Scoring for Tennis for Life

Scoring was first invented in France when a court tennis ruled the game of Kings and serfs would come to serve for their masters on ther first indoor castle courts that used windows in the scheme. Hey, we all could use a professional server in our bull pen. The clock was used a means of keeping score.

Quarter past is 15
Half past is 30
Three Quarter past is 40 (I guess they knew people would say 40-5 for short and mean 40-15 so the score 
                                       of 45 for three points was not right)-ha.
Game is back where you started

Zero is Luv  0 which is the goose egg

Deuce is 40 all  and  one must win two points in a row to take the game
if you win the first point after deuce and you are the server then you have Addvantage In (Ad-In); if your the server and you lose the deuce point then the Advantage is out (Ad-Out). This can go back and forth for quite a while. This is called ad scoring which is the traditional scoring.

First player to win six games by a margin of two wins the set. If the set gets to six games all a twelver point tie-break is played. That is the subject of the next post.

First player to win two sets wins the match (best two out of three). That is the method that is used for most of the tour matches. The exception is the majors (Wimbledon, French, US Open, Australian) for men they play best out of five sets (first to win three) and at Wimbledon they play out the fifth set (win by two games with no tie-break; that's the way they used to do it). This past year John Isner and Mahut played the longest ever tour match at Wimbledon......It took days.


When you start to serve: go right to left to right for the first point keeping both feet from touching inside or on the baseline until after the ball is struck (you can be over the line in the air), then serve left to right for the next point, and just keep going till someone wins the game. You get two chances to get the ball in the service box. If you miss both you lose the point. If you hit the net and it goes in then you play a let and you get another serve fo that let. If the ball hits the net a goes in during play it counts. If it hit the net and lands out then you lose the point. Make all calls immediately. If it's in you don't say a thing, just play it. If it's out call it right away. If it's on the line it's good. If your not sure it is good. You can ask your opponent if they see it. They have to help. If they don't see it then you lose the point. IF you touch a ball before it lands you lose the point. Let it go. Even if it is heading for Landsdown Street outside Fenway Park.

Wow, that's a lot and there's more, but; at least it's a start.

Kevin Pease
Pro in the Trenches

Tennis Social on October 29th 7-9pm w/ party after

There will be a Halloween Tennis Social on Friday October 29th from 7-9pm with a party after.
The playing level is 3.0 plus. Kevin and Sean will be your host pros. Call 774-392-3666 to sign up.
This is a dress-up event. Leave a message as to what wish wish to bring: salad, fruit, vitimin water, punch, cookies, veggie platter, etc.

How to test your ball speed!

Hey it's been a while,

Well, the Fall is fast approaching but there's still some Summer left. I guess the best part for us locals.

Hopefully the hurricane misses us.

The other day I brought out the speed gun with my son Matt; sure a lot of fun.

It can be used to measure the best possible effect you can impart on a given shot,i.e. a forehand, serve, and backhand. It can also show how different spins produce different ball speeds. You know can test your best shot on the radar and see how to improve you performance. Speed and direction are the two most important attributes when measuring the quality of a shot; spin also causes balls to react differently on the court. 

Example:

Hey lets try lifting the elbow a little higher on the next serve; "wow, that equals ten miles on the serve" or here, this is my impression on Andy Roddick; "wow that was 103 mph"; now for a Pete Sampras serve, still 103 mph,

now my own: that's 103mph. I guess it doesn't matter what I do I still get 103mph, but: I still can hit an 85mph slice wide which is my best pitch; Matt can serve at 60mph; tomorrow may be he can do 65mph.

So:

Come on in and take a lesson with the radar. It's fun and easy to set up. Even for a half an hour.

Have a great end of Summer! Start running, skip some rope, do some strengthening and hit balls.

It's a great way of life. Tennis for Life.

P.S.

 Next week; Wednesday 6:30pm Womens free tennis (all levels) at the Sports Center and Thursday 6:30 will be the mens free tennis (all levels). A great way to gain exposure to other players and league captains and the tennis staff.

Your pro in the trenches, Kevin Pease

Racquet Speed

Racquet speed creates the amount of spin and pace on the ball. To hit a shot with power you have to have racquet speed. Your mechanics--set-up, loading, timing, etc. all effect racquet speed. It's great to have one or two shots that really force your opponent to make errors. Try to get the serve and one groundstroke to fire big. It helps to have a weapon. You have to trust your racquet and yourself, stay lose, grip it and rip it. It's a lot like life.

All the best.

Kevin

Sean and me are here in Watefrville Valley on the red clay for a $ tourney. It's war up here in the mountains.

Your Game

No two people hit the ball the same way. Repeat, no two people hit the ball the same way.

There are basic fundamentals you have to have; after that it's all you. We'll help you find your best game.

Just in case you look in the mirror in the morming and don't see Roger Federer or Maria Sharapova looking back at you. ;)

'Blink Tennis Instruction"

You've perhaps heard of the book--Blink: it talks about how we process information, usually very quickly and unconsciously.

At the Kevin Pease School of Tennis we give you quick personal tips during the drills using audables and visual cues. During changes in the action we give you personal instruction. This way you train 90% with no standing around; 10% is learning and recovery from our pre-planned live-ball drills.

See you on the courts.

Playing the score verses just playing

Well it's time for some new material. Is every point the same in value or are some points more important than others?

That's a great question because each point alone represents a mini-battle leading to other outcomes: break points, ads, games, tie-breakers, sets, and match (the war), so; winning points are important, but some points are more important, for instance: if you win the first point of a game you stand a 54% chance of winning the game and if you reach 30 first you stand an 80% chance of winning the game. Those are statistics. They can help you manage points better. Here is a color code system that might help: when you start a game, go with "delayed pressure"--that means when you have an opening go for the right shot, i.e. approach to the net after opening the court and receiving a short ball, drop shotting a player out of position, go for an angle shot, hit a down the line, etc. If you are down by two or more points go with "breakdown pressure"--that means be more defensive and patient (hit percentage shots cross court) until it's right to attack--so it's more cautious than delayed pressure. If you are up by two or more points than you can afford to go for more on second serves, attack the net, etc. We'll call this type of play--"quick pressure."

Here is a quick chart for score management:

breakdown plays=code red

delayed pressure plays=code yellow

quick pressure=code green

0-0     code yellow

0-15   code yellow

15-0   code yellow

15-30 code red

30-15 code yellow

30-0   code green

0-30   code red

40-30 or ad-in code red

30-40 or ad out code red

40-15 code green

15-40 code red

40-0  code green

0-40  code red, yellow, or green (player choice depending on momentum) 

The other factor which must be considered is momentum!

If an opponent whacks you with an ace look to attack back as soon as you can. Here's why--if you play a code red and lose you will have shown that you can be beaten physically and mentally. If you run a code green and win or miss at least you will have shown a fighter's  toughness. When someone gives you a whack, whack them back! If your serve has been broke, then break serve right away. If they hit a winning shot, you hit a winning shot asap!

If your opponent makes a bad error, run a code green immediately when he/she is down mentally. These momentum "busters/creators" are to be used with the color codes as a tool.

Again, this is not an exact science. It is just a way of playing the percentages. It is a way of managing risk. If you have more than 13 in blackjack, it's best not to take a hit.  All points should be played with equal intensity and within your style of play, strategy and tactics that you see fit.

Best of luck. 

Getting Better

We all want to get better at tennis. That might mean: beating a certain opponent, getting into a higher group, etc.

Many players use the logic--hey I hit with Jimmy, so I'm almost as good as Jimmy. Bad idea.

Focus not on who you play in tennis and your results. That's insane, Kev. those are those the most important things to me, maybe a couple of other things as well. Fine. If you really want to get better, challenge yourself to do things which are "uncomfortable" : serve and volley every point, return and volley every point, approach on shots that are more difficult, mix in more topspin, attempt drop volleys, swing through my second serve with just as much racquet speed as my first serve. Play a variety of people and practice your "developing game" in fun matches, tournaments, leagues, and on your front lawn with the kids. For me the game is all about improvement and I have fun when I improve. I like great shots and great tennis. Winning and losing are just results: scores in a score box. A day later, who really cares anyway?

Please don't confuse my philosophy about winning with effort or desire to compete at your highest level. That's what makes competing the most fun--playing at your highest level! If you do that, winning will take care of itself.

Kevin 

Tactical Prorities

In tennis they would be this: 1) Hit the ball over the net. 2) Direct the ball. 3) Control the depth of the ball. 4) Put spin on the ball. 5) Apply speed to the ball.

For most of us we get stuck on the spin tactic. This is why developing your shot making is so important: spin is a function of technique--without it, it becomes impossible to achieve. Spin allows you to control the depth, direction, and height of the ball. Ball control (feel for the ball) is what we all should strive to improve.

Exercise: Hit a better topspin forehand!
Start with your racquet in front of you with the head "dipping below the wrist at a six oclock position." Do this about six feet from the net. Drop a ball and then practice turning your hand from six to twelve while lifting your arm up (just a little). You'll see the spin on the ball and the ball needs to go "up" and over the net (by at least three to four feet). If you can do this you have spin............if you can't, come take a lesson with us and we will help you. There's a trick to it.

Define Winning

I would define winning as achieving your performance goals, for instance: serve and volley every first serve in doubles, return all second serves and rush the net, hit down the middle and less down the alley, mix in more angle returns of serve, etc. If you focus on the doing and less on the outcomes things have a way of working out better. Play each shot as it's own challenge and enjoy it.

Winning and losing are just outcomes. Enjoy the process of tennis.

Signals

In doubles let's face it, signals work. They force players to do things they ordinarily wouldn't do:

poach, fake poach, cross to cover your partner before your opponent figures out what you are doing. It creates confusion and distraction for your opponents; it makes them think twice which is never easy! Fist on the back means fake, open hand means poach, and moving your fingers in a beckoning fashion means come to the net after your serve or return.

Your partner has to be willing to try them, otherwise its better to just play it straight.

Good luck!

Winning Doubles

The key to winning doubles is holding your serve; if your team holds without breaking then you are in a tie-breaker situation. How can I improve my holding skills? WORK

ON YOUR SERVE: placements, depth, spins, and speed; after that back it up with volleys and overheads like a backboard.

Book a court, even for a half hour and hit serves cross court to your partner. They hit back cross court using only the diagonal doubles courts for play (so you don't cover the whole court). This isolates the serve, return, volleys overheads, passing shots and lobs. Hey this is doubles with two people (one one doubles). Keep score if you want just like real tennis switching sides after each point. Or you can have your partner serve to a certain spot so you can work your return out. OR you can say down the "t" to the receiver so they know whats coming--you get a tougher volley coming in.

Holding serve is the first priorty to winning doulbes. Control what you can do--well! That's the first step to winning doubes!

Coach "K"

New Technical Films for Forehand, Backhand, and Serve

Check out the new videos for your forehand, two-handed backhand and serve on my You Tube Channel. There is a link to the channel right here on the web site. The ground-strokes are all shown from a neutral (stepping into the ball) stance. These basic executions of the strokes can help you develop better fundamentals.

Wilson's new BLX racquets

The new Wilson BLX racquets are great. They're so great it's hard to pick out one you like best.
I liked the BLX pro open (10.5 ounces strung with hollow core at medium tension, 100 square inch head size). These frames are quick to the ball, evenly balanced, light and create a lot of power and spin. Try one next time you're in. See you at the club!

Thanks for following.

Kevin

The secret of the Roger Federer forehand

Please go to KevinpeaseAAA on utube and you will see the secret of the Roger Federer forehand.
Pay close attention and watch closely. This is a winner!

World Class Instructional Videos

Next week we will be posting some of our Utube instructional videos. Our web administrator Doug Rugh will be making some changes to the site. I appreciate your interest.

One of our instructional videos has received over 3,500 views world wide regarding the Roger Federer slice backhand which is available on Utube. We will be showing the finer points of the Roger Federer forehand which can be related to your game some time next week.

March 12-14 we will be hosting a March Madness doubles tournament for all levels. This will be an open event. Given the success of the tournaments this year I think this will be the largest event in decades!