Warmer Weather Brings it Back to Mercer County

Hi everyone!

After improving the basics and reviewing the spotlight of the week and his cause, it is now important to return back to the Mercer County area.

An article that was in the Trenton Times in Decemeber 28th of 2008 on the Mercer County Tennis Center reminded me that warmer weather is on its way and it is time to open the doors to outside tennis. Visit http://www.nj.com/sports/times/index.ssf?/base/sports-1/123044072766970.xml&coll=5 to view the article on the new tennis center.

There is a Mercer County tennis League which runs from April 27th to July 5th. The first 700 registrations are accepted. The session ends in a playoff tournament from July 11- July 23. Visit http://www.nj.gov/counties/mercer/news/releases/approved/0902262.html to see how you can get involved. Also fall sessions are available. Sign up early!

Also, a good way to practice the basic skills you have been improving on is to join the tennis camp that Mercer County Community College offers. This is for younger people, ages 8 to 15 and it has 5 sessions of one week camps. To find more information about this camp visit http://www.mccc.edu/community_youth_sports.shtml#12.

Additionally, The adidas Tennis camp offers lessons for ages 9 to 18 in mid-July. It is offered at the Hun School in Princeton. This camp is a little pricey. However, it is supposed to be one of the most premiere tennis camps available. A 50 dollar discount is available if you register before April 17th. Visit http://www.tenniscamper.com/hun.html to find out how you can register and more information on the camp itself.

A bunch of different camps are offered at the Princeton Tennis Indoor Center. However, the summer camps offered are only available for 17 year olds and younger. If interested you can find more information at http://www.ptp.org/camps.htm#training

There are programs this center does offer for older people, but they are not necessarily summer camps. Financial assistance is even offered for some of their programs because, as their website says, they are dedicated to making tennis affordable to all. Check out a complete list of programs and lessons at http://www.ptp.org/

Also, you can always take advantage of the weather, and play with anyone. Just getting out there and hitting will improve your game. You could always find a court with a wall and hit against that if no one is available.

Happy Hitting!

Tennis spotlight: Andre Agassi.

Andre Agassi

Hey everyone!

Andre Agassi is more than just a former professional tennis player. He currently is involved in the Andre Agassi Foundations. This foundation is "dedicated to transforming public education." Its current focus is in Nevada. Agassi Prep was developed to "offer academic programs that enhance a child's character, respect, motivation, and self-discipline" It is a prep school aimed to aid kids in learning that normally wouldn't have the resources to get a respected education

More information on this program can be found at

http://www.agassifoundation.org/vision.htm

Check out the photo gallery.

Other projects the foundation is involved in are

- The Andre Agassi Boys and Girls Club

-Child Haven

-Cynthia Bunker and Joy McClenahan Memorial Scholarships

-Greater Las Vegas after school all stars

-Las Vegas Sun camp fund

-Operation School Bell

-Teach for America

-YMCA of southern Nevada

A detailed list of what these programs are can be found in the Other Projects section at

http://www.agassifoundation.org/

Additionally The Agassi foundation accepts volunteers. You can either be an office volunteer , which assist with mailings, bag stuffing, and other office projects, or an event volunteer, which are used for registration, live auctions, cashiering, and cash running at the Annual Events event.

For more information on this program visit http://www.agassifoundation.org/volunteering.htm

Donations are always welcome to support this organizations' cause. Visit the website to check it out!

Improving the basics... the backhand

A college tennis player in backhand stance

Hey everyone!

Along with a good forehand there should be a strong backhand. The key to a good backhand, according to Coach Torres, is a shift in the grip of the racquet. This is to be done with a one-handed backhand. you should shift so your grip so your knuckle faces upward. This will allow for a backhand that is close to the net. The steps for a good backhand are also similar to a good forehand.

1. Get your racquet back early. This is to set up your shot and allow for a nice fluid motion when conducting your stroke.

2.Turn and pivot your shoulders so they are facing the net. This will keep your shot consistent and in.

3. Hit the ball with a racquet that is parallel to the ground. (This is where you will use the shift in grip)

4. Follow through with your stroke.

Another very important thing to remember when doing the backhand and any shot in tennis is to have good footwork. It is important to position yourself before the ball gets to you for a good shot.

Some additionally tips on the basic backhand can be found at http://www.tennismindgame.com/tennis-backhand.html

Improving the Basics, the Forehand

Hi Everyone!

Besides serving, it is important to know how to improve and create a solid forehand.

As a tennis player, there are a few key steps you need to remember when hitting a forehand.

1. Get your racquet back early. This will help you set up your shot
2. At the same time you are getting your racquet back you should be pivoting and turning your shoulders. This will help keep your shot consistent.

3. Hit the ball with your racquet parallel to the ground for a basic forehand. The ball should make contact in the middle of the racquet.
4. Follow your stroke through. This will allow the ball to get over the net.

Here is a video that shows how important it is to turn your shoulder to the net.

Here is another video. This one explains the importance of a followthrough and how to effectively do one.

Lastly, An article from tennis.com explains the steps that I did to carrying out an effective and basic forehand in an article by Tony Lance. You should check it out it will help improve your forehand.

http://tennis.com/yourgame/instructionarticles/forehand/forehand.aspx?id=6860

For a more advanced forehand check out some of youtube's videos on tips to topspin, slices, and much more, or visit tennis.com to see the many tips they offer in an advanced forehand.

You got served... How to ace a shot

Webster Thomas Titan Tennis player


Hey Everyone!

Serving is one of the key essentials that will improve your tennis game. Here are some helpful hints when serving.

Start with the toss. It should be to the front left of you if you are right handed.

Hold your racquet behind your back in ready position to serve. Then hold the tennis ball out with your left hand. Throw it straight up into the air. You should throw it up a medium height. It should be higher than the extension of your arm and the racquet, but not so high that you are stuck waiting for the ball.
Lincoln Ward, a USPTA tennis pro, explains in this video how to throw a excellent toss and how you should hold the ball when throwing your toss.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKq4vLEi4xs

Once you have your toss down you want to position the racquet to hit the ball. You want to always hit the ball upward. If you hit it down it will go into the net or straight into the court.

To hit the ball upward you first want to bring the racquet back before striking. It is like throwing a ball, you have to use the racquet's momentum to get the ball over the net the same way you use your hand's momentum to gain distance on your throw. Make sure to hit the ball in the "sweet spot" of the racquet, the center most spot. This is used in conjunction with a fluid movement from your serving arm.

After you have the racquet positioned and the toss down the rest is simple, let your follow-through do the work. Make sure once you have hit the ball in the upward motion you follow your stroke for your serve all the way down to your bottom left, the racquet should almost touch your left calf. This will bring the ball over fast and close to the net. This is what you want in a good serve.


Also, you could do a kick serve. This is a safe first serve or second serve. This serve brings the ball high over the net and the spin brings it down to the other side of the court.
Here is a video from tennis.com that will help you achieve a basic kick serve
http://tennis.com/media/video/instruction.aspx


At this link you can also get a visual of the basic serving tips I discussed above.

For a more complete tutorial to a excellent serve watch this video.
http://www.videojug.com/film/how-to-serve-the-basics

Add what you learn in this video with they tips above and your serve will improve.

Coach Ed Torres

It takes more than a racquet and yellow-green balls to play tennis. Gold Medalist and head coach for Rider tennis team, Ed Torres, answers the tough questions of what a good athlete and tennis player need and how to get involved.

How can a student at Rider get involved in Tennis?

There are two ways a student can get involved in tennis. They can contact me and set up a meeting. I can answer any questions that they might have. The best way to contact me is to e-mail me at etorres@rider.edu. The second way a student can get involved is they can join the tennis clinic on Tuesday and Thursday from 12 in the afternoon to 1.

What made you get into tennis?

I got involved in tennis because my father was a member of a tennis club. It was called bathing and tennis and it was down the shore. I was born into tennis.

Why did you start coaching for Rider?

I graduated from Rider, back when it was a business college in Trenton, and played number one singles for them for four years. I was a spanish teacher and vice principal down the shore, in Neptune, and I used to teach lessons during the summer at clubs and at the school. In 1993 Rider started a Athletic Hall of Fame. I made contacts in being in the hall of fame. When I was getting ready to retire from teaching I got a call and was asked if I wanted to coach for Rider. They called me.

What does it take to be a good tennis player?

It takes four things to be a good tennis player.

First it takes good instruction. The earlier you get instruction the better. It is best to start at the ages of 9 or 10.

Second, athletic ability helps a tennis player.

Third, you have to be dedicated.

Fourth, you have to be willing to go out for a team and to practice.

How do you gain these skills?

You can improve your athletic ability by joining a fitness club. Also instruction will help you gain these skills. Get into an organized program.

Why do you think tennis is enjoyable?

For me tennis is enjoyable because it is exercise and it is very sociable. You can meet a lot of people. Also it keeps you in good shape. You can even talk to people while you play. In fact, 95 percent of people that play, play recreationally. It is a sport you can play your whole life.

Where would you tell a beginner to go if they wanted to get more involved?

If you are in college you can get more involved by joining intramural tennis. You could also go to tennis clubs. In Mercer County Nassau Tennis Club in Princeton is the best one.

What tennis courts do you think are the best outdoor courts in the Mercer County area?

The best outdoor courts in Mercer County are in Mercer County Park. This is because they have 26 outdoor courts with lights. They also have 6 brand new indoor courts. The high school state championships are played here. Even the Northeast championships are played here. The courts are well-known because of this which also make them good courts.

Why did you decide to teach lessons on Tuesday and Thursday?

Last year they did this clinic with a pro from one of the tennis clubs. However, since the court is only reserved for such a small amount of time, the pro couldn't come this year. I volunteered to keep the clinic running. I do it because it is fun and is a pleasure for me.

Can anyone come to these lessons?

The lessons are open to students and staff and anyone that has a membership here. They are free.

Lastly what has been one tennis experience that sticks out in your years of coaching at Rider?

As a coach for Rider I would have to say a moment

I will never forget has to do with a women's match against Fairfield.

Fairfield is a very good tennis team because the area is wealthy.

The women have never beaten them,

and we were down to our last match with them.

The score was 3 all and the winning point depended on Carolina Duval.

She was out there at 7:00 at night.

Everyone was watching and she won her 3rd set.

We beat them for the first time.

It was a very exciting moment.

Improving the basics.

Hi everyone!

Returning to the basics and improving your ground strokes is the best way to improve your game. Using a wall is the way to do this. There are four simple skills you should keep in mind when improving your tennis game with a wall.

1. Follow through. You want to make sure the ball reaches the wall at the point just above where a net would be. Your follow through is what lifts the ball over the net. Remember to go from low to high when swinging. 

2. Don't angle your racquet. The racquet should be parallel to the ground. This is what will keep the ball from flying excessively high in the air or going into the net.

3. Keep your eye on the ball. If your eye is on the ball it will be easier to control where the ball goes on the other side of the net. Also, it will allow you to hit the ball in the central part of the racquet or the "sweet spot" to maximize the force and spin you can put on the ball.

4. Don't get to close to the ball. If you are too close it is harder to follow through on your stroke and the ball is harder to control. If you are too close it can make for a awkward shot. The same is true for if you are too far away from the ball. The stroke won't be able to be set up and you won't be able to place the ball where you want it to go.

Additionally, when you are hitting against a wall your hits should be light, since you are so close to the wall. If you remember all these helpful hints and practice every day for about an hour your game can be improved significantly. A good short game is key to a good long game.