Home » My Blog

My Blog

Printer-friendly version Send to friend
Steven Kaplan's picture
May 14, 2013
Splitting Headaches
While much has been written about split steps as magical movements unique to tennis, split steps in functional performance are just another way to describe simple " stops and cuts."
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
May 8, 2013
Happiness is a Fuzzy Yellow Ball
While it's not news to hear that tremendous focus and attentiveness to detail helps you play better tennis, it is a little surprising to learn that it also makes you happier.
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
May 3, 2013
Will the Next Federer Come From the New Feeder?
Pat Mitsch, publicity associate of the USTA, sent me an e-mail the other day with an attached press release about the new USTA "Feeder Program" at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. He asked if I "Can use it in Long Island Tennis Magazine," and I am happy to accommodate.
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
April 29, 2013
Expo 2013
Flushing Meadows, N.Y. was the center of the tennis universe again and it wasn't the U.S. Open that got thousands of tennis fans to gather at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center on a beautiful Sunday.
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
April 16, 2013
You Gotta be in It to Win It
On April 16, the New York State Department of Education begins administering the English Language Arts (ELA) tests for grades 3 to 8. A similar math test begins next week. A small, but vocal, group of parents are objecting that schools are spending too much time in the classroom preparing kids to take tests and opting their children out of participation.
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
April 3, 2013
Reasons Not to Believe Everything You Read in The New York Times
A New York Times article titled "Reasons Not to Stretch" by Gretchen Reynolds was published today, April 3 and posted on the USPTA Eastern Division Facebook page. This article refers to two recent studies that add to the scientific body of evidence that pre-exercise static stretching alone is counter-productive to athletic performance, and dynamic warm up is a more effective preparation.
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
March 11, 2013
A Slightly Off-Center View on Ball Feeds
Less than 10 percent of all tennis shots are hit from a center position on the court.
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
March 6, 2013
A Beautiful Mind
Tennis, at the most elite level, is incredibly physical. The very best players may be some of the best athletes in the world ... in any sport. That's why when I hear the simplistic statement "at the top level of tennis, everyone has the physical skills to succeed. The difference is mental," I wonder what sport they are watching or if they have ever even watched any other sport.
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
February 15, 2013
I Nominate ...
As a preface to this blog, I will state the obvious, which is the opinions expressed here while perhaps shared by many are mine and mine alone.
Steven Kaplan
Steven Kaplan's picture
February 5, 2013
What You Can Learn From Colin Kaepernick's Super Bowl Performance
In the first half of this recent Super Bowl, San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick was shut down by the Baltimore defense. His "play action" fake handoffs to his running backs were just awful and fooled absolutely no one. As an analogy to tennis, disguise in shot-making can be an effective method to take away time from your opponent's ability to defend if you execute well. If not, it is an exercise in futility.
Steven Kaplan