Friday, April 26, 2013

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Mixed Doubles, A Game of Variety

     Most of the time when you play mixed it is in a social setting. The differences in levels are apparent. Still, you want to play well without taking over the court physically, verbally or both.
Here's what to do: assess the levels (including yourself) mentally, and then try to make it so everyone has the most fun. If you don't then you have an agenda which is not the most fun when playing mixed in a social setting. If you have a weak partner who is the woman you should encourage her to play her side of the court as you would any other partner. You might suggest backing up more if facing a tough server (perhaps to the curtain if the server is blasting the cannon, playing closer to the net if she has a weak volley, or completely backing up to the backcourt to receive the ball with you if she is afraid of the ball because someone is pelting balls at her. It is important to stress that helping to find solutions find solutions is better than creating problems. If she or he wants to stay at the net then go with that. It is always better to work the stronger player's game around the weaker. The weakest link issue should be addressed mentally as you will have the best chance of playing together as a team. Adapt the weaker players skills to give the best chance of performing well. Working together as a team in a fun manner is the best way for the team to enjoy success, winning or losing. Remember that your value as a person is not determined in the win loss column.
     I know at times in the past I've not been the best at encouraging my partner. If they double fault or don't get that first serve in, really try hard not to show negative body language. If you do, you put extra pressure on that player. They are more likely to repeat the unwanted result. You need to have a partner who is relaxed and having fun. Encouragement goes a long way on the tennis court. There's enough negative energy in the world today. We go to the court to get away from that. We don't want to be judged. That is not to say that we don't want to learn. That is quite a different matter. It is fun to learn about tennis as long as we don't have to figure it all out in one match. We have a lifetime. After-all tennis is a lifetime sport. If you can learn how to manage your game better with a partner then that is true fun. You will be competing at a higher level. It's always more fun to play the best you can.
     I've noticed that this mixed doubles entries gets the most attention.  I know here in Falmouth more players have been coming out to the classic "mixed-up doubles" Friday night mixer round-robins during the past few years. Here are a few personalities that we see on the court.
     There is "Trick Shot Mike" who likes to mix up spins, and placements. His toughest shot to return is the one that goes back on his side of the net after hitting on your side. Try to take his shot in the air because the bounce will leave you shaking your head. There is "Hard Hitting Rhonda" who has great skills and a fantastic serve. I've played against her and it's tough. She can topspin off both sides and never quits on a point. There is "Awesome Ann," she knows where to be on the court and knows where to hit the ball. Her greatest strength is that she can play with anyone and keep them in the match. Of course she has great volleys too. There is "Power Joe" who blasts his serve and groundstrokes. What makes Joe tough is that most of his shots go in. He builds his game around his power. There is Jodi the "Volley Specialist." She keeps the ball in play when it seems that the point is over. She makes you hit that one extra shot when she is at the net that you just don't expect. Her lefty serve is low and tough to return. There is Bill the "Serve Specialist" who hits a great topspin serve which jumps more that you'd expect and causes timing errors for the receiver. He actually gets more errors from his opponents' on his second serve than on his first. For many people they would rather see a power serve rather than one that curves up and breaks. There is John the "Counter Puncher" who gets most balls back and has that annoying cross court forehand angle that you just don't see coming. Linda the "placement specialist," she keeps the ball and play and know where to hit it and is in position. That makes her tough to beat, the fact she has no real weaknesses. Her husband Dave is a "forehand cross courter with a slice serve." Those are two shots he seldom if ever misses. He keeps coming at you. Then there is "Hustle Sally," who gets to everything and hits solid low drives with tough pace. She can challenge your timing. Her serve is a great slider as well. Buddy her husband, is a great retriever who can "turn defense to offense" with his long reach and quickness. It's tough to get balls by him at net. There is my daughter Kara, who love to play mixed doubles; she can hit laser groundstrokes and sneaks up to the net quickly to put angle volleys away. She's had some great matches with Bill, who recently has lifted his return of serve skills and his new two-handed backhand. Sarah, Falmouth's senior tennis captain has a two-handed power backhand that's equivalent to a slap-shot that seldom misses.
     Every one of these players and more (the list is growing) have talents they bring to the courts. Friday night tennis is a blast.

 

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Maximum from the Minimum

     How much time should you take for practice? I'm not sure that there is any statistical data that can proof x time produces y result. Common sense would tell me that practice too little and you won't improve. Practice too much and you'll burn out. So the answer lies in between. Still, where is it?
How much time should you spend? I think short fun practice beats the rest.
   
     If you are immersed in what you are doing then you will have a better chance of making gains. It's been proven that our minds like diversity and new presentation. Having one thing to work on as a topic gives you the best chance of succeeding. Each day you practice on one thing.Your goal is to improve. How do you do that? What is the arrangement of practice? I have to tell you that I enjoy rallying a ball with my practice partner with no other goal then to keep it going. After a few minutes of reflex volley and mini-tennis I try to establish  rhythm and timing from the baseline. During this time I may hit some shots on one foot, front foot, back foot, slice, heavy, etc. In between rallies I may do a few dynamic stretches and shoulder exercises to loosen up. Then I'm ready to practice on that one thing. Be specific with it. There's so many different shots and strategies in the game that one shot in one situation is best. It could mean hitting forehand volleys to an open court from an offensive volley position with the shot coming from the volley player's left to right with topspin, and then with slice. It could then be practiced from right to left. Then ball could be fed from straight on, close, back deep, high or low, fast, slow, with spin and floaters. Of course one could practice hitting  floaters from an offensive position that go to either side of the player. These "specific shot" practices can be designed in a variety of patterns and positions. Tennis fitness training can also be linked to this program as well. A pro can drop feed short balls to a player who has little time to react to the feed. This feed could have been dropped at the service line by the coach to a player positioned at the center baseline or a player positioned at the net and has to run back and retrieve it.

     The point here is that "specific shot training" needs to be outlined in a program with the developing player. If all you do is practice forehands and backhands from the baseline then the player will be limited to those type of experiences on the court. That being said, there are some great three chord rock bands out there that did quite well on three chords, Tom Petty for one. I'll take three good chords hit on time any day but if you want to develop your game and get around the whole court comfortably you'll need to practice specialty shots such as topspin lobs, defensive lobs, drop volleys, chip approaches, et cetera, et cetera. The key is to get the most you can out of a workout session. After you've warmed up for about twenty minutes (I like a solid warm-up in my practice sessions with the major shots) start your topic and go hard for a least ten minutes with it. Your partner may need another ten for their shot. After that I like to play some tie breaks, a set or two if I have time, and then hit down. This whole process can take anywhere from one hour to two hours depending on the day and my schedule. If I don't have time to play on a day I still try to hit on a back board or hit a few serves. I don't like to stay away from hitting. I think you have to keep the feel and timing for the ball. That is something you have to keep in your back pocket. Always be ready if called into action. It's a bit obsessive but you wouldn't be reading this if you didn't want to improve your game. After your practice session you can hit the gym, run hills, bike, go to the track, or read a book. The thing to remember here is to keep a record of what you are doing (log on your smart phone) and have a plan.
Any plan is better than none. Any amount of work is better than none. The key is to take small steps at first in regard to your training and then build from there. This keeps practice truly fun and you'll get better. Workouts are always fresh and are only limited by your imagination in terms of how you put them together. Your priorities are set by you on your schedule and by how your body feels. You can have a workout plan that can fit in a Twitter message if you know what your doing. Keep it simple, with variety, and fun. But go hard the whole time.

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Bob Bryan Practicing Doubles

     Funny, a few years ago Ryan Livesay worked for me here at the Sports Center during the summer. Big strong kid who served 135mph. He played for Tulsa. He trained some with the Bryans and Roddick. I'll try to get him for an interview. Here's a video of Bob practicing doubles. Great drill.

    The Bryans have compact doubles strokes, move well together and execute the best drills I've ever seen in doubles. Once more, they make a great living at it. Not a bad life, playing doubles with your brother and having your Dad as coach. Oh, they can play rock and roll too on guitars.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Falmouth Sports Center Benefit Tournament / Great Get Away


    The Cancer Benefit Doubles Tournament is going to be held May 3-5. We are taking player registrations for the event. The cost is $30.00/ player. All proceeds go to the American Cancer Society. I'm looking for players from all around New England and all levels. The event is singles elimination but if you want more tennis we'll get it for you. The shirts this year are going to be black with white lettering. How cool is that?
If you need a partner let us know. We'll get you one. If you're from out of town, you could book a room at the Falmouth Inn on the Square. They have a pool, and a great breakfast spot. You could just walk up the hill to the tennis club for your matches. Also, there is the Shining Sea Bike Path that runs from Woods Hole to North Falmouth and there is Beebe's Woods where can take a hike and discover the Punch Bowl and the Pine Woods Forest. 774-392-3666 to register. National and international players are welcome.