Fear of Losing When You Are Winning Can be a Good Thing

By Joel Ross
You're winning. That's good. You're composing your victory speech. That's bad. You can still lose! Think about how devastating it will be to have been winning and then it all disappears. It can happen. It will happen. Unless you are so scared that you still might lose. The fear will keep you...Read more

Magical Thinking

By Steven Kaplan
If you are the parent of an aspiring young player on Long Island, there is a very good chance that "prominent" coaches have told you that "your child has the talent to be a pro." Most of you will be skeptical, especially when they add, "we are the only place with the ability to take them to the top...Read more

True Life

By Steven Kaplan
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...Read more

Burn and Churn?

By Steven Kaplan
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...Read more

Improve Your Cutting Ability on the Court - Video

By Frank Dolan
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.Read more

Down Love-40? No Problem ... Forget About It!

By Joel Ross
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...Read more

Core Training

By Frank Dolan
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...Read more

Foot and Ankle Exercises to Improve Your Speed

By Frank Dolan
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...Read more

What Do College Coaches Want From Incoming Freshman?

By Steven Kaplan
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...Read more

Want to Get Better in Tennis?

By Joel Ross
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...Read more

Listen Up

By Steven Kaplan
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...Read more

USTA Eastern Has Class

By Steven Kaplan
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...Read more
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