Professional doubles is rarely broadcast. That is a shame because doubles is the most popular form of tennis. Go to a college tennis match and see how different it is as a team sport. First, it is rare when both partners are on and making aggressive shots successfully and taking risk at the same time. […]
This is a note I sent to a 3.5 league player who came to me for a 4.0 level serve. His serve was predominantly flat and deserted him when the stress was on. What he needed, but did not know it, was a serve with spin, arc, and shape that could stand up to stressful […]
Dear TennisDr: Just wanted to let you know that I played an epic USTA singles match on Sunday against a very young and formidable opponent. After 2 hours and 20 minutes, I prevailed in 3 sets (7-5; 4-6; 6-4). I think that we went to deuce on almost every game and the points were long […]
Americans are relying on chain restaurants during these tough economic times more than ever before. One reason is how competitive the pricing has become. These days for $10, you can get a large meal and avoid fast food at the same time, but can more food for less money still be healthy? Are there ways […]
Whether you play tennis, table tennis, racquetball, badminton, or squash, individual sports have similar emotional challenges. In coaching, once in a while you meet a student whose dedication becomes too intense. This is a letter to just such a student. Let’s call her Engrid. Dear Engrid: I want to thank you for the intense effort […]
How closely related are table tennis skills to tennis? Can ping pong help my vision skills, reactions, and balance? Can table tennis help improve brain function or help me read better? These kinds of questions about the impact of table tennis on brain function and motor skills are starting to capture the attention of researchers. […]
Can ping pong help me learn tennis? Will racquetball hurt my tennis game? Can badminton help me play better table tennis? These kinds of questions about the transference of skills between racket sports come up all the time. The author has some unique credentials to help answer these questions. We will examine some of the […]
Ever wonder how to make tennis your exact cardiovascular workout? How fast should my heart beat during exercise? How long should my workout be and how many times per week? These are great questions and ones that more Americans should ask. This article will provide the basic answers to these questions and you don’t need […]
Racket sports are asymetric. That means they yank and twist on the spine due to forces expressed on the body unevenly. What is a symetric sport you ask? Weight lifting is symetric as both sides of the body are active in a mirror image. All this means that racket sports players get “pulled out of […]
It’s good to see Sharapova’s return to a more complete, larger, fluid movement. Because of its “flatness”, timing will continue to be an issue but at least it is easier on the shoulder joint. I believe two factors play a role in her ultimate success and did so at Wimbledon: 1) Her game is one […]