Isles Yacht Club Quick Tips
Punta Gorda, Florida

There is indeed an accepted, universal protocol regarding the pre-match warm-up. Unfortunately, my profession and trade organization (USPTA) has done an inadequate job of promoting it.

First and foremost, the warm-up is a cooperative. That means hitting back and forth right at the opponent. It is not practice, i.e. some yahoo opponent practicing winners. Check the USTA Code of Conduct. It's right there! Second, the racket flip to choose serve, receive, side, defer should take place prior to players taking the court in order to warm-up on the side the first game will be played on.

At the start, players have the option of warming-up their groundstrokes beginning at a ¾ court position and slowly moving back - especially in a friendly match - or full court prior to league match play if players are unwilling. One player, once ready, takes the initiative to move into the net to practice their volleys, and ask for some lobs to also warm-up their overhead as well! Positions are then reversed.

Finally, all players are required to take their practice serves prior to the first point of the match. No further practice is allowed after the first point is played. There is no "I'll take mine before I serve." One player serves, the other "catches" and serves them back. Partners then switch ad and deuce court positions in order to get practice from both sides. Do not listen to players who announce after 2 minutes, "Let's start since I'm not going to get any better." They are correct.

Why are white overgrips far more functional, particularly for club players sans entourages, than the blue or black ones? Because, unlike the others, they readily show the accumulation of the dirt and grime that comes off of our hands. Why is this so important, besides the obvious reminder for a fresh wrap? Because as the discoloration becomes more prominent the hand-on-grip friction coefficient becomes compromised - let the "grip strangulation" begin. Not good! This elevated muscle tension undermines both your ball-striking fluidity and your ability to replicate your best stuff consistently. Treat yourself and your game - a high friction coefficient promotes relaxation - use the white ones and change them often. They are available at both Punta Gorda pro shops. I recommend and prefer HEAD XTREMESOFT.

What's the least best component of club player's games? Footwork, or lack thereof. Tennis is a differential relaxation sport - the lower body is highly energized to facilitate silky smoothness in the upper body. Turn on the Tennis Channel and observe any tour player at all. You'll see countless adjustment steps in order to get the ball right where they want it. Eye-hand timing is very dependent on eye-foot timing. When they're in sync, your forehand and backhand suddenly become noticeably better. Remember the old tennis adage: "No feet, no game, no future."

Happy Holidays!

Not possible! The best doubles players in the world warm-up with 6 balls, and they have ball kids to retrieve them. No wonder so many want to rush through it and lose the frustration. In clubland it's prudent to always have 2 cans of balls available - even if the second can is slightly used - in order to facilitate an effective match preparation, whether it's league play or a friendly game.

In order to play within your shot-making capabilities, it’s prudent to not impulsively go for the lines to win. Safe margins to those lines on all your shots, and more importantly to the net – where most mistakes are made, i.e., too high, too low – will allow for an acceptable degree of error.

Always visualize your shots clearing the net by the optimal amount for the shot you’re hitting, and landing approximately 3-4 feet from the lines – still a very effective shot – both of which will eliminate many of your unforced errors.
Definitely play aggressively. But by playing within yourself, you’ll keep giving the opposition more chances to self-destruct, become frustrated, and lose confidence.

Committing to being very good at, if you will, doing “nothing” is paramount in evolving to the point where your game has really become “something.”

"Losing is not my enemy; the fear of losing is my enemy." - Rafael Nadal

Your best results will come by focusing on your performance, not winning and losing, which is often not an accurate measure of how you played anyway. Doing your best, fear free, one shot at a time, is all you can do. After all, once you've arrived at the courts it's too late to fret about any holes in your game. This is the game you've arrived with...play freely and have fun!

THE TERM "MENTAL TOUGHNESS," FIRST POPULARIZED IN TENNIS IN THE 80s , HAS TODAY BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SPORT'S LEXICON ACROSS THE BOARD. IT'S CORE COMPONENTS INCLUDE: BREATHING, PACING, RITUALS, AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, VISUALIZATION. SIMPLY, VISUALIZING ONE'S SHOTS, OR FLIGHT PLAN IF YOU WILL, PRIOR TO ACTUALLY STRIKING THE BALL, IS PARAMOUNT TO GETTING WHAT YOU EXPECT. IT OCCURS IN THE BRAIN'S RIGHT SIDE, WHICH DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH BALL TRACKING. RUNNING A 10 POINT PRE-SHOT CHECK LIST THROUGH THE LEFT BRAIN RESULTS IN PARALYSIS THROUGH ANALYSIS AT THE MOMENT OF IMPACT AND. SKETCHY BALL WATCHING. SO START THINKING-IN-PICTURES... VISUALIZE TO REALIZE.