prevention. He mentions one way to beat the heat is through good physical fitness, but if you aren’t in great shape already, what can you do when you have a tournament coming up and you know you will face extremely high temperatures?

Experts recommend training for at least two weeks in order to be ready to compete in extreme heat conditions. Groppel guides you through important points to prepare for a competition in hot weather. Among the thousands of tips offered at TennisResources.com, you can find a number of helpful tips on how to deal with hot weather as well as many other medical situations. Simply type the words “heat” or “medical” into the Quick Search field, and you will find helpful videos featuring some of the world’s top professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Check out the video clip titled “Mental–Example of cheating,” taken from the “Player Developent Interviews” series and featuring USPTA Master Professionals. In this video interview, Jim Parker discusses the issue of cheating in the game of tennis and gives an example of how cheating can harm a player’s career and reputation along the way.

Tip:
Tennis is supposed to be a gentleman’s game, where fair play and sportsmanship are always present. But as we all know, there are players who are not always fair and try to win points by making bad calls. However, not many players are aware that cheating can have a long-term effect on a player’s reputation.

USPTA Master Professional Jim Parker shares insight about a player who earned a reputation as a cheater when he was a junior and kept that label even when he became a senior player. Although his attitude had changed completely as he matured, players of his generation remembered him the same way and never had the desire to socialize with him. Parker points out that cheating may help with short-term results, but it does not help in the long run. It takes a high level of integrity to be a classy tennis player.

As a coach, it is important for you to help instill positive values in young, developing players. TennisResources.com offers a number of one-on-one video interviews featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals speaking on the subject of sportsmanship and its importance to a player’s game. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “sportsmanship” into the Quick Search field.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
The video offers a variety of strength training exercises that are demonstrated and explained. The 11 exercises shown work out the muscles in the core, forearms, obliques, shoulders, wrists, back and legs.

Tip:
Strength and conditioning play a huge role in today’s game and it is an integral part of a tennis player’s development. Since tennis demands a player to repeat powerful actions over a long period of time, players need to have muscular strength and endurance to not only execute the movements for stroke technique, but also to propel their bodies into position to hit a tennis ball. Strength is especially important in preventing injuries. Conditioning for tennis is based on explosive movements with an emphasis on maintaining appropriate balance. This video includes several exercises that resemble actual hitting situations.

In order to view this video, visit TennisResources.com and type in the phrase “Exercises for strength and conditioning” into the Quick Search field. For additional tips on strength and conditioning choose the Advanced Search, and click on the General Performance Components. Next, pick the subcomponent that you want to explore, including “Strength” or “Conditioning,” or any of the other areas. You will find a variety of videos that will enhance your training ideas.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
Check out the video clip titled “Home and social,” taken from the series of “Player Development Interviews” featuring USPTA Master Professional David T. Porter. In this video, Porter explains the kind of impact, both positive and negative, that the home and social environment can have on a player in training.

Tip:
Both home and social environments influence a child’s development and performance. Home environments vary with each family. While some families may put a lot of pressure on a player and expect him to always excel in tennis, other families may not pressure a player at all and just expect him or her to enjoy the experience. David T. Porter, Ed. D., says that “tennis is an opportunity to meet and socialize with people.” Tennis also can enhance confidence and independence in young people.

TennisResources.com, provides a wide range of clips on the environmental component. Visit the website and enter the phrase “Environmental-Home and social” into the Quick Search field. You can also use the Advanced Search to select the “Home” or “Social” subcomponents under the “General Performance Components-Environmental” category to find more useful video tips from several of the world’s top teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Description:
USPTA Professional Bill Mecca discusses different ways for pros to boost their business in a simple, efficient and effective manner. Here, Mecca describes ways in which you can increase revenue, communicate a clear message to the target audience and create a “buzz” about your event or program.

Tip:
Promoting your tennis business is essential to your success as a tennis professional. You have to know how to properly market your product and get the right message out to your audience in order to grow your club or program. Whether you’re just starting out, or you’ve had an established business for years, you always should consider a fresh, new approach to marketing, community relations, and new communication techniques.

At TennisResources.com, you will find various audio seminars, articles and other helpful resources that address the business side of tennis. Simply type the word “business” into the Quick Search field and you will find a list of results related to marketing, technology, tennis management and the essentials of establishing and growing a new program and increasing your or your club’s bottom line. Each of these resources is designed to help you stand out among other tennis teachers or as part of a club’s management team.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Video description:
USPTA Professional Rick Vetter offers this useful drill for players who want to improve their shot selection. As Vetter explains, shot selection depends on the type of shot received, not the type of shot a player wants to hit. In this drill, players focus on calling out the shot they intend to hit before making contact with the ball. This process helps players read the incoming ball and to be better prepared when hitting the appropriate shot.

Tip:
The success of any given shot depends on a number of things. Not only does the player have to be technically sound in his execution, but also his placement and tactics need to be effective as well. This is where shot selection enters into the equation. Shot selection isn’t all about hitting the shot that first enters a player’s mind. Factors such as speed, spin, height, direction and location of the incoming ball will all determine what is the most appropriate, highest percentage shot for a player to hit.

To learn more about shot selection and how to improve this aspect of your game, visit TennisResources.com and enter “shot selection” into the Quick Search field. There, you will find hundreds of video clips featuring some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their advice and drills on how to incorporate this element into your game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Video description:
In the video “Players Environment,” USPTA Master Professional David Porter, Ed.D., offers his insight on the environmental aspect of a player’s game. He discusses how the home and social environments can have a profound impact, both positively and negatively, on a developing player’s performance and training.

Tip:
For any tennis player, there will always be that day when his or her shots just aren’t falling in the court, footwork and movement are sluggish, or the mental focus seems to be missing. In some cases, these “off” days are the result of an entirely different issue that is not tennis-related. Whether there are problems going on at home or in the player’s social life, these environmental issues can create mental distraction.

In order to decrease the impact of these issues on a player’s game, it is important for coaches to understand where the problem is coming from and be able to keep the player focused on the court. To gain a better understanding of this aspect of the game, visit TennisResources.com and enter the word “Environment” into the Quick Search field. There, you will find a number of videos featuring one-on-one interviews with top teaching professionals as they address the issue of how a player’s environment outside of tennis can affect his or her game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Video description: In the video clip “Child Development,” USPTA Professional and Little Tennis specialist Townsend Gilbert discusses how to build solid tennis skills in beginner children. He addresses gross and fine motor skills, tracking skills, racquet skills and other proficiencies that must be present to teach the game to young children. Gilbert also stresses the need for a positive and supportive home environment for children who are just starting to learn a new sport.

Tip:
In tennis, as in any sport, future success is rooted in a solid foundation of mastering basic skills. For the majority of tennis players, this development begins at a very young age, sometimes as young as 3 or 4 years old. It is important for coaches to know which areas of skill development are the most critical for young players, so they can structure a sound practice schedule for both short- and long-term goals.

Through Little Tennis, children are able to develop motor, tracking, racquet and playing skills in progressions, all while having fun and enjoying the game. At TennisResources.com, you can find a number of video clips, articles and audio seminars related to teaching young children.

Simply type the phrase “Little Tennis” into the Quick Search field on the home page, and you will see a list of results that includes short tips and full lessons from top teaching professionals discussing and demonstrating how to approach the development of young beginners.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Video description:
Check out the video clip titled “Forehand drop volley lesson,” taken from an “On Court with USPTA” television show and featuring USPTA Professional Brett Hobden. In this video, Hobden teaches a junior player how to develop the right touch for an effective and winning drop volley. In this five-minute lesson, he emphasizes technique, “losing the collision” with the ball and getting just the right height and depth over the net.

Tip:
For most players, covering the net is not typically one of their strongest or most comfortable areas of the court to play, especially with today’s dominant baseline game. But the key to developing a level of comfort at the net lies in having a reliable arsenal of volleys and touch shots. The drop volley is a touch shot that not only changes the pace of the rally, but also can throw an opponent off when he might be expecting a regular volley.

The key to a successful drop volley is clean, crisp contact and placement. With the help of Tennisresources.com, players can find helpful tips and lessons on how to improve technique and touch on the drop volley. Visit the Web site and enter the phrase “drop volley” into the Quick Search field, or use the Advanced Search to select the forehand or backhand drop volley under the “Specific Shots” category to find useful video tips from some of the world’s top teaching professionals.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight

Video description:
In the video clip “Static and Dynamic Stretching,” taken from an “On Court with USPTA” television show, both static and dynamic stretching are defined, and an explanation is given as to the effectiveness of each. You can also see several examples of static and dynamic stretching movements, which will help increase a player’s flexibility and range of motion.

Tip:
Flexibility is extremely important to a player’s performance on the tennis court. Having an increased range of motion can be the difference between a player being able to comfortably and easily get to a low, short ball near the net, or pulling a muscle and getting injured while lunging for the ball. In order to improve flexibility, players must stretch regularly, both before and after practices and matches.

Proper stretching not only loosens up the muscles before play, but it also warms up the body in preparation for the more intense and rigorous movements a player will use while playing. Among the thousands of tips offered at Tennisresources.com, you can find a number of helpful tips and examples on static and dynamic stretching. Simply type in the words “stretching” or “flexibility” into the Quick Search field, and you will find helpful videos featuring some of the world’s top professionals as they speak on the importance of stretching to stay healthy.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Video description:
USPTA Professional Brett Hobden offers helpful and insightful tips on doubles communication in the video clip titled “Creating a successful doubles team – Frequent communication,” taken from an episode from “On Court with USPTA.” In this video, Hobden discusses the use of communication between doubles partners through hand signals, talking about strategy plans and giving each other words of encouragement between points. Having this constant communication is key to keeping both players mentally focused and balanced.

Tip:
During a doubles match, communication between partners is critical. By talking with one another, players have a better sense of where their partner is moving, where to anticipate the next shot and how to best execute a winning strategy. Whether it’s through the use of hand signals before a point, giving verbal signals or commands during a point or discussing tactics between points, improved communication allows players to work as a team and become successful together.

For additional tips on how to develop better communication between doubles partners, visit Tennisresources.com and enter the phrase “doubles communication” into the Quick Search field. There, you will find a variety of videos featuring top tennis professionals and world-class doubles players explaining the importance of communication and offering their advice on how to improve it.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Baseline Drill to Improve Speed and Quickness

Video description:
Watch as Master Professional Rick Macci performs a fast-paced baseline drill with a junior player, focusing mainly on the player’s footwork and speed when moving from side to side and quickly alternating from forehand to backhand. Not only does this particular drill develop speed, agility and quickness, but it also focuses on conditioning.

Tip:
There’s no question that the foundation to a player’s movement on court is having a quick first step. If a player can develop a quick first step when reacting to an incoming ball, he is better able to get to it in time to properly set up for his shot. It is important for a player to work on his footwork with every practice session so that he may develop an explosive first step, move to the ball with speed and quickly recover for the next shot.

On your next visit to Tennisresources.com, enter the term “speed” into the Quick Search field. There, you will find a number of video clips demonstrating various drills and exercises that can help players improve their speed, agility and quickness. Each of these clips features some of the world’s top teaching professionals offering their own tips and drills that focus on developing a player’s athletic ability.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Click Video Highlight:
Loading for the Modern Forehand

Video description:
Watch the video clip titled “Loading for the Modern Forehand,” taken from the “On Court with USPTA” television show and featuring USPTA Master Professional David T. Porter, Ed.D. In this tip, he provides a detailed demonstration of how to hit the modern forehand, including an explanation of the preparation phase, the concept of load-explode-land and the proper shoulder rotation used in the shot.

Tip:
Modern tennis technique has been influenced greatly by the addition of power and speed to the game. This is due to players maximizing the use of the kinetic chain and angular (versus linear) momentum, as well as the popularity of the semiwestern grip. With this fast-paced power game style, it is important for players to learn how to hit groundstrokes with an open-stance, modern forehand technique.

Tennisresources.com has a number of video tips, drills and lessons available that teach the essentials of modern technique. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the words “modern forehand” into the Quick Search field. There, you can learn more about this technique as taught by some of the world’s top teaching professionals in the game.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Physical – Nutrition

Video description
Check out the video clip called “Physical – Nutrition,” taken from an interview with USPTA Master Professional Jim Parker. In this video, Parker explains the element of nutrition and how it can affect a player.

Tip:
Nutrition is an important part of a player’s overall development. A well-balanced diet that includes proteins, carbohydrates and fats is essential to providing the fuel a player needs for high-level play and competition. A player doesn’t have to become a “health nut,” but you do have to understand how a player’s nutrition choices, as well as the timing of his meals and snacks, affect his physical, emotional and mental performance.

Tennisresources.com has various resources that discuss the proper nutritional habits a player should develop. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “nutrition” into the Quick Search field. There, you can find articles, video interviews and audio seminars that address the subject of nutrition and the important role it plays in a player’s life.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Sliding on clay

Video description:
Check out the video clip called “Sliding on Clay,” taken from USPTA’s “On Court” instructional DVD “Mastering the Dirt,” in which Master Professional Lorenzo Beltrame demonstrates drills used to teach players the proper strategy and tactics that work best on a clay court surface.

Tip:
As you well know, playing on a clay court surface is much different from playing on a hard court. Not only must a player change his footwork and movement, but the strategy and tactics used in a point will differ due to the typically slower speed of a clay court.

Tennisresources.com has a variety of helpful tips on how to help a player adjust to the different conditions presented by a clay court, including how to properly slide into a shot, how to develop an effective kick serve and developing pace. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the words “mastering the dirt” into the Quick Search field. There, you can find content that focuses on technique, drills and tips all related to playing on clay.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

The mental component of tennis – Sportsmanship

Video description:
Check out the video clip titled “The mental component of tennis – Sportsmanship,” taken from USPTA’s On Court television show and featuring USPTA Master Professionals Jim Loehr, David Porter and Jim Parker. In this video, each of these three renowned coaches defines sportsmanship and how important it is to instill the values of positive sportsmanship in a player.

Tip:
Good sportsmanship in a player means having the kind of character and conduct to react graciously during competition. It is important for a player to show good sportsmanship in both victory and defeat. This means sincerely congratulating an opponent when the opponent has won the match and not gloating or acting pompously toward an opponent when the player has won a match.

Not only does sportsmanship say a lot about a player on court, but it also speaks volumes for the character of that player off the court. As a coach, it is important for you to help instill positive values in a young, developing player. Tennisresources.com offers a number of one-on-one video interviews featuring some of the world’s most accomplished tennis-teaching professionals speaking on the subject of sportsmanship and its importance to a player’s game. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “sportsmanship” into the Quick Search field.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Creating a successful doubles team – How can you help when your partner is serving?

Video description:
Watch the video clip titled “Creating a successful doubles team – How can you help when your partner is serving?” taken from USPTA’s On Court television show and featuring USPTA Professional Brett Hobden. In this video, he talks about doubles strategy and the role of the net player when his or her partner is serving in a match. He also explains proper movement as it relates to the three runways on the net player’s side of the court.

Tip:
The world of doubles is one that is fun and challenging. The secret is forming a successful doubles team, learning how to communicate effectively and knowing the right kinds of strategies and tactics involved in doubles play. 

Tennisresources.com offers hundreds of video tips, drills and lessons online that teach the essentials of doubles, from developing precise shot placement to executing a successful strategy with your partner during a match. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “doubles” into the Quick Search field.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Fitness exercises with a ball

Video description:
Check out the video clip called “Fitness exercises with a ball,” taken from an on-court seminar given by USPTA Professional Adam Brewer. In this video, Brewer uses a large ball to demonstrate several different types of strength exercises designed to improve a player’s fitness.

Tip:
Physical fitness is critically important to a player not only because it helps him quickly and efficiently move around the court and get into position to hit a tennis ball, but also because it helps to have the extra stamina to outlast an opponent and finish out those long three-set matches. In addition, physical fitness is especially important in preventing injuries.

For these reasons, training and practice sessions should always include some time to focus on the development of fitness. Tennisresources.com has a number of articles, drills, videos and audio seminars available that discuss and demonstrate how a player can best improve physical fitness. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “fitness” into the Quick Search field.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Singles Strategy and Tactics – More Serve and Volley

Video description:
Watch the video clip titled “Singles Strategy and Tactics – More Serve and Volley,” taken from an episode of the “On Court with USPTATM” TV show and featuring USPTA Professional Eliot Teltscher. Using this drill, he offers tactical tips on serving and volleying and explains how to implement effective placement and shot selection. This particular video is a premium clip made available to basic subscribers this week. To view more premium content, sign up for a premium account today.

Tip:
There are four main types of game styles: baseline, serve-and-volley, counterpunch and all-court. Each style lends itself to different kinds of strategies and tactics. As a player begins to develop his technique and advance his game, he will need to develop a game style. This week, we will focus on the serve-and-volley.

Tennisresources.com has a number of drills, videos and a full lesson available that teach the essentials of developing a strategic serve-and-volley game style. Learning from these educational tools can help your player successfully follow his serve to the net, take time away from his opponent and consistently and accurately put away volleys. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the words “serve and volley” into the Quick Search field.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Scalability

Video description:
Check out the video clip titled “Scalability,” taken from a USPTA On Court television show and featuring Emilio Sanchez Vicario. In this video, Emilio demonstrates scaling the same drill for different level players.

Tip:
The only time skill level becomes an overriding factor in a drill is when a specific, advanced skill comes into play, such as hitting a forehand crosscourt deep into the corner or an angled drop shot short into the service box. Asking a beginner student to hit a particular shot to a certain area of the court to achieve a desired effect may actually lower the student’s success rate. In this case, the professional should remove some specifics of the drill to allow the player to be more successful, and use the more advanced version of the drill at a later time when the player’s skill level has increased.

Scalability may sound complicated and difficult to achieve, but in reality it is something USPTA Professionals do on a daily basis. Don’t let drills performed by accomplished players with near flawless technique distract you from the realization that your club members and beginner players can perform the very same drills. It’s all about how you feed the balls.

For an excellent example of scalability, go to your world-class resource center at www.tennisresources.com and type the word scalability into the “Quick Search” box. Only one drill by Emilio Sanchez Vicario will appear in the YouTube-style search engine. Click on it to see how he feeds balls to players of differing skill levels and how they perform the same drill.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Ask the Professor – Ways to Prevent Injury – Tennis Elbow

Video description:
Check out the video clip titled “Ask the Professor – Ways to Prevent Injury – Tennis Elbow,” taken from a USPTA On Court television show and featuring USPTA Master Professional Jack Groppel. In this video, Groppel discusses the causes of tennis elbow, how to prevent it and the importance of maintaining a strength training program.

Tip:
One of a player’s worst enemies in training and competition is injury. Prevention is perhaps the most important issue in the physical-medical component for learning tennis. If coaches and players can successfully practice prevention, they will not have to resort to emergency treatments, cures and even rehabilitation that can interfere with a player’s competitive goals and, ultimately, a tennis career.

So, a coach’s main focus should be on the prevention of injuries, since he or she can make a huge difference in a player’s ability to stay injury free and develop a body, skills and game plan geared toward success on the court. The best way to prevent injuries is to develop sound motor skills, strive for an optimally conditioned body, increase speed, agility and quickness, build strength, practice good nutrition, and maintain flexibility.

You can find a number of helpful resources that focus on injury prevention at tennisresources.com. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “injury” into the Quick Search field.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Swing volley: Where to make contact

Video description:
USPTA Sweet Spot featuring USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci. In this video, Macci demonstrates the proper technique and position of the dominant hand when preparing to hit a backhand slice.

Tip:
Adding a powerful swing volley to a player’s tennis bag of tricks is an invaluable weapon. With the swing volley, a player can put himself in an offensive position, take time away from his opponent and help the player close out the point. But there’s a lot more to the swing volley than just swinging away at the ball as hard as you can.

Numerous helpful tips and drills on the technique and tactics of the swing volley are available on tennisresources.com. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the words “swing volley” into the Quick Search field. There, you can find content that focuses on technique and drills that are sure to help a player develop this weapon. Video tips include footwork, how to generate power and when it is best to hit a swing volley.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Backhand Slice – Knuckles to the Sky

Video description:
USPTA Sweet Spot featuring USPTA Master Professional Rick Macci. In this video, Macci demonstrates the proper technique and position of the dominant hand when preparing to hit a backhand slice.

Tip:
Slice shots are often used on approach shots to keep the ball low and force an opponent to hit up, or when a player is in trouble and needs to hit a shot that gives him more time to recover. As a tactic, slice is used to change the pace of a rally during a point. By creating this change, it allows a player to disrupt his opponent’s timing and influence what kind of shot his opponent hits.

Tennisresources.com contains a number of helpful resources that teach the technique and tactics involved in hitting a slice shot. From the slice service return to the slice approach, these educational tips will help your players improve their slice technique and their transition game. To access these resources, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “slice” into the Quick Search field.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Approach shot: Cover the line, react crosscourt

Video description:
Check out the video clip called “Cover the line, react crosscourt,” which is a premium clip made available to basic subscribers this week. This clip is taken from USPTA’s “On Court” instructional DVD “Singles Strategy and Tactics,” in which Professional Eliot Teltscher discusses the strategy and tactics involved in hitting an effective approach shot and transitioning to the net. To view more premium content, sign up for a premium account today.

Tip:
With the dominance of today’s power baseline game, the art of transitioning to the net to finish out a point has become a rare sight. Players either win points outright by hitting winners from the baseline, or they’re simply uncomfortable moving in to the net.

But playing at the net can still be just as effective as a power baseline rally. The key is to have a smart and solid transition game, which starts with a strategically placed approach shot and proper court coverage.

Tennisresources.com has a large number of videos that can help a player improve his strategy with the transition game, making him more confident and comfortable when moving in to the net. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the words “approach shot” into the Quick Search field. There, you can find tips on how a player can successfully use the approach shot to move forward and put himself into the best position to close out a point.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

Developing the Dropshot

Tip:
When executed with disguise, the dropshot can be an effective weapon for a player to have. Not only can it pull an opponent out of position and open up the court for a putaway volley, but a well disguised dropshot can catch an opponent off-guard if he is expecting to receive a deep groundstroke.

Tennisresources.com has a variety of helpful tips on this particular shot. Simply go to www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “dropshot” into the Quick Search field. There, you can find content that focuses on technique, drills and tips all related to this tactical weapon.

Video description:
“Developing the Dropshot” is taken from USPTA’s “On Court” instructional DVD “Tactical Touch Tennis,” in which Professional Brett Hobden demonstrates drills used to teach players the proper grip, backswing and forward swing used on the dropshot. To view more premium content, sign up for a premium account today.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

The offensive lob

Video description:
“The Offensive Lob,” taken from USPTA’s “On Court” instructional DVD “Tactical Touch Tennis,” shows USPTA Professional Brett Hobden demonstrating the technique of the offensive lob and the type of segmented swing pattern used for the shot. In this video short, you can learn more about where the target area is for an offensive lob and the appropriate height for the shot.

Tip:
One of the most important elements of hitting a lob is having just the right touch on the shot. If a player is pushed out of place and put on the defensive, and the opponent is rushing the net, he will need to lob high enough and put just the right amount of slice on the ball to ensure that the ball lands safely inside the court – and then he’ll have to get back into position.

On the other hand, if the opponent is at the net and the player is in control of the point, an offensive lob will need enough of an arc to get over the opponent’s head and also enough topspin to drop in the court and win the point.

To find more tips on the lob, visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “lob” into the Quick Search field. There, you’ll find helpful resources on technique, drills and tactical tips all related to the lob, for both defensive and offensive shots. Studying these resources and incorporating them into your daily lessons and practice sessions will help your players gain the necessary skills to successfully play the lob.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!

The Overhead

Tip:
As a coach, you may have noticed that the least practiced shot among players is the overhead. So, when a player is forced to hit an overhead shot during a match, his or her confidence in the stroke is low, which will often result in losing the point.

This week, we highlight the overhead as the featured shot on Tennisresources.com. Here, you’ll find more than 30 video tips, seminar clips, drills and articles dedicated to helping you and your students build a better overhead.

Visit www.tennisresources.com and enter the word “overhead” into the Quick Search field. You’ll see helpful resources on technique, drills and tactical tips all related to the overhead. By reviewing these resources and incorporating them into your daily lessons and practice sessions, your players will gain the necessary consistency and skill to hit winning overheads.

Video description: In this video, Master Professional Jim Parker reviews and demonstrates four different drills coaches can use to help improve a player’s overhead skills. The four practice drills are the recover drill, the high low drill, the point situation drill and the bouncing overhead drill.

View on TennisResources.com

New content is added to the site every week, so don’t miss out on the opportunity to access this valuable library of tennis education. Members who sign up for a premium subscription have access to all of the exclusive materials found within the search engine. Visit www.tennisresources.com and register today!