What to watch for..

By Jason Wass
As your watching the French Open, try and help your own game by learning from the pro's. During the next 2 weeks at Roland Garros expect to see longer points on the red clay. Its always interesting for me to watch how players construct each point. With longer points being played you will start to...Read more

Funny First-Hand Encounters With Agassi and Sampras ... and Taking Issue With the Agassi Book

By Ricky Becker
I swore that I would never buy the Agassi book "Open". In the interest of full disclosure, my two experiences with him with both somewhat less than extraordinary. Firstly, he mocked my college teammate/friend ON-COURT after they played in the first round of the Sybase Open in San Jose. After...Read more

How Can I Objectively Evaluate My Child's Potential?

By Ricky Becker
True Story: Years ago when I was in college, I was talking to a couple at length. They were telling me how they were starting to get their two children into tennis and they were really excited about their younger child (I'll call him Tommy.) They explained that Tommy (age 7) had grace and fluidity...Read more

TR

By Steven Kaplan
Players used to be obsessed with their USTA ranking, and I really didn't think I would see the day when this would no longer be true, but it seems to be so. Juniors have found a new focus, and are now preoccupied with their standing on Tennisrecruiting.net or in tennis speak, "TR." This, by the way...Read more

Playing on clay in the month of May

By OnCourt Advantage
Who do YOU think will record the best singles results in the clay court season – Melanie Oudin, Sam Querrey or John Isner? The American trio has achieved career best rankings on the Pro Tours in 2010 and they are all rising into the upper echelons of the game. All 3 players continue to achieve a...Read more

Is Your Off-Court Routine Hurting Your Tennis?

By Ricky Becker
Today a student of mine was bragging about how hard he works off the court. He told me that he has been running a few miles a day. Problem is..and he has heard this before, running long-distance is no good for tennis unless you are trying to lose weight or master the 7-minute mile stride that is...Read more

How Much Tennis Do I Need To Play?

By Ricky Becker
As a counselor of college-bound tennis players, as well as people who are looking to get an objective opinion on how to get their child into tennis, I often get asked, "How much tennis should my child play?" or even better is the question, "How many lessons/drills a week does my child need to take...Read more

Tennis Parents! Can't Live With Em' and Can't Live Without Em!

By Ricky Becker
As the proud father of my third daughter last week, I have been thinking a lot about parenthood. As a tennis coach and college tennis advisor for junior tennis players, I always think about tennis. If my kids play tennis, am I going to become a tennis parent? Am I going to be so nervous that I can'...Read more

There is Nothing Worse Than An Excuse Maker!

By Ricky Becker
I really don't want to sound old-fashioned, but I have noticed a trend in junior tennis lobbys (or is it "lobbies") lately. Everyone has an excuse when they lose. There are so many of them but I will discuss (and I guess vent) about a few of them. First of all, I can not stand when people take...Read more

How that NCAA Championship Basketball Game Helped Me!

By Ricky Becker
Quite a game yesterday, no? Personally, I don't care for Duke. Im not sure why..I just don't. What captured me though was the way Coach Krzyzewski and Coach Brad Stevens carried themselves. You know they understood the weight of the moment in the history of college basketball. You'd never know it...Read more

Summer Time

By Jason Wass
Every year tennis directors prepare their curriculum for summer, nervous about finding the right balance in the schedule: How much match play is enough? Are there too many drills? Not enough drills? How much off-court training should be done? All these questions are important, and parents should...Read more

Poise and Control

By Lonnie Mitchel
What does Rudyard Kipling’s poem “If” have to do with tennis? Well, for starters, when the competitors walk on Centre Court Wimbledon before their match, an excerpt from this poem is printed on a placard posted on the exit above the locker room door which states “If you can meet with Triumph and...Read more
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