New Year's Tennis Resolutions

This time of year I tend to plan the upcoming year tennis goals. From experience I've found that being realistic with your goal setting and creative yields the best results. Make tennis as fun as you can for yourself.

The number one area for most players at the club level (and beyond) is fitness and play management. Taking time to workout in the gym for strength and cardio will improve your on court presence, balance, and reduce injuries. Anything in this department is better than nothing. That being said, once you get in the gym, things tend to move along nicely. On days you don't feel it, go easy, or maybe hold off a day. But the next day you may have double down on the workout.

Another way to improve your fitness on court is to practice proper footwork and agility on the court before you play. If you arrive to the court early you can: sidestep, carioca, side lunge, back step lunge,  run and swing racket with a recovery,  and stretch band exercise.  When you warm-up

in this fashion you are training as wll. You are establishing your movement patterns and warming up with a purpose.

In addition to fitness and movement you should have a play schedule roughed out for each season. It might include, a clinic or practice time set up with a coach or tennis friend, a doubles time (league, contract or team). Your calendar may allow for your club's events (socials, tournaments, and events).

The average club player plays two times per week. So if you play once per week or less you probably are not a member of a club. If you play three times you are a heavy user. If you play four times, you are a tennis nut.
Most injuries occur with players who over do it or play and condition too little.

Nutrition of course, is another area to improve upon. Lately, I hear more about "eating raw." Let's keep it simple: eat raw veggies and fruit, fish, and whole grains. Tough to do. My favorite food is pizza. Dang. Anything you try to improve upon here is a major tennis achievement. Carrying extra pounds is like having a barbell on your back.

So there you have it. Get tennis fit by, eating better, getting to the gym, working on footwork,  practicing once per week, playing once per week, and allowing time in your calendar for events that appeal to you. It sounds like a lot but if you do anything in those departments you will improve and enjoy the game with your friends.

Happy New Year

Kevin

Doubles Series III

Doubles Series III…………….The first challenge of the receiver is to return the ball away from the opposing net player. This can be extremely difficult to execute if the server challenges the receiver with a fast serve/spin serve that take the receiver out of their strike zone. The opposing net player is likely to put the ball away immediately that may float back. This net player should take the weak volley and place it toward the “short side.” That’s where the receiver’s partner is positioned when playing the typical one up, one back position. The receiver’s partner is in the “hot seat” where he/she must now try to volley back an angled ball, a ball with pace, or both. A good doubles player at the net can turn high balls to the short side with ease and is ready to stuff any other weak returns that may be coughed up. The net in club matches, the net player of the server often returns high balls back to the receiver and thereby gains no advantage. I’ll take a placed angle any day over trying to hit through someone. Difficult balls (often low or tough to manage volleys) should not be hit to the other net player because they are in position to take advantage. Those balls should be hit back to the back court player who must strike them off a bounce. Remember to try not to hit any ball up to a net player unless it is a good lob. The receiver who hits the up ball may feel as though they have failed, but, it is important to remember that easy balls are often missed and one should feel some consolation that at least the opponents’ were made to finish the point. Even the best pros miss an open lay-up from time to time. When the ball is returned to the net player (hopefully by accident), the server should immediately rush the net to help stuff any other balls that weakly return by the receiver’s partner. It can often happen that the server will become a spectator of their net partner’s shot. If the ball is returned weakly to their side, that server has missed a possible “up ball to put away and a free ride to the net.” This would be comparable to having a forward in basketball get underneath for a tip in or in hockey where a rebound on net occurs. In tennis, both team-mates should close the net when low balls are presented to their opponents.’ As Kenny Rogers sang, “You gotta know when to hold em’ (keep your opponent back or hold your serve, force your opponent to hit up), know when to fold em’ (concede to the fact your opponent made a great shot), know when to walk away (perhaps when your opponent makes a bad call, or you gather yourself for the next point by taking a little time), and know when to run” (when your opponent blasts a ball at your face, or when you have to get on horse and chase down a drop shot). To be continued……..

END

Falmouth Sports Center Tennis News: Dec 2013

The Falmouth Women’s Travel Team has been battling in third placed against Willy’s Gym and Mid-Cape Racquet Club in Cape League action. Players for Falmouth include: Elana Arnold, Barbara Allison, Carolyn Fournier, Priscilla Geraghty, Sherry Jackson, Nancy Polis Michelle Priestly, Ann Russell, Grace Simpkins, Cynthia Kelly, Joan White, Debra Walsh, Meredith Wilner, and Katy DePew.

In the Amity Two League, the team of Hillary Osborn, Linda Jarvis, Sandra Schofield, Linda Beetlestone, and Laura Welles are in first place going into the end of the season.

The Bionic League high scorers are Doug Rugh, Doug Azarian, Joe Lipka, Reed Christenson, Paul Skudder, Scott Muma, and Graham Davis.

The Women’s Step-Ladder Leaders are Margaret McCahill, Katie Propper, and Pam Alden. The Men’s Intrepid League Step-Ladder leaders are Reed Christenson, Don Fries, and Buddy Hampton.

Registration is now going on for all house league programs, group lessons, clinics, and conditioning/drill, junior program, high school training, and private coaching for the New Year at the Falmouth Sports Center. The Friday Round Robins will continue throughout the Holidays. The Tennis for Life Programs offered through the Falmouth Community School and the Kevin Pease School of Tennis will offer programs Monday through Saturday for all levels of players. Information will be available in the Falmouth Enterprise insert for FCS. There will be a junior tournament held over the holidays for all levels of play and there will be holiday camps for adults and juniors. Call 774-392-3666 for more information or stop in at the Sports Center main desk.