Doubles Hand Signals

1. The first signal from the net player gives the direction of the serve: to the left, middle or right of the service box. The server acknowledges that she got the signal by saying "Yes." Or, the server says, "No" until she gets the signal she wants.

2. The second signal from the net player alerts the server to whether or not she will poach (the open hand indicates to the server to switch sides) or stay and fake (a fist). Again the server acknowledges she got the signal by saying, "yes or no."

Steps 1 and 2 are repeated before each serve.

How much tennis do I need to play to become a pro?

Wow, that's a great question. There's so many variables in that discussion. Let's start with some questions I know I can answer: What do I have to do to be able to play college tennis and be more than the water person?

First, take some lessons from a pro who has demonstrated the ability to develop talent. These pros have established a reputation for preparing juniors for competition. Personally, I believe that technical instruction is the most important because without a solid foundation, it's like going into battle with one arm tied behind your back. Of course each player should be allowed to develop their own style.

Secondly, play junior competitions and manage the calendar to fit your personal needs. If you desire to reach for a high rank you will have to play at least two tournaments per month and love to train a few days per week at considerable expense.
Parents will have to enjoy traveling all around your section. Hopefully you like "99" restaurants, meeting some interesting people, spending gas money, and renting hotel rooms at $100 per night if your lucky enough to win or have your parents allow you to stay over with the Muppopps's who met you last week in Canton Ct. Maybe your parent's can sleep over too. Ask if it's alright if they do before you tell them.
Sorry, just a little humor there. You don't want to build them up and thenm be disappointed. If this doesn't thrill you then you won't stand a snowballs chance in hell turning pro or even establishing a high ranking in your section of the USTA.

Thirdly, what if I want to just make a college team? Well, if that's the case, you still have to do what the above paragraph states if you want to compete for a solid team............they require ranking as a basis for establishing recruiting standards.

You can play college tennis for some division three and division two schools as well as junior colleges if you play high school tennis; so there there are opportunities, just to walk on a team and play. If you advanced in your section high school tournament in singles or doubles a few rounds, then you can play college tennis. I made it to the quarter finals of my section in doubles; I then walked on to UMass (a divsion one program) after convincing the coach not to cut me during the tryouts. In high school I played number one doubles............in college I played as high as 6 and 7 singles and worked into the doubles rotation once in a while. For me that was an accomplishment............but hey, that's another story.

Oh yuh, I did become a pro (a teaching pro and a coach). I've had the chance to play former pros and great college talent........That's enough for me.


If you love the game and love to play then just do it. It's a great life with tennis. If you love other sports more or about the same, then play seasonaly and enjoy spring tennis.

Bag Check

Here's what I like to bring to a tournament--

Three 16 ounce bottles of gatoraid; each bottle 70% water 30% aid

A small bottle of IB's for pain if I'm sore

two more t-shirts, a pair of shorts, four more pair of socks (I double up when I wear socks........it feels better when I play), two sets of sports underwear.

Coppertone....Sport block if outside

Extra over wraps for my racquets........

Three practice balls...........

Three sports bars.............get the natural kind, the others taste like cardboard

Sports glasses and a hat...........

Wear a warm-up if it is cool.......

Two freshly strung racquets--hopefully both the same.....maybe one strung a little
looser for power and spin and one tighter for more control. If playing inside string 1-2 pounds tighter to suit the faster surface..........if playing on outside courts string a pound or two softer for more power......maybe 3 pounds if on slow clay (yuck!)

Bring book you like to read and don't play cards.........that's a waste of time and money! Some tennis schools actually promote gambling! I've seen it.


Oh............bring two towels......

You can get Wilson sport bags at my shop!

Days 10 - 14 of the tennis training program

Day 10

Repeat day 8; get skip'n and a jump'n


Day 11

Rest day- but not really

shuttle runs: means take short sprints and agilities (kick a soccer ball around)
for 25 minutes............then follow ab supersets from day 9..........oooouch

Day 12

Repeat day 8

Day 13

Repeat day 9

Day 14

Set up two stations about 15 feet apart and sprint between stations.......

Station 1

Resisted Squats X 20

Sprint to station 2

Overhead press X 20

Sprint to station 1

jump squats X 10

Sprint to Station 2

Ball crunch x 15

Sprint to Station 1

Repeat this as many times as you can for 5 minutes without a break..........then walk around for two minutes............repeat another four times...........with the two minute break every five minutes.............work hard, because you are really only working out fifteen minutes here...........when done do an ab superset form day 9.

You did it! Stretch out............nice job

Day 9

5 minute warm-up

alternate 1 minute of running as hard as you can with one minute of walking; repeat this 10 times and then take 5 minutes to cool down, then;

perfrom the Alphabet once, then 15 reps of the Ball Cobra: 30 sec rest

15 reverse crunches, then hold the plank for 30: 30 sec rest

perform two sets of the Oblique ball crunches, 10 per side, then 15 medicne ball sit-ups with twists

look at the eailier workouts for exercise descriptions or go to www.telegraph.co and look up get-beach-fit-in14-days if you need more description for the workouts.

Day 8

resistance circuit

resisted squat X 20 reps use your stretch band, raise your hands to your shoulders
keep good form, just like knee bends with resistance; if you don't have a band, hold light weights

overhead press X 20; press hands above your head; use light weights if you don't have bands

Skip rope for 60 seconds

jump squats X 10 : just do a knee bend and explode your arms up and reach, also called kangaroos, use a medicine ball

Ball crunch with a twist, one to the left and one to the right is a rep. ; do 15

do two circuits of this and then give yourself a 60 second break...............repeat the circuit four times w/ a 60 second break after each circuit..................total of six circuits.

Day Three Tennis Training

Day 3

Time for Cardio..............you'll need outdoors!

Take five minutes to warm-up with a gentle jog, then alternate running hard for one minute and walking for one minute as recovery.............do this 10 times...........that's right............run hard 10 times for one minute with one minute rest in between..............then take five to cool down.

Now that is a quality workout!

Day 4

repeat Day 1


Day 5

repeat Day 2


Day 6

a day off


Day 7


Repeat routine from Day 1

Day 8 to come from Wimbledon shortly; I'll check the Londay Daily Telegraph for the next section..........enjoy!


Stay the course!

KP