Tennis Rage: Controlling Frustration

As a fellow tennis player, I've had my fair share of angry outbursts on the tennis court. It's often pent up emotion that finally let's loose on an unforced error, bad serve or misplaced shot. Regardless of why, it's important not to let emotions get the better of you, as it will severely hamper your performance. There are exceptions to this, but not everyone is John McEnroe. Keeping a positive mentality is key to playing well throughout a match. Before getting into ways to deal with frustration, let's see how even professionals are prone to angry outbursts, some more extreme than others.

Racquet smashes are one of the most common ways for players to exert their anger. Sadly, I'm guilty of this. The instance of smashing the racquet feels relieving for a few moments, but soon you will be overwhelmed with regret. Tennis racquets can get expensive, so that's an investment down the drain if you are so inclined to smash it. So here's some advice... don't smash your racquets.

Now, How do you avoid getting angry? Well, for recreational players at least, remember you are playing for fun. That's why you play right? How can you have fun if you are too busy being angry? Try to remember the reasons you are playing in the first place. Whether it's for exercise or for fun, don't lose sight of that. Win or lose, there's always a next time.

Here are some ways I deal with anger that may be creeping up on me:

1. Think of something positive. This could be anything that makes you happy or smile.
2. Take deep breathes and relax your muscles. Anger makes muscles tense up and that creates tense shots. I like to take a second and breath to refocus my attention.
3. Hop up and down. I see professionals do this, so it must work somehow. I've tried it and it does seem to calm me down when I'm tense. Hey, whatever works.
4. Remember, points are done and over with in a matter of seconds. Don't give them undeserved attention. There will be more... many more. 
5. If all else fails, I normally wear a hat if I desperately need something to throw that won't break my bank account.

Next time anger seems to be approaching. Remember any of these steps. No one likes playing with a hot head. Stay cool and enjoy the tennis. It's a mental sport as much as it is a physical one.

Holiday Racquet Buying Guide

The holiday season is now! Anyone looking to buy a new tennis racquet may be in luck for some great deals. This short guide will help you get the best value at a lower cost than full retail price.

The first thing to look out for when buying a new racquet is the model and year of the racquet. New lines of racquets are introduced every few years, so in the time before launch of that new model, older models get price cuts. The racquets are more or less the same, which means you can save money just by buying an older model. Be aware that some models may change more drastically than others though. 

You can also find great deals online for Cyber Monday. Check out Tennis Warehouse for their current deals. Wilson Burn racquets are $40 off the normal $200 price tag. You can also spend less on racquets if you intend on purchasing two of the same model. Tennis Warehouse offers a $10 discount for each racquet if you purchase two or more.

Your local tennis store may also have great deals on racquets and you can save money on shipping costs by purchasing in-store. For Black Friday, I purchased a Head Graphene XT Extreme MP A from my local tennis store. I had a warranty certificate of $100 and the racquet was discounted $20. I got away with purchasing a normally $150 racquet for only $30. My store continues their sales through to Mid-December, so you may still have time to take advantage of tennis deals.

Here is a great article on the Tennis Files website that goes over thirteen ways to save, not only on racquets, but other tennis necessities as well, like tennis balls and indoor tennis.

Happy Holidays! 

  

Congratulations Novak Djokovic!

With the ATP World Tour Finals now over, I must reflect on Novak Djokovic's greatest seasons in his career. A straight sets defeat over Roger Federer in the ATP Final serves as an example of just how dominant Djokovic has been during the 2015 season.

First, let's take a look at his performance in ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournaments. Of the nine tournaments, Djokovic took home six final trophies. He withdrew from the Madrid Open and suffered defeats in the finals of Montreal and Cincinnati, losing to Andy Murray and Roger Federer respectively. Regardless of the two losses, six final trophies is an almost insurmountable task for a tennis player, but Djokovic is of another class. The amount of consistency needed for a feat like that is demonstrative of his devotion to a strict training regime.


Masters 1000 tournaments are not enough to mark a tennis player as truly great. It seems the best players in history are measured by the amount of grand slams they've been able to attain. Djokovic's did not disappoint in the 2015 season, taking home three of the four grand slam trophies. His only loss came in the finals of the French Open to Stan Wawrinka. A devastating loss I'm sure, but to the rest of the ATP, merely a blemish to an otherwise perfect season. Defeating Andy Murray in the Australian Open and then Roger Federer in Wimbledon and the US Open, Djokovic is a force to be reckoned with. The US Open win marked his tenth grand slam win. He is slowly, but surely edging towards Federer's coveted count of 17 grand slam titles.

There's no contesting that Djokovic is the greatest player currently on tour. He is in the prime of his career and I'm excited to see how the 2016 season plays out. For now, Djokovic can enjoy the post-season and stay away from tennis. It's well deserved. Congratulations Novak Djokovic!

Check out highlights from the ATP World Tour Finals below.

Winter. The Enemy of Tennis!

Poor Tennis Net

Now Winter is a fine enough season. The snow falls, it's beautiful and gotta love Christmas, but the clear thought looming in my head is, "How am I going to play tennis!?". Each Winter I dread the thought of not being able to play on a nice outdoor court, sun shining with the temperature at a perfect 70 degrees. Alas, seasons change and us tennis players must adapt.

Not everyone can afford an expensive tennis club membership (*hint* *hint* me), so it's good to find ways to practice during the Winter. The last thing you want is to go a few months without practicing and now you're shanking tennis balls left and right. 

Here's one way I keep up with tennis to get around the cold Winter months.

Try a Racquetball Room

A racquetball room is a great place to work speed and reaction. You can never defeat a wall, but only constantly improve how you lose to it. Sounds self-defeating, but there is much to be learned through this. You can practice strokes and work on reaction time. I like to bring some non-marking tape and place some at the same height of a tennis net. This helps me know whether my strokes are staying in.

You can also practice volleying with the wall, keeping the ball up without hitting the ground for as long as possible. 

Now depending on where you live or go to school, you may be in close proximity to a racquetball room. Certain fitness facilities, that aren't tennis clubs, host multiple racquetball rooms. A popular gym with racquetball rooms is LA Fitness. A membership there is much more affordable than a tennis facility. If you're willing to stick it out for the Winter, it may be worth the cost.

Check out a short session I recorded in my school's racquetball room.

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Let's Talk Shoes

This may be overlooked by some novice players, but any avid tennis player knows the benefit that a quality pair of tennis shoes provides. Tennis shoes are specifically made to handle the constant and abrupt changes in direction during tennis play.

Now what exactly makes a tennis shoe... a tennis shoe? Here are some characteristics of your basic tennis show:

• A sturdy rubber outsole provides the shoe with needed durability. Tennis involves constant lateral movement. Because of this, a thick rubber outsole keeps the shoe from falling apart. It also provides needed traction on tennis court surfaces.
• The upper of the shoe is made with soft cushioning, typically mesh, to provide breathability and comfort.
• Thick rubber at the toes is helpful in protecting from the harsh effects of toe drag.

There is a vast selection of tennis shoes that may be daunting, so I'll offer some of my preferences for tennis shoes based on comfort, durability and breathability. These are shoes I've personally worn.

Asics Gel Resolution 5 Red/Black/Yellow

 

These are my current shoes of choice. I find these shoes to be the most comfortable of the bunch. The upper cushioning is fantastic and the shoe is quite breathable. So far they've held up quite well on the courts. I don't have considerable wear after 2 months of play. I picked these up for $90 at my local tennis store.

Adidas Barricade 2015 Black/Red

 

The barricades have been around for years now and have many different incarnations. The 2015's added a needed addition of mesh lining in the upper for extra comfort. The shoes are called barricades for a reason. They are one of the most durable tennis shoes you can find. Of course, great durability often means the shoe can be bulky. If you are comfortable wearing shoes on the heavier side then these are the shoes for you. You can get various colors on sale for around $100 online. 

Head Sprint Pro White/Black

I enjoyed these shoes for their lightweight build and speedy feel on the courts. Features like this may come at the expense of durability, which was no exception to these shoes. After about 5 months of play I wore through the outsole. On hot days I could really feel the ventilation lacking, so be warned. If you are more of a casual player, then these shoes may be what you are looking for. I picked up a pair of these in black and yellow for $60, so they are the most affordable of the three.

Stringing My First Racquet

I received my Klippermate tennis racquet stringer in the mail and went right to work. It came with 5 sets of string, so that was a great bonus. For my first string job I chose to use Klippermate's synthetic gut. It's easier to handle and cheaper than polyester strings. I expected a few mishaps, so the synthetic string was the perfect string to start with.

To the right you'll see all the racquets I have to string. Seeing as I never strung a racquet previously, I had my work cut out for me, but I was ready to learn.

The stringer came with a handy set of instructions for first time stringers. I didn't have to tackle this beast alone. There are a few things to look out for before stringing a racquet. Here are some things I learned:

• There are two methods (one-piece and two-piece stringing). I read that two-piece is the universal method, so I immediately chose that method
• The number of holes in the throat of the racquet determines where you insert the strings first (top or bottom)
• Be ready to spend at least an 1-2 hours stringing for the first time...

Here's how the stringer looks and the progress I made on the main strings of the racquet. This may look simple, but believe me I messed up a few times and this is the result of an hours work. It was a tad bit more difficult than I had anticipated.

The large metallic cylinder you see there is the weight you use to set the tension of your racquet. You have to clamp the string and then lower that weight so it lays horizontally. I had a few scares where I thought I dropped it too far and my racquet broke. Luckily I finished the thing in one piece.

Along the way I learned a few things to look out for while stringing the racquet. Make sure to increase the tension on the last main and cross strings. They lose tension quickly when you have to tie off the knots that keep the string on. Also, pay attention to the weaving of your cross strings. Up and over!

From afar the racquet looks like a success, but, of course being my first time, I was bound to screw up. If you take a look at the picture on the right you can see I didn't weave the cross string through all the main strings. Looking at it just annoys me. I have since played with the racquet and it seemed fine, but I won't make that same mistake.

Overall, I would say this stringer was well worth the total $200 price tag (includes shipping). I had fun stringing and didn't have to wait a week to get my racquet from someone else. Granted I am in no way good yet, I'm already onto my other racquets. I'd recommend this to anyone seeking a convenient and cost effective approach to stringing your racquets. 

Buy the Klippermate here.

Should you string your own racquets?

Now this is something I've been pondering for a while now. As I began to m\play tennis more often i found myself breaking more strings than I care to admit. Some from natural use, others from a tad bit of rage, but nonetheless stringing can get costly.

I prefer to buy multifilament strings for the feel, but they aren't the most durable string. A set of multis can be anywhere from $15-$30. That coupled with the cost of labor for stringing begins to be a bit much for someone who owns 3 racquets.

So I asked myself, "How hard would it be to string my own racquets?" The thought really hadn't crossed my mind until recently, but I scoured the internet for stringing machines at an affordable price range. Man are the expensive! Alas, I found some entry level stringing machines around my price range. Check them out below:

• Klippermate Stringing Machine ($159.00, Shipping not included)

• Gamma X-2 ($180.99)

• Gamma Progression 200 ($194.00)

After searching, reading reviews and watching many demonstrations I ended up purchasing the Klippermate stringing machine. Now the candidates are nearly identical, so I've heard, but this machine came with free strings and that's what drew me in. These machines are all drop weight stringing machines, meaning you pull the lever to tension the strings. This is standard for cheaper machines.

If you play tennis occasionally, then it is most likely perfectly alright to skip buying a stringer and just have someone else do it. For the rest of you who play frequently and break strings like me, this may be a wise investment that will pay for itself quickly. 

Now I've never actually strung my own racquet, so this should be an interesting experience to say the least. Reading stories from first time stringers, it could take me anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 1/2 hours to string my first racquet. We'll see how it goes. My stringer should arrive in the next week, so I'll be updating you with my experience in the near future.  

Choosing the Right Tennis String

Your choice of string can greatly impact your performance on the tennis court. This is why it's important to know what options are available. There are strings that cater to the needs of all types of tennis players. It's only a matter of testing out what works best for you.

To begin there are four main string types. These are synthetic gut, multifilament, polyester and natural gut.

Synthetic

Synthetic gut strings are the most basic string on the market. They are low cost and will be the most common string when purchasing pre-strung racquets. Synthetics are considered an all-around type of string. They offer a solid hold of tension, crisp feel and a decent amount of spin. This is achieved with a solid core that is surrounded by smaller synthetic filaments. I would recommend these strings as the go to string for beginner through intermediate player. They aren't the greatest in terms of durability, tension holding, spin and feel, but they give a decent performance in all areas.

Multifilament

Multifilament strings are as the name states. Many single filaments are taken and intertwined to form the multifilament string. These are also nylon-based, but offer improved comfort and can add power to the racquet. Multifilaments are great for players who suffer from tennis elbow or who wish to have a similar feel to natural gut without the high cost. Some things to look out for though are that these strings lose tension rather quickly and tend to break much faster than synthetic guts. A good indicator of when the string is close to breaking is when you see the strings begin to fray from hitting.

Multifilament fraying

Polyester

Polyester strings are monofilaments, that is they are a string composed of one solid core. Typical monofilament strings are made with polyester, but less popular strings are also made of kevlar. Polyester strings offer greater durability than the previous strings, but lack power and can be uncomfortable. These strings are geared more toward players who can generate their own power and utilize the spin potential of polyester. Many pros on tour utilize a full or hybrid set-up of strings using polyester.

Natural Gut

Natural gut strings are made of single strands of cow intestine, hence the name "natural". These strings are the most expensive you can buy and for a good reason. They offer the greatest feel in strings and give a very lively hitting experience. Natural gut is also known for holding tension quite well. Be weary though, these strings aren't the most durable strings out there. Pros can afford to break them on a daily basis, you may not be able to. I certainly couldn't.

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There are numerous tennis brands that sell their own strings, so test out different strings and see what works best for you. Check out Tennis Warehouse or Tennis Express for a selection of hundreds of different strings. I personally use Technifibre NRG2 multifilament strings.

Vamas Rafa, Can he win again?

When considering some of the greatest players of the open era, one would be foolish not to consider Rafael Nadal somewhere on their list. Winner of 14 grand slams and numerous titles beyond that, he has made his mark on modern tennis. At only 29 years old, some say that he has been experiencing a premature exit from tennis stardom. Early exits from Wimbledon and the US Open, second and third rounds respectively, seem to be the focal points of his struggles this 2015 season.

With the conclusion of the US Open, it marked the first time in 10 years that he hasn't won a grand slam. Now this may be alarming to some, but 10 years of consistent winning will most definitely take its toll on a player. Now that doesn't mean he hasn't had some success this season. He has 3 titles between Argentina and Germany. Granted these titles were 250 and 500 level tournaments, they still show a potential that Nadal can live up to coming into the ATP World Tour Finals. We'll have to wait and see.

Tennis Tournament Journeys: The Citi Open, Washington D.C.

This past Summer, 2015, I went with a few friends to my first professional level tennis tournament. The Citi Open in Washington D.C. was held from August 3rd - 9th. This is a 500 level tournament, meaning that the winner generates 500 ranking points going toward their world ranking.

For this tournament we decided to buy tickets for the the finals. You can purchase tickets on a day by day basis or for a week long package. Our tickets allowed access to the facility grounds and the doubles, men's and women's finals. Well worth the price, we got our fix of tennis that day. 

For the doubles final, Bob and Mike Bryan faced off against Ivan Dodig and Marcelo Melo. It truly is a different experience to witness the level of play from professionals in real life. A television could never compare to watching a tournament in person. I took the photo below of some match play. Notice the cameraman filming, this was being filmed live for television. 

Bob and Mike Bryan

Bob and Mike Bryan turned out to be the victors that day. It was fast-paced. I found myself looking back and forth so often that watching the match felt like a workout. It was worth the strain.

Next on the schedule was the men's singles final. I was ecstatic when my favorite player on tour, Kei Nishikori, made it through to the finals. I was also excited to see John Isner through. Being one of the tallest players on tour combined with having a godly serve, this was something I surely would be in awe of and I wasn't disappointed.  

Nishikori (left) and Isner (right)

Nishikori mid-serve

Trophy Ceremony

The match was definitely exciting. John Isner pulled the first set, but Nishikori came back to win the next two sets for the match. It was a beautiful day for tennis and I couldn't have asked for a better match-up. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to stay for the women's final because it was a long drive back home, but I'm planning to stay the entire day next time. In the future I will be going to more tournaments. I have my eyes set on Toronto, the Summer of 2016.

Oh look, it's me!

I recommend that anyone who is a fan of tennis make the trip out to see a tournament. The lower ranking tournaments are very affordable and if you have the extra money, a grand slam is most likely well worth it. Until next time!

The Overhead Smash

This may come as a surprise to some, but the overhead smash technique is arguably the most difficult technique to master on the tennis court. Even top professional tennis players struggle with the smash. Novak Djokovic is currently ranked number 1 in the world, but even then has shown that smashing is not as easy as it looks:

Even the mighty fall sometimes, but that doesn't mean you should fear the overhead smash. With a bit a practice and preparation this technique can be a mainstay in your arsenal of shots.

How to: Overhead Smash

Step 1: Ready Position

The ready position will make or break your overhead smash. Begin by pivoting your body with your back parallel to the left or right baseline. Your toes should be pointed in the direction of the ball once you have pivoted.

As you are pivoting your body you will naturally ready up the arm to receive the descending ball that has been lobbed. It will feel very similar to your service motion, but note you sometimes may not be at the baseline. Ready your smash based on your position on court.

Step 2: SMASH

Once you have gotten into the ready position you are halfway towards a successful overhead smash. Your arm will be cocked and not it is time to strike the ball.

As the ball descends toward you keep your eye on it until after you have made contact with the ball. Most botched smashes will be because the player looked away from the ball too soon. Once you have made contact make sure to follow through in a forward, then downward motion. If you've made it through to this stage, you have most likely hit a winner straight passed your opponent. One can hope.

Now let's give Mr. Djokovic a shot a redemption for having done so poorly at smashing.

As we see in the video, even in a tight spot Djokovic follows these steps to perform a phenomenal overhead smash. Being closer to the net, notice how he follows through and then downward very quickly to keep the ball in. I would say you've redeemed yourself Djokovic.

The Djoker: Novak Djokovic

The 2015 US Open champion Novak Djokovic reigns supreme this year. Winning 3 of the 4 grand slam titles, there's little in the way of stopping him. Despite a stunning loss to Stan Wawrinka at Roland Garros, Novak stayed positive to carry out a win in the US. This marks his 10th grand slam title. At 28 years old, there's no doubt that he will be a force to be reckoned with for years to come.

This begs the question. Will Novak one day be able to surpass the great Roger Federer in grand slam titles? Federer, currently at 17 slams, is still fighting for another, but Djokovic is steadily making his rounds to the top.

Novak's game and health habits contribute to his longevity in tennis. Taking stretching to new degrees for tennis players, he is one of the most flexible you will see on the tour.

This coupled with his gluten free diet has transformed him into a tennis machine. Follow the link to read up on the strict diet that he has said is responsible for his improvement over the years. From a menacing double backhand to immense recovery speed, Novak is geared with the the skills and ability to make a real shot at matching or even surpassing Federer's all time slam titles.

Check out some of the highlights from the 2015 US open and see how some of the greatest champions in the game fare off against one another.

Roger Federer: The Sabre

Now that the US Open has made its conclusion let's take a look at the living legend and fan favorite, Roger Federer. With 5 US Open titles under his belt, Roger is no stranger to the high degree of competition and athleticism it takes to make it to the top. 

Age seems to be no deterrent to the game of Federer, as he has two title wins over current world number 1, Novak Djokovic, in Cincinnati and Dubai. Unfortunately for Fed fans Djokovic has triumphed once again for a title win. Fans should't worry though, as Federer is constantly reviving his game and it seems he is here to stay for the near future.

Something some may have noticed is that en route to the final Federer employed a surprisingly cheeky tactic on player's second serves with varying degree. A seemingly normal preparation for return of serve at the baseline quickly transitions when the opponent begins their ball toss. Federer rushes toward the service box and split steps for a fast paced return of serve. The intention is to place pressure on the server and take control of the point. Now let's take a look at Federer using this tactic.

Federer boldly tackles Kevin Anderson's big second serve, often over 100mph. The video shows the mixed success in tournaments before the US Open, but as Fed tinkers with it, he will surely make this a deadly weapon in his arsenal. Although he suffered a defeat at the US Open, he is still a force to be reckoned with, constantly working new elements in his game.