Coach Sam's Tennis Tips

Playing Tennis in the Winter..? -Dress for Success...

2008-12-23T07:13:00.001-08:00

This time of year the weather can change drastically in a matter of minutes. If one is not properly prepared, the result could be very uncomfortable. Here are some of Coach Sam's tried and true suggestions for training in adverse weather conditions.

Cold Weather... If one dresses properly, it is possible to play (and enjoy) tennis in colder temperatures. First, start with your feet. Wear two pairs of socks. If your feet are cold you are not going to be comfortable no matter what else you do!

Wearing layers is one of the most important things you can do! I try to wear two or three thin layers that I can take off as I warm up. Thin layers are better because the more 'bulk' you wear restricts your range of motion. Try to wear at least one thin long-sleeve shirt.

Gloves... I never wear gloves because even a thin glove restricts the feel and makes a grip change awkward. If my hands are too cold I have often taken an old sock and cut a small racquet handle sized hole in the end of it so my entire hand is covered but I still have skin contacting the handle of the racquet.
-Be sure to NOT use one of your wife's 'good socks'. (that's the voice of experience speaking...!)

Hats... You must wear a hat. Statistics show that lots of body heat is lost through the top of the head. A ski hat that can be pulled down over the ears is a good choice, but any hat is better than none. If it's windy then I'll also put cotton in my ears.

So, after you put on all this extra special clothing you might look a little funny, but that's way better than trying to endure a lesson or match situation while your extremities are freezing off...!

Now, these same tips apply to tennis parents, but you folks can also take additional precautions. If you are going to sit outside during your child's lesson or match, You can bring a blanket. But why not layer your blankets and be sure to bring an electric blanket and extension cord... If there is a handy power source near by then you can be warm, toasty, and the envy of others who were not as thoughtful and resourceful as you...!

Is Your Game Stuck on a Plateau...?

2008-11-05T19:25:00.000-08:00

Have you ever heard of this old saying?

If you keep doing what you've been doing then you're going to keep getting what you've been getting.

If you're serious about improving your tennis game then you've got to put in some serious practice time. As a junior player, I can't remember one single day when I didn't hit with a friend, play a match, hit on a backboard, or practice serves. Honestly, I played seven days a week. There was no way you could keep me off the court. I wanted to be the best player I could be and the only way I could figure out how to achieve that goal was to practice every chance I could get. -And if I wasn't on court practicing, I was reading a tennis book, magazine, or engaging in some kind of off court training.

Many players I coach today want to get better but simply do not put in the amount of practice time necessary to achieve their goals. The first step of course, is to identify one's goals. If your goal is just to get a little exercise and have fun, then there's no pressure to practice very much.

But if you really want to improve you need to have at least two or three meaningful tennis experiences a week. And if you want to be the best you can absolutely be then you've got to try to practice five or six days a week. Obviously, this might not be possible for an adult who has a full time job and family responsibilities, but virtually all the top juniors are logging in more than three days a week of court time.

So, the questions to ask are what are your goals, and does your practice routine line up with your goals...?

Ryan Beene pictured above is one of the fastest improving and brightest young tennis stars in Brazoria County because he works hard and engages in meaningful practice time just about every day.

Consistency Wins...!

2008-10-01T11:32:00.001-07:00

Here is a photo of my stepson practicing his serve last year. Nice knee bend. Good arm extension. There are a lot of good things happening in this photo but one of the best things going on in this picture is the fact that Connor was setting aside special time to practice his serve.

Strokes don't improve without time spent honing them. Generally there is a direct correlation to a player's match results and their practice time. It's important to focus on consistency first. Remember, more points in a tennis match are lost, rather than won, even at the professional level.

Make it your goal to put the ball in play consistently before moving on to playing power tennis or focusing on put away, finishing shots.

Note: This tennis tip is under construction. More content will be added soon... Please check back again...

Dear Novak and Andy: Please learn how to Win and Lose with Grace and Style

2008-09-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

Anybody catch the 2008 US Open quarter final match between Novak Djokavic and Andy Roddick...?

Djokavic ended up winning in five sets, but there was a little bit of controversy before and after the match. Apparently Roddick had made some comments about Djokavic's physical condition prior to the match, and Djokavic did not take too kindly to it.

At the conclusion of the competition, during the post match on court interview Djokavic was anything but humble or complimentary toward Roddick. In fact, his comments drew many boos from the New York crowd. Even the network tennis analyst John McEnroe assessed Djokavic's comments as giving off a 'weird, strange vibe...'. Now, as far as I'm concerned, if you can 'weird out' McEnroe then you've really accomplished something.

My question is this:

What ever happened to winning and losing with grace, class, and style...?

....

Look, here's how it's supposed to go down, people:

The moment that you step onto the field of competition in any sport then you give up the right to make excuses. You should play hard and give your best effort. If you happen to win, don't make a big deal out of it. If you go down in defeat then just give the credit to your opponent. That's being gracious.

Don't gloat in winning and don't sulk in defeat.

You know, neither of my mom or dad had an extensive tennis background, but they both taught me good life lessons that pertain to today's topic.

1. My mom always told me if I didn't have anything good to say about somebody or something then don't say anything.

2. My daddy always told me to keep my mouth shut and let my racquet do the talking.

kkk

Sound advice, wouldn't you say...?

In my humble opinion I'd like to suggest that neither Djokavic nor Roddick have learned those lessons yet.

To be continued...

Give 100% And Have No Regrets!

2008-08-25T07:29:00.000-07:00

I believe our society and the world places too much emphasis on winning. Sure, we all enjoy winning, and probably prefer it to losing. But in the context of sports I am a firm believer in focusing on the 'process' rather than the result.

'Self Worth' should not be equated with winning and losing. You are not a 'Loser' if you lost and you were trying your hardest and giving your best right to the end.

A Sport like tennis is just a vehicle to learn life skills such as interacting with others, problem solving, and handling crises and pressure. In fact, one of the main things a sport like tennis CAN teach us is how to cope with setbacks.

If we develop a bad attitude about competition and losing then we have missed out on the greatest lesson that sports teaches.

My advice is to set a goal. Go out there and give 100% of your effort and focus towards achieving that goal. If you fall short, KEEP TRYING. If you give your best effort, YOU ARE A WINNER...!

Trying one's hardest is all that can be asked of a person.

Before I was a Christian I used to get very depressed over lost tennis matches, but Ephesians 6: 7-8 says: we should serve wholeheartedly in everything we do as if we were doing that activity for God, not man....

After reading those verses I understood that when I gave my best I was honoring God. And that is now my goal every time I step on the tennis court. The winning and losing will take care of itself if I just give my best effort. And You know what, that attitude definitely took the sting out losing.

If you are a Christian I hope this tip has given you a new perspective on your personal relationship with God and how you can express it on the tennis court. If You are not a Christian I hope and pray that You have not been offended because my intent was most definitely not to offend, but to help you play better tennis.

If You have any questions about tennis or a relationship with Jesus Christ I would be happy to take time to visit with you. Please email me at coachsam@chadwelltennis.com or make a post on this blog.

HAPPY TENNIS...!

-Coach Sam

Perfect Volley

2007-09-12T05:48:00.000-07:00

This photo of American Tennis Super Star Andy Roddick is a perfect example of some key elements I emphasize regarding proper volley 'form'.

First of all, Notice Andy's eyes and head position. He is clearly focused on the ball here. You should always try to watch the ball right up to impact with your racquet so you will have good balance. Next notice that his racquet head is slightly above his wrist in a firm locked position. Can you see that the bottom edge of his racquet is slightly forward, not flat behind the ball...? This will help him to produce underspin on his shot. Lastly, notice the position of his non racquet hand. His hands are working together to keep his upper body sideways and eliminate a swinging, out of control shot. His spacing to the ball is good, too. He's not too crowded or too far in front.

Unfortunately, we can't see the footwork here but we all know that a good crossover step helps us to move our weight into the ball and also gives us the necessary power so we won't need to swing so big.

Andy is one of my favorite players. He had a tough match with Federer at the Open this year but I still think his best tennis is in front of him...!

Tennis Tip: What's The Best Age To Start Playing Tennis?

2007-02-14T19:50:00.000-08:00

What is the optimum age to introduce to tennis to a child...? Just ask Elijah Chadwell. This photo was taken of Elijah at the tender age of 18 months. Now, a seasoned veteran of 24 months, Elijah loves to hang out at the courts with his daddy, Coach Sam.

Of course, Elijah is probably the exception to the rule... I do already work with my son on his movement and coordination skills. He loves to chase down tennis balls and is working on his striking skills, too. At this age it is crucial to have equipment scaled down and appropriate for the young body. Above all, I keep it fun. We don't over do it. Sometimes we only play for five minutes. At this stage it's crucial that Elijah equates tennis with fun times with dad, and he does. Making tennis fun is the most important thing a coach or parent can do in the early development of a child.

As I mentioned earlier, Elijah is an exception to the rule. At 2 years old he is way ahead of the game in a tennis setting. He is literally growing up at the courts...! I normally start a player at five years old if the interest is there...

Open Stance Forehand

2007-02-02T22:17:00.000-08:00

Cade Sutherland Lines Up a Mid-Court Forehand...I spend a good deal of time working with players on how to implement their entire body into a shot. Connecting the hip and shoulder on the forehand or backhand ground stroke is crucial to hitting an efficient shot. In this photo taken at the Columbia Lakes Country Club Christmas Camp last year, Cade Sutherland, a junior at West Columbia High School does a good job 'loading' his weight onto his right foot. He's close enough to the target to where he can rotate his hip and shoulder to explode into the ball. He'll end up pivoting the bottom of his foot during the follow-through from an open stance. He's also keeping his head down for balance and his racquet head is dropping below the ball so he can swing up and create topspin.It looks like his left arm may have pulled away a little early from across his body which could cause the swing to become too circular, thereby producing a mis-hit or a ball landing shallow in the court. But over all there are enough good things happening that the end result is a pretty good attacking forehand.

Tennis Tip: Going to the Net

2007-01-14T19:10:00.000-08:00

Brad Reed's Balanced Attack

Here's a great photo of Columbia Lakes Country Club tennis star Brad Reed hitting a backhand approach shot. Brad normally hits a two handed backhand but in this situation the ball landed short in the court and Brad has moved up and is heading toward the net. The slight open tilt of Brad's racquet face suggests that he is using an underspin slice shot. Underspin approach shots bounce lower, creating a more difficult passing shot for one's opponent.

Notice he is keeping his head down watching the ball even as the ball has already left his strings. His left hand is moving in the opposite direction of his right hand for balance. These are two key elements of a well hit backhand approach shot.

Brad Reed is one of the top junior players in Brazoria County. He is a sophomore at West Columbia High School and is qualified for championship boys 16 singles in USTA Texas Section rankings. This photo was taken at the Columbia Lakes Christmas Camp under the Direction of USPTA Professional Samuel R Chadwell.

Serving: Practice Make Perfect...!

2007-01-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

Jill Moss Understands the Importance of Practicing Her Serve

The Serve is the most complex tennis shot there is, yet it is the one shot a person can practice on by themselves. Every other tennis shot pretty much requires interaction with another human being but a partner isn't required for serving practice.

If you interview any good player, nearly all of them will admit they put in lots of practice time working on their serves. One good tip for an aspiring player working on their serve is to strive for consistency first, not power.

To many players want a very hard, fast serve right away, but if that fast serve hardly ever goes in what good is it...?

The best approach is to get the ball in play first, then start making adjustments to increase power a little at a time. I recommend that a player practice their serve from very close to the net initially, and gradually move back towards the baseline until they are in a proper serving position. This technique works for all skill levels. Even top players have found this method helpful while adjusting and making various corrections to their swing, toss, and timing.

I also recommend the use of target practice while working on your serve. Targets sharpen one's focus. And of course, it doesn't hurt to seek professional help occasionally. A good coach should be able to take a look at your serve and give you a critique and homework in a matter of minutes. Pros and Coaches certified by the United States Tennis Professional Association (USPTA) are recommended.

The player in the photo above is Jill Moss of Columbia Lakes Country Club. Jill has a good serve because she takes time to practice it. This photo of Jill was taken last October at John Newcombe's Tennis Ranch when Jill participated on the HPTA Gran Prix Team from Houston.

Keys To Winning: Focus and Concentration

2006-12-10T12:49:00.000-08:00

Wesley Stonestreet Delivers a Knockout Forehand

During the course of a tennis match distractions often abound. There is usually the pressure of having people you care about watch you play. There are usually other matches going on around you. Not to mention that your opponent is probably trying to do their best to keep you from winning. And let's face it, some days a person's attention span is just longer, stronger, and better than other days.

As a coach, I emphasize 'how to compete well' over winning. I believe that winning will take care of itself if other key elements are in place. One of the keys to competing well is maintaining focus and concentration. Focus is a person's awareness of what is going on around them and what they are going to do about what is going on. Clear Focus involves having a game plan. Since many players do not start out with a game plan then they have more difficulty focusing and adjusting.

Concentration is a person's mental ability to cope with the given situation. Emotional well being plays a big factor in one's ability to maintain focus and concentration, as well. When a player is focusing and concentrating they present a powerful image.

My best advice to maintaining focus and concentration is to constantly review the match in your mind. Take more time in between points and games going through a checklist of what is working and not working. Try not to look around too much. If your eyes wander then your mind will wander, too. If things aren't going well slow it down. Taking your time will avoid allowing your opponent to build up too much momentum. Keep the self talk positive. And lastly, don't be afraid to change up a losing game plan.

Maintaining focus and concentration is easier said than done. Everyone on the planet can stand to work on it except maybe Roger Federer. I hope these tips help your game.

Until next time I'm wishing you Happy Tennis...!

See you on the courts. -Coach Sam

The photo above was taken during the doubles final of the HPTA Junior Gran Prix Doubles Tournament at Lee LeClear Tennis Center. The player in the photo is Wesley Stonestreet of Columbia Lakes Country Club. Wesley is currently the point leader in the boys 16 and under division of the HPTA Gran Prix Circuit.

Coach Sam is the Director of Tennis at Columbia Lakes Country Club and Resort Hotel in West Columbia, Texas. He is also the Executive Director of the Houston Professional Tennis Association. He is a USPTA certified professional and has been playing and coaching tennis for over 20 years.

For more information about Coach Sam go to his website: http://chadwelltennis.com

Tennis Strategy from Coach Sam's Perspective

2006-12-03T04:13:00.000-08:00

Go For It On Big Points!

Every point during a tennis match is important. Certain points carry more 'weight' than others, though. They are known as BIG points. Deuce and Advantage points are BIG points. And 3-all in No Ad scoring is not just BIG, it's HUGE! Certainly, all the points of a tiebreaker are BIG...

It's best to play these particular points assertively and aggressively. Try to have a definite game plan like serve and volley, return low and poach, etc... Control your own destiny by 'Going For It'. Plan a winning shot combination. (One that involves hitting a winner for the last shot.)

Don't play defense and wait for the other player to lose unless they've been missing a lot of shots and their game has or is already falling apart. And even in that case you still want to finish off a wounded opponent as quickly and cleanly as possible.

It's a great feeling to GO FOR IT and close out a game, set, and match.

If you successfully employ my tactic of going for it on big points I'll look to see you in the winner's circle. -Coach Sam

The photo above is of former Wimbledon Champion Goran Ivanisevic taken at the Stanford Cup Legends tournament at River Oaks Country club recently. Coach Sam organized a group of local adults and juniors to attend the event. The photo above was taken by Scot Tevin, a good friend and tennis student of Coach Sam's who just happens to also be a professional photographer.

What Can We Learn From Agassi's US Open Run...?

2005-09-11T17:14:00.000-07:00

One thing we call learn from Andre Agassi is to just not give up...! He is tenacious, that's for sure. As I write this commentary I'm watching the 2005 US Open men's final. In the first set (Agassi vs Federer) Agassi saved 7 set points before finally succumbing. One thing's for sure, Andre is going to make some noise and go down swinging.

One key to Andre's success is that he takes care of his serving games. Through the semi's he is the tournament ace leader. But then again he has played a lot more games than Federer going into the finals... 117 extra games to be exact. But that's the mark of a 'grinder', someone who hangs in there and just grinds it out. The only problem is that it's tough to grind against a guy like Federer who can hit a winner from pretty much any where in the court.

Another key to Andre's success is that his baseline game is solid and his inside out forehand has long been a reliable weapon. He uses an open stance on nearly 100% of his forehands. And he drives his two handed backhand but is able to slice the one hander when he needs to. He mixes up spins very well. He mixes his depths well, too. He's really developed a nice deceptive backhand drop shot that he's been using a lot lately to keep his opponents off balance.

And while we're on the subject of groundstrokes, we shouldn't leave out Andre's return of serve. He's really developed a great all around game through out his career and that's why he's in the finals of the US Open this weekend.

The final testament to Andre is how he really turned his life around. Young players reading this column won't remember when Andre came on the tennis scene as a brash teenager with long, psychedelic hair and a very punky attitude. He had early success winning the French Open, then faded from the radar for awhile. But he had a change of heart in his late 20's. Now, he's beloved by nearly everyone and truly he's become an ambassador for the game of American tennis.

My attitude toward Andre has changed considerably over the years. And now having experienced the joy of the birth of my son and can see how much my life and perspective has changed in just 7 weeks, I understand how marrying Steffi Graf and having kids has had a tremendously positive effect on Andre. I suppose in that regard I identify with him closely.

So today's tip ties in a little with my tennis tip from March 27 on having a role model If you love tennis and want to get better then you need to become a student of the game. And just keeping up with the players and what is happening on the world tennis scene is one way to be a thorough student of the game. As I close this commentary Andre has leveled the match by taking the second set and it's 2 all in the third. What ever happens, Andre will still be an American-Tennis hero in my book....!

Next week: A look at Roger Federer. -You gotta like a guy with a great one handed backhand like that... Too bad he cut off his pony tail... (and too bad he's not American...)

Tennis Tip... -Don't Make Excuses

2005-09-05T17:06:00.000-07:00

I watched the US Open over Labor Day Weekend. I especially enjoyed hearing the post match interviews of the players. It was very interesting to hear what the players had to say, especially those who had gone down in defeat. Remember that it's not being a good sport to make excuses about one's loss. To say that you played poorly in defeat is rude to your opponent. (even if it is the truth...) Bite your tongue and swallow your pride if you have to. It's good sportsmanship to give credit to the victor. It's bad sportsmanship to make excuses.

Inspite of the antics of John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors over the years, tennis really has a tradition and legacy of sportsmanship and good manners. Accept responsibility for a loss and move on. One of the life lessons tennis teaches is how to react to adverse conditions. There is a winner and loser for every match up. Learning to win and lose with style and grace is a trait that is developed over time. No body wants to hear how the other guy cheated, or you were injured, or that you just played terrible.

In short, don't make excuses. A healthy attitude toward winning and losing is necessary to become a champion on and off the court. Learn from your setbacks. Try to avoid making the same mistakes in future matches. You'll be more fun to hang out with and people will like you more...!

Coach Sam's Quick Winning Tip

2005-04-18T05:46:00.000-07:00

Today I only have a few minutes before I head out the door but that's ok because today I have a quick, easy tip for you.

Don't be in such a hurry to win the point so much. Nearly all points are lost rather than won. That means the other person messes up before you can hit a winner on them.

Wait, What's that...?

YOU'RE the one who always messes up...?

Well, try this. Make it your goal to hit at least the first three balls back in the court. Pick a target like deep down the middle, one of the safest possible target zones. If You are still in the point after three shots then you might want to consider being a little more aggressive, but You'll be very surprised at how if you give your opponent an opportunity, then they'll beat themselves.

I use this strategy all the time and I very seldom have to adjust my game plan. When I do, then it's just for a little variety.

That's all I have time for this morning. See You back here next week.

Coach Sam

Tennis Tip: Realizing One's Potential

2005-04-03T22:43:00.000-07:00

Remember my tip last week...? Having a role model...? Well as a coach I have several role models. My coaching style has evolved from being exposed to some of the greatest tennis minds ever. While working at John Newcombes Tennis Ranch in New Braunfels I was trained by Jeremy Fieldsend who has made a career out of managing Newk's. I also took away some good coaching advice from Clarence Mabry, Who was Newk's Coach when he was ranked number one in the world. But enough of the name dropping...

I'll recall some good advice from Jeremy and Clarence in the next few months. But two other coaches who have heavily influenced my teaching style are College Coaches Dave Snyder from the University of Texas and Chuck Kriese from Clemson University. Today's tip is what I've learned from my interaction with Coach Kriese.

Philosophers, psychologists, and teachers all testify to three areas of human development: The Physical, The Mental, and the Emotional. Tennis players must also develop as people in order for their games to benefit. Not only must they be physically capable of the necessary skills, they must have confidence in their ability, and most importantly, be comfortable with each new level of play and it's responsibilities.

In the early stages of development the physical skills must be emphasized. They are the foundation without which the other areas cannot be developed. Later, the mental aspect is developed, enabling the physical to become functional. The last area to be developed is the emotional, which either enables the mental and physical to work together, or becomes the monkey-wrench that eventually breaks down the machinery.

So take care to develop all three areas. Too many coaches focus only on the physical. Too many players also focus only on the physical. After a while, if the mental and emotional areas aren't addressed then there's no way the player will reach his or her potential.

I'll try to address tips on all three areas of player development, so stay tuned. And as always, I welcome your questions or comments. Post a comment right here or send me an email to coachsam@sbcglobal.net

See you next week. Bye for now,

Coach Sam

Get a Role Model

2005-03-27T23:21:00.000-08:00

I always ask my first-time students a few questions to test their tennis IQ and to get to know them better. My first question is what sparked their interest in tennis....? If the answer is 'my mom's making me do it, I know I have an uphill battle on my hands...! But I rarely hear that response. I just like to know what's behind someone's motivation. It helps me coach them better. My motivation to play tennis when I started at the age of 12 was because I had a crush on a cute 13 year old girl who played...! And there's nothing wrong with that, because I think I turned out OK. But anyway, before I digress from here, let me get back to my topic of the day.

Another question I always ask is for them to name a pro player they may have seen on TV or read about, or perhaps someone they identify with.

I advocate watching every pro tennis match you can. Never miss an opportunity because that's like getting a free lesson.

Eventually, I want my students to have a role model. Someone who they might want to emulate because of outstanding shot, or temperament. This role model doesn't necessarily have to be a turing pro. It can be a coach, another peer, really it can be anybody. and it's ok to have more than one role model for different shots.
My role models were players who were a little shorter. I stand 5 feet 5 inches with only one pair of socks on, so I looked for successful players who border="0" />were the same stature as myself. I'll list some of my childhood role models and I know that these names won't mean a thing to many of you. You are probably either too young to have heard of them or you just didn't
grow up in the Bay City area like I did. I had many role models. On the professional side my all-time favorite player and role model was Bjorn Borg. I loved his temperament. He was quiet and stoic. He never showed emotion. He was one of the coolest players under pressure that I've ever seen. Another Pro player I admired was Harold Soloman. He was my height and had very steady ground strokes. Good temperament, too.

Then I had two local heroes. Kurt Zeller was one of the best players in Bay City when I was growing up. He was very steady and had a great slice backhand. He was a very smooth player and I've always tried to copy his game style. Another player I admired was a man named Michael Hansen. He was from Bay City and played college tennis for Houston Baptist University. He had a great serve and was pretty good at the net, too. Both these men would hit with me from time to time and they were a great inspiration to me growing up. I learned a lot just by watching, listening, and hanging out with them.

So, if you don't have a role model, get one. Have more than one. Have one for each different stroke if you want to. And look for local role models as well as pros on the world tour. This will help you improve your game in a hurry.

Thanks for reading my weekly tip. I welcome your comments and questions. Post one right here or email me at coachsam@sbcglobal.net

See you next time...!

Coach Sam

How To Improve Your Game on A Budget

2005-03-20T22:56:00.000-08:00

I know many very talented players who achieved a high level of competency without spending a lot of money on lessons. Certainly, if you have the opportunity to take lessons then by all means do that. But make sure that you get the most for your investment by practicing as much as you can on your own time. A coach can only give direction and make suggestions, but it's up to the individual to make the sacrifice and put in personal training time to move to the next level.

Here are some inexpensive ways you can improve your game.

Read everything you can about tennis. There are a lot of good publications out there. When I was a young player I devoured Tennis and World Tennis Magazine. I read every word cover to cover. There are also lots of good books at the local library. You can also try your local half price book store for some bargains on great titles.
Watch Tennis Matches on Television. There is much more tennis coverage on TV than there used to be. I wish the tennis channel was being produced when I was a junior player. Sometimes the commentators aren't too good, but you turn the sound down. There's always something to be learned by watching better players.
Go to the net. I mean the internet. There are a lot of great instructional sites out there. I'll try to make that a topic in the future and provide some good links for you to check out. Until then, at least you have me...!
Buddy-Up with a friend. When I was in High School, I had a friend that I played doubles with and we were each other's personal trainer and coach. We fed drills to each other, we served and returned to each other, we worked out instead of just playing matches against each other. It's always a good idea to practice with a partner who is 'like minded' in terms of goals and work ethic. If you don't have a partner, there's always a backboard....
There's nothing wrong with group lessons. While one on one private lessons can certainly be beneficial to one's game, a good group lesson is a great deal more economical, and a good instructor knows how to create an environment of learning and motivation in a large group setting.

Try some of these suggestions and you can still take your game to the next level without investing in private lessons or going off to a week-long tennis camp or academy.

Just for your information, I was a self taught player. I learned tennis on the public courts in Bay City, Texas. My game was primarily influenced by the methods described above and through hitting with caring adults in the local tennis community.

Thanks for reading my tip. i haven't posted on this site in a while, but I'm going to try to make it a habit of posting a new tip a couple of times a month at the very least, so please check back again.

Bye for now,

Coach Sam

Setting Goals and Self Discipline

2004-11-02T08:31:00.000-08:00

Certainly, everyone likes to see improvement in their tennis game. But what can you do if you stop seeing improvement...? At first, when tennis is very new to a person then improvement seems to flow. Every time you go out to play, you get a little better. Invariably though, players will 'plateau'.

That's when it's time to 'dig in...' Setting a goal, or goals is the first step. Do you want to beat a particular person...? Hit a new shot...? Add spin, power, or placement to your arsenal..?

Make it your goal. Write it down. Tell someone about it. Perhaps you can find a practice partner and or a coach. Together, You can both make goals and pledge to help each other achieve them. Ultimately, it's going to come down to your individual practice habits and determination. If you don't practice very much at all, or you're practicing the wrong techniques, how can you realistically expect to improve...?

Think about this for a moment. How much do you really want to improve your tennis game...? How much are you willing to sacrifice to get better...? Are you willing to sweat...? Are you willing to put your ego on the shelf for awhile...? Are you willing to invest the time it takes to see improvement...? I'm afraid I'm getting a little bit philosophical here, but I think that things we value are worth a certain degree of sacrifice. How much do you value getting better in tennis...?

Just going out and hitting balls once a week may not be enough. If you want to achieve the highest level of your potential then You really need to become a student of the game. By being a student I mean read tennis instruction, watch televised and live matches, exercize, weight train, play practice sets, etcetera... And You have to have the discipline to do that day in and day out until the desired result is achieved.

Now, how can you define 'discipline'...? In this scenario I'd define discipline as the ability and willingness to perform certain actions and tasks regardless of one's personal feelings...!

You may not feel like working out or practicing today. You may be a little sore or distracted, maybe you have to make a choice between a tennis related activity or another activity. Discipline is choosing tennis over the movies. Discipline is going for a run on the day after you played a tough three set match (or two). Discipline is necessary to achieve goals. (And not necessarily tennis goals.) Discipline is necessary to have a successful life, Period. For me, that's what coaching tennis is all about. Helping a person develope life skills in a tennis setting.

Now, just because I'm a professional coach doesn't mean that I expect everyone to have this same attitude toward tennis. And it doesn't mean that I only want to work with highly motivated athletes who give their heart, mind, and soul to tennis. The fact is, I love working with the recreational player whose motivation to play is just exercize and fun. And I approach coaching the recreatioanal player a little differently. I want to make that disctinction because this tip is written primarily with the serious competitive player in mind.

Ask youself some tough questions. How would you rate your motivation and determination to improve your tennis...? How is your discipline?

If you'd like to discuss how to go about moving to the next level email me or post a question on this blog. I can be reached via email at coachsam@sbcglobal.net

Thanks, and I'll see you on the courts!

Coach Sam

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Emotional Management In Tennis

2004-10-07T09:44:00.000-07:00

Tennis is a great outlet for a person to let off some steam. Indeed, any sort of exercise that stimulates the heart, gets the blood flowing and also engages the mind is a cut above the rest in my opinion. Tennis is very versatile in that it can be either social or competitive exercise. You just can't get the total package that will engage all the senses on an exercise bike or treadmill...!

Today I'd like to look at managing emotions in tennis. Specifically, anger management. Very few players raise the level of their game by getting angry. True, some former tennis stars like John McEnroe and Jimmy Conners seemed to get fired up and produce better results when they got angry, but that was the exception rather than the rule. Tennis History has far more good sports than bad ones. It's sad that the 'bad actors' get more attention.

Why not take a look at today's mens champion, Roger Federer. He is a perfect example of style and grace. (and not a bad backhand, either!) You won't see him lose his cool any time soon. But you're thinking it's easy to be cool when you're number one in the world.

What about me...? I just want to beat my neighbor or classmate. And it frustrates and makes me angry when I make stupid mistakes and don't achieve that goal. My advice is to first look at the big picture. Why am I getting angry? Is it something I can control or are external factors causing the anger? Does getting mad make me play better...? The fact is that getting angry often causes more problems and makes a difficult scenario worse. Recognizing this in a calm, sane moment is the first step towards changing the behavior.

You don't want to get mad for a couple of reasons. First of all, it makes you rush and play worse. Second, it gives your opponent a little lift emotionally when he or she knows that you're losing your cool. You don't want to give your opponent any extra advantage so let's take steps to deal with anger right here and now.

Coach Sam's 3 Simple Tips for Dealing with Anger:
1. Slow Things Down, Time heals all Wounds.
2. Practice Positive Self Comments when You make a mistake.
3. Let off steam by screaming into your towel.

The first two tips definitely work. The third tip may not work for you. (It works for me, though). Try it sometime. It's actually kinda fun to do and will keep you from getting a point penalty if an umpire is near by. It might also unnerve your opponent into thinking you are a ticking time bomb ready to go off because it's not a normal way to vent anger. It's also a little entertaining for the crowd if anyone is watching...

Mental Preparation for Competition

2004-09-28T23:43:00.000-07:00

Good players do more than just show up for a match. They prepare themselves mentally for the task at hand before they ever step on the court. They then go into the match with their toolbox of strokes and play within themselves the best they can, adjusting their strategy and tactics when necessary.

Try this next time you play a match: Take a few moments to mentally settle yourself before you step on the court. Start with at least 5 minutes of just good deep breathing. (The pros take considerably more time) Try to clear your mind of distractions. Then develop your game plan. Mentally rehearse a few winning shot combinations. See yourself playing well and executing finishing shots in your minds eye. Nothing fancy is necessary. In fact, the more simple the game plan, the better. Be sure to take into account your opponent's style of play as well as your own strengths and weaknesses. Then go out and play with a purpose. If results don't go your way then be prepared to change game plans if necessary.

Remember that a healthy attitude toward winning and losing is necessary in tennis. By applying a mental pre-game checklist you are increasing your chances for success.