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One of the most common questions I get asked as a tennis pro is which racket my student's should purchase. In this buying guide, I will advise you on the most important factors to consider to ensure you get a quality racket that fits your size and playing style, and without overpaying. When choosing a first racket, avoid both the cheapest and most expensive of rackets. Also look for a modestly sized racket of 97 - 108 square inches. Feel free to check out the links on my blogpost of the same name, which I'll be keeping up to date, for a few recommendations of rackets that are priced fairly.
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Here is a 2020 update to the debate on heavy vs light tennis rackets. Above is my full take, but here are a few conclusions: 1) Light rackets can handle soft to medium paced rallies. The ball gains momentum with added speed. Thus, the ball "feels" heavier because it is, practically speaking, actually heavier! 2) Relatively speaking, heavier rackets confer more of their own force to the ball. More mass is basically required at higher levels of play. 3) It doesn't necessarily take an equivalent level of strength to swing a 11.5oz racket compared to a 10oz racket. The secret is learning a more efficient way to swing. 4) As a general rule, players should challenge themselves to play a little heavier. 5) Counterintuitively, reducing racket weight can aggravate chronic injuries by relying too much on the body to provide stability and force. Relatively heavier rackets (*when used correctly*) can assume that burden and potentially reduce injury (not all cases, of course).
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Manglende episoder?
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We're going to be discussing 3 physics concepts that can improve your tennis. You may be asking, "Why physics?" The answer is that an understanding of the following concepts will allow you to better recognize the rhythmic patterns of tennis and in turn make the game easier, more predictable, and more intuitive.
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Have you ever played someone who always seems to be in the right place at the right time? Do you get beaten by opponents with weaker strokes than you, even when you feel like you're playing pretty well? If the answer to these questions is yes, there is probably a simple reason why: They are recovering to the right place on the court, and you are not. This is not a question of hustle or fitness, but of geometry. If you are always returning to the center of the baseline after your groundstrokes, you are making a mistake! But don't worry, there is a simple fix, and if you follow this advice, you'll soon start to resemble that mysterious psychic opponent who seems to always be in the right spot. Let's get into it. Imagine you receive a ball around the center of the baseline. What would be your two widest groundstrokes? Naturally, they would be the two corners of the court, deuce and ad. But now let's say your opponent hits you a shot that takes you a bit wider. Now your options open up a little. No you can hit down the line, as well as a short angle cross court that will pull your opponent across the sideline. If your opponent was to stand in the middle of the court, they might be ok covering the down the line, but they would be vulnerable to your short angle shot. So, to compensate, a wise opponent would prepare a step or two towards the opposite side to you receive their shot. You see, the idea of standing in the middle isn't wrong, per se, but players often misunderstand which middle is important. You don't necessarily want to stand in the center of the court, what you want to do is stand in the center of your opponent's two widest shots. The further you pull your opponent from the center, the more you need to stand opposite of where you hit in order to cover the short angle cross court. Of course, this also means that if you do hit a shot to the center of the court, the appropriate place to stand is the middle, but realize that recovery is not to a fixed place, but one that dynamically changes based on what you send to your opponent. In conclusion, stop recovering to the middle. Here's your new rule: Recover to the opposite side of where you hit. Make this one simple adjustment and you will be shocked by your ability to get to your opponent's shots. In my next post, we will build a simple strategy off this concept which will help you run less, be more aggressive, and hit a higher volume of your preferred stroke, so be sure to come back soon, or even better, sign up below to subscribe to receive this blog in your inbox the day it's released. You'll also get a free 8-point relaxation checklist to bring with you to the court so you can stay more relaxed and low-impact the next time you play. Until then, stay loose!
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You're probably wondering what I mean by this provocative title. I'll explain: In a pivotal part of the movie Forrest Gump, child Forrest is being chased by bullies. Confined to a stiff body-braces, he struggles to outrun them, until the braces unexpectedly break away. Free of their limitations, Forrest discovers he can actually run exceptionally fast, and easily escapes his tormentors. When I see tennis players who overly rely on tension, it reminds me of this scene. They often struggle to swing with the pace they'd like, but do not realize it's not for a lack of muscles, but an excess of muscle tension, that keeps them from accelerating to their fullest potential. If you struggle with acceleration, here is something you might try: STOP trying. With your racket in your hand, loosen your grip, then simply whip the racket through the air in a very casual way. Are you swinging faster than you normally would when you play? If so, you've probably been "Forrest Gumping" it. In that case, it's time to let the braces go. It begins with a loose grip, and gets established with effortless and easy shadow strokes. Once you are able to feel a looser stroke production, it's time to try hitting your strokes again, but with a deliberately loose and relaxed approach. For some of you, this advice may be all you need to transform your game. But for the vast majority, I'd encourage you to go to some of the Gravity Tennis social media pages and explore our free instruction videos. You're also welcome to go to gravitytennis.com and download our 8 point relaxation checklist if you haven't already. It's completely free. As always, feel free to reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any questions or comments.
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Regardless of your playing level, you've experienced this at least once: the shot that just felt perfect. What did it feel like? Chances are it felt different. It sounded different. It felt almost like the shot was automatic, like you could feel the shot coming even before contact. But the question today is, does it matter? Are perfect shots lucky flukes, or something you can build a game around? I used to believe the former, but as I began experimenting with a looser playing style, something unexpected happened: I found the more relaxed I played, the more often I would experience that perfect shot feeling. What I realize now is that how a shot feels is actually the most important feedback you can have. A good-feeling shot means that your stroke production is free of racket-slowing and rhythm-breaking tension. Let's say you hit two shots, one that feels great but goes out, and another that doesn't feel very good but goes in. Which one was the "better" shot? When it comes to developing technique, the good-feeling shot is the better one. How you react to your performance impacts the way you form habits. If you affirm poorly struck shots and dismiss well-struck shots because you over-prioritize "in" and "out," you are standing in the way of your own technical progress. The next time you practice, pay extra attention to the feelings of your strokes, and make sure you take time in each practice to rally for rhythm. Don't just jump into point-play. There's a reason so many pros spend hours on the court just hitting back and forth. Rhythm and relaxation is essential to attain peak performance, but it must be deliberately cultivated. One key to doing that is to prioritize how a shot feels over where a shot ends up. If it feels good, you're on the right track. If the shot is out, make some adjustments and try again, but don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. If you don't already have it, make sure to go to GravityTennis.com to download your free relaxation checklist. It contains 8 key points designed to help you hit more perfect shots. As always, reach out to me at [email protected] if you have any questions or feedback.
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In this episode we discuss chronic tennis injuries, often developed through overuse, who gets them, and if there are lasting ways to resolve these problems.
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In this episode we're breaking down the key benefits to learning how to play tennis in a relaxed way. The benefits include more and easier spin, power, timing, control, and perhaps most importantly, reduction/prevention of chronic injuries. Those interested in getting a free relaxation checklist can claim one at GravityTennis.com
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In this episode, we outline the three kinds of excessive muscle tension - chronic, forcing (red lining), and resisting (slow motion) - and I introduce my brand new course and website.
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A few years ago, the answer would have been no, but a lot has changed. In this episode, we will cover advancements in technology, feedback, and resources that the player/self-coach can utilize to make their progress ore efficient.
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An overview of the Gravity Tennis Podcast, where we talk about the directiona and goals, our original instructional method, our future guests in the tennis coaching and technological space, and what we're planning in the near future.
