Choosing a tennis professional as an adult can be almost as daunting as choosing one for your son or daughter. In Tallahassee in particular, there are numerous choices. How can one make the best decision possible?
A few days ago I had a wonderful conversation with Gina Herring, Tallahassee's USTA adult league coordinator, about just this topic. She told me that she has taken lessons with virtually everyone in town (save yours truly). She explained that at different points in her tennis career, different pros were perfect for where she was at the time.
I know another person who is a frequent lesson taker, that has also taken from most of the pros in town, and she has told me that each pro has given her something that she finds useful to her game - even implying that in her mind every pro has their strengths, and when she feels her game could use a dose of a specific strength of a specific pro, she will do lessons with that person.
There are many ways to decide what professional is best for you. The simplest way is to take a lesson from every person and make your best judgement based on those experiences. However here is a simple checklist that may aid you in determining the best professional who can help improve your game.
1) Punctuality- Hopefully the professional arrives early if you are his first lesson. Does your lesson start on time? This is your first indication of how responsible the professional really is.
2) Brevity - Does the professional spend half the lesson explaining what he /she wants and expects of you? Do they give long winded explanations? Is half the lesson taken up with talking rather than playing and drilling? Your professional should be able to explain things succinctly and quickly, and transition you quickly between drills without needing a dissertation. After all, you're there to hit balls, not chat.
3) Court/ player Management - Does the professional involve everyone in the activity? Do they have cooperative, interactive drills? Or, do they use lines where player stand around waiting for the person in front of them to finish the activity. The best professionals keep everyone active throughout the lesson. The only appropriate lines during a lesson or clinic are the white ones on the court.
4) Corrective Techniques - Does the professional tell you WHAT to do, or HOW to do it? Most people know what to do, but the art of teaching is getting the student to do what it is you want them to do. That involves the HOW - how will I get Judy to poach on the deuce court? Telling her to move forward at an angle is the what, but how can I get her to remember that movement pattern? A good professional will have different HOWS for different types of learners. Some people are visual learners, while others are kinesthetic learners, and still others are auditory learners. Your professional needs to be able to connect with the type of learner you are.
5) Progression - Does the lesson have a theme, and beginning, middle, and end? Your lesson should be focused on one item, unless you choose to effectively take two half hour lessons in one hour. That one item is the theme. A theme is not "forehands." A theme is specific to your needs. A theme could be "cross court forehands for doubles focusing on point of contact." That's just a basic example. In a strategy lesson, a theme could be " down the line lob returns focusing on court positioning after the lob."
6) Tailoring - Does the pro listen to what you say you want to learn or do they do what they want? As professional and student, you are a team. We need your guidance as much as you need ours. At least that's how the relationship works best. A good professional, always listens closely to your suggestions and problems, and tailors the lesson to fit your needs.
7) Price, Availability - While these things are important, they should only come into play if you feel you have two or more excellent professionals that you have taken from, and cannot decide between them because they are that close in your mind. In that situations price and availability come into play.
As you search for the professional for you, take time to consider the above suggestions. If nothing else, maybe it will open your mind to new possibilities.
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Early Start NTRP Ratings - What They Are, What They Aren't
A few weeks ago the USTA published the Early Start 2015 NTRP Ratings for Adult League players. If you played Adult gender leagues (combo excluded) in 2014, and your rating was either bumped up or down, your name appears on this list.
What does it mean?
The Early Start Rating means that if you plan to play in a 2015 league that starts prior to the end of year ratings that come out in December, then the rating listed on the early start list will be your rating for that league ONLY. If your name does not appear on the list, it means that for early start leagues, your rating remains the same.
What DON'T they mean?
The Early Start Ratings do not mean that your rating has changed at all for 2015 leagues that begin in 2015. In fact, just because your name appears on the Early Start list as having been bumped up or down, your rating might still remain unchanged from your 2014 rating when the FINAL ratings come out in December. In addition, they also do not mean that you won't be bumped up or down once the final ratings come out in December.
Huh? How is that Even Possible?
Remember that your rating is DYNAMIC. Your current "Early Start Rating" is merely a snapshot in time. It changes percentage points with each match you play, each match your opponents play. So if your team played in an Adult League Sectional, and you played the team that won and went to Nationals, those players have yet to play Nationals, and those matches will affect your rating.
NTRP Tournament matches also affect your final yearly rating. The Early Start Ratings do not take tournament matches into account. This is important not only if you yourself have played an NTRP tournament, but also if your opponents had played any NTRP tournaments.
Because of the above reasons, after Nationals, the USTA computer will take into account ALL the matches from 2014, including Nationals and tournaments (which are not taken into consideration for the Early Start Ratings), and will spit out your final rating for 2015 Leagues in December. That will be the rating that actually counts.
Can I Appeal An Early Start Rating?
Yes, you can. However, you can only appeal down. You do this when signing up for an Early Start 2015 League. Simply attempt to register for the league in question, and if you are ineligible due to your rating being too high, click the appeal rating button. The appeal will be answered instantaneously.
Final Thoughts
As a player, it is easy to get excited, upset, anxious, or fearful about your rating going up, going down, or staying the same. While the Early Start Ratings may be useful in giving you an IDEA if your rating is moving up, down, or staying put, at the end of the day it has little to no real value as Tallahassee does not have Early Start 2015 Leagues. Ignore them, and by all means put no stock or emotional energy into them. Be patient, and wait for the end of the year ratings to come out. Those are the ratings that make a difference. Though investing a ton of emotional energy into a rating isn't rational or worth it in the end, many players attach their self esteem and self worth to their rating. For those players, save yourself three months of an emotional roller coaster of jubilation and/or turmoil and just wait for the end of year rating.
What does it mean?
The Early Start Rating means that if you plan to play in a 2015 league that starts prior to the end of year ratings that come out in December, then the rating listed on the early start list will be your rating for that league ONLY. If your name does not appear on the list, it means that for early start leagues, your rating remains the same.
What DON'T they mean?
The Early Start Ratings do not mean that your rating has changed at all for 2015 leagues that begin in 2015. In fact, just because your name appears on the Early Start list as having been bumped up or down, your rating might still remain unchanged from your 2014 rating when the FINAL ratings come out in December. In addition, they also do not mean that you won't be bumped up or down once the final ratings come out in December.
Huh? How is that Even Possible?
Remember that your rating is DYNAMIC. Your current "Early Start Rating" is merely a snapshot in time. It changes percentage points with each match you play, each match your opponents play. So if your team played in an Adult League Sectional, and you played the team that won and went to Nationals, those players have yet to play Nationals, and those matches will affect your rating.
NTRP Tournament matches also affect your final yearly rating. The Early Start Ratings do not take tournament matches into account. This is important not only if you yourself have played an NTRP tournament, but also if your opponents had played any NTRP tournaments.
Because of the above reasons, after Nationals, the USTA computer will take into account ALL the matches from 2014, including Nationals and tournaments (which are not taken into consideration for the Early Start Ratings), and will spit out your final rating for 2015 Leagues in December. That will be the rating that actually counts.
Can I Appeal An Early Start Rating?
Yes, you can. However, you can only appeal down. You do this when signing up for an Early Start 2015 League. Simply attempt to register for the league in question, and if you are ineligible due to your rating being too high, click the appeal rating button. The appeal will be answered instantaneously.
Final Thoughts
As a player, it is easy to get excited, upset, anxious, or fearful about your rating going up, going down, or staying the same. While the Early Start Ratings may be useful in giving you an IDEA if your rating is moving up, down, or staying put, at the end of the day it has little to no real value as Tallahassee does not have Early Start 2015 Leagues. Ignore them, and by all means put no stock or emotional energy into them. Be patient, and wait for the end of the year ratings to come out. Those are the ratings that make a difference. Though investing a ton of emotional energy into a rating isn't rational or worth it in the end, many players attach their self esteem and self worth to their rating. For those players, save yourself three months of an emotional roller coaster of jubilation and/or turmoil and just wait for the end of year rating.
Saturday, September 6, 2014
The Circle of Life - Reinventing Your Game At 40 - A Personal Story
For those of you who have known me and my tennis game for a long time, you are well aware of my affinity for the net, volleying, and the serve and volley style of play. I have been a serve and volley player since age 16.
Prior to age 16, I was a very good counter-puncher who could run all day, play three matches in a day (back when the USTA had junior players playing 2 out of 3 sets) and be fine for the next day's tennis. I would ride my bike 2 miles to get to the courts to play practice matches, club matches or just to hit on the wall. Without having a private coach or being part of a group clinic, save for one two month stint at an indoor club in the winter of 1988, I was one of the best players in our area in Maryland.
John McEnroe was my favorite player growing up. I never paid much attention to his explosions, I was enamored with how he played the game. So much feel, so much thought went into his game. He wouldn't overpower anyone, instead relying on great hands, great movement, great anticipation, and a keen sense for the geometry of the court. It was on September 2, 1990, which happened to be my 16th birthday, that I watched McEnroe play a 5 set thriller at the US Open against Emilio Sanchez in the the 4th round on TV. Immediately after, I called a friend, rode my bike to the swim and racquet club, and played a match against him, forever discarding my counter-punching game, and resolving to serve and volley like my idol. I never looked back. The style of play was exciting, creative, and I saw no decrease in my level of play at the time.
Now, fast forward to July 2014. I play a match on court 19 against Brett Landau, a student of mine who I have taught since he was 12, who now plays collegiately for UNC-Asheville. He literally does not sweat one drop in completely humiliating me 6-0, 6-1. My worst loss in singles since I foolishly tanked a consolation match at the Maryland State closed tournament in 1991. However, there was no tanking in this match versus Brett. I was trying my hardest, but came to the realization that I just couldn't compete with him anymore.
I was tired after every point, serving and volleying as I have for 24 years. I was slow, couldn't get into the net close enough to hit a volley - I was more likely to be trapped in no man's land at 3/4 court. My lateral movement at the baseline reminded me of semi truck being pulled by an 8 year old. I couldn't recover to get into position, and felt like a spectator rather than a player.
Something had to change. It was embarrassing. I came home from teaching that evening, and after showering, looked at myself in the mirror. Where was the slender, athletic, younger version of myself that I remember from age 18-24? From the look in the mirror, he was suffocating beneath layers upon layers of fat. I weighed myself immediately: 231lbs. Ouch. I had weighed this much before, but I had been lifting weights and had more muscle mass. Even in that case, I remember complaining about being slow and trying to play tennis with a 25lb dumbbell attached to my waist. If you don't understand how that feels, try it sometime, I guarantee your level of tennis will fall off significantly.
My first order of business before I ever played another second of tennis? Lose weight. The goal? Get down to 205. Only then would I put myself through any tennis practices or matches for that matter. The gut that had swelled in size over the years was public enemy #1. I immediately instituted an 18 hour daily fast on the weekdays and Sundays, meaning I would eat food in a 4-6 hour window at night after I taught. Water only throughout the day. No bread, no candy, no soda, no beer - except on Friday night and Saturday. Saturday would see me eat three squares. My diet would shift to rice based meals almost exclusively and more fruits and vegetables. I increased the amount of seafood I would eat as well.
For about a week, the fasting diet was difficult. I was hungry, no doubt, I was used to eating far more than essentially one meal a day. However, I felt better. Drinking water throughout the day, especially when I felt hungry, had significantly improved my hydration level. And after week 1 I had lost 3.5 lbs. I continued the fasting diet for one month. After that month I had shed 21 of the 26 lbs.
I would come back from vacation determined to lose the next 5 lbs, but by restoring a more normal eating schedule,but still reducing my caloric intake and limiting my food choices. At 210 lbs, I chose to start hitting tennis balls, and playing matches as well.
The first order of business on the tennis court, regarding my game, was to see if I felt more spry, and to determine if my serve and volley game would improve now that I lost the weight. After all I should move faster and more quickly without 20 lbs, right?
The answer of two weeks time was yes and no. Yes, I was moving faster, better. No, it still wasn't good enough to continue utilizing a style of play that demands you be at your most athletic an quickest to succeed. I felt I would not only continue to lose the practice matches I was losing, but I would be doing a disservice to the style of play that I love and respect so much. In other words, continuing to play serve and volley without being physically capable anymore was disrespecting the game. After losing a practice match to Allen Vinson, I decided that both my style of return of serve, and my style of game must change.
So how would I proceed? Those who know me and my game know I do not have overpowering groundstrokes by any stretch of the imagination. So transforming my game to that of an aggressive baseliner just wasn't going to happen. So my next practice match, I decided to go back to the 15 yr old version of myself. You know, the one who was a good counter-puncher who stayed back all day and retrieved balls. That guy, I thought, had pretty good results. So I played the practice match from the back of the court. I served and stayed back for the first time in 24 years. I stopped moving forward on my split step on returns, and instead began backing up as I split step, to give me more time to see the ball and give myself more time to take a bigger swing. I ran down all the balls. No more spectating. Low and behold, 15 yr old Matt finally won the almost 40 yr old version a practice set! I weighed myself that night...205lbs! My goal attained!
The good news was I also wasn't getting all that physically tired anymore. Thank you diet. Now, truth be told, I learned that staying back and retrieving all day is extremely mentally taxing. Mentally, I was exhausted. However, I was committed to continuing with this change. Next practice match, I again played from the back of the court. Again, I won! Happy birthday me!
My tennis has essentially come full circle. What once was old is new again. The past has become the present. For me, the net is a place I will always love, but like a beautiful woman with whom you have a bad relationship, sometimes you just have to let her go. I will live vicariously through Brett Landau, who carries my serve and volley torch at the collegiate level.
I feel better about myself for having not only lost the weight, but also sticking with the goal and seeing it to fruition. I had thought for sometime that my tennis wasn't that big a deal to me, but I learned the truth is, my esteem is directly linked to my tennis. This process is bringing me much joy, and needed exercise. I'm having fun playing tennis again, which in and of itself is a gift.
Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. No one can make you do it, it must come from within.
Prior to age 16, I was a very good counter-puncher who could run all day, play three matches in a day (back when the USTA had junior players playing 2 out of 3 sets) and be fine for the next day's tennis. I would ride my bike 2 miles to get to the courts to play practice matches, club matches or just to hit on the wall. Without having a private coach or being part of a group clinic, save for one two month stint at an indoor club in the winter of 1988, I was one of the best players in our area in Maryland.
John McEnroe was my favorite player growing up. I never paid much attention to his explosions, I was enamored with how he played the game. So much feel, so much thought went into his game. He wouldn't overpower anyone, instead relying on great hands, great movement, great anticipation, and a keen sense for the geometry of the court. It was on September 2, 1990, which happened to be my 16th birthday, that I watched McEnroe play a 5 set thriller at the US Open against Emilio Sanchez in the the 4th round on TV. Immediately after, I called a friend, rode my bike to the swim and racquet club, and played a match against him, forever discarding my counter-punching game, and resolving to serve and volley like my idol. I never looked back. The style of play was exciting, creative, and I saw no decrease in my level of play at the time.
Now, fast forward to July 2014. I play a match on court 19 against Brett Landau, a student of mine who I have taught since he was 12, who now plays collegiately for UNC-Asheville. He literally does not sweat one drop in completely humiliating me 6-0, 6-1. My worst loss in singles since I foolishly tanked a consolation match at the Maryland State closed tournament in 1991. However, there was no tanking in this match versus Brett. I was trying my hardest, but came to the realization that I just couldn't compete with him anymore.
I was tired after every point, serving and volleying as I have for 24 years. I was slow, couldn't get into the net close enough to hit a volley - I was more likely to be trapped in no man's land at 3/4 court. My lateral movement at the baseline reminded me of semi truck being pulled by an 8 year old. I couldn't recover to get into position, and felt like a spectator rather than a player.
Something had to change. It was embarrassing. I came home from teaching that evening, and after showering, looked at myself in the mirror. Where was the slender, athletic, younger version of myself that I remember from age 18-24? From the look in the mirror, he was suffocating beneath layers upon layers of fat. I weighed myself immediately: 231lbs. Ouch. I had weighed this much before, but I had been lifting weights and had more muscle mass. Even in that case, I remember complaining about being slow and trying to play tennis with a 25lb dumbbell attached to my waist. If you don't understand how that feels, try it sometime, I guarantee your level of tennis will fall off significantly.
My first order of business before I ever played another second of tennis? Lose weight. The goal? Get down to 205. Only then would I put myself through any tennis practices or matches for that matter. The gut that had swelled in size over the years was public enemy #1. I immediately instituted an 18 hour daily fast on the weekdays and Sundays, meaning I would eat food in a 4-6 hour window at night after I taught. Water only throughout the day. No bread, no candy, no soda, no beer - except on Friday night and Saturday. Saturday would see me eat three squares. My diet would shift to rice based meals almost exclusively and more fruits and vegetables. I increased the amount of seafood I would eat as well.
For about a week, the fasting diet was difficult. I was hungry, no doubt, I was used to eating far more than essentially one meal a day. However, I felt better. Drinking water throughout the day, especially when I felt hungry, had significantly improved my hydration level. And after week 1 I had lost 3.5 lbs. I continued the fasting diet for one month. After that month I had shed 21 of the 26 lbs.
I would come back from vacation determined to lose the next 5 lbs, but by restoring a more normal eating schedule,but still reducing my caloric intake and limiting my food choices. At 210 lbs, I chose to start hitting tennis balls, and playing matches as well.
The first order of business on the tennis court, regarding my game, was to see if I felt more spry, and to determine if my serve and volley game would improve now that I lost the weight. After all I should move faster and more quickly without 20 lbs, right?
The answer of two weeks time was yes and no. Yes, I was moving faster, better. No, it still wasn't good enough to continue utilizing a style of play that demands you be at your most athletic an quickest to succeed. I felt I would not only continue to lose the practice matches I was losing, but I would be doing a disservice to the style of play that I love and respect so much. In other words, continuing to play serve and volley without being physically capable anymore was disrespecting the game. After losing a practice match to Allen Vinson, I decided that both my style of return of serve, and my style of game must change.
So how would I proceed? Those who know me and my game know I do not have overpowering groundstrokes by any stretch of the imagination. So transforming my game to that of an aggressive baseliner just wasn't going to happen. So my next practice match, I decided to go back to the 15 yr old version of myself. You know, the one who was a good counter-puncher who stayed back all day and retrieved balls. That guy, I thought, had pretty good results. So I played the practice match from the back of the court. I served and stayed back for the first time in 24 years. I stopped moving forward on my split step on returns, and instead began backing up as I split step, to give me more time to see the ball and give myself more time to take a bigger swing. I ran down all the balls. No more spectating. Low and behold, 15 yr old Matt finally won the almost 40 yr old version a practice set! I weighed myself that night...205lbs! My goal attained!
The good news was I also wasn't getting all that physically tired anymore. Thank you diet. Now, truth be told, I learned that staying back and retrieving all day is extremely mentally taxing. Mentally, I was exhausted. However, I was committed to continuing with this change. Next practice match, I again played from the back of the court. Again, I won! Happy birthday me!
My tennis has essentially come full circle. What once was old is new again. The past has become the present. For me, the net is a place I will always love, but like a beautiful woman with whom you have a bad relationship, sometimes you just have to let her go. I will live vicariously through Brett Landau, who carries my serve and volley torch at the collegiate level.
I feel better about myself for having not only lost the weight, but also sticking with the goal and seeing it to fruition. I had thought for sometime that my tennis wasn't that big a deal to me, but I learned the truth is, my esteem is directly linked to my tennis. This process is bringing me much joy, and needed exercise. I'm having fun playing tennis again, which in and of itself is a gift.
Anything is possible if you put your mind to it. No one can make you do it, it must come from within.
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