Feed: Basic Tennis Tips - AggScore: 28.1

 The tennis story has been a familiar one for the past few years, with Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal taking up most of the space on the back pages. Their brilliance has been undeniable and has provided men's tennis with the excitement and consistency that the women's game currently lacks. However, this season has seen Novak Djorkovic play some quite incredible tennis to go unbeaten for twenty-seven matches in a row, the best start of a campaign since Ivan Lendl's run in 1986.


 Last night the Serb continued his impressive start to 2011 by beating Nadal in three sets in the Sony Ericsson Open final. The quality of tennis by both players was outstanding, as both showed their wide array of arsenal. The Serb initially seemed unable to cope with the combination of Rafa's shot selection and windy conditions as the world number one came raced to a 5-1 lead. Despite the unusual amounts of unforced errors committed in the first half hour, the Serb adapted his game dramatically to scrap back to four games.
However, the second set was where Djokovic came alive taking it 6-3 against his typically resilient opponent. The third was a real tussle as both players showed impressive amounts of determination. The match was eventually decided by a tie-breaker, which the Novak managed to take 7-4. The Miami trophy adds to the Hopham Cup, Indian Wells, Dubai Tennis Championships and the Australian Open that he has managed to pick up this year. So who can beat him?

  Roger Federer? The best player to ever play the sport seems unable to compete with the dominant two of world's tennis at the moment. Perhaps the extra parental stress has taken its toll on the Swiss. Although, reigning French Open champion, the absence of Nadal at Rolland Garros last year somewhat taints that accomplishment. No doubt, Federer will be considered as a top contender, but it seems likely that he will be able to produce the goods against both Nadal and Djokovic on clay.
A player who should be in contention to make an impact in Paris is Andy Murray. However, the Scot has played poorly following the defeat in Australian Open final. Since the loss, Murray has seemingly dropped out of the frame with only an April fool's joke to be heard of. The pressure to win a Grand Slam must surely be frustrating for the Scot, who is more than capable enough to win one. His offensive work definitely needs improving, but his defensive play is top class. Maybe his new coach should be one of an aggressive mentality? John McEnroe anyone?


Let's be honest, it's impossible to remain undefeated the entire season. Someone's has to stop the run and it seems the best chance lies with Nadal at the moment. With the clay season beginning shortly, if the Serb manages to succeed in trumping Nadal on the Spaniard's preferred court, than the tennis world will truly have witnessed something remarkable. For Djokovic to win the French Open is still questionable, but there is no doubt as to who is the man to beat. He's hitting the ball so sweetly with his Head Youtek Speed racket right now.

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By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Suresh_Iyer]Suresh Iyer

 Roger Federer is no longer the 2nd ranked player in the world, as per the rankings decided by the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP). He has been displaced by Novak Djokovic, the man who beat him at the Australian Open.
The Serbian beat the Swissman in the semi-finals at Indian Wells to move one step closer to the world's top ranked player, Nadal, whom Djokovic later beat in the final.

In the match against Federer, Djokovic took the first set 6-3, only to see Federer claw back to level the contest at one set all, by claiming the second set at 6-3. But in the end, the Serbian ace proved too good for Federer as he won the third set 6-2 to close out the match, by two sets to one. With the win, Djokovic's winning streak in 2011 reached 17 games, later extended to 18 after beating Nadal in the final.



With this win, Djokovic has had 4 wins against Federer since the US Open semi-final last year. Before the Indian wells tournament, the Serbian got the better of the former world number one at Dubai, in February. In the semi-final on Saturday, March 19, Djokovic played a brilliant baseline game and kept Federer on the run and forced errors out of the Swissman. He broke the Swissman at 2-2 in the first set and rallied from a 15-40 deficit in the next game to hang on to his advantage. The set lasted 44 minutes before a winner at the net ended Federer's misery.

But Federer is nothing if not a champion and he showed ample evidence of that as he fought back to the second set on the back of two breaks of service. The third set was a see-sawing battle for supremacy as Djokovic broke Federer's serve early, but the Swissman was back on level terms at 2-2 only to fall back into arrears at 3-2.

From there, there was no looking back for the Serbian who enjoyed a purple patch winning 11 points in a row; after converting the third of 3 break points earned in the process, Djokovic was sitting pretty with a double break. But there was some fight left in Federer who soon had a break point. But Djokovic held his nerve to stave off the threat, to reserve a place in the final, against Nadal.

This was Djokovic's third win on the trot against Federer, bringing their career head-to-head statistics to 13-9 in the Swissman's favour.

For the latest sports gossip, including the [http://sportingattitude.com/category/cricket/icc-world-cup-2011/]ICC World Cup, click [http://www.sportingattitude.com]http://www.sportingattitude.com.

Suresh Iyer is an avid sports fan and blogger.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Novak-Djokovic-Displaces-Federer-As-World-Number-Two&id=6102067] Novak Djokovic Displaces Federer As World Number Two

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Brandon_Gabel]Brandon Gabel

 What is a backhand? It is any shot hit from your non-dominant side. There are two main ways to hit a backhand: one-handed or two-handed. Most players decide which way they are going to hit their backhand early in their training. Both ways have various strengths and weaknesses. In general, people are "naturally" either one-handed or two-handed players, and I'll discuss why this is the case below...

 People are either "naturally" one or two-handed players. When I watch a student hit a backhand for the first time I start them with a two-hander and see how they react to it. If it is comfortable for them I keep them with it, but if they have difficulty a switch to the one-hander is in order. How do I know when to make the switch? The single thing I'm looking for is how much they extend their follow through. If they like to push their dominant hand through the court more they are almost always a "natural" one-hander. On the other hand, two-handers tend to have a more compact follow through that wraps around the body. It is important to pick the style that best compliments your natural hitting tendencies; hitting the wrong type of backhand can cause years of pain and frustration. Trust me, I know! Let's now discuss each type...

The One-Hander...

 The one-hander was the "traditional" way of hitting a backhand. Watch footage of most professional players from the middle of the 20th century, and you'll notice that most of them are hitting a one-hander. The one-hander is a beautiful stroke when done correctly; simply watch the fluidity of Roger Federer... And Federer is not the only example! Pete Sampras, Boris Becker, Tim Henman, Justine Henin, James Blake, Martina Navratilova are only a few world class players that endorse the one-hander. One-handed players tend to enjoy attacking the net and moving forward into the court.

The importance of the one-hander is that it affords several advantages that the two-hander doesn't. It is much easier to learn how to hit an effective slice backhand. It is generally easier to hit balls below your knees, and balls that stretch you wide since your effective reach is greater. It is also often times easier to learn the backhand volley as well, since this stroke is also one-handed. Interestingly, many of the best volleyers in the history of the game (Stefan Edberg, Patrick Rafter, John McEnroe, Martina Navratilova) all had one-handed backhands. However, on the other hand, it can be difficult to hit heavy topspin with a one-hander, especially when the ball gets high above your shoulders. For young junior players it can be frustrating to learn the one-hander because early on it puts you at a distinct strength disadvantage (this is part of the reason why many juniors nowadays learn two-handers).

If you've decided that a one-hander feels like the way to go the next question is how do you hit it? Let's start by discussing the appropriate grip. A continental grip is the way to go. The continental allows you to hit both topspin and slice without having to change the position of your hand on the grip. A more extreme continental will allow you to "brush" up the back of the ball to hit more topspin; a less extreme continental will help you flatten the ball out. You can also hit very effective slice using a continental. In essence, the continental grip is one-stop shopping for the one-handed backhand.

Once you've gotten the feel for the continental, there are a few key steps to hitting a great one-hander. The first is footwork. Like all great strokes in tennis, if the footwork isn't there then the stroke will suffer. The one-hander is no exception. Footwork on the one-hander is a little hard to get at first because it requires superb timing. The goal is to step into the ball with your front, or dominant, foot (right foot if right handed, and left foot if left handed). In other words, as the ball comes you are going to time your step with the ball strike so that they occur nearly simultaneously.

Once you feel comfortable stepping into the ball with your leading foot it is important to figure out where in relationship to your body you should strike the ball. Unlike the two-hander, which we'll talk about in a moment, the contact of a one-hander is well out in front of your leading foot. To hit an effective one-hander you need lots of room; if you catch the ball late it will cause you to tighten your shoulders and hit the ball wide.

With the superb footwork, step, and contact point out in front the final element to hitting a successful one handed backhand is the follow through. One-handed follow throughs should be long and directed towards where you are aiming. One of the biggest problems beginning one-handers face is they over rotate the dominant shoulder causing them to "whip" the follow through. An ideal one-hander finishes with the shoulder low and the follow through on a single linear path towards your target. If someone were taking a picture of you from the front immediately at the end of the stroke they should not be able to see your chest; your body should be facing the sideline. Watch Federer or old footage of Sampras and notice how they lengthen their follow throughs; very rarely do they over rotate or pull the shoulder away.

The Two-Hander...

If you're not convinced that the one-hander is the way to go then you may be a natural two-hander. The two-handed backhand has exploded in popularity in recent decades. Look at many of the top players in the world and you'll see that they are hitting two-handers. Rafael Nadal, Andre Agassi, Andy Murray, Jimmy Connors, Serena and Venus Williams, as well as Andy Roddick are only a few world class tennis players that hit the two-hander. Two-handed backhands tend to compliment players who prefer to play most of their points from the baseline.

Why the recent explosion in popularity? For starters the two-hander is a relatively easier stroke to use compared to the one-hander. It is also highly popular with junior players because they can develop significant amounts of power; and for many people, having the second hand on the grip gives them a greater sense of stability that the one-hander doesn't. Unlike the one-hander, you don't need as much room/space to hit it effectively. However, the two-hander also has a few draw backs. First, it can be much more difficult (although not impossible) to learn how to hit an effective slice backhand since the follow throughs are much different. Likewise, it can be harder to learn backhand volleys and it can be hard to hit effectively if you are stretched out wide.

Despite the disadvantages the advantages clearly trump in many circumstances which is why the two-hander is immensely popular in today's game. So how the heck do you hit the two-hander? Like the one-hander we'll start by discussing the appropriate grip. The dominant hand should be in the continental orientation. The non-dominant hand's palm should be pressed directly against the back panel of the grip during the swing (ie: the panel of the grip that is flush with the net). Having the non-dominant hand in this orientation will help you guide the follow through towards your target.

 The footwork of the two-hander is similar to that of the one-hander. In essence, the player should step forward into the court with their dominant foot. The differences with the one-hander now become more apparent. Rather than timing the step of the foot with the ball strike, instead you want to bend the knees and rotate the back hip through the ball (see image to the right). This is much more similar to hitting an effective forehand. In addition, you want to allow the follow through to rotate around the body rather than staying on a long linear path. You still want to push the palms of your hands towards your target, but you do so in a less exaggerated way compared to the one-handed stroke.

 Brandon Gabel is a former sectionally and nationally ranked tennis player with over 10 years of coaching and teaching experience. He has coached everyone from beginning "pee-wees" to collegiate level players. He has also given seminars on mental toughness and goal setting techniques. Brandon is available for private consultation by contacting the email at his website below...

Visit his website at [http://www.addictedtotennis.com]http://www.addictedtotennis.com.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?The-Backhand---One-Handed-Vs-Two-Handed---Whats-the-Big-Deal?&id=3785589] The Backhand - One Handed Vs Two Handed - What's the Big Deal?

By Samantha Kay


 The single most important piece of equipment a tennis player will purchase is a tennis racket. With the wide variety of tennis racket brands, models, types, and specifications on the market, selecting a tennis racket can be a daunting task. Prospective tennis racket buyers should consider several important criteria. These criteria are brand, racket weight, racket length, grip size, balance, and head size.

 Many tennis racket manufacturers produce multiple racket models with varying specifications. Popular brand name tennis rackets include Avery, Babolat, Dunlop, Fischer, Gamma, Head, Prince, ProKennex, Volkl, Wilson, and Yonex. Each racket manufacturer has its own unique characteristics and nuances that pervade their entire tennis racket line. You can consult your local tennis professional or tennis racket expert for advice on the brand of racket that is most likely to fit your needs. Ultimately, however, testing out different brands of tennis rackets is the best way to find the right match.

 Weight is another important consideration when selecting a tennis racket. Most tennis rackets weigh between 8.5 and 12.5 ounces. In general, lighter rackets are easier to swing and players that lack strength (e.g., older players, children) will be able to swing lighter rackets faster, generating more power. The overall effect of tennis racket weight is somewhat ambiguous, however, as heavier rackets, while more difficult to swing, are more stable and transfer more force to the ball upon impact. Thus, when choosing a weight, comfort is the most important consideration. Typically, players that are more skilled prefer the stability and control offered by heavier rackets.

 While the length of tennis rackets is fairly standard, many manufacturers have begun to offer longer rackets in recent years. The standard tennis racket length is 27 inches. While the rules of tennis allow rackets to measure up to 32 inches, most tennis rackets measure from 27 to 28 inches. The benefits of increased tennis racket length are increased reach and increased power. Longer tennis rackets can provide more power because the arc the racket travels during the swing is longer (especially on the serve). Players that are more skilled generally prefer the maneuverability of standard length rackets.
 Because the grip is the tennis player's link between the tennis racket and his or her body, grip comfort is of supreme importance. Tennis racket grips typically range from 4 inches to 4 7/8 inches in circumference. Most adult tennis players use grips between 4 1/4 inches and 4 5/8 inches. The easiest way to determine your grip size is to grip a tennis racket and place the index finger of your other hand in the space between your fingers and thumb/palm. If your index finger fits comfortably, the grip size is correct. If your index finger does not fit, the grip size is too small. If there is a large amount of space around your index finger, the grip size is too big. Selecting the proper grip size on your tennis racket is important not only for comfort and for performance, but also for injury prevention. Using a tennis racket with a grip that is too large or too small can lead to arm injuries.

 Tennis rackets are also classified by the balance point or how the weight is distributed in relation to the head of the racket. The two balance classifications of tennis rackets are head heavy and head light. Head-heavy rackets provide more power because they place more of the tennis racket's weight behind the ball on impact. Head-light rackets, on the other hand, provide more control because they are easier to swing and maneuver and absorb more of the ball's energy on impact.
One final consideration when selecting a tennis racket is head size. Typically, tennis racket heads range in size from 85 to 135 square inches. In general, tennis rackets with larger heads provide more power while tennis rackets with smaller heads provide more control. Players that are more skilled generally prefer the control and maneuverability offered by midsize tennis rackets (85 to 95 square inches) and midplus tennis rackets (95 to 105 square inches). Older adults and those who lack strength and precise strokes may benefit from oversize tennis rackets (110+ square inches). Oversize tennis rackets can lead to sloppy strokes, and are therefore not recommended for junior players.

 Tennis racket selection can be a daunting process. However, understanding the specifications discussed in this article, brand, racket weight, racket length, grip size, balance, and head size, will help simplify the tennis racket selection process.
For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis racket.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Kay


http://EzineArticles.com/?Tennis-Rackets---A-Selection-Guide&id=448029

• Increasing your wrist strength

• Grab a tennis ball in your hand
• Squash it down as far as you can
• Release
• Repeat

• Using serve exercises

by Trey McDowell

 A now classic racquet, the Head Liquidmetal Radical comes in two sizes for the competitive player. First, we will take a look at a popular racquet used on the pro circuit, the Head Liquidmetal Radical Midplus.

With lighter racquets emerging each year, the Radical is somewhat heavy, but we were okay with this when testing it out. This gave a sense of stability to the racquet, giving a great element of control to our strokes. The spin was exceptional too.

In the serving department, the Liquidmetal Radical passes the test with flying colors. The sweet spot is sizable and allows for a smooth serve, and an equally comfortable return of serve.

Overall, the comfort and feel the Head Liquidmetal Radical gives you, especially off the ground, explains the reason why this is one of the best-selling racquets of all-time. We recommend this to any strong intermediate or advanced player looking for a fair-priced option.

The over-sized version of this player's racquet adds 9 square inches to the head size for those looking for a bigger sweet spot and a little more power with their Head Liquidmetal Radical.

Most advanced players run when they hear over-sized, but this played very nicely for us. The power provided by this Liquidmetal Radical is solid, but the control it has helps players who want both a bigger head size and control.

Serving was great with the over-sized model too. The power was excellent and the control too, but it was somewhat harder to put spin on the ball when serving.

The only drawback we noticed while trying this Over-sized Liquidmetal Radical was it didn't quite generate as much spin as we wanted. This is obviously not a problem if you tend to not hit with a ton of spin, but just don't expect to slice and top spin your way to victory with this racquet.

More advanced players would probably prefer the mid-plus to the over-sized, but both of these models proved to be excellent racquets, and the rest of the tennis world seems to agree.



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Source: http://www.PopularArticles.com/article167156.html

By Daniel K


 The racket is the single most important piece of equipment. Forget price, you want one that feels good in your hand and gets your strokes where you want them to go. You've got to get to grips with your racket first. Then, you can stuff the other spaces in your bag with tennis goodies!

Getting to grips with rackets
It's important to feel comfortable holding your racket. When you grip it, there should be a gap about the width of one finger between the base of your thumb and the tips of your fingers. Rackets have different grip sizes, find the one that feels right for you.

Head
The head is where the strings are. The entire area inside the head is known as the string surface. Within it is the sweet sport. This is the area in the center of the strings. Some tennis rackets have a big head, but the larger frames mean more air resistance, and moving them around can be a little trickier. It's recommended that beginners stick with a medium-sized head.

Beam
The area on either side of the head is called the beam. You might have noticed already that some rackets have wider beams than others. A wide beam can add some power to your shots, but when you are leaning to play, you don't want balls bouncing off all over the place, so a moderate beam is best.

Throat and shaft
The head is connected to the grip by two curved sides that meet to form the shaft. The triangular area between them is known as the throat.
Strings are made from a variety of materials. Each comes in a different gauge (thickness) and can be stung to a specific tension (the pressure under which the strings are secured to the frame). You might want to re-string your racket when it starts to lose its tension.

Grip
The racket handle is called the grip and is normally covered in leather or synthetic rubber. The very end is called the butt.

Get a grip
After a lot of use, the handle of your racket may show signs of wear. You can replace the original grip with grip tape. For extra comfort, try an "over grip", where grip material is wrapped over the top of the original grip. Make sure the grip is still the right size for you. If it's the wrong size it can affect your shots and even cause an injury called tennis elbow.

Daniel loves to write about his passions. Check out his latest website over at www.laptopspeakersusb.com which helps people find the best laptop speakers usb connected and the info they are looking for.

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