One of my favorite drill games is called "True Life," and the explanation of this game is way more complex than its execution. Essentially, two players on one side of the court try to win the point against two competitors on the other side. The first point is for position only, win and you stay…
The USTA announced changes to the National Junior Tennis Tournament structure last week. It seems like changes to the national format are as inevitable as death and taxes and after speaking with many people, only slightly less welcomed. Former Director of the Office of Management and Budget Bert Lance once said, "If it ain’t broken, then…
Most tennis players work on foot speed during agility drills. While important, it is not nearly as critical as creating the functional movement and movement skills to accelerate and decelerate in a multi-directional manner. Use this sequence of exercises to optimize your on court "cutting" speed.
You’re down love-40 and your world is coming apart. Not to worry. Try to get temporary amnesia … in other words, forget about it. You only need three points to pull even and then two more to win the game. Play one point at a time, regular points, no going for intentional aces or winners. Just…
What is the first exercise you think of when you think of “Core” Training? Is it sit-ups or crunches? Although sit-ups and crunches facilitate general strengthening of the abdominal muscles they are not a great choice when it comes to functionally training the core. Recent research also shows that excessive torso flexion can also lead…
When you think about improving your on court speed you probably don’t think too much about your feet and ankles. Believe it or not, it could be a major factor diminishing your speed potential. A lack of ankle range of motion can create a number of problems like putting too much stress on your knees,…
If you are a high school senior who plans on playing college tennis, get ready for the most rewarding experience of your career. In order to learn more about how players can best prepare themselves, I asked one of the best and most experienced college coaches in the country, Paul Wardlaw, head women’s coach at…
Practice, right? Yes. However, it’s how you practice. Repetition is how you do it. Unrelenting repetition. Whatever it is that you are trying to improve, keep practicing it, over and over again. It must become second nature. The only way to reach that advanced state of execution is to practice it repeatedly. Usually, you would…
Boys High School Tennis is starting, and hundreds of Long Island players are transitioning from placid indoor conditions to the variable and harsh early season outdoor tennis environment. A select few players are readying for Spring Super Nationals. While sun, wind and temperature are the most obvious outdoor variables, reaction to diminished sound might be…
At the recent 2012 Annual Meeting of USTA Eastern, Section President Jeff Williams addressed junior award winners with these words of wisdom … "If you work hard in the classroom and continue to develop the skills for which you are being honored here today, you will turn out to be someone that is unbeatable in…