There are different methods to estimate the intensity in sport such as using heart rate, VO2, blood lactate concentration, and Rated Perceived Exertion (RPE). Breathing techniques have an effect on the Nervous System, and the heart rate and is a good method to measure the athlete’s optimal intensity. Professional athletes try to reach the…
Over the years, I have seen many examples of players over analyzing what they need to do against a specific player. They “scout” the player, figure out the opponent’s strengths and weaknesses, and then come up with a game plan. My philosophy for most players is to focus on what you want to do…
Long Island has an array of high-level junior tennis talent, and much of the success of those players, especially recently, can be attributed to the dedicated coaches and teaching pros who guide their development. One of those coaches is Adam Lee, a High Performance coach at Glen Head Racquet & Fitness, who has been…
When your opponent hits the ball to you at a high speed, your reactions need to be fast. You turn your shoulders, get your feet to the ball, and swing. If a ball is hit to you at a slower speed, the tendency is to get ready slower and also to have less of a…
1. Who is the G.O.A.T.? I love Roger Federer and I admire Rafael Nadal, and at this moment, there is a strong case for either to be called the G.O.A.T. of men’s tennis. Roger, however, is unlikely to add another major and Rafa looks like he might be losing a step or two and it’s…
I am very much in favor of live ball drills, playing a lot of points, games, sets, tiebreakers, and any other competitive practice situation. However, one of the best drills that I have found to get your players to swing consistently and with the same follow-through on every shot is a feeding drill. It…
There are so many ups and downs in tennis. One minute you are on top of the world, and the next you are wondering if you actually know how to play the game. Novak Djokovic came into the Olympics having won just about everything he has played (with a couple of exceptions) including the…
There are many things to think about during a match. If you can create some good habits with the small things you are doing, the rest of your focus can be on the “difference makers” in the match. First, always call the score out prior to serving. Make sure your opponent hears you and…
I’m giving Paul Annacone credit for this. I’ve heard him state numerous times that a player should “hit the ball aggressively to a big target”. This is a much underused strategy and one that can be extremely effective. Many players have shots with a lot of power and/or depth, and that itself is enough…
I once had the chance to watch Martina Hingis, who was the top-ranked player in the world at the time, practice up close while coaching several players at the 1997 U.S. Open. Superficially, Hingis was solid, but not great. She was fast, but not the fastest. She struck the ball well, but half the…