I have read quite a bit over the years about Eastern philosophies on martial arts instruction and training. I learned that “Karate is a martial art in which the ultimate purpose is not to seek to win, but to work toward perfection of character and strong body. As with any martial art, karate requires solid…
The night before an event often determines who the winner is. The loser will be anxious, worried, distracted, thinking of troubling things, and above all, never be thinking of how good a player he or she actually is. The winner, on the other hand, will be remembering who they are and will recall and own…
If you want more power, then I’m going to give it to you. Most of the time when trying to hit the ball harder or achieve more power in tennis, we end up doing things that take power away. It’s a frustrating cycle, but not one that is impossible to break. Keeping a few things…
Perhaps the most important quality for success in tennis is steadiness and the avoidance of errors. It might come as a surprise then, that in practice "Blue Chips" miss more shots than “Five Stars,” while "Five Stars” miss more shots than “Four Stars,” etc. If you are thinking that superior players miss more balls because…
I am still fired up from this year’s U.S. Open … the most physical Grand Slam tournaments I’ve ever been a part of since I began playing them in 1983. Before the tournament began, there was an earthquake centered in Washington, D.C. and felt on the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center with no…
A surfer sits out in the open ocean. The water is calm, the surfer is in complete control. Atop his surfboard, the surfer can enjoy the tranquility of his sport. However, he has not come out to the open water to enjoy tranquility. The surfer has ventured out in search of the big wave ……
Almost all of my tennis buddies, except for a few "holdouts," are now playing golf. The athleticism and excellent hand-eye coordination they bring to the game enables them to be fairly successful right from the start. Of course, as we golf nuts know, and I represent that remark, success in golf is fleeting. You can…
High school students will get a chance this month to show off their powerful strokes and strong footwork, and learn about often overlooked opportunities to play college tennis from coaches at USTA Eastern’s 25th Annual College Showcase Day, set for Sunday, Oct. 30 at the Saw Mill Club in Mount Kisco, N.Y. The event is designed…
At times, our worries and anxieties can overwhelm us. In addition, our worries can distort our perception of what is reality and what is not. Here is a brief list of techniques that a tennis player can use to help gain a better perspective on things during their anxious moments. Sometimes, we get stressed out…
As of late, the reverse forehand has gained in popularity due to players such as Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Roddick, and even Maria Sharapova using it. Although the shot has its applications, in my humble opinion if you are going out of your way to use it, then you’re not using it correctly. Everyone,…