Getting The Perfect Tennis Racket

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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Maria Kirilenko

Maria started playing at age 7 when father introduced her to game at Dinamo Moscow Central Stadium 

Height : 1.73 m
Weight : 57.6 kg
 

 

Her favorites include movies Barber of Siberia and Story of a Knight, classical music (especially by Vivaldi, Mozart, Bach or Beethoven)

Favorite books are: The Three Musketeers, Twenty Years After, Notre-Dame de Paris, White Fang and short stories by O'Henry   

 Maria enjoys other sports, especially soccer She enjoys reading books, watching movies, fishing, cooking  

Her idols are Roger Federer and Jennifer Capriati.

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Tennis Basics - The Swing

By Moshe Samu

 So if you read the first part of this basic tennis instruction articles, you are ready for the second most important aspect of your game and that the SWING.

 The swing part of tennis is one of the hardest part to teach. What I can say, is that as you master this one, you'll be a better player or at least win more points.

 The first thing a bout correct tennis swing is ready for the stroke any time. Not swinging on the last moment will improve your stroke amazingly. You'll never believe how many times you get to the ball and your hand is not ready yet for the stroke.By not been ready for the stroke you'll suffer in two aspects:

 1. not been able to direct your stroke to your desired place.

 2. Control - that means your stroke will or be with less power or your stroke will be out.

 Many tennis racket can offer better swinging capabilities, one really good and relatively cheap one is the Wilson k Factor six two, those rackets by using better materials and different wight center can let you swing better and easier. So What I say always? Be ready for the stroke! Even if you feel and think there is still plenty of time for starting the stroke, get ready and lift your racket immediately as you know the direction of the ball! When you are ready all the time for your next shot you get more relaxed in your game and are able to prepare more power and direction for your stroke!

Moshe Sa publisher at http://www.wilson-rackets.com

For good swing you can get the Wilson k Factor 6.2

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Tennis Injuries

by Samuel Eagle

 When it comes to playing tennis, you must be aware of several things. Our bodies are prone to so many different potential injuries thus it is very important to be careful about how you play so that you can avoid as many injuries as possible. Having said that, even the most careful tennis player will likely experience some form of injuries at some stage. Learning how to avoid most injuries and which are the most common ones will give you the added advantage for a fast treatment, which will ultimately lead to a quicker recovery process 

 The number one most common type of injury that occur to a tennis player is Tennis Elbow. This is an injury that occurs to the upper arm on the inside close to the elbow itself. This tends to create problems with the way that you use your arm overall and it can be painful and if you are not careful you can badly injure your arm even further. The best way to prevent this in my opinion is some rest as well as ensure that you are stretching thoroughly both before and after any game that you play. Even if you are only playing for a short period of time, you should always stretch in order to avoid such injury. 

 Another highly common problem is Tendinitis. There are several different types that tend to strike at tennis players and they include Shoulder Tendinitis, Rotator Cuff Tendinitis, Achilles Tendinitis and even Wrist Tendinitis. So what is Tendinitis? It is defined as inflammation of the tendons. This means that for each area where Tendinitis can occur for a tennis player that the tendons have become inflamed, irritated or even swollen. The exact amount of time it takes for tendinitis to heal generally varies greatly but it can be anywhere from a couple of days to several weeks.

 Another highly common problem is Osteoarthritis that occurs in the knee. During a game of tennis, player sustain huge amount of impact to the knees thus it is very essential to ensure that they strengthened as well as to wear a pair of proper tennis shoes to absorb the impact. If you wear shoes without proper cushioning and do not take good care of your knees then you are at a much higher risk for Osteoarthritis.

 Another important thing that you need to always keep in mind is that most tennis injuries are either acute or cumulative. This means that either they occur over time due to the body parts being over used or they occur suddenly due to trauma. Regardless of the exact type of injury, you should take the necessary precautions and these includes wearing the appropriate sports wear and protection guards like a pair of good tennis shoes, elbow guards and wrist guards, etc. These will enable you to avoid as many injuries as possible.

 It is also a good idea to look into finding a good sports medicine doctor that can work with you in the event that you get an acute injury such as a Torn Rotator Cuff, Shoulder Dislocation or even an Achilles Tendon Rupture. Administrating proper treatment to injuries quickly is very important, so knowing exactly who you will be seeing in the event of an injury is a must and this will help you to stay as safe and healthy as possible and continue to enjoy this beautiful game.

More Information:

Want to find out more about Beginner Tennis? Visit my Blog at Learn Tennis Basic for more details.

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Tennis Serve Consistency and Disguise

By Max Gregor

 The tennis serve is the king of tennis strokes. It is the only shot in the game in which the player has complete control in that he is starting the point. It is, in fact, the shot that has the most technical intricacies. On a good day, professionals can, statistically, get seventy five percent of their first serves in. When this happens they rarely lose the match. Thus, gaining consistency in your tennis serve is of vital importance to a successful tennis game. However, having a reliable, fast, or accurate serve may not be enough if the opponent is capable of predicting to which point on the court the serve is directed. Thus, the second point of importance is that the serve is disguised. Pete Sampras and Roger Federer are excellent examples of players who disguise their tennis serves. Here, we will discuss how to gain consistency in the serve as well as developing the art of disguising it.

Consistency

The Toss for consistency: If the way you throw the ball varies you will be hitting each serve at a different contact point forcing the wrist and arm to re-adjust the stroke. This naturally causes lack of control and is a major contributor to poor consistency. To toss the ball in the ideal spot you will need to give yourself clear directions. First, hold the ball between your first four fingers and thumb. Avoid grabbing the ball. Next, bring your arm back till it makes contact with your leg nearest to the net. Lastly, guide the ball keeping your arm straight and release it as your arm is fully extended. Particularly important is getting the ball to reach it's pinnacle above and to the right of your head. If there was a clock face in front of you, you should imagine aiming for "one o clock".

Rhythm for consistency: Many players undervalue the importance of rhythm. Rhythm on the tennis serve makes a big difference to assurance and consistency. Imagine taking your racquet back for serving several different serves, each time, at a different speed. Essentially you would be practicing several different serves. To gain rhythm, observe a three step process.

1) Start on your front foot.

2) Rock all your weight onto your back foot while taking the racquet back.

3) Push off with your legs into the ball.

Repeating these directions in sequence on each practice will bring a solidity to the stroke. Also note that the flat shot is the most risky shot as there is nothing but gravity and angle to ensure it hits the court.For this reason, in order to have a consistent tennis serve the tennis player should use at least one reliable spin serve.

Disguise

Against a good server you have less than a second to hit a return of serve. Most players subconsciously pick up on trends and patterns in the server's routine and anticipate where the serve is going to land. For example, if the ball is tossed to the server's right most returners will likewise shift to the right as they expect the slice serve. Therefore, there are three major ways to disguise your tennis serve, thereby creating ambiguity in the returner's mind as to the point where the ball will land.

The first is to avoid looking at the spot where you are about to serve. Although it sounds simple it may take a conscious effort of visualization to achieve this. The second step is to use a closed stance. A closed stance is one in which your left shoulder points towards the net post so that your back is almost facing the opponent. This is how you should start your serve and it will effectively conceal your intention as to where you are going to hit the ball. Hold this shoulder position as you toss the ball and then finally rotate into the tennis stroke which will only at the last split second reveal to the opponent where the ball will land.

Max Gregor is a touring tennis player. He gives a insider's perspective of Tennis Strokes and how to play tennis at his website http://www.how-2-tennis.com

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Build Biceps As Soon As Possible

By Brandon Michael Young


When I think of perfect biceps, I think of Arnold. His biceps were perfectly rounded, and proportional with the rest of his body. Arnold and his training partners were intense. It amazes me how much work energy they invested to build biceps, often putting in 8 hour shifts of training at Venice Beach. Luckily, for us, training knowledge has evolved. Here are some tips that will help you build biceps as soon as possible.

1. Proper exercise selection is essential to build biceps. When selecting exercises, you should choose those exercises that stimulate the most motor units. The top three exercises to use are the preacher curl, incline curl, and curls using a bicep blaster. The standing curls that most people do involve too much cheating. The mind to muscle connection is not strong enough to build biceps optimally.

2. Using proper form is the next variable to build biceps. Many people use entirely too much weight on their bicep curls. They use their whole body during the motion. The body gives you feedback when you are cheating. If you are cheating your feel the load transfer through your shoulders. You should feel the load in the bicep, almost exclusively. Your forearms should not be tensed. It is humbling to use the amount of weight that you should be using. However, backing off the load is usually the easiest way to improve your form and build biceps.

3. Cycle your prime exercises through different repetition schemes. There are three primary muscle fiber types in your body. The three types are strength, strength endurance, and endurance fibers. Strength fibers are trained using 8 reps or less. Strength endurance fibers are trained using 9-20 reps. Endurance fibers are trained by using many repetitions, say 50 to 100. At each workout train the three exercises I suggested, but rotate which muscle fibers you are training with each exercise.

4. At certain levels of training intensity, different amounts of sets are optimal. Whichever exercise you choose to go heavy on, use a high set, low rep scheme, such as 6 sets of 4. For the exercise you choose to use for training strength endurance use less sets, such as 3 sets of 9 reps. For your endurance exercise just do one all out set with light weight, as many reps as you can get.

  If you follow these suggestions, you will build biceps as soon as possible. Just make sure to eat good and rest between sessions, for at least one day. I see many people train biceps a few days in a row, and I feel it is a bad idea. It seemed to hinder my success when I trained that much. Arnold and the boys already learned the lessons for us. Why repeat the past? Get to the gym and build biceps.

Brandon Young is addicted to strength training and building muscle. He helps people to gain muscle because he enjoys helping others. If you want to learn more about building muscle, sign up to receive more information from him at http://www.MyMuscleReview.com.

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Cancer Prevention Foods

By Brijesh Ghelani

Many medical experts in the field of traditional cancer treating as well as many who are considered to be experts in the non-traditional fields of cancer treating believe that adhering to a certain dietary life style will help in the battle to prevent cancer. That isn't to say that if you eat some particular food regularly that you will be less apt to get cancer but rather that being on a balanced diet which consists of certain food will serve as a good preventative.

Beans, lentils and peas contain saponis, which in many cases will stop the reproduction of cancer cells protease inhibitors, which often have been proven to stop the division of cancer cells and phytic acid, which many medical professionals feel tests have shown has often been known to slow down the production of tumors.

Berries and known to be an excellent source of vitamin C which many medical professionals believe that their studies have shown to be a major combatant against cancer.
Spinach, kale romaine lettuce, leaf lettuce, dandelion greens, mustard greens, collard greens, chicory and Swiss chard contain carotenoids which fight against cancer by ridding the body of certain components before they can form an attack against the body. Many medical professionals feel that their studies tend to show that these carotenoids are especially effective in fighting against breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer and stomach cancer.

Other vegetables which have proven to be effective against cancer are broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, bok choy and kale. These are believed to have proven to be especially effective in putting up a good defensive against cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus and stomach.
Garlic is believed by many medical professionals to be effective in slowing and sometimes even stopping cancers of the prostate, bladder, colon and stomach.

Grapes, green tea, soy foods, these also are foods considered to be strong preventatives and combatants against cancer.
In spite of the fact that many medical professionals, both traditional and non-traditional, support the idea that these foods do indeed battle cancer it is important that one not decide to wage battle against cancer, either as a preventative or a cure on one's own using simply a diet plan as a combative. Talk to your doctor, set up a battle plan, possibly one which consists of traditional cancer treatments and dietary ones as well. Your doctor has studied this, talk to him/her and get their advice. Then make your decisions wisely.
For more information about Cancer Prevention Foods visit our site http://www.howcurecancer.com.

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Vertical Jump Testing - The Basics

By William G Dains

  One of the standard tests used to measure competency in playing basketball is the vertical jump test. How this test works is that it involves measuring the distance between the floor and the feet once a jump is initiated. To put it simply, it directly measures the vertical height jumped. There are also several timing systems that measure the time of the jump and from then on calculate the vertical jump height.
As usual, of course there are necessary equipment involved. Since this is something that involves measuring, it requires a measuring tape of a marked wall at least. A chalk is also required if you're going to be using the marked wall. But if it's otherwise, go ahead and use the Vertec or jump mat instead.

 How a vertical jump test is done is that the athlete stands at the side of a wall and reaches up with the hand closest to the wall. The feet should be kept flat on the ground while the points of the fingertips are marked or recorded. This measurement is called the standing reach height. After that, the athlete is then asked to step away from the wall and made to leap vertically as high as possible using both arms and legs to assist in projecting the body upwards. The jumping technique may or may not use a counter-movement. It's important that the player attempts to reach the highest part of the wall at the time he or she jumps. The difference between the standing reach height and the jump height ends up being the score of the vertical jump test. The best of the three attempts is usually the one being taken down and recorded.

 Another variation for the vertical jump test is with the usage of a special apparatus called the Vertec. This procedure is more or less similar to the manual or approximate way of doing it. Jump height is measured with the use of a jump mat which efficiently measures the displacement of the hips. For accuracy, the athlete must ensure that his feet land back on the met with his legs fully extended. On the other hand, vertical jump height can usually be measured with the use of a timing mat.

 Like what was discussed earlier, the vertical jump test is usually performed with a counter movement where there is bending of knees immediately prior to the jump. It may also be initiated as a squat jump, starting from a position wherein the knees are bent. There are other test variations wherein there are no arm movements involved. One hand is on the hip while the other is usually above the head. This is designed to isolate the leg muscles and reduce the effect of variations in coordination of the hand movements. And of course, it may also be performed off of one leg, with a step into the jump, may be a run-up off of two feet, or even one foot. This depends on its relevance on the sport involved.
As the title says, this is the complete basics and general concepts behind the vertical jump test. Are you trying to find a jump program that is right for you?
If so, i suggest you check this out: Basketball Exercises
William Dains Jr

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GRIP, FOOTWORK, AND STROKES IN TENNIS

by Kim And Charles Petty

GRIP, FOOTWORK, AND STROKES IN TENNIS

Kim and Charles Petty

Footwork is weight control. It is correct body position for strokes, and out of it all strokes should grow. In explaining the various forms of stroke and footwork I am writing as a right-hand player. Left-handers should simply reverse the feet.

Racquet grip is a very essential part of stroke, because a faulty grip will ruin the finest serving. It is a natural grip for a top forehand drive. It is inherently weak for the backhand, as the only natural shot is a chop stroke.

To acquire the forehand grip, hold the racquet with the edge of the frame towards the ground and the face perpendicular, the handle towards the body, and "shake hands" with it, just as if you were greeting a friend. The handle settled comfortably and naturally into the hand, the line of the arm, hand, and racquet are one. The swing brings the racquet head on a line with the arm, and the whole racquet is merely an extension of it.

The backhand grip is a quarter circle turn of hand on the handle, bringing the hand on top of the handle and the knuckles directly up. The shot travels ACROSS the wrist.

This is the best basis for a grip. I do not advocate learning this grip exactly, but model your natural grip as closely as possible on these lines without sacrificing your own comfort or individuality.

Having once settled the racquet in the hand, the next question is the position of the body and the order of developing strokes.

All tennis strokes, should be made with the body' at right angles to the net, with the shoulders lined up parallel to the line of flight of the ball. The weight should always travel forward. It should pass from the back foot to the front foot at the moment of striking the ball. Never allow the weight to be going away from the stroke. It is weight that determines the "pace" of a stroke; swing that, decides the "speed."

Let me explain the definitions of "speed" and "pace." "Speed" is the actual rate with which a ball travels through the air. "Pace" is the momentum with which it comes off the ground. Pace is weight. It is the "sting" the ball carries when it comes off the ground, giving the inexperienced or unsuspecting player a shock of force which the stroke in no way showed.

A great many players have both "speed" and "pace." Some shots may carry both.

The order of learning strokes should be:

1. The Drive. Fore and backhand. This is the foundation of all tennis, for you cannot build up a net attack unless you have the ground stroke to open the way. Nor can you meet a net attack successfully unless you can drive, as that is the only successful passing shot.

2. The Service.

3. The Volley and Overhead Smash.

4. The Chop or Half Volley and other incidental and ornamental strokes.

Kim and Charles Petty, experienced in Real Estate Market. For FREE Special Report and CD and to set up strategy meeting on how you can make Six or Seven Figures A Year Buying and Selling Propertiesacross the USA & abroad go to (http://www.VirtualRealEstateInvestingProfits.com) VirtualRealEstateInvestingPRofits or call 1-800-311-9228

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Tennis Fundamentals

by Owen Jones

  I trust that this, my first dissertation on the fundamentals of tennis, will be found useful by both novices and experts alike in the tennis world. I am trying to arouse interest in the student of the game of tennis by a somewhat lengthy discussion of match play, which I trust will cast a new light on the game of tennis.

I will turn to the novice in my opening article and write of certain matters which are second nature to the experienced tennis player. The best tennis equipment is not a lot of use for the beginner even if he really is trying to succeed. Nevertheless, one has to purchase good quality; it is a saving eventually, as high quality material far outlasts poor quality gear.

It is vital always to wear tennis apparel when playing tennis. The question of choosing a tennis racquet is a much more serious decision. I do not like to force a certain brand of racquet upon any player, since all the famous brands are of excellent quality. However, the weight, balance, and size of the handle are the really important considerations when choosing a racquet frame, while good stringing is essential to obtain optimum results.

After having selected your racquet, make a firm resolve to buy only quality tennis balls, as a regular bounce is a great aid to advancement, while a "dead" ball is of no use at all. If you really desire to succeed at tennis and progress rapidly, I strongly urge you to watch all the good tennis you can. Observe the play of the leading players and try to copy their strokes. Read all the tennis instruction books you can get your hands on. They are a great assistance.

Much more tennis can be picked up off the tennis court in the study of theory and in watching the top players in action, than can ever be learned in one's own actual play. I do not mean that you should miss opportunities to play tennis, far from it. Play tennis whenever possible, but try when playing to put into practice the theories you have read about or the strokes you have seen.

Do not allow yourself to become discouraged by slow progress. The way of playing some stroke you have worked at for weeks in vain, will suddenly come to you when least expected. Good tennis players are the result of hard work. Very few players are born geniuses at the game. Tennis is a game that pays you dividends all your life. A tennis racquet is a letter of introduction in any city.

The brotherhood of the game is universal, since none but a fit sportsman can succeed in the game for any long period of time. Tennis offers relaxation, excitement, exercise, and pure enjoyment to the person who is bound fast to his job until late afternoon.

The order of development that produces the quickest and most lasting results is: a. Concentration on the game. b. Keep the eye on the ball. c. Foot-work and weight-control. d. Strokes. e. Court position. f. Court generalship or match play. g. Tennis psychology.

Concentration. Tennis is played first with the mind. The most perfect racquet technique invented will not suffice if the directing mind is wandering. There are many reasons for a wandering mind in a tennis match. The main one is loss of interest in the game. No one should play tennis with any hope of real success unless he cares sufficiently about the game to be willing to do the drudgery necessary to learn the game correctly.

Jack it in right now if you are not willing to work very hard. The weather, conditions of play or the murmurs in the gallery usually confuse even very experienced match-players playing in new surroundings. Complete and utter concentration on the game is the only cure for an erring mind, and the quicker that lesson is learned the more rapid the improvement of the player.

The surest way to keep a match in mind is to play for every set, every game in the set, every point in the game and, finally, every shot in the point. A set is merely a conglomeration of made and missed shots, and the man who misses the least is the final winner.

More Information:

If you are a novice tennis player or are interested in tennis apparel, please go to our site called Tennis Tips for Beginners

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