Cross training through rollerblading

Cross training through rollerblading

Alas, we can't always play tennis every single day . However, there are other physical activities that can partake in that will help us build up some of the skills essential for tennis.  In this post, I will discuss another sport that can help you build up tennis skills: rollerblading. I love roller blading; it's exhilarating rapid spurts of uncertainty. I love gliding and turning and such. Rollerblading does a number on the quads  When making turns on sharp hare pin curves, rollerblading forces you to really bend your knees and shift your body weight closer to the ground. This skill is transferable to tennis. Often in tennis, we are required to bend our knees and get down low for certain kinds of balls such as sliced shots. In addition, we need to always be shifting our weight lower to the ground instead of pulling up our body weight and thus making the balls sail long.

In addition, roller blading involves the turning and twisting of our bodies when we change directions and turn around sharp corners. In tennis, we utilize a similar motion when we are preparing to hit our shots. Prior to hitting a ball, we must turn our body to be able to see the incoming ball.

Furthermore, rollerblading allows you to work on your balance and weight transfer. These skills are essential  to the development of your tennis game. Balance and weight transfer our essential for the serve ( moving into) and for potent ground strokes.

By doing cross training activities, one can develop the muscle memory needed for certain skills in tennis. We can train our muscles to acclimate to certain tasks.

For more information on my tennis instruction, email info@elftennis.com.

Move more often during the day to improve your fitness

How to be mobile throughout the day 

A NY Times article postulated that one can be labeled as sedentary even if they do 5,000 steps a day  if your movement is limited to only that one hour of exercise. Essentially, if you workout for an hour but then spend the rest of the day lounging on your ass you won't feel the benefits of exercise ( rocking a hot body, getting stronger and being able to last more than half an hour without being short of breath) 

In this blog post, I will discuss different ways you can become more mobile throughout the day even if you work a job that requires you to be sedentary. 

Here are 10 ways all you sluggers you can make yourself more mobile throughout the day. Please don't laugh at my suggestions and feel free to implement your own ideas into the day. 

(1) Walk while you talk on the phone. Hmm for the gibber gabbers of the world is could add a while lot of steps into your daily output, 

(2) If cooking or doing another task while standing up, move your feet up and down and back and fourth. 

(3) While sitting hold in your stomach and your butt for intervals of 10-20 seconds for one full hour . This will help sculpt your muscles and is great for people with jobs that require them to sit for extended periods of times ( kudos t you guys, I don't know how I could manage that). 

(4) Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Should be obvious why! 

(5) Park far away from your destination, don't take the closest space available. This way you get to get some walking into your day. If your in a city with scant parking spaces this should be easy to implement. 

(6) Walk quickly to increase your hear rate and challenge yourself. 

(7) Spread out workouts throughout the day even if you can only fit in short intervals. Have that ten minutes that your waiting for your co workers to arrive at the meeting.- do some sit-ups. 

(8) Wear outfits that are too small to force yourself to suck your stomach in. Just be careful not to rip your pants! Wearing loose clothing allows us to relax our stomach muscles. 

(9) Volunteer for any chores like bringing in the mail, taking out the garbage, or walking the dogs. Extend your walks. 

(10) Don't go to the nearest bathroom and walk to a colleague's office to talk to them instead of texting or emailing them. 

Stay tuned for my next blog post on cross training workouts for tennis. 

Communication in doubles

Here is a dosage of tennis instruction from the funky tennis chic (aka me). Communication is essential in the tennis game of doubles. And yes, communication is more than just telling your partner cliched phrases like ,"stay with it" or "next point".  Solid communication amongst two members of a doubles team leads to a synergistic pair of players; each one knows the other one's exact game plan and is able to adjust their actions accordingly. Communication occurs between points, on changeovers, and sometimes during points. This blog post addresses what topics needed to be discussed so that synchronization can occur. Poor communication will result in poor court coverage and thus points unnecessarily lost. So, listen carefully.

The intention of switching sides is an absolute essential that needs to always be conveyed. If, during a point you are moving sides ( I.e. you are returning on the deuce court but move over to the ad court or are the net player on the ad court and poach over to the deuce side) you must tell your partner to switch. If, the command of switch is not called out then both players will be positioned on one side of the court and leave the other side of the court completely open. A shot that otherwise may have been returnable could zoom past both players, leaving both of you stunned. So, an easy switch is beneficial. Of course, the command to switch and the switch itself must occur as soon as the player knows that they are going to move sides.

Mine or yours.  Sometimes, a shot comes your way that is retrievable by both players. In this instance, it is vital to call out "mine" or "yours". Yes, someone must claim the shot quickly, the shot is not like the last piece of cake. As a general rule, the player who is in the position to hit a forehand should take the shot. If the shot in question is both people's forehands,then the player who is feeling more confident and has been playing better should step up to the plate. 

Leave it (it's going out). Sometimes players can anticipate that a ball is going to sail out. If this is the case, it's important to yell out "leave it" or "let it go". Why extend the point if you don't need to do so? 

These are basic ideas and tenets to convey to your partner. Here are some more complex strategic moves that also need to be communicated in order for your partner to adjust their positioning. 

Where you may place serves.  Obviously, we aren't pros and can't always accurately predict our serve placement. However we can try. Serve placement has a large impact on where your partner will position themselves at the net. In general your partner should align themselves with your serve as the serve is likely to be returned on a straight path. If your partner serves down the tee, then you as the volleyer should position yourself closer to the middle. Knowing your partner's service target makes the difference between being able to put away that oh so easy sitter and getting passed and forcing your partner to scramble at the baseline. 

In addition, it is crucial,as the volleyer, to let your partner know if you plan on poaching over to the side of the net. If you unsuccessfully poach, your partner then will be able to anticipate that and cover the court accordingly. 

Where you plan on moving after you serve.  Sometimes, players vary their positioning in order to give the opponents a different look and force the opponents to change their tactics, return differently and thus break up their rhythm. The most common variation of formations is when the server stands close to the middle of the baseline and the net player squats  close to the tee. After the serve is in play, each of the players moves accordingly. The returner and net player may reverse sides ( so the server who has been in the deuce court may now be in the ad court and vice versa). Obviously, you need to communicate with your partner which side you are going to move or you will leave an obvious hole and target for your opponents. 

Do you plan on putting up a lob on the return of serve? Sometimes players decide to lob over the net man on a return. This is a counter intuitive yet potent move. Lobbing over the net player forces the returner to move to the opposite end of the court and hit their weaker shot. It also pushes the returner backs and prevents the returner from rushing the net. However, you must let your partner know of your intention. There is the possibility that the net player may make the overhead and your partner must be prepared for this possibility ( who wants a bruise after the match from a crushing overhead). 

When you plan on targeting a net player. This is an underutilized but sometimes effective tactic. Often, the net player may be the weaker player. In addition, lengthy baseline rallies may be prevalent and the net player may not be fully alert and more likely to make an error that the baseline. However, the baseline must tell his partner partner of his intention to do this so that the net player can be prepared for a crushing volley to blasted at him. The net player can then prepare to retreat backwards if needed. 

Your intention to serve and volley. Yes, I know this sounds intimidating for some. If you plan on rushing the net, it is essential to alert your partner. If both of you are going to be at the net, it is essential to be positioned slightly further back in order to cover lobs. 

Encouragement, encouragement, encouragement. This is a delicate matter. It is very difficult to tap into someone's emotional aura. Unless you know your partner well, it is risky to tell them to "calm down" or "focus" or "we can do this" as you don't rally know how these statements will be received. Instead, if you see your partner struggling or rattled ask them, "how can I help you" or " what can we do better" to alter the focus away from their emotional troubles and back to the game without making a judgement. 

Hope this post will help you in your next doubles game . Good luck. Stay tuned for my next blog post on cross training workouts. For more information on my tennis instruction email info@elftennis.com or check out www.elftennis.com. 

Serve and volley with success

Blog post on serve and volleying


Ever see players who rush and crush and think, gee whiz that game looks intimidating but how could a mortal like me possibly execute that kind of game? Won't I just get passed every time? Will I even arrive at the net on time to execute my volley? In this blog post, I'll give you the lowdown on how to successfully rush and crush the net.

The magic behind the rush and crush strategy lies in selecting which of your opponent's shots shot to approach the net on and what shot to hit as your approach shot. The shot that you hit your approach shot off of should be shallow ( landing around the service line or slightly deeper) and must land comfortably in your strike zone (waist to shoulder height). In addition, the shot should be hit to your stronger side. It is important that you are able to produce a punishing, well placed shot when approaching the net so that you can put your opponent on the defensive and force your opponent to hit a weak shot. Two factors to consider when selecting your approach shot are  (1) what is your stronger side , (2) what is your opponents weakness. Also, consider the speed of your approach shot. It is critical not to hit too speedy a shot as that won't allow you sufficient time to get into the net. After you hit an approach shot it's time to approach the net. One of the most commonly made mistakes is where we position ourselves when we come to the net. Most players think that the correct place to station one self is in the center on the service tee. That is a misconception, the correct positioning tactic is to follow your shot so that you are positioned on the same side as your shot. If you hit a ball to the deuce side position yourself in the deuce side and vice versa. Once you are positioned correctly, you must hit a set up volley. Expect to have to hit more than one volley before you win the point. There are a few sequences that will likely lead you to emerge victorious. Here are two possible patterns.First is short volley, long volley. First hit a short volley diagonally from your opponent then if they reach that volley, hit a long volley to the other corner of the court.  The reverse is also possible- hit a long volley, moving your opponent to the opposite end of the baseline, then hit a short volley to the other corner. The common theme of each of these plays is that you move your opponent in opposite directions. Well then, what if your opponent is returning your shots? How can you avoid getting passed. In my personal opinion, the answer lies in your anticipation. Reading where your opponent will play a huge role in your ability to defend against passes. Look at your opponents stance for anticipation. If they are leaning backwards, it's likely they will throw up a lob. If this is the case, move backwards. Look at how your opponents feet are pointed, chances are the ball will travel in the direction that the feet are pointed. Adjust your positioning accordingly. Furthermore, notice how open the racquet is. The more open the racquet, the higher the balls will float. In addition, to looking at an opponents positioning, it's important to use the opponents history and patterns to adjust. What has your  opponent done in past points? Have they lobbed?  Gone cross court? Down the line? Make educated guesses based on your opponents history of shots. Lastly, don't give up! It may take many attempts at the net before you begin winning points there. Once you have learned to serve and volley properly you will be able to win points more quickly and decisively. For more tips email info@elftennis.com or check out http://www.elftennis.com. Stay tuned for our next post on communication in doubles.

Screen your racquet like you would your nanny!

Screen your racquet like you would your nanny

A proverbial question in the game of tennis is how much does your racquet matter? When I was younger I played a pickup game with a guy who was much better player than I was. He beat me 6-1 while playing with a wooden racquet. Since then, my father has always referenced the incident whenever people blame their racquet in a loss. While it may be true that a racquet cannot save you when you are about to be clobbered by a superior player, a racquet can make a difference in your overall playing experience. It seems like there are so many choices of racquets and a myriad of technical terms that describe a racquet. How do you know which racquet to select? The  best advice that I can offer you is to sample, sample, and sample.  Many websites like Tennis Warehouse offer programs where you can try out different racquets for a couple of days for a low cost. Go on to these websites and scan for racquets that are recommended for a player of your level and playing style.  See NTRP ratings at https://www.usta.com/Adult-Tennis/USTA-League/ntrp/ for a list of levels. Don't agonize over every technical term describing a racquet, just try the racquets. When you sample a racquet, make sure that you test it out fully. The paragraph below tells you how to do that.

Assess how the racquet hits ground strokes,volleys, overheads. Make sure that you hit all the shots cross court and down the line. Play points with your demo racquets. Hit every type of serve in your repertoire. When you are on a test drive of a car you take it on country roads, highways,and city streets, when you demo a racquet you need to see how the racquet works in every kind of situation. Base the evaluation of your racquet on how comfortable you feel while using it. Do you feel that the racquet affords you the ability to hit with a lot of power? Does the racquet give you the consistency needed? Can you hit the way you are accustomed to hitting without experiencing discomfort? Does the racquet seem to swing smoothly when you attempt to maneuver the racquet with your usual swing? Does the racquet offer you quick reaction time while at the net? Does the racquet have any advantages over your current racquet?

The only way you can find out the answers to these questions is by playing. Aim to play for 1-3 hours with each racquet. Keep a check off list while you are demoing the racquets. It is important to take notes immediately while the effect of hitting is still fresh in your mind and body. If the racquet does something exceptional make  a note of it. If you find the racquet particularly difficult to maneuver make a note of it. Tally the pros and cons of all of the racquets you demoed and then pick two finalists. Play with the two finalists again and compare them.

In addition, as you are testing the different racquets, you can objectively measure the quality of the racquet by measuring and recording different aspects of your workout session. Measure the length of rallies for each of the racquets that you use, count how many unforced errors and winners you produce. If possible, measure the speed of shots (some places like the National Tennis Center have a device called the smart court that affords you the ability to do this). Record these numbers for each of the racquets and then make comparisons. After you have selected a winner purchase one  of that racquet, if you like the racquet after playing for a few weeks then buy another one.

Remember that the racquet is an extension of you and can only reflect how you play.

combatting the oh-so- tough lobbers

I was working with a senior, intermediate player. He regaled me with stories about how he gets lobbed all the time. He, of course, sought me out for help on how to hit a ball that is lobbed behind him, after it bounces. He admits he’s not the quickest guy (actually he berates himself by calling himself grandpa). I gave him the following pointers to make it more likely that he will make it to the ball before it bounces twice (gulp). First, I instructed him to move on the balls of his feet and not move flat-footed, he shouldn’t let his feet touch each other. I also told him to move sideways so that he can see the ball better. In addition, I told him to take the racquet back as he was running backwards to save himself time. What do you all think?  We’ll see if it helps him combat those ever-so irritating lobbers.

Serving practice basics

Tip of the day: how to practice serving

Ever have one of those days when you wanted to hit some balls but no one's schedule seemed to fit yours?  Instead of jumping on the treadmill or worse yet inducing a Doritos coma how about practicing serves? Serves are a neglected aspect of our game. Usually, in a typical practice we save serves for the last ten minutes. In those last ten minutes our brain is are already focused on our next activity . So serving doesn't always get the attention that it warrants. Hence, a practice solely devoted to serving is beneficial. Here are some pointers to maximize your serving practice. (1) make sure that you add cardio activity into the mix. Place the hopper against the fence and sprint from the hopper to the baseline every time you serve. (2) Have a definite focus of the practice. For instance you could work on placement. Serve to a different place each time, out wide, then into the body, then down the tee, then repeat the sequence. (3) Always try to mimic reality of games when practicing. If you miss a serve, serve that same serve as a second serve. (4) If you miss the serve, try to ascertain what the nature of your error was and the make the correction before hitting another serve. For example, if you didn't snap your wrist, make a wrist snap before you hit that next serve. If you didn't toss the ball high enough, toss the ball before executing a serve. (5) Conduct a general accounting or your serve percentages and number of double faults. Are you improving on these statistics after each hopper of balls is completed?

If you follow these guidelines when engaging in a service practice, you should be able to acquire a better serve and thus add a smoldering serve to your arsenal.