BBC Sport | Tennis | UK Edition

Sunday, July 31, 2011

Tennis Training Aids - Great For Tennis Teaching Professionals


Tennis is a sport that can be done anytime of the year, but most especially during summer. There are tennis camps that abound which usually make us of tennis training aids to make sure that their students, and even professionals, stay at the top of their game.

Anybody can enjoy training aids, whether you're a man or a woman, whether you're young or old. You can make tennis as a leisurely sport, as a form of play and recreation, or as a means to improve yourself. Just spend a few minutes in court and see your physical prowess increasing. Tennis can indeed boost your health.

If you are just starting with tennis, or probably you've played before and you want to get back into it, let me share with you some aids. These would be great for beginners and professionals alike.

Lightweight Tennis Racket - One of the tennis training aids you will be needing is this one. Your racket must have a big face to make sure that the ball can be hit and returned to the other side of the court.

New Tennis Balls - These are the aids which always need to be replaced in time. They lose some pressure once they are out of the can and if you let them be that way, they could cost you your game.

Proper Attire - One of the vainest tennis training aids that you will need is a proper attire. Make sure your attire will allow you a lot of physical movement that won't hamper your game.

For intermediate tennis players, the following are some guidelines for tennis training aids perfect for you.

You should have more than one racket - Your other racket must be an identical one with the same string tension. In the event that your racket breaks, you immediately have a spare to use.

Use The Right Shoes - The tennis shoes you should use must be the ones with rubber over-toes. They will protect your feet when you do toe drags.

Wear Skirts or Shorts with Pockets - You have probably seen this on TV when you watch tennis games. The player always has a second and third ball inside his/her pockets. This makes the game move along faster.

Tennis training aids are great for professionals. If you are one, with the help of tennis training aids, your game would most definitely improve.

Aside from having quality tennis equipment, the tennis training aids will make you swing and hit faster, your racket will be easier to handle, and you will be able to make stronger and more powerful shots. Your game will be so much more enjoyable because you can be sure that you are playing your best game every single time. And so, for professional tennis players, the following are the tennis training aids you must always keep inside your tennis bag.

At least four or more if possible, similar if not identical, superior-quality titanium, or graphite tennis rackets that must be newly strung before every match,Brand new tennis balls for each game,spare over-grips;special string for your racket, and spare tennis shoes.

All of these demonstrate that anybody can play tennis - beginners, intermediate, professional players. If you are a tennis teaching professional, so much the better because this means that you can teach the importance of tennis training aids to your students. By following the tips laid out here, anybody will surely become a great tennis player in time.








For more information, tips and advice on Tennis Training Aids [http://tennisdrills4u.com/tennis-training-aids-how-you-can-be-unmatched-at-tennis/], visit tennisdrills4u [http://tennisdrills4u.com/]


Wednesday, July 27, 2011

Three Secrets You Want to Know to Playing Your Best Tennis


There are so many millions of people who play tennis everyday throughout the world. They play in public parks, country clubs, private tennis courts, and anything in between (i.e. against a wall).

Tennis is the only sport I know that begins with love and is a sport for a lifetime. I remember the great Sugar Daddy, Bobby Riggs who said in one of the many tennis clinics he taught, "Tennis is a sport you can play from cradle to grave."

Why do people enjoy playing tennis? I believe because it is a classy sport. It is a sport you can play for as short as 15 minutes or as long as 3 to 5 hours, it all depends on your ability level and motivation. I was fortunate enough to play professional tennis. I had a world ranking in the ATP Tennis of 662 in singles and 457 in doubles. I had wins over players ranked in the top 200 in singles in the world and wins over players ranked in the top 50 in doubles.

In this article, I want to provide you with the three secrets to playing your best tennis. Of course, there are more than three secrets, but three secrets are enough to help you play better tennis.

First, there is no substitute to practicing, practicing, over and over and over again. Practice is the seed to building confidence! When you practice in addition to playing tennis regularly, you will feel a sense of accomplishment, you will feel that you deserve to win because you know for yourself that you have been investing the time to improve your game. So, practice at least two to three hours extra a week if you are a club tennis player. If you are a tournament player you should practice at least 15 hours a week, which equals to 3 hours a day, 5 days a week.

Second, visualize yourself hitting the tennis ball perfectly. Imagine yourself in the movie screen of your mind that you are moving side to side, running forward and backward, hitting each ball with perfect accuracy. Visualize your forehand, backhand ground strokes being hit over the net with 3 to 5 feet clearance. Picture every stroke you hit with perfect ball control. See each of your tennis strokes, feel each tennis stroke, and experience each and every tennis stroke you hit with confidence. Repeat this each time pre and post tennis game or match. By so doing, you are training your mind or inner game to manifest itself in your outer game or physical game. Tennis is a mind game once you have learned all the fundamentals of each tennis stroke.

Third, watch the big players or your favorite tennis pro on the ATP or WTA tour and copy their tennis style. Watch YouTube videos or television footage of your favorite player over and over again until you emulate their movements. One of my favorite players to watch when I was playing competitive tennis was John McEnroe (USA) and Guillermo Villas (Argentina). I use to watch McEnroe's serve and literally copy his serve. I would watch Villas hit his ground strokes over and over again until I was mirroring Guillermo Villas' ground strokes. It was usually after watching these great tennis players in a grand slam event that I mirrored their mannerisms. After all, why event the wheel, copy what the big players do and do the same. Of course, as your tennis game matures, you will begin to develop your own style and preferences.

So, there you are the three secrets you want to know to playing your best tennis! Remember, there is no substitute to practicing each and every day in addition to playing regularly tennis matches. Begin today if you do not already do so; visualize yourself hitting the tennis ball with each and every tennis stroke perfectly until you are confident in your mind and in your heart that you can execute it with ease and confidence. And, finally, do not reinvent the wheel, copy the tennis players on the tennis tour by watching their tennis until can have someone say on the side line, "Hey, that person hits the ball like Roger Federer or Maria Sharapova." Before you know it you will be winning your club tournaments and filling your shelves with trophies.








To learn more about me: Dr. Macavinta.

Want to learn how to play tennis better? Go visit my FREE Online Tennis Lessons and become a member of my Online Tennis Club. Tell others if you like what you find. Go to: Join DMACTennis.com it's FREE [http://DMACTennis.com].


Friday, July 22, 2011

Tennis Clothes - A Revolution in Style


Tennis clothes have changed drastically in style, fabric, and color over the last 100 years. The first lawn tennis players in England wore formal attire when playing. Standard tennis clothes for women were full-length dresses. Men wore long pants and formal, long sleeve shirts. The tennis clothes of both men and women were entirely white in color. Contrast this formal style with the tennis clothes worn by the tennis players of today. Modern tennis players favor synthetic fabrics, more athletic clothing styles, and a greater variety of colors.

The evolution of tennis clothes has mirrored the changes in everyday fashion. For example, male tennis players in the 1970's and 1980's favored short, tight-fitting shorts and traditional polo shirts. In the late 1990's and 2000's, male tennis players began to wear larger, looser shorts and more casual shirts. In addition, female tennis players of the 1970's and 1980's favored traditional tennis clothes with an updated style. Popular clothing included shortened tennis skirts and dresses. Today's women tennis players wear a variety of tennis clothes, ranging from tennis skirts and dresses to shorts and t-shirts. While tennis players still wear white at more traditional clubs (e.g. Wimbledon), there is a much larger variety of colors in modern tennis clothes.

Another factor contributing to the evolution of tennis clothes is the increased athleticism in the modern game. Tennis is now a high intensity sport, requiring tremendous physical effort and exertion. Tennis players must be able to run, cut, jump, and twist all while executing precise tennis strokes to hit a ball often moving at high speeds. Consequently, comfort is a major concern of players. Modern tennis players prefer tennis clothes that are lightweight, fit well, repel moisture, and are generally comfortable. Tennis clothes that keep the body cool and dry can help players counteract the physical toll that playing tennis, especially in hot weather, can exact.

Advances in clothing technology have also contributed to the evolution of tennis clothes. For years, cotton was the fabric of choice for tennis clothes. In the last few years, however, many tennis apparel makers have introduced garments made of new, synthetic fibers. Tennis clothes made of these synthetic fibers help remove sweat from the skin and clothing by wicking moisture away from the body. Examples of these clothing technologies are Adidas's ClimaCool brand and Nike's Dri-FIT. Most professional tennis players and many recreational tennis players now wear tennis clothes made with these new technologies because they keep them cooler and drier than traditional tennis wear.

In conclusion, tennis clothes have seen many changes over the years. While tennis clothes maintain some of their formality and traditional style, modern tennis players value comfort and individual style over tradition. Increased athleticism, advances in technology, and changes in general fashion have greatly affected the tennis clothing industry. In addition, breaking from their traditional roots, tennis clothes have become a medium for personal expression of individual style and important pieces of equipment in an increasingly physical sport.








For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis clothes.


Tuesday, July 19, 2011

Finding the Best Tennis Ball Machine


Tennis Twist is undoubtedly the best value when looking to purchase tennis ball machines. This product is priced very reasonably at around $230, making it the most affordable tennis ball machine available by far. Despite being the lowest priced tennis machine, the Tennis Twist is also very light and battery operated, making it very transportable and it will fit in the backseat of any SUV. The Tennis Twist also supplies tennis balls at a constant rate providing great repetition that will make a practice session valuable. Whether you want to practice your backhand or just need someone to play with, this tennis machine will make you better at tennis. And because a tennis machine doesn't screw up, you don't have to worry about bad hits while practicing. You get to hit a consistent shot practicing your form for 28 repetitions to help structure your muscles and develop your mental discipline.

Unique Features of the Tennis Twist

Tennis Tutor wanted to design a lightweight machine and they were looking to create a cheap tennis ball machine that would provide basic features that would allow any skill level, basic to intermediate to advanced, to get a excellent and reliable experience. The distinctive spiral design automatically feeds the 28 tennis balls. The ball machine then lobs out a ball every 5 seconds giving you time to take the shot, evaluate it, and recover in time for the next ball. The best way to use the unit is to position it at various spots based on the style of shot you want. Because the tennis system doesn't have any oscillation features, the only means of changing the shot is to change the position. You'll also want to place the Tennis Twist on the same side of the net because it only shoots about 10 feet or so. Although if you want to practice the overhead smash you'll need to put it on the opposite side of the net.

These are just a few examples of what makes this tennis machine different from other tennis machines. To get a better look at how the tennis machine works and some additional benefits (and even some weaknesses) you'll want to check out a Tennis Twist review.

Comparing the Tennis Twist

The Tennis Twist is the best value for the money when it comes to tennis machines, but how does it compare to other, more expensive machines? One popular brand of tennis ball machine is the Lobster Elite line. Just looking at the cheapest lobster tennis ball machine, you would spend $850 which is nearly 4 times as much as the Tennis Twist. Is it worth four times more? The Lobster Elite Freedom, which is the cheap tennis ball machine, has adjustable speeds, a higher ball capacity, and a nice horizontal oscillation feature that will alternate the shots around the court. The speed adjust feature is helpful because it allows you to hit the ball faster;however, the key to a good practice is solid form and hitting more balls doesn't necessarily make you better. As far as the hopper capacity goes, the unit provides a 2 minute rally and unless you are in fantastic physical shape, 2 minutes is a good workout. And with the Lobster's oscillation feature, it can be good practice running to each side of the court, but you can effectively do the same thing with the Tennis Twist with some creativity. For an extra $630 you get some nice features, but not really necessary.

Another popular ball machine is the official Tennis Tutor model. This system costs around $950 and is practically the same as the Lobster Elite Freedom when it comes to features. So when reviewing the Tennis Twist against the Tennis Tutor ball machine, you save close to $700. Don't get me wrong, these expensive tennis ball machines do have their place. If you are a competitive player or a coach, many of these models will have valuable features, but if you need a cheap tennis ball machine to help you get better at tennis, there is no better value.








Where to Get the Best Price on Tennis Twist Tennis Ball Machine

Whether you live in the US, UK, or anywhere else in the world, in order to get the lowest price on a Tennis Twist you'll need to look around online. There are many physical stores that have an online website and frequently will advertise specials. A surefire idea would be to check out a Tennis Twist review as many times they'll give you ideas on how to save money buying a tennis ball machine.


Thursday, July 14, 2011

Get Fit With Tennis - Get a Backyard Tennis Court


Having a backyard tennis court is much better than having to go to the local courts everyday. With a back yard tennis court, tennis lovers can play any time a partner is available. With the high gas prices of today, constructing a tennis court in the back yard proves to be economically feasible.

Overview

Having a back yard tennis court is fun for the entire family. It doesn't matter if there is a tennis player in the family or not. The fact is that the sport provides a wonderful forum for exercise. Being that the game can be played with four players, a family of four can very easily enjoy a game of tennis on their own court.

When making the decision to embark upon tennis court construction, it must be realized that this is an important and a wise investment. It is also important to realize that there is tennis equipment involved and that the court and the equipment need to be maintained well. Tennis courts can be beautiful in a back yard if they are maintained properly

Benefits

A backyard court gives a family a good workout and allows them to spend quality time together. Because of the fact that so many individuals are encountering health issues due to inactivity and many are battling obesity, adding something such as a back yard tennis court can help reverse the effects brought on by these issues.

A backyard court also makes for a great place to get together with friends and have a good time. Individuals can have barbecues and play a good game of tennis or have matches in the back yard. The possibilities are virtually endless. However, most of the benefits lie in what having a tennis court can do for the overall health of the entire family.

Tennis court construction

Tennis court construction isn't as involved as it may look to some. It is good to have the area fenced in so that the tennis balls do not fly into a neighbor's yard or into another area where they don't belong. Fencing also keeps out intruders. You can use a privacy fence and you can even get a green vinyl cover to put around your tennis court.

There is also the fact that the concrete has to be poured at 4 inches. The compressive strength should also be 3,000 psi. Also, the water to cement ratio needs to be no more than.40 with a 6% air content. This is to give the concrete the right feel. Having the right feel is important to tennis court construction and to the overall game play because having concrete with the right air content makes for a lesser impact on the knees. The next step is to paint the concrete green or red. Many individuals use both of these colors. There is also the fact that the lines have to be painted onto the court. A tennis court is not a tennis court until it looks like one.

Some individuals even put stone retaining walls around their backyard court that only sits about two feet off of the ground. They do this to keep such elements as water out and to keep animals out. This is great at keeping the court in tip top shape.

And then of course there is the net. A tennis net is your last step. It is not hard to acquire and is quite affordable. They come in one height, so you don't have to worry about any particular measurements or anything of that sort. After the net is put in place, you now have yourself a backyard court.

Tennis equipment

When a family is going to have a backyard court, it is important to have tennis court equipment. Tennis equipment consists of such items as windscreens to put around the court, the tennis net, trash cans for everyone to throw their trash, water coolers, net posts, tennis ball machines for solo games, tennis ball baskets to carry around all of the balls, and benches so that others can watch.

Players can also include numbers if they really want to feel as if they're in a real match. They can even invest in tennis ball mowers to pick up the tennis balls faster. If a person doesn't want a tennis ball basket, they can have a tennis ball cart. There are so many different types of tennis court equipment that can be used to make playing more enjoyable.

It is more or less up to the individual what type of tennis equipment they invest in. This is because different individuals have different levels of experience. Some also view it as a simple workout and others want their tennis court to look like it belongs at a professional match. There is nothing wrong with that. It is a hefty investment, but worth it to those who really want that game feel.

Love the game

It is hard to not love the game of tennis. It is exciting because of that adrenaline rush that comes about when the ball is returned. It also makes individuals feel really good after a game. That's because the workout is incredible. And to think that it is possible to have a backyard tennis court is even more exciting. This means no more waiting for other players to get done at the court. Public courts usually have just a few courts open at a time, which means people have to wait for others to finish. Having a backyard tennis court fixes that problem.








Swati is a freelancer, a work from home mom, who loves to write. She is a postgraduate in English and an MBA. She has written on practically every niche on the web. She writes articles, blogs, web pages, reports, press releases, product descriptions, eBooks, sales letters and newsletters. Visit Swati's blog now if you need content for your business or personal needs.


Saturday, July 9, 2011

Girls' Tennis Clothing Comes Of Age


A Girl's Tennis Clothing Is Fashioned By Her Mother's Desires

The styles and scope of girls' tennis clothing has recently blossomed to match the rapid growth of fashionable women's tennis clothing, and seems to gain momentum year on year.

There's a twin conflicting desire for women to both model their tennis outfits on the most successful and stylish players in the game, and yet at the same time look different, exclusive and unique.

There's yet another desire to wear state-of-the-art apparel that maximizes protection and cooling on court, to gain a competitive advantage as the tennis match 'heats up'. Most women's tennis apparel now contains technology to protect against the sun's rays, to ward off odor-causing bacteria growth, to cool the skin by efficiently channeling away moisture, and even to cushion and support muscles for optimum performance.

Naturally, mothers want their fledgling tennis stars to benefit from all these tennis clothing attributes, in style and textile technology. Tennis clothes manufacturers have catered to this demand with dresses. skirts, skorts, tops and shoes for girls that sport many or all of the features of their adult counterpart.

This is good business sense on the part of tennis apparel manufacturers like Adidas, Nike, Fila, Prince, Babolat etc. Once a young lady gets to liking a particular tennis brand, she'll likely stay loyal throughout her tennis years.

The Tennis Apparel Dark Ages

Way back in the early 1970s, at about the time that Chris Evert was emerging as a world class tennis player, a woman called Marilyn Kosten was getting very frustrated at the lack of pretty tennis clothing available to buy for her two daughters, who were about to compete in junior tennis competitions. She channeled that frustration into forming her own tennis apparel business, designing the girls' clothing herself.

Her business really took off in 1977, when a young rising star called Tracy Austin wore one of Marilyn's dresses during her passage to victory at the US Open. Tracy also wore the dress at Wimbledon, and so introduced this innovative and stylish girl's tennis clothing to a much wider audience.

Three and a half decades later, tennis apparel has changed out of all recognition. Fashion is even more to the fore, vying with sports clothing fabric technology to yield a fusion of style and function that shapes every new garment. 100% cotton is now a rarity, with subtle combinations of man-made fibres best able to offer the comfort and mobility demanded by today's athletes.

Mary Kosten's 'Little Miss tennis' business is still flourishing, and now caters to young boy's tennis clothing needs as well, with the LMT range. Now, all the major tennis gear manufacturers have girl's, boy's or unisex kids tennis apparel lines alongside their adult clothing, so lack of choice is no longer an issue.

Girl's And Women's Tennis Fashion Merge

Women who look to the high-fashion, cutting-edge tennis apparel worn by the leading players for inspiration, can now encourage their daughters to do the same. For example, the identical Adidas adilibria tennis dress recently co-designed and worn by Ana Ivanovic was available in girls' sizes with all the 'Climacool' technology and comfort meshing of the adult dress. Other familiar Adidas tennis lines like 'Barricade', 'Edge' and 'Competition' also have their girl-sized counterparts, so mother and daughter can wear complementary apparel at the tennis club.

Nike, as you might expect, have their own girls tennis clothing lines such as 'Athlete', that mirror the apparel worn by the women. Like Adidas, there's plenty of variety in dresses, skirts, skorts, shirts, tennis shoes and accessories, with comfort features like Dri-FIT, to give the same cooling and moisture management as the adult version.

Fila, with two of the game's big hitters, Kim Clijsters and Svetlana Kuznetsova on their books, is hot on the heels of the two largest tennis apparel manufacturers, Adidas and Nike, with it's own girls' selection. They produce junior varieties of familiar women's tennis favorites like the 'Essenza' tennis dress. These dresses are made with sun protective material, to reduce UV damage to young ladies' skins. This can be an important consideration in warmer climes where tennis is an outdoor activity.

Tennis Apparel For Those Rebellious Years

There will come a time when your young lady would rather wear distinctive (tennis) clothing than try to copy her mother as she moves into adulthood. There's a tennis apparel manufacturer keen to cater to these more rebellious instincts - DUC. They're happy that their clothing isn't designed for people too far into their 20s or beyond. They draw a little from the history of women's tennis dress with subtle pleating, but make it asymmetrical to keep abreast of the times.

Much of the clothing is labeled with assertive, slightly racy tags like 'Dominate' (dress), 'Compete' (skirt), 'Rush' (racer-back top) and 2-Timer (reversible top), and accentuates feminine contours. The 2-Timer top actually refers to it's reversible two-tops-in-one feature, which when combined with the large choice of colors and reversible skirt, creates a wide range of styles - great for emphasizing your unique style. Reversing your apparel and changing your look during a match might also have beneficial unsettling effects on your opponent. Though cutting edge in design, DUC tennis clothing lacks none of the comfort features prerequisite in modern tennis clothing.

So, from youngster to young women, varied, vibrant, in vogue girl's tennis clothing is in plentiful supply. Thanks to determined women like Marilyn Kosten, the 'dark ages' are over, and girls can revel in the choice of cutting-edge tennis apparel that was until recently the sole preserve of their parents.








Cheri Britton is the editor of 'Women's Tennis Apparel' and 'Ball Machine For Tennis'. In her tennis fashion and clothing website, she reviews and showcases the latest styles in tennis dresses, skirts and skorts, women's tennis bags and shoes. She highlights in particular the tennis apparel worn by the top women players on the WTA tour, and has an special fondness for the designer tennis creations of Stella McCartney for Adidas.

Her new tennis ball machine website is devoted to comparing these mini mechanical devices with regard to price, portability, useability, features and suitability to the individual owner or buyer. Quality manufacturers such as Lobster, Tennis Tutor, SAM. Playmate and Wilson produce a range of models to engage the tennis game of beginners through to professional tennis players. The right ball machine will quickly take your tennis to a higher level, at a time place and frequency of your choosing. Oh, and tennis machines are great fun and fantastic for your fitness as well!

On the odd occasion she's not working on her websites, Cheri watches more tennis than is good for her, reads, visits places of historical interest and beauty, and relaxes with a pint or two of real ale (or something stronger!)


Wednesday, July 6, 2011

How to Choose a great Tennis Instructor - Top 10 Important Considerations


1. A Difficult Process

Finding good tennis instructors and tennis coaches is difficult. The vast majority are former college or high school players who look reasonably good hitting a ball, but have little actual teaching experience.

Indeed, they've seldom studied basic principles of education, read books about proper technique, taken courses in the basic principles of teaching progressions and tennis coaching, or attained certification by either the PTR (Pro Tennis Registry) or USPTA (US Pro Tennis Association).

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors their NTRP rating, if they are nationally certified (which association and level: low, medium, or high), whether they have ever been ranked highly in the USTA, the number of years they have been teaching professionally, the ages and levels of the students they have taught, the types of locations at which they have taught (year-round indoor centers vs. part-time outdoor summer camps), and which notable authors they have read.

And, while you're talking to your potential Tennis Coaches, try to gain an understanding of their level of professionalism, dedication, level of maturity, type of personality (personable; gregarious), and their ability to communicate clearly and effectively.

2. Expect RAPID Results

You're paying good money to take tennis lessons, and you've got a right to expect good results soon. If you have difficulty understanding your Tennis Teachers during your tennis lessons and have been progressing slowly, stop crossing your fingers hoping you'll one day have a magical epiphany and suddenly improve.

Instead, demand results NOW while you're on-court, and not at some later time. If your Tennis Teachers are truly worth their grain of salt, you'll start improving with your very first tennis lesson, and will continue to improve with each successive tennis lesson.

A good Tennis Teacher is absolutely worth the price. A poor Tennis Teacher simply waists your time and money.

3. National Certification

While certification does not guarantee a GREAT Tennis Coach, it certainly guarantees a reasonable minimum level of expertise. It's unfortunate, but the vast majority of Tennis Coaches are unable to measure up to this requirement.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors and Tennis Coaches if they are nationally certified, and to which level.

The PTR and the USPTA are the only two well-respected, USTA-sanctioned, certifying bodies in the USA, and both have been certifying Tennis Coaches for almost 35 years. They certify Tennis Instructors to essentially three ascending tennis coaching levels (low; medium; high).

Good Tennis Coaches always work and study hard to periodically retest and elevate their certification to the highest level.

4. NTRP Level

It's simply impossible for a Tennis Teacher to teach you to do something he/she can not already do him/herself, regardless of what he/she might think or claim.

So, if a Tennis Teacher only has an NTRP of 4.0, he/she can not teach you to play at NTRP 4.5 or higher. If you happen to improve beyond your Tennis Teachers NTRP level, it is solely due to your own abilities, not your Tennis Teacher's.

Always ask your potential Tennis Teachers their NTRP level. It is ill-advised to settle for a lower NTRP level for the sake of a lower price. You will only get what you paid for, with little or no lasting improvement. Instead, demand a high NTRP level to better assure yourself of more rapid improvement.

5. Ranking in the USTA

While a higher USTA (United States Tennis Association) player ranking is no guarantee of getting good tennis lessons, it certainly does help. Tennis Instructors who have never been ranked, or have never even competed for a USTA ranking, should be avoided.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors about their current and/or past rankings: The higher, the better.

6. Years and Kind of Experience

There's no substitute for experience. But, tennis teaching experience can be gained in a variety of settings. These include year-round indoor and outdoor facilities, as well as outdoor summer-only institutions such as adult and junior camps, recreation department programs, and country clubs. The tennis teaching experience a Tennis Instructor gains at a summer kids' camp is greatly inferior to that gained at a year-round club. This impacts directly on the quality of your tennis lessons.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors exactly where they have gained their experience.

7. Experience Teaching Different

Ages, Levels, and Groups: Different ages and levels require different approaches and techniques when it comes to tennis instruction.

If your potential Tennis Instructor has spent the bulk of his/her time teaching children, he/she will be hard-pressed to provide proper tennis instruction to you as an adult. The skills required to teach privately to a single person are very different and more demanding than teaching a group.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructors how much time they have spent teaching people of your own age and level, as well as whether they have taught group and private lessons.

8. Expert Knowledge of Proper Technique

Knowledge is critical, and a great Tennis Instructor gains it only from the great effort he/she has made to educate himself/herself. He/she needs to have read a large quantity and variety of tennis instruction books, viewed a sufficient number of instructional videos, and attended many salient courses and workshops on proper stroke technique. There are no short-cuts.

Always ask your potential Tennis Instructor how he/she has gained his/her knowledge.

9. Communication Ability

Regardless of the depth of your Tennis Coach's knowledge of proper technique, this information is useless if he/she is unable to communicate it to you clearly and concisely.

When you speak with your potential Tennis Instructor, always listen to the manner in which he/she expresses him/herself. If you are unable to clearly understand him/her during your initial discovery process, chances are you will be just as bewildered while on court.

10. Personality

Although Personality is presented here last, it is by no means less important than the other considerations. Indeed, a personable, gregarious, punctual, reliable, mature professional who is also upbeat, encouraging, enthusiastic, and animated makes for a fun time on the court.

When you have your initial conversation to discuss tennis lessons, always remember to look for these inviting traits.








For more information, visit the Tennis Lessons Boston website at http://tennislessonsboston.tripod.com


Friday, July 1, 2011

Building Your Own Backyard Tennis Court


Stress is the common problem these days for many people due to the changes in life style and the aggressive career goals. Many of us forget the stress built within us while chasing our dream of earning money to have a better life. To get peace of mind while we fight with this aggressive life style, many of us choose various relaxation methods. Playing games is considered as the best option since it relaxes the mind in a very enjoyable way. Tennis is one of the favorite games for many people which gives a complete body workout and helps in maintaining the body health as well. The game not only relaxes the mind, but also gives a stretching relief for the body.

Tennis being one of the most popular games around the world, individuals begins playing the game pretty early. As a result, more and more people line for playing. However, with the lack of space, most have to go through long queues and endless waits before they get a change to hit the tennis ball around the court. Public tennis courts are a few in number and so if you too are tired of waiting or never seem to find an empty court, you could consider building a backyard tennis court.

A backyard tennis court is a great solution for every tennis buff. And converting the backyard into a tennis court is a really cool idea as well! Whether you go for a grass court or a concrete court, you will have plenty to choose from and your dreams of having a backyard court could become a reality in no time. It is always great to have a play area at home, where you can spend considerable time of your day in the game and get the stress relief as well.

If you are lucky to have a backyard that's big enough to house a court, you should immediately begin looking at data as to how to build a backyard tennis court. It is no secret that some of the most fames tennis stars of recent times had always enjoyed the services of a backyard court while growing up. From Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt and the great Andre Agassi, everyone grew up playing tennis at the backyard tennis court. So if you too want to give support to your children who show immense talent in the sport, consider building a backyard court.

Planning For Backyard Tennis Court

For a grass backyard tennis court, what you need is a flat surface. If your backyard is big enough to hold a 78 by 36 feet tennis court, nothing like it! However, if you have a smaller backyard, go for a court that's 27 feet wide. That would serve as a good singles court. Once you have the space,

? Get rid of all the obstructions huge stones, pebbles, bushes, debris, junk, etc.

? Reverse the soil with the help of a spade or shovel. This will help expose the fresh soil from underneath and will also help trim out all the extra, dead and dry grass.

? Rent a roller and take it around the playing surface. This will help harden the playing surface and make it level as well. You can hire a roller from the local hardware shop.

? Once you have leveled the ground, sprinkle grass seeds and with proper watering, you will see fresh, new grass appearing in no time, just the perfect beginning for your very own backyard tennis court.

? After the grass grows to a height of 19 mm, which is the height required for playing, you could start marking the area with the help of spray paints.

? The next step would be to a buy the net and install it. Take care while installing the net. Fix two poles on the adjacent sides to which the net will be tied. The net needs to be absolutely straight and uptight. Once equipped with the net, you will have successfully transformed your regular backyard into a sprawling court.

Construction Of The Tennis Court

While a grass backyard court is simple to set up and maintain, for areas where grass does not grow easily, concrete backyard tennis courts are the preferred choice. Concrete tennis courts are also heavy-duty, can be looked after easily, and are anti fracture. However unlike a grass backyard tennis court, constructing a concrete backyard tennis court is not very simple and therefore it is recommended that you consult an expert for it. There are a lot of construction firms that specialize in backyard tennis courts and it will do you good to seek their services. Before consulting the experts for the construction, you will need to collect a lot of information like the area space details, any other affecting factors like water, electricity etc... and most importantly your budget. Based on your inputs for the construction of the court, the construction companies give the plan and the estimation for making the backyard tennis court. It is suggested to consult with more than one consultation firm to make the your dream backyard tennis court.

For Tennis Career People

If you want your child to grow up and take tennis up as a profession, it is highly recommended that you get a backyard court. If you have the space and the resources, definitely go for it. A lot of the top tennis coaches of the country have always suggested that for a player to flourish later on, it is important that training begins early. And what better place to train than at home! Setting up a well planned tennis court at home will give flexibility for you and your children to practice the game anytime in the day. You can find a lot of tennis coaches available for training the players at home and give great tips to excel in the game. Having a backyard tennis court is always an added advantage to get an effective training from a home training tennis coaches.

Factors To Consider

While building a backyard tennis court, you should, however, be cautious about a few things. The neighborhood you live in could play a very vital role. If you have nice, friendly and supportive neighbors, then well and good! But if your neighbors are troublesome and like picking arguments, you may have to face a lot of problems. A lot of complaints are heard from neighbors of people who have backyard courts and how the light and the sound from the backyard tennis disturb them. Sometimes, if you play at night, you may have to use floodlights, and that often causes a lot of problems for the neighbors. Also, the constant, monotonous noise that a tennis ball machine makes can be very annoying for the people around you. So before you install a backyard court, make sure you have the neighbors on your side and thereby prevent any future misunderstandings and obstacles.

Budget And Time For The Construction

Building a backyard tennis court may seem simple, but before you embark upon the project, you need to sort out important issues like your budget, the time you are willing to devote, and so on. Budget is a very important consideration and the overall look, design and sturdiness of the backyard court will depend on the amount of money you will spend on it. So sit down and chart out a budget carefully. See how much money you can spend and where you want to spend it. Also, building a backyard tennis court will take up a lot of your time. Be sure that you will be able to devote that much time to the project; else the project will get completed with numerous flaws. You will need to check with the construction firm for the construction methods they follow and how they deploy the planned project. You can check their previous experience in making such projects, find their delivery time and can estimate how well and faster your dream court can be made.

So build a backyard tennis court that will not only give you the opportunity to play tennis and remain fit, it will also be a great place where you can have complete family activities at anytime of the year! Having our own tennis court at home gives lots benefits in having a joyful time with the family together at the play area, enjoy the game and have a wonderful time together!








Swati is a freelancer, a work from home mom, who loves to write. She is a postgraduate in English and an MBA. She has written on practically every niche on the web. She writes articles, blogs, web pages, reports, press releases, product descriptions, eBooks, sales letters and newsletters. Visit Swati's blog at http://swatibanerjee.wordpress.com now if you need content for your business or personal needs.