The Long Island and New York Tennis Community lost one of its pillars, as Howie Arons passed away at the age of 67 in mid-October. Howie Arons of the New York Tennis Academy at Great Neck Estates had been a fixture in the Long Island and New York tennis communities for the last four decades….
Tennis starts with commitment. Let's use the collegiate level as a starting point and provide you an idea as to what it is that makes commitment a challenging endeavor. The human spirit/intestinal fortitude is the root and the decision to make commitment … not just to make a commitment, but to make that decision to…
Maintaining a positive attitude on the tennis court is no easy task. Similar to learning any stroke in the game, it takes years of practice and hard work to be able to do it properly, especially under pressure. At the highest levels in any sport, it is often noticeable that the top athletes are able…
Why is it that whenever a player in any sport wins a tournament, they are usually in a good place off the court? James Blake, in his book Breaking Back, said “My greatest professional successes occurred after I had faced my most personal challenges. I used to think this was ironic; now I realize that…
It's been said that to be a great teacher, you must first be an avid student. I use this wisdom as a guiding principle for my profession as a coach by relentlessly reading theory, studying technique, questioning methods and reevaluating what I think I know and may yet learn. Teaching is a great way to…
Wow! What a day in the world of tennis. I am a big news talk radio guy, and on my bike ride to teach my lessons for the day at Sea Island, the sports report mentioned breaking news in the world of tennis. The last time there was a tennis report on this particular station,…
Having problems with the backhand? Here some easy cures that will it improve. We’ll begin with the one-handed backhand. If you have read my column often enough, you already know that all groundstrokes should have some degree of spin on the ball for control of your shots, the spin could be either topspin or backspin….
In addition to talent, skills and technique, an athlete brings many attributes, values and characteristics to the court. These attributes can be thought of as the fuel that drives and motivates the performance. It’s essentially the player’s “X Factor.” When you bring “Who you are” to “What you do,” more happens because you will be…
I have been watching the campaign for delegates for the presidential nomination in both major parties with great interest. One day Donald Trump throws accusations at his opponents, and the next moment, Hilary Clinton does the same. I am not going to take political sides for the purpose of this article as this is not…
I am often asked “What is the very best way to improve in the sport of tennis?” There are many aspects of a growing and developing game. The ability to be consistent is always essential. The work done on your shot placement can give your game a boost, as well as adding some pop to…