Catch and Release Fishing - A Practice of Conservation

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Nick_Satushek]Nick Satushek

 Catch and release fishing is often one of the most enjoyable yet misunderstood practices of modern fishing. When most non fishing enthusiasts go fishing, they automatically assume they will bring home their catch to put on the table. Not so for many fishing enthusiasts who ply our local waters for steelhead, salmon, trout and bass.

 The basic fundamental of catch and release fishing is for enjoyment. A fishing enthusiast can catch and release fish all day long without worrying about going over their daily limit or breaking the law. The practice of catch and release fishing applies especially well to good fishing days when fish are plentiful on the line and many are caught. Below the basic level of enjoyment from catching multiple fish in a day comes a deeper level of enjoyment derived from conservation of declining fish populations. In this day and age our fisheries are declining due to rapid habitat loss, commercial fishing, and a changing seascape. When you combine these factors with recreational fishing where everyone takes home their limits, it doesn't give the fish much of a chance for future generations of fish, not to mention limiting the angling options of the future generations of our children.

 Many anglers choose to practice catch and release fishing to help sustain the fish population for themselves and for generations to come.

 A trend these days is that often times it is almost taboo or deemed unethical to keep certain kinds of fish. Take wild steelhead and salmon out of rivers or largemouth bass out of lakes for example. These species of fish should almost always be released, even when legal to keep them, to ensure the survival of the species and keep our fisheries strong.

 There is much more involved in catch and release fishing than simply letting a fish go. If not done correctly, the fish will almost assuredly die soon after being released. Fish are delicate creatures and can suffer from smashed internal organs, loss of their protective slime covering, excessive bleeding, and other injuries suffered from improper handling. The following are some guidelines to follow when handling fish that are to be released.

  First off, never remove a fish from water any longer than is absolutely necessary to remove the hook. Often times, the hook can be removed while the fish still remains under water. Fish live under water their entire lives and are accustomed to feeling the pressure of water around them. They are accustomed to being wet and derive oxygen from passing water through their mouths and gills and pulling the oxygen from it. When removed from the water the pressure changes on their bodies, and they are essentially drowning in the air. If you absolutely must remove a fish from the water to take a picture, make sure to get the camera ready before removing the fish, and then only remove the fish for as short a time as possible.

 Fish are covered in a protective slime that helps protect them from disease and keeps their scales in prime condition. If mishandled, this slime can be removed and open the fish to infection and disease. To avoid this, it is important to wet the hands before handling a fish, or even better to wear wool gloves while handling the fish. Wet wool gloves are the best since the wool is soft and doesn't remove the fish's protective slime. Besides handling the fish other things that remove slime are setting them in the dirt, or on a rock, in the bottom of the boat, or on the sand. All of these things can lead to death after the fish is released.

 Another important thing to avoid when catch and release fishing is trauma or internal injury. Trauma can be caused by dropping the fish on the ground or into the bottom of the boat. Internal injury can be caused by squeezing the fish when holding it. This should be avoided to ensure the survival of the fish.

 Unnecessary stress can be a major killer of fish after they are released so it is important to revive your fish before releasing it to make sure that it swims away strong. In cold waters especially, fish will be under major stress when caught and will use up almost all of their energy fighting against the angler. Always work to land your fish as quickly as possible to ensure that the fish doesn't play itself to death. Even when landed quickly, the fish will be extremely tired after being caught and will require resuscitation before being released. The best way to do this is to hold the fish by the tail with one hand and with the other underneath the belly. Move the fish back and forth in a rocking motion to help move water and oxygen through the fish's mouth and past its gills. This will force extra oxygen into the fish and help to revive it. When the fish is ready to go it will start to pull away from your hand. Gently release your grip on the tail and wait for it to swim away. If the fish stops or starts to turn over or float sideways, retrieve the fish, turn it upright, and start the process again until it is revived. Fish will die if they are left floating upside down in the water.

 If using a net to land your fish, use a knotless 'catch-and-release' net. You can find these at local fishing stores or online. Catch and release nets are made of a soft mesh material with no knots to reduce stress and injury on the fish.

 And finally, one of the greatest fundamentals of catch and release fishing occurs before even wetting your line. The use of treble hooks with barbs can make releasing a fish unharmed severely difficult. If you aren't planning on keeping what you catch, it's recommended that you use a single barbless hook. To de-barb your hook, simply use a pair of pliers to smash down the barb. This causes much less injury to the fish and increases the survival rate of released fish. Treble hooks should be replaced with single hooks to help reduce injury as well.

 However, if a fish is hooked in the eye or gills, it should be kept if legal to do so. A fish that is bleeding excessively or that has sustained major damage to it's gills, throat, or eye will most likely not survive.

 So if you're thinking about practicing catch and release, these are a few pointers to get you started towards catch and release fishing and the conservation of our fisheries. It's always fun to bring home your catch and put it on the table, but oftentimes it can be just as rewarding to let the big one go.

 North Fork Fishing Outfitters offers Fishing tackle and hand tied marabou and schlappen steelhead and salmon jigs at great prices. Our hand tied eco friendly brass bead head jigs are a good environmentally friendly alternative to solid lead jig heads, and are tied on high quality solid hooks for powerful hookups. http://www.northforkfishingoutfitters.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Catch-and-Release-Fishing---A-Practice-of-Conservation&id=4267901] Catch and Release Fishing - A Practice of Conservation

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Professional Wrestling Basic Terms

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Matt_C]Matt C

If you're new to the world of professional wrestling, here is a very basic guide to terms you'll want to be familiar with about wrestling, the matches, and more.  These are for newcomers but may also  be helpful for current fans, who may have heard a term but not known what it referred to:

A "face" refers to a good guy in wrestling, usually a fan favorite.  Examples from the past would be Hulk Hogan, The Rock and John Cena. A wrestler is said to "turn face" when they go from bad to good.

A "heel" refers to a wrestler who is considered a bad guy or not liked by the crowd/fans. A character is said to "turn heel" when they make a turn from good (face) to bad (heel).

"Finishing move" or "Finisher" refers to a wrestler's unique move he/she uses to "finish off" an opponent for the victory.  Examples of this were Hulk Hogan's "Leg drop", Bret the Hitman Hart's "Sharpshooter" and Stone Cold Steve Austin's "Stone Cold Stunner".

"Foreign object" refers to any object not included in the match (steel chair, brass knuckles, chain).  Usually a wrestler will try to cheat and use an object to knockout his/her opponent without the referee seeing in order to gain a victory.

"Roster" refers to the list of active wrestlers on a pro wrestling show. 

"Card" refers to the matches scheduled for an event.

In pro wrestling, the ring is also referred to as "the squared circle".  The normal ring has 4 sides, with 3 ropes on each side of the ring.  The bottom part of a wrestling ring is the mat, and the side parts of the ring are referred to as the apron(s).

"Turnbuckle" is the metal coupling device which fastens the ring's ropes together at the ring corners and keeps the proper tension for the ropes around the ring.  There are four turnbuckles in most pro wrestling rings, and 3 ropes on each of the sides of the ring.

"Dark match" is  a match you see at a live television event that is not part of the taping for the televised show.

In a normal pro wrestling match, the ways to win are:

"Pinfall" - A wrestler pins his opponent for a 3 count by the referee.  There have also  been unusual matches where the outcome was both wrestlers pinned each others' shoulders to the mat at the same time, meaning both wrestlers win.

"Submission" - A wrestler puts his opponent in a special hold which causes the opponent to tap out (hit his hand on the mat to stop the match), or the referee determines the opponent is unable to continue wrestling.

"Countout" - The referee counts 1 or both wrestlers involved in a match out of the ring for a count of 10.  A double countout results in no winner and is basically a draw.

"Disqualification" - The referee determines foul play in the match in one wrestler's advantage.  Examples are another wrestler interferes in the match, or 1 of the wrestlers in the match uses a foreign object to strike his opponent.

"Referee's Decision" - the referee can also choose to stop a match if one of the wrestlers can not continue to wrestle.  Example would be a wrestler becomes knocked out and/or ref determines he needs medical assistance. 

"Failure to answer a ref's 10 count" - Also, the referee can count either or both wrestler down on the mat for a count of 10 and award the match to 1 or as a draw accordingly.

Here are several examples of common matches you may see in pro wrestling:

"Handicap match" - refers to a match where there is more opponents on 1 side. An example is 1 wrestler vs 2 opponents or 2 wrestlers vs 3 opponents.  The lesser side is considered "handicapped" in the match.

"Cage match" - this refers to a match done in the ring with a high wall steel cage surrounding the ring.  A wrestler can win this match by either climbing out up the cage wall and then dropping out to the outside (both feet must hit floor).  A wrestler can also win by pinfall or submission inside the cage, or by exiting the cage door near one side of the ring.

"Battle Royal" - this match usually involves anywhere from 5 to 30 or so wrestlers who all start in the ring together.  In this match it is usually every man for himself.  Wrestlers eliminate their opponents by throwing them over the top rope of the ring.  The last wrestler in the ring is declared the winner.

"Lumberjack match" - This match has wrestlers in the ring and then a bunch more wrestlers surrounding the ring. The people surrounding the ring are there to toss back in wrestlers who go out of the ring, or in some cases attack them.

"Street Fight" - this match allows wrestlers to use weapons and objects around the ring, arena, backstage or wherever the fight spills out to.  A pin can be made anywhere.

"Falls Count Anywhere" - this match allows a wrestler to pin his opponent anywhere the match goes to (the ring, outside of it, outside the arena, backstage, in the crowd..etc)

"Last Man Standing Match" - in this situation, the wrestlers compete until one man is standing and his opponent is down for a 10 count by the referee.

Now you have some basic professional wrestling terms, and if you're new to pro wrestling these are a good starting guide to get you familiar as you enjoy the matches and shows!

For more commentary, news and other great stuff about pro wrestling, check out the blog at: http://wwecharacters.blogspot.com

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Professional-Wrestling-Basic-Terms&id=619903] Professional Wrestling Basic Terms

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Best Season for Fishing Crappies

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Tony_W._Dawson]Tony W. Dawson

 If you have been fishing crappies for awhile with little to no luck, you likely have realized first hand that there is a bit of art and science to this sport. This is a very popular species to try to fish and many people do enjoy some great catches from their efforts. However, if you aren't getting the results you want from fishing crappies, you will want to read further to learn more about this type of fish.

Perhaps the most important thing you can do to improve your results is to fish for this type of fish at the peak season. Some fish can be caught any time of year. For instance, catfish are bottom dwellers that are best caught at night, but they can easily be caught any time of year. Crappies, on the other head, truly do have a peak season. Generally, the spring months are the best time of year for fishing crappies simply because it is the time of year when they are most active.

During the spring months, they generally move around a lot because this is the time when they are spawning. Now you should know, however, that spawning season will vary a little bit based on your physical location in the country.

Most specifically, they will be spawning and very active when the body of water they live in reaches temperatures between about 60 to 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature, as you can imagine, will depend on the depth of the water, the weather your area has experienced during the spring months, and the general geographic area. In many areas, though, this will occur in the month of May, give or take a few weeks. Ideally, you will want to head out for your fishing trips towards the earlier portion of the spawning period, as this is the point when they truly are most active.

While fishing crappies will be most productive for you in the spring months when they are spawning, you can still enjoy a great catch during the other seasons, too, including even in the winter months. You simply have to take time to learn how these fish react and move during these months to know where to fish, what lures and bait to use, and more. While there is some technique involved in catching these fish, you will find that when you take time to learn a little more about them, you will enjoy reeling in that great catch that you have been hoping for.

Tony Dawson is a writer and researcher on products for households such as a guide to [http://fishingcrappies.info/crappie-fishing-tips]fishing crappies. Save time and money by getting a FREE in-depth review of this product including discounts and best prices at this blog: [http://fishingcrappies.info/]fishingcrappies.info

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Best-Season-for-Fishing-Crappies&id=6124097] Best Season for Fishing Crappies

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Fishing Basics - Choosing the Right Lures

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_Cale]James Cale

 You have your fishing rod and reel. You have your fishing line. But now you have one of the most difficult decisions to make. You have to choose the right lure. Without the right lure all the best equipment in the world will not be able to help you. You could fish all day and not catch anything with the right lure.

There are several things to consider when picking what lure you want. The biggest factor though, is the species of fish that you are targeting.

The biggest factor in lure selection is the species of fish that you are going after. Bass go after a variety of lures such as spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, crankbaits, and plastics. Spinnerbaits have a rubber skirt and some spinner blades. The skirts come in a variety of colors for different water conditions. Buzzbaits are similar to spinnerbaits in that they have rubber skirts, but their spinner blade is designed to make noise on the top of the water. This makes a buzzbait a type of top water lure. Crankbaits are designed to simulate bait fish and come in various colors and are designed dive to various depths. Plastics are designed to simulate all manners of baits that a bass would eat. The types are just as numerous. They have plastics that imitate worms, fish, crawfish, and even lizards. There are other types but those are the most popular ones.

For trout the lures are different. The most popular types include spinners and spoons. Spinners come in a variety of colors and many different sizes. The most popular ones are generally gold and silver bladed spinners. However, there are copper bladed ones along with spinners that have been painted to simulate smaller fish. Spoons also come in all manner of colors and sizes. Popular ones are gold, silver, and red /white. Where you are fishing would help determine what you would use, however, spinners are generally the better bet in most locations.

Smaller panfish like bluegill, crappie, and perch most fisherman use little jigs of various colors. The size varies but is generally between 1/64th-1/8th oz. What colors you would use would be determined by the conditions of the water and the type of forage is in the place that you are fishing in. If the water is stained chartreuse, black, brown, orange or red jigs are generally more productive.

For a larger species like pike you want to use large lures. Some favorites are large spoons up to at least an ounce in size and in various colors. Large spinners of various colors can also be successful. Large jointed swimbaits that simulate different fish species are great to use as well. Swimbaits are similar to crankbaits, but have a joint in the middle that makes them more lifelike. Buzzbaits and other top water lures can also be used if the conditions are right. Bigger lures will attract bigger fish, but you will catch fewer.

The easiest way to figure out what you are going to need is to get a fishing report of the place you will be fishing at. This will narrow down you choices greatly. It will also save you money so that you do not get any unnecessary lures. So go find what you need and get fishing.

James Cale

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Fishing-Basics---Choosing-the-Right-Lures&id=6093009] Fishing Basics - Choosing the Right Lures

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A History of Wimbledon Tennis

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Stuart_P_Mitchell]Stuart P Mitchell

 Wimbledon is known the world over as the home of the Wimbledon tennis championships, the oldest tennis championships in the world and arguably the most prestigious of the four grand slam tournaments. The only grand slam tournament to be played on grass, it has become synonymous with ideals of British sporting gentility, long summer days, strawberries and cream, and the occasional downpour. But how did it all begin...

 Wimbledon is now the spiritual home of British tennis, hosting the country's flagship tournament. The tennis club itself, which hosts the Wimbledon Championships. is situated in Aorangi Park on Church Road Wimbledon in the borough of Merton, South West London and is often referred to as The All England Club however, its full title is The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club alluding to its origins in the 19th century.

The Club was founded in 1868 on Worple Road, Wimbledon as a private member's croquet club. The All England Croquet Club, however was quick to add the burgeoning game of sphairistikè, or lawn tennis as it became known, to its activities in 1875, only one year after being invented by Major Walter Clopton Wingfield, and in 1877 officially became known as The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club. In fact, in 1882 the club briefly changed its name again to The All England Lawn Tennis Club in response to the dominance of the sport in its activities but the mention of croquet was reinstated just six years later to reflect the club's origins.

As a pioneer of the new sport the club took on the codifying of the game's laws from the Marylebone Cricket Club (to this day the guardians of the laws of cricket) for it's first ever tournament in the same year, 1877. The gentleman's tournament of 22 players was won by Spencer Gore in what was also to be the first of many rain delayed finals.

During the early years of the tournament in the late 19th and early 20th century, the championships grew steadily with ladies singles and gentleman doubles being added in 1884, whilst the ladies and mixed doubles were added in 1913. This period saw home grown players dominating the winners' rostrums. Greats such as William Renshaw and the Doherty brothers (Reggie & Laurie) swept all before them and set records which still stand to this day. Indeed, no foreign competitor won the tournament until the American, May Sutton Bundy won the ladies singles in 1905. However, with the advent of professionalism in the game, particularly the beginning of the Open era in 1968, foreign stars began to dominate and, as any British tennis fan can tell you, no home grown player has won the gentleman's tournament since Fred Perry won the last of his three successive titles in 1936.

Tournaments at the club took a hiatus during each of the world wars but in 1922 the club moved to its current premises in Wimbledon and both the club and the Wimbledon Championships, continued to grow. The championships were televised for the first time in 1937 bringing the Wimbledon spectacle to a wider audience than ever. The site itself expanded significantly with new courts in 1980 and in 1997 The All England Club unveiled a new No. 1 court greatly boosting the tournament's capacity to keep up with its popularity. 2009 even saw the introduction of a retractable roof on the Centre Court to keep out the perennial Wimbledon rain.

The Open era has seen only two British successes at Wimbledon in the singles with Ann Haydon Jones overcoming Billie Jean King in 1969 and Virginia Wade overcoming the odds to win in front of the Queen in her silver jubilee year in 1977 - the last British success. Despite the recent dearth of home grown winners the tournament has thrown up some of the most memorable moments in world tennis; greats such as Roger Federer, Pete Sampras and Martina Navrátilová gracing the hollowed turf and setting many records for the modern era. 2000 saw Pete Sampras winning the last of his 7 titles to break the total grand slam record of 13, whilst Roger Federer has since equalled Björn Borg's record of 5 Wimbledons in row between 2003 and 2007 to contribute to his new record of 16 grand slam titles.

The next two years will be some of the most celebrated in recent history for the All England Club and the Wimbledon Championships. 2011 will usher in the 125th anniversary of the first tennis tournament, in 1877, and 2012 will see the club have the honour of providing a unique setting for the tennis tournaments in the London Olympics.

Having an institution with such a rich and vibrant heritage on your doorstep, particularly bearing in mind the exciting developments on the horizon, the Wimbledon area of London has never been so desirable so now may be the time to start hunting down your perfect Wimbledon home.

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Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?A-History-of-Wimbledon-Tennis&id=6086182] A History of Wimbledon Tennis

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Heather Mitts - Soccer Hottie

 

 Heather Mitts was born  in Cincinnati,on June 9, 1978.  She first touched a soccer ball at age 6, and never let go. At 8 she was playing in organized teams and dabbling in other sports. 

After her freshman year of high school, Heather decided to devote herself exclusively to the game and aim for a college scholarship. She knew she was on her way as she received every honor imaginable for high school athletics and lead her school, St. Ursula Academy, to four straight district titles. The University of Florida saw a future star, and gave Heather a scholarship. 

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Novak Djokovic Displaces Federer As World Number Two

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.

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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

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Winning Phychologycally Over You Opponent

Author: William L. Booker

 Considering that two opponents in tennis are equal in terms of their experience, equipment, and stroke play, the factor that determines the final result of the match can be an matter of fortune as they say and how can the two opponents can adjust themselves psychologically to fluctuating and unexpected luck in the game (they may or may not be due to your good or bad fortune) to have their confidence up and go with their heads high while having maximum pressure on the opponent all the while.

We normally hear many players comment about the shots that they were successful in playing; however, only some will talk about important shots that they were not able to play or missed. Sometimes shots that are missed turn out to as important as the shots that are played; and under some particular situations, a shot that gets missed by an inch is more important compared to a lame return that your opponent can return easily.
The above statement; however, may require some amount of explanation to do. For instance, think that the opponent player plays an angled shot for that requires you to make a lot of ground; and after reaching it finally, you are able to return it fast and hard along the sideline taking off your opponent fully by surprise. But, unluckily the ball bounces just outside the sideline because of which you lose the point. Your opponent was lucky that the ball landed outside the sideline, if the ball had landed inside the sideline, he would have not been able to play it and you could have ended up winning a point. Your opponent understands that he has escaped the line just by a whisker and the thought sets up in his intellect. He knows that you can repeat that shot and the next time luck might not favor him. So he registers this in his mind that not to give the same opportunity to you. What does this result in? Your opponent’s confidence is broken and his shot selection is restricted; and you have achieved all this because of a missed stroke!

  If you had not ran along and taken the pain over that last stroke and returned a simple stroke without having the risk of misplacing it, your opponent would have ended getting a simple point, you could have ended up boosting your opponents confidence while decreasing you own confidence. Either way, if you look at points, you ended up losing one; however, in the first case of a brilliant missed shot you had ended getting all the psychological benefits, but if you had sent a simple return shot to your opponent, he would have straight away lashed on to it and scored points in both the departments i.e. point and mental lead.
Now, let us suppose that you anyhow managed to return the shot and get the ball landed within the sideline of the court instead of outside the court and eventually beating the opponent for the point. However, if your opponent is thinking he lost two points one which he gave away and another one that he must have got in place of giving you that point. It results in a considerable amount of mental fear to your opponent who will be thinking that he is given away something that would be hard to get back.

 It may be clear by now that how your psychological thinking can change or affect the result of the matches. Considering the two opponents started equally, when one opponent starts to lead, his confidence increases while the other opponent’s looses confidence. If the player who has got the lead continues in the same manner, then not only he wins points, but also increases his confidence level and improves his psychology and this difference will be clearly visible between the two opponents. However, if the other player starts to catch up and pulls up his confident, than unless the first opponent has a better control over his confidence, the psychological forces that get created can destroy his game and he could end up in the losing side. And on the other side, the second player will have tremendous boost to his confidence by snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Article Source: http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Winning-Phychologycally-Over-You-Opponent/1311082

About the Author:
Discover the importance of knowing your tennis psychology as well as experts tips to help you service the opening gun of tennis

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The Backhand - One Handed Vs Two Handed - What's the Big Deal?

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?

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Yelena Isinbayeva - Her Professional Pole Vaulting Mini-Biography

By Billy Rubin


Full Name: Yelena Gadzhievna Isinbayeva

Birth Date: June 3rd 1982

Age: 27 (as of 1-26-2011)

Height: 5" 8.5"

Weight: 140 lbs

Nationality: Russian

Best Record: 5.06 meters (Zurich)

Yelena is a Russian pole vaulting professional. Yelena won the Olypmic Gold Medal twice, once in 2004 and once in 2008. The IAAF has named her the Female Athlete of the Year three times, in 2004, 2005 and 2008. Laureus named her the Worlds Sportswoman of the Year in 2007 and 2009. Many consider Yelena to be the great women pole vaulter of all time due to her many accomplishments.

By the time she was 27 she had become a 9 time major champion; this includes European in-door & out-door, Olympics and World in-door and out-door. She became the first woman in history on July 22, 2005 to clear the 5 meters barrier in the vaulting event. She holds the world record of 5.06 meters that was set on August 28th, 2009 in Zurich.

In all Yelena has set 26 world records and had a lossless streak between 2004 and 2009 during the events she attended. It's been said that Yelena's pole vaulting technique is as good as the men's and can even be considered better than some men's jumps. Overall Yelena is hands down the best women's pole vaulter in the world and her accomplishments will live through history. You can view a picture of her in my author profile. If you're interested in learning more about pole vaulting or Yelena you should follow the links below.
Want to learn more about the pole vault event? Or perhaps you want to learn about pole vaulting techniques, history or want to buy equipment. Either way you can find what you need at the VaultTechniques.Com website.

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Roger Federer Forehand Tennis Technique

By Ed Ng

 Roger Federer's Forehand is one of the most beautiful tennis strokes on tour today. Federer's forehand is a versatile, graceful and powerful motion. Roger Federer is able to dominate the tour today largely due to his variety and is able to dial up the power on his forehand to generate awe inspiring winners, never seen before passing shots and incredible power and topspin.

Federer's forehand begins with the initial preparation. Federer holds the racket in a modified eastern grip, with the index knuckle verging on the 3rd bevel. The preparation phase begins when he recognizes the approaching ball and the flight path. The preparation phase consists of turning the body together as a unit, rather than taking the racket back in a large backswing. Federer takes his racket back in a smooth and efficient manner.

 As Roger Federer sees the tennis ball crossing the net, he begins to take his racket back, making sure to keep his racket on the right side of his body. Federer's forehand is incredibly efficient and adaptable. By taking his racket back slowly, rather than in an abrupt and rushed motion he is building up momentum and loading up for maximum power and efficiency. Club tennis players and recreational players often make the mistake of taking a quick, rushed backswing without first turning the body sideways.

 Roger Federer's forehand would not be so great if it weren't for his top notch tennis footwork. Federer makes sure to set up properly behind the shot, and he chooses his hitting stance based on the incoming ball and court position. Federer makes sure to load his stance, by staying low during the hit and in an athletic base and he keeps the athletic foundation throughout the entire tennis forehand stroke.

 Federer's forehand is also very unique because it contains idiosyncratic elements. Roger Federer's forehand is noted for his extreme head position - where he keeps his head position and eyes glued onto the point of contact prior, during and far after contact. Federer is great at tracking the ball throughout the swing. On slow motion videos, you can easily see how focused his eyes are during impact, and his head position stays constant throughout the entire tennis forehand stroke.

 Finally, after the height of takeback, Roger Federer makes sure to allow the racket to drop below the level of the ball to impart topspin and to maximize his swing line. He then extends outward and upward after contact toward the intended direction of the ball. Finally, he finishes with a modern windshield wiper finish.

Roger Federer's forehand contains both classic and modern elements, making Federer's forehand a perfect combination of topspin, power and efficiency. Federer is able to modify the swing at times to accommodate more variety of shot selection. This is what makes Federer such a great tennis player, and why other professional tennis players on tour have difficulty matching.

Learn more about Roger Federer's forehand, and improve your tennis technique with online tennis lessons at Optimum Tennis. http://www.optimumtennis.net

Coach Ed
Optimum Tennis
http://www.optimumtennis.net

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Tennis Rackets - A Selection Guide

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.

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Japanese Wrestling - A Little More Variety

By Patrick L Mahoney


 Japanese wrestling, sometimes called Japan Pro Wrestling, is a relatively recent arrival in Japan when compared to its more ancient counterpart Sumo wrestling. As an adaptation of standard American pro wrestling, Japan Pro Wrestling wrestling never really kicked off in its home country until RikidMzan made it big by inspiring his countrymen right after World War II. From then on, the sport practically snowballed into a national sport that saw the rise and stay of professional wrestling in the Japanese culture.
RikidMzan's death in 1963 had split the once-unified professional wrestling organization of Japan into two main factions, with two successors each taking a different approach to wrestling. One faction focused on turning wrestling into a simulated combat sport, while the other faction focused more on storytelling and performances.
Japanese wrestling would be associated to a few fights and names under them. This would include: manabu nakanishi, shinsuke nakamura, taguchi & prince devitt, black tiger & jado, togi makabe & tomoaki, makabe & tomoaki honma, takashi iizuka & tomohiro, iizuka & tomohiro ishii, and many others.

Combat Wrestling

Being the 'left-wing' style of wrestling, combat (or shoot) wrestling incorporates moves you would rarely see on American wrestling: kicks and punches accompany a wrestler's plethora of moves; aiming primarily to create a 'fight' rather than a 'show' to its fans. This makes combat wrestling a notch more dangerous and realistic than its flashier and more dramatic counterpart.

King's Road

If you ever watched American wrestling, then you would be familiar with how the King's Road approach to wrestling took off: submissions, brawls and some background stories all work together to create a cinematic effect - traditional America wrestling in its purest form.

The End Result

Neither side of pro wrestling in Japan actually 'won' as time passed. In fact, the lines differentiating both styles of Japan Pro Wrestling blurred; resulting in a style of wrestling that is uniquely Japanese in nature.
Watching most American pro wrestling matches is like watching a noontime soap drama - except with more muscles and testosterone attached. Japan Pro Wrestling is a bit more different: the matches are designed as actual wrestling matches with a very real interest in victory rather than some fabricated personal agenda for the wrestlers.
Even the energy of the matches is different - Japan Pro Wrestling has a more competitive and edgy feel to it than its American counterpart. This edgy feel is not generated by the fluff surrounding the matches, but by the wrestlers themselves as they duke it out for the titles. It would be really convincing if you didn't know from the beginning that the matches were scripted all the same.
Discover great Japanese Wrestling [http://japonesewrestling.net] videos, products, and more at [http://japonesewrestling.net].

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Anna Rawson - Golf Hottie

 Anna Rawson was born is an Australian golf player. She also started modeling career at age 16, when she was a finalist in the Australian "Dolly" Magazine cover contest.
This opened up modeling opportunities on the catwalk, in print ads, magazines, and on television.

She was the South Australian and Victoria Junior Champion plus the winner of the Jack Newton International Junior Classic and also was a member of the 1999 Australian National Squad.

 Anna turned professional in 2004, played a full season on the Future Tour and missed the cut at the 2004 LPGA Final Qualifying Tournament. Later she finished third at the Ladies European Tour 2005 qualifying tournament and was a season 2006 LET rookie.

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