WebTennis.net
Tennis Instruction
Newsletter

by Brent Abel

September 2, 2004

So, here's what I've got for you in this issue...

- On a Personal Note: The latest from the home front...

- Tip of the Day: What you must do every time you practice or play a match to give yourself the best possible chance of playing to your top skill level...

- New Instructional Product from Brent:  "The Pete Sampras Serve:  How you can copy, model, and practice specific fundamentals of Pete's serve to dramatically improve yours."

- New Endorsed Product by Brent:  John Yandell's new Advanced Tennis Research Project DVDs, Volume 2

- eBay:  A great way to find tennis equipment at incredible prices

Girls are back in school and not necessarily real happy about it...! 

A big year for all of 'em as Georgie is now a junior, meaning that college is looming (hey, does that mean I get to do a little traveling this year on a college scouting trip....?), Molly is a freshman and fighting for her space as the smallest kid in the universe over there at the HS, and Cass is the one on cruise control...! 

I mean that little 4th grader has got me wrapped...!  Probably because the two older ones finally figured out that I'm not really very cool after all...  Oh well, I had the bluff going for awhile...

And finally, yes, heading to Colorado Springs tomorrow to watch my Bears open their football season against the Air Force Academy in the morning on Saturday and then going to Boulder that evening to see CU open against Colorado State...

Yeah, I know what you're thinking, "you're kidding me Brent, right...?. Well, no..., and yes, you are right, I am little stupid on this Cal thing... I dunno, born and raised there, what can I say...?...! Uh, how bout, ROLL ON YOU BEARS...!

Developing a specific routine for how you warmup, whether you're practicing or competing in a league or tournament match is an absolute must in giving you the best possible chance to play well on that day.

Too often we go out on the court and the first few minutes are scattered, unorganized, confusing, and without any purpose to help get focused and ready to play.

The warmup should be a specific routine each and every time you play.  Practice, leagues, tournaments, lessons, whatever...  Develop a set pattern, a routine, a ritual that you feel comfortable with and you'll set yourself up to really have a good chance to play well on that day... 

Here are the elements that need to happen when you warm up and like them to take place in the following order...

• If you're playing a match, spin the racket first before the warmup and decide who will serve first for singles or doubles.  Making this decision as the first thing you do helps settle you in to the fact that you're here to compete...
  
  No apologizing when you miss a few shots as you warmup.  Remember, this is a time to get loose, get physically warmer, and prepare yourself physically and mentally.  It's normal to spray a few as you loosen up.  No apologizing.  Your brain starts to think something bad is happening. 
  
  In fact, intentionally miss a few by hitting them out after awhile just to recalibrate the feeling of what an out shot actually is...
   
• The first 1-2 minutes...
  • From the baseline or on the service line, moving the feet and not stopping the feet prior to the start of a swing
    • Try to keep your feet moving AS you make contact.  Most players can't...
    • Trying to make sure every contact point is out away to your side. 
      No standing and reaching out for the ball or allowing balls to jam you.  Come on, this is the time to get going...!
  • Visually finding the ball and not letting it go
  • S L O W swings out through the ball with deathly slow finishes
  • Soft hand pressure on the racket handle.  Feel how soft you can be
  • Your head staying still at contact at NOT looking up to see your shot until you know you've S L O W L Y finished the stroke
  • Don'ts:  No worrying about how you're going to play today, no evaluating your opponent yet if they're unknown, and no thoughts of the outcome of the match, the winning and losing stuff
     
• The next 1-2 minutes...
  • On the baseline, continue to move the feet
  • Align yourself to the side of all incoming balls
  • Slightly faster swing speeds on balls that bounce well in front of you
  • Head staying still as you move for balls and at contact
  • Seeing the ball bounce up off the court up into your contact area
  • Keeping your focus on the ball on the other side of the net, not seeing your opponent
  • Your eyes not peeking prior to contact to see your shot as it leaves your contact area
  • Developing confidence for today that you're seeing the ball well and can take your time through contact and out to the stroke finish position
  • Being aware (not actually looking directly at your opponent) if there are any obvious weaknesses over there.  Making a mental note, but NOT determining if you're going to win or lose today based on you observing your opponents' strengths and/or weaknesses
     
• The next 1-2 minutes
  • Move up to net and take some volleys and overheads
  • Focusing on visual contact with the ball just prior to when your opponent makes contact.  Not being distracted by off court movements and sounds, starting to settle in
  • Feet are moving, breathing is good and controlled, hands are relaxed in your "Ready" position and at all times.  A slight firming of the grip at contact is just fine, but no "death grip".  Be aware of any excessive hand tension.  Drop it, let it go...
  • Confidently allowing balls to reach your ideal contact point for volleys and overheads, no reaching too early and rushing contact.  A calm feeling that you can wait as long as you'd like to make contact.
  • Feeling good posture
  • NO evaluating how you're going to play today, no worrying that you might have an off day, continuing to feel comfortable at contact without the need to prematurely see your shot as it leaves your racket...
     
• The next 1-2 minutes
  • Serving - s l o w serves to start with zero trying to show off your big monster serve yet...!  Let's wait on that one until we're sure the ol' shoulder is good and loose.
  • Straight tossing arm, slow toss speed tempo, toss in front, slow swing, back foot steps into the court after the hit even on very s l o w serves
  • Head stays up at contact not looking too early to see how you're serving today
  • Zero critiquing as to how you'll serve today
  • Relaxed tension in the racket hand
  • Receive a few of your opponent's serves and play them back as practice returns without looking up during contact until you absolutely know you've finished the stroke
     
• OK, you're ready...!  Don't mess around with this tip.  This is the key to settling in early giving yourself the possible chance to play well each and every time.  Does it mean that you will, of course not, but without a set routine, it'll be pure luck when you do play well...
  
  And the bottom line is this, we're all here to enjoy today...  Routines help us do that especially in tennis.

- Next Week's Tip:  I know I said last issue that we'd be working on improving our visual contact with the ball skills in this issue, and in a sense, we are. 

But I've got what I think is some exciting stuff, a new training program, coming your way for helping you track a moving ball better when you're also on the move.  I'm not ready top unveil it quite yet.  So hang in there with me...  Next week maybe, we'll see...

OK, I think I've come up with a unique instructional product.  And not that I'm biased or anything like that, oh no...! 

But the deal is this, I've studied Pete's serve to death forever and I've always known that he does things that are SO fundamental that we really should copy and model this guy...

So, I've put together an instructional video product that dissects what Pete does, points out exactly what we should model, and describes precisely how to practice it. 

And come on, can really serve just like Pete...?  Nope, nah, no way, all that stuff...

The guy generated more racket speed at the perfect time and consequently developed arguably the best serve of all time.

BUT, Pete never did anything that the human body would naturally resist (now, that was good Brent...), so his fundamentals are pure and we should try to learn...

So, here's what I've done.  I've picked out ten elements of Pete's serve that are positions during his motion that we can model and should try to copy.

More Spin, Power, and Placement Control

The lesson package includes immediate to the online portion of the lesson (pics, audio, short clips, text) and a CD that has the 15 minute video clip where I take Pete's serve apart and give you ways to practice this gorgeously natural motion so you can develop MORE spin, power, and placement control...

I've got two video clips side by side of Pete's serve from different angles and I take you through his serve from start to finish. 

I slow it down, pause it, go frame by frame, and basically give you the answers for taking your serve to a new level, who knows, maybe even that feared weapon you'd love to have...!

I've also included three bonuses to really make this product something that over delivers value for you. 

• Specific Match Warm-Up Routine:
  
  Three additional audio files that will play in your car, a great tool for getting you ready for a match, where I take you through the specific routine of how to warm up for a match. 
  
  Minute by minute, what you should do when you first walk out on the court, and what you should do specifically each minute to enable yourself to play to the best of your abilities on that particular day...
   
  • Audio lesson by me of what to be thinking and focusing on during each of your strokes
     
  • Audio interview with Pat Blaskower, author of "The Art of Doubles", on what her players' specific routine is during their 5-10 minute warm-up.
     
  • Audio interview with tennis professional Alan Margot, highly successful league team coach, on a specific routine and how to have some fun with it...!

These bonuses are worth $39...

The total price for this lesson package including the bonuses is just $39.  Yep, a deal.

Plus, I'm more than glad to give you a lifetime 100% satisfaction complete money back guarantee AND unlimited email and telephone support.

I want to help you improve your serve, it's as simple as that.

Once your credit card or PayPal account is charged, you'll immediately receive an email in your InBox with the URL link to the online portion of this lesson.

Here's where to pick up your copy of this lesson.

$39 with your credit card or PayPal

Breathtaking...

This guy John Yandell is a freaking genius.  I mean, the video footage he has of some of the world's greatest players is so pure...

I'm not going to go and on about the quality of these DVDs because it is darn near indescribable, but just to say, if you want to see strokes, footwork, and the general beauty of the game, look no further than what John has produced.

The quality of the slo-mo with zero sound just takes your breath away.

Sampras, Kuerten, Haas, Philippoussis, and Rusedski...

4 new DVDs:  Volume 2 of The Serve, The Return of Serve, Baseline Sequences Return Points, and Baseline Sequences Serve Points will just blow your mind.

DVD #1 - The Serve: The first and second serves of these top one-handed players, including the greatest server in history, Pete Sampras. All spins and ball placements. Multiple camera angles. Study the Toss, Stances, Arm Action, Body Rotation. 80 minutes. No instruction or commentary. Just pure super slow motion footage.

DVD #2 - The Return of Serve: Return of serve from these top one-handed players, both first and second serve. Multiple camera angles. Study the swing patterns, footwork, timing and recovery steps. 46 minutes. No instruction or commentary. Just pure super slow motion footage.

DVD #3 - Baseline Sequences Return Points: Return point sequences from these top one-handed players, on both first and second serve. Multiple camera angles. Study the shot patterns and movement patterns in all directions, including first step and the recovery steps. 1 hour 20 minutes. No instruction or commentary. Just pure super slow motion footage.

DVD #4 - Baseline Sequences Serve Points: Service point sequences from these top one-handed players, on both first and second serve. Multiple camera angles. Study the shot patterns and movement patterns in all directions, including first step and the recovery steps. 1 hour 35 minutes. No instruction or commentary. Just pure super slow motion footage.

OK, here's how to get your hands on these DVDs so you can pop 'em in the DVD player, sit back, and just enjoy.  Somehow the quality slo-mo seems to make it look so understandable.  You'll love it...

Here's how to order...  Choose one DVD, more, or all four...

Now, when you click the # of DVDs you want, be sure in the credit card form area "Comments/Special Delivery Information" that you list the DVD #s you want.  The DVD #s are listed above with their descriptions.

1 DVD  = $40 including shipping
2 DVDs = $80     "
3 DVDs = $110   "
4 DVDs = $140   "

Let me know if you have any questions at brent@webtennis.net.

If you're in the market for new tennis equipment AND you're looking for a quote unquote "good deal", you must get with the program over at eBay.  Absolutely stunning prices...

New brand name equipment available through either winning an auction or their "Buy It Now" feature where you don't have to wait around to try win an auction.  Many of the "Buy It Now" equipment prices are slightly above wholesale.

It's nuts, but the prices are real and you can save significant dollars by shopping for your tennis needs at eBay.

I've set up a webpage where you can quickly see the current auction and Buy It Now listings for your favorite categories...

• Rackets
• Shoes
• String
• Clothing
• Bags
• and more...

Use this link to check out the up to the minute availability at eBay for your favorite tennis equipment.  Click here

OK, here's how to find me.

Email: brent@webtennis.net
Phone: 1-925-376-4575

And please let me know what you thought of this newsletter, obviously the content, but also the format, and if there's anything you'd like me to address in a future newsletter issue. 

Until then, as always, keep moving forward and see you at the net...!