WebTennis.net Newsletter

January 27, 2004

*** Next Instructional Live Webinar ***
Wed. Jan 28, 6-7pm PST
"Open Mic Night"
Ask any question you have regarding stroke mechanics
and/or singles or doubles strategies

Available to WebTennis.net Premium Members
Not yet a member?  It's only $7 / month.  Check it out here


Hi and welcome to the Jan 27, 2004 issue of the WebTennis.net Newsletter. 

Man... busy, busy, busy...  I'm moving this weekend and procrastination is ruling!  I'll get there, but I gotta find a couple of young guys who can deal with some heavy lifting.  My days of performing the "self move" are history! 

And my tennis colleagues are way too old to lift anything more than an old Jack Kramer 13 ounce racket (yeah, you know guys know who you are...!), so I'm thinking maybe a couple of Georgie's buds from the Campo football team wouldn't mind making a few extra dollars this Saturday...  Wish me luck...!

OK, here we go, and three things to mention...  

First, all Premium Members get an "Open Mic" Webinar tomorrow night, Wed Jan 28, 6-7pm PST.  The teleconference phone # and access code are listed at the Premium Member Center.  If you're not a member, it's just $7 / month.  See the box below for Webinar details, Premium Member benefits, and how to subscribe...

My live instructional Webinars work like this...  As soon as you enroll, you receive the presentation file for the Webinar, and then a few minutes prior to the scheduled start of the Webinar, you dial the teleconference phone number and listen to my live presentation.  I always leave time for your questions throughout the presentation.

Webinars are typically one hour...  I record the audio and then make it available online to enrolled students within an hour or so after the Webinar.

WebTennis.net Premium Members may attend all instructional Webinars as part of their membership.  I try to conduct 2-3 Webinars each month on various topics that WebTennis.net subscribers have asked me to present.

Even if you can't attend the live teleconference presentation, Premium Members still get access to the downloadable PDF presentation file and the recorded audio MP3 files.  You can listen to the recorded audio either directly from the website and/or you can download the audio files to your computer.  You can also order a CD for you that will play in your car's CD player.


Second, here's a tip you can watch in action at the Australian Open...  and I mentioned to you last year about watching Lisa Raymond and learning from her style of play.  Both Lisa and Andre Agassi are tremendous percentage players, but they have different styles of how to challenge their opponents.

Andre has become Mr. Cross Court from the baseline over the past few years.  I mean this guy is beautifully using the court geometry and his court positioning to challenge his opponents into hitting low percentage shots.  His opponents are less worried about him actually coming into net and forcing them to have to pass Andre.  They're much more concerned that Andre is just never going to miss hitting cross court.

He hits the ball as well as anyone and can pretty much deal with anything his opponents can come up with.  And because he consistently hits cross court (lowest part of the net, longest distance to hit into, biggest part of the court to hit into, and least amount of footwork needed to immediately recover to the "center" of the court), his opponents know they'll have to eventually hit up the line to try to challenge Andre.

And unless they either hit a clean winner up the line or at least really stretch him out, all they're doing is setting up Andre for him to drill another big groundie cross court where his opponent now has to cover a ton of court to retrieve Andre's shot.  Major problem...

His stroke mechanics are so clean and unencumbered with any artificial set up, swing shape, or finish.  He does get a bit semi-western on that forehand grip which I don't recommend you use, but that's him and for his style, it works...  For us, I'd prefer the Eastern Forehand grip so that you don't become one-dimensional. 

I love watching Andre play, and we can learn a ton from his strokes and strategies, but if I have to pick a player for the rest of us to model, I'd much rather have you copy Lisa Raymond.  She poses a different challenge to her opponents...

Her opponents know that if they play any of their shots short or if Lisa senses she's hit a shot to a corner that is stretching out her opponent, everyone knows she's darting up to net and forcing her opponents to pass right then and there...

And she, like Andre, does get a little semi-western on her forehand groundie.  But after that, she's got the ability to go to any grip that is appropriate for her transition up to net...

We all know she's one of the all time great women's doubles players.  And that's they key for me.  You can really improve your singles by playing a ton of doubles.  I'd much rather see you present problems to your opponents in singles because they worry about your desire to end the point at net.  That mental pressure they endure is totally different than if they know you're only a baseliner...  The thought of you just wanting to come into net will get you some unforced errors from your opponents.

So, what's the lesson here today?  Keep working on your transition skills.  Baseline, approach, first volleys, 1/2 volleys, put away volleys, drop volleys, and overheads.  It's just plain more FUN...! 

Play more doubles and never, ever stay back even if you've got the weakest serve this side of Mars.  Try to make your return of serve in doubles a simple approach shot.  Transition... 

Have fun out there, move forward, take your time with your shots, be quick in getting to balls, and yet, never a need to rush the stroke...

Here's where to enroll for the instructional Webinar on Wed. Jan 28, 6-7pm PST

This is a one hour live instructional Webinar hosted by me where you'll also be able to ask any questions you may have regarding stroke mechanics and/or singles or doubles strategies.

To enroll...

Current Premium Members:  Please enroll via the Premium Member Center

Non Premium Members:  Here's where to become a WebTennis.net Premium Member


And finally, my good pal Scott Borowiak has two outstanding tennis trips coming up.  One to Acapulco and another to the Italian Open... 

If you've ever been on one of Scott's trips, then you know, this guy delivers as promised.  Scott's been organizing tennis trips and tours for over 25 years, and because of his experience, Scott knows the "ins and outs" of all of the best local hidden away restaurants, fun things to do, and places to go...

Here are a few of the highlights of these two upcoming trips...

February Tennis in Acapulco
Feb 17-24, 2004...

  • Is the cold weather getting old?  Do you have a case of the wintertime blues?

  • Scott Borowiak Tours has the cure...!

  • A week of tennis and golf in Acapulco at the Fairmont Princess.

  • February 17-24th.

  • Scott is offering this event for the 18th year!

  • The tennis program is outstanding with your choice of a daily two- hour tennis instructional program with USPTA Professionals and/or round robin singles and doubles.

  • Scott has many local contacts and extensive knowledge of the entire Acapulco area. 

  • He also offers optional events to experience the culture and visit places not available to the average tourist.

  • A charter flight is offered from Oakland or you can make arrangements for a land only package.

For additional details and pricing, please contact Scott at borotennis@aol.com
or call Scott directly at (209) 474-3935.

The Italian Open - Santa Costanza Package
May 1-8, 2004...

Scott Borowiak Tennis & Golf Tours offers you a unique opportunity to view one of the most colorful tennis tournaments in the world in historic Rome. In the past years, nineteen of the top twenty ranked ATP players competed in this Tennis Masters Series Event. In addition to the city tours and optional group dinners, guests will be invited to play tennis on red clay at the Sant Angese Tennis Club, home of the Bolletteri Training Center, and Italian Open practice site for many top players. The club is located one block from the hotel.

Tour Includes:
¥ Six Nights at The Santa Costanza Hotel
¥ Five sessions of lower level seating
¥ Special VIP Dinner at Foro Italico
¥ Welcome dinner party
¥ Daily Breakfast
¥ Organized fun matches at private tennis club
¥ Full-time professional tour leader
¥ Optional group dinners at special restaurants

¥ Optional Half-day City Tour

For additional details and pricing, please contact Scott at borotennis@aol.com
or call Scott directly at (209) 474-3935.


NEW Instructional Product from Brent

The Fundamentals of the One-Handed Backhand Groundstroke Drive

How to Hit this Shot with Pure Topspin (non-artificial)

I've produced my own instructional product for this shot, the one-handed backhand groundstroke.  It's a CD and DVD of 60 minutes of video lessons and audio clips.  The video lessons play on both the CD and DVD.  The audio reminders play on the CD from either your computer or car CD players.

The CD and DVD set will be shipped within 24 hours of your purchase and generally take no more than a couple of days to arrive to you if you live within the continental U.S. 

Here's what you get...

  • Immediate access to the online portion of this lesson.  As your CD and DVD set is being shipped to you, once you pay via credit card or PayPal, you'll get instant access to the online portion of this lesson which includes everything that is on the CD and DVD...!
     

    • I go through each and every one of the stroke mechanic fundamentals with you with a fine toothed comb.  I break down everything for you with video where I get to work the video in real time, pause, slo-mo, and frame by frame where I discuss with you exactly what you should copy and what things you want to avoid.

      The video lessons are located on both the CD and DVD and include not only the instruction but also a practice plan to help you make significant improvement.
       

      • 6 videos on the 6 elements of the stroke - ready, set, footwork, pre-contact swing shape, contact, and finish positions...
         

      • a video on how to play this shot "on the rise".
         

      • several other video clips showing the stroke in real time from different angles.
         

    • The CD also has a set of audio reminders that will play from either your computer or car CD players.  Obviously, visual learning is incredibly important, but audio learning is really beneficial.  I absolutely love to listen to instructional stuff when I'm in my car rolling on down the road...

    PLUS, these bonuses...!
     

    • Unlimited Support - Yep, I know you may have some questions that are specific to you.  I'm here to help.  You can contact me via email or phone as often and as much as you need...
       

    • Guarantee - 100% money back lifetime warranty if at any time you feel you're not getting more than your money's worth...  Look, I'm real confident with my ability to help you.  But just so you know, this is a pure no-risk purchase.
       

    $39 Buy Now
    Immediate Online Access, CD, and DVD


NEW Doubles Instructional Product - Online and CD...!

"Your Top Ten Biggest Challenges in Doubles" by Brent Abel and Pat Blaskower

After reading the latest issue of Tennis magazine, maybe it should be the top eleven challenges which would include one about having to deal with all of the mis-information you have to put up with out there...!  (OK, I'm calming down, hang in there with me...!)

Doubles coaching guru Pat Blaskower and I have partnered up to give you the answers to ten of your most often asked questions about how to deal with specific situations in doubles...

Pat has authored what I believe is the best hard cover book on doubles, "The Art of Doubles".  Pat's book is truly my one and only resource for coaching doubles.  Here's where to pick up a copy of Pat's book, "The Art of Doubles".  Amazon has it for just $11.99.  It's the deal of the century...
Just click on the book photo to the left...

Pat and I took your ten most asked questions and discussed exactly how to solve those problems.

This instructional product is a one hour discussion segmented into 11 parts (intro and the answers to the ten questions).

  • Where exactly do I serve and what's likely to happen with the return of serve?
    How you set up your partner with the correct placement of your serve as opposed to power.

  • How do I get rid of this irrational fear of messing up if I poach?
    How you can overcome the fear of missing put-away opportunities and why losing points when you poach can turn into your team's advantage for future points.

  • Where do I return serve and why?
    What are your targets for the return of serve and why establishing those potential placements early in the match will open up big opportunities for you later in the match.

  • As the receiver's partner, what's my role and exact court positioning?
    What exactly is your role here and how you can control the point from this position on the court.

  • I'm freaked out about the "transition" from baseline to the net.  How can I improve on that?
    How you can overcome the worry of playing shots within "no man's land" as you move forward to join your partner up at net.

  • How do I deal with lob queens and kings?
    How to hit shots that force your opponents into not lobbing or trying very difficult lobs.

  • When and where should I lob?
    How you can turn a simple lob into a major weapon, not as a lob queen or king, but an immediate offensive opportunity for you and your partner.

  • How do I deal with those crazy "net rushers"?
    How you can neutralize those players that are barreling up to net.  What are the right shots you should play to put them in a defensive position.

  • Where do I hit my shots?
    How you can have a simple formula that will decide exactly where every shot should be played.  How you can better understand the geometry of the court for your shot placements.

  • How do my partner and I "get on the same page"?
    How to positively involve your partner with your shot placements and why this is the answer to a long and successful life as a doubles player...!

Here's what you get...

- Immediate access to the one hour online presentation of this lesson.  You can listen to each of the ten answers directly from the webpage. 

- Each answer is a discussion between me and Pat which gives you our combined teaching and playing wisdom of nearly 100 years (yikes...!).

- Each answer is a MP3 file that you can also download to your computer where you can listen "off-line" and/or burn your own CD.

- The lesson CD will be immediately shipped to you.

- PLUS, unlimited email and telephone support from Brent!  Yep, I'm available to help you.  Just let me know.

- And with all of my instructional products, you get my 100% fully refundable lifetime player satisfaction guarantee.

Buy Now $39
Immediate online access and CD


Feedback and Contact...

As you know, I'm always interested in your opinion of my newsletters, products, and your overall tennis learning experience with me.  Please feel free to drop me a line if you have any suggestions, criticism, ideas for topics, whatever...   I want to hear from you...!  Thanks.

brent@webtennis.net

"What's your single most important question on how to immediately improve your own tennis?"
 

Directions:
Type in your question in the space below, and then click
“Submit My Question!”


If you want me to reply directly to you,
please include your email below...

Thanks for your input.  Your answer will really help me stay targeted on how to best help you...


Brent's "How to Improve Your Serve"
3 CD - 1 DVD
Instructional Package

  • Immediate access to the online detailed lesson

  • 3 CDs with detailed photos, video clips, and audio reminders that play play in your car

  • DVD with 8 video lessons for stroke mechanics, practice drills, and singles & doubles serve strategies

  • Unlimited email and phone support

$39 gets you all of the above PLUS a
100% money back guarantee!

Buy Now

OR Complete Details


Give yourself the gift of a unique 24/7 tennis learning experience...!

The WebTennis.net
Premium Membership

  • Your membership includes..

  • Get access to your membership 24 hours a day / 7 days a week...!

  • Attend any upcoming LIVE instructional Webinar for free

  • Get access to all archived instructional Webinars including the PDF presentation files, the recorded audio that you can listen to directly from the website, download the MP3 files, or order a CD

  • Get access to the video clip library

  • Get access to several online lessons and interviews available only to Premium Members

  • and much more...!

$7 / Month

Complete player satisfaction.   No-risk guarantee for
one full year ...!


All products from Brent Abel come with a 100% buyer satisfaction guarantee...!
 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


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