REFLECTIONS...you might have been on to something

Have you ever seen someone discuss or display concepts or techniques or even idea that you had already either considered, used or was a part of your normal routine? And did they make it seem like it was some unconventional, special or unique idea? Did they give it a cool buzzword name that was destined for branding?

I've had this type of thing happen many times in my life. It usually takes place when someone gains prominence, authority or credibility with the masses or co-workers in some way. Therefore, since they are now supposedly "in the know", what they have to say becomes a revelation–or at least they make it seem so. In fact, it is usually a rehashing of what has already been.

If you are reading this blog, and you know how I feel about snootiness or pomposity in tennis, then take this to heart. You may already have discovered the same concepts as the "PROS" but without the associated hype. It is nice to label things as a way to categorize them and communicate them to others. But don't take any information as golden simply because it comes out of the mouth of a person who has gained success. Each person is an individual, and we gain knowledge and skill from a variety of sources. As a certified teacher, I know that everyone learns differently. I may say things in a way that make sense to you on a given stroke or concept, or someone else might use better words or illustrations that will fill your individual need. Use what works best for YOU always regardless of who said it.

Whatever I pass on to you is based on my continuing learning cycle, knowledge of almost four decades on a tennis court, and my best use of common sense. Does that mean I have all the answers? No way. But if I have ANY answers for you, then visit this blog frequently, download my podcast from iTunes, and even buy my book whenever I can get to finish it.

So whenever you think you have an idea or concept to share, and someone treats you with an eye-roll or makes you feel stupid for even bringing it up, just remember this quote by German Philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer–it is one of my favorites: "All truth passes through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident."

REFLECTIONS...is losing badly nothing but stupid?

Recently I listened to a podcast and felt a bit disturbed afterwards. It was mentioned that some folks lost a doubles set 6-0 and would have been stupid if they did not change their tactics for the second set. The idea of "if you keep doing the same thing you will get the same result" is a sound principle. But there is something also to be said for sticking to a plan, keeping the pressure on, and waiting for your opponent to cool off.

I don't think I could ever refer to someone as stupid for playing hard but losing a match. Shortsighted might perhaps be a bit more of an accurate term. Of course, without knowing how close a set might have been, 6-0 might be misleading. It is not appropriate, in my opinion, to refer to the winning team as "embarrassing" their opponents by a score of 6-0 when we really do not know how close the game points were. How many of the games went to deuce for example? Was the other team just a little bit better at playing the big points well? Were their other factors involved that we do not know? I think we need to be careful when analyzing how poorly one performed without really knowing the details.

Let's face it: no one likes to lose 6-0. But there is something to be learned from every set that is either won or lost. Don't let someone else define how you should feel about it. If I played a good, solid set, hit my strokes well, but was simply outplayed by a more skillful challenger, then I know more work is ahead of me if I want to win some games against this person in the future. And I would not take kindly to being ridiculed for the lack of games won marked on the scoreboard.

Episode 50: He who hesitates serves better?

What motion works best on the serve? A half-swing that stalls behind the back or a full windmill motion that keeps moving start to finish? We'll take a look at how effective both techniques seem to be.

REFLECTIONS...youthful shortsightedness and a return to craft

I recently watched a video clip of Louis C. K., professional comedian, actor, director, producer and writer from Boston, Massachussets. In an interview with Conan O'Brien, he was making light of how much technology has changed in his lifetime citing things like the rotary phone and airline travel. But what I found most interesting was his statement, "now we live in an amazing, amazing world and it is wasted on the crappiest generation of just spoiled idiots who don't care." For me, he was relating to the folly of our youth who seem to think that older adults are "so over" and have little to contribute to their world. They forget that WE CREATED THEIR WORLD. They need to be thanking us and not acting like they somehow know MORE about EVERYTHING as if our life experience over several decades is not relevant in today's world.

Case in point related to tennis: In a recent article from Paul Fein at TennisOne.com, I read that the International Tennis Federation had been approached by thirty well-know tennis figures, including the likes of John McEnroe and Martina Navratilova, with a letter that promoted the reduction of racket head size and racket length in an attempt to tame the over-powering game we see in today's game of professional tennis. Thanks to this out-of-control obsession with powerful baseline groundstrokes at the expense of net play, especially by our current generation of youthful players, there is less CRAFT and more CRUSH to the sport that has seen some professional mainstream sports go the route of monster-truck destruction as their mantra.

My contention for quite some time has been that power tennis sends the wrong message to the recreational player who tries, without the benefit of flawless timing and solid technique, to emulate the pros who hit bigger than the Empire State building. Perhaps these pros who want the racket face reduced from the current 12.5" to 9" have something beneficial to say that we can all benefit from. Mary Carillo, fomer tennis pro and current popular tennis analyst, suggests perhaps a compromise that allows larger rackets for recreational weekend-warrior-type players while providing a pro line that will keep the power game in check for both our current and future tennis professionals. I can virtually guarantee that none of these proponents of a more multi-dimensional tennis player for today's game were born much past the 70's.

Imagine that. An older person with wisdom, born out of life experience, that can benefit our youthful players whose injury rate is on the rise as they continue to bludgeon the ball to death and have seemingly all but lost the art of finesse.

REFLECTIONS...percentages of success

After hitting the other night, I mentioned something to my partner upon finishing up a longer and more-difficult-than-usual rally. Upon being fed a short ball on my forehand side from his angled volley, I ran up and had to decide whether to hit a hard drive with topspin or a softer, well-placed slice. I decided on the latter and hit a winner down-the-line as a passing shot. It wasn't extremely powerful, but I carefully guided the ball past his racket into the open court. It made me think about determining what percentage of success, in a split second, I was going for. I played this shot as if the match depended on it, but in fact, we were not playing for points at all. But in my mind, I leveled high importance on winning this rally. I chose what I considered to be an 80-20 shot or maybe even a 90-10. Had I gone for the big blast, it would have looked more imposing but the likely percentage for MY game would have dropped to maybe a 60-40 chance for success. Missing the shot would not be very imposing.

What does this mean to you? We usually practice differently than we play for a variety of reasons. Just realize that, in your mind, the rally can signify anything you want it to. And the key to making the right percentage play is in the true understanding of your personal strengths and weaknesses. A point won is a point won whether it hits the net cord and drops over or it knocks the racket out of your challengers hand by the sheer power of the stroke. When the game is won, no one really cares if it was pretty or ugly. Neither should you.

PRACTICE when it is practice time, and PLAY when it is time to simply apply what you learned in practice about yourself and your game.

Episode 49: Left-handed fair advantage

Why have left-handed players done so well in tennis? Do they have an advantage over righties on the court? We'll take a look at the facts, some history, and even some speculation about lefty vs. righty.

REFLECTIONS...the paperwork of tennis and life

Paperwork. Who doesn't hate it. Credentials are paperwork, and in tennis, they are something I never felt the need to pursue. It's not that I haven't done diligence and attended seminars, workshops, etc. I've worked hard to learn my skills as both player and instructor. But there are those who will never recognize these skills unless you hold a certain piece of paper. Nowhere was this more of an issue than in public education. I remember working with kids in a before/after-school program around my full-time job and being denied the chance to act as a sub in the very same school where I ran the program. Same kids, same building, same principal. I was told that I needed a sub certificate.

So, I got a sub certificate. To make a long story short, in order to be a teacher, I needed to get a Bachelor's degree, a Certificate of Eligibility, and then a Provisional Teacher License. I also needed to attend yet more classes at night. More paperwork. But successful I was, and all those goals were accomplished. Every step was a battle, and with every battle came an inevitable victory.

The educational field has been up and down for many reasons, but from years of teaching tennis prior, I had decided that working with kids for the "lightbulb" moment was worth the struggle of changing jobs, careers, and juggling every part of my life.

So recently, I decided that I might get one more piece of paper. This one related to tennis. I did my research and found the Professional Tennis Registry or PTR based in Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Yet more effort on my part produced another favorable result. I now hold the credential of being a PTR Certified tennis instructor.

Yes, more paperwork. Credibility established. Naysayers silenced (well, at least some of them). But my racket skills, teaching experience, and knowledge base had already been firmly in place from decades of effort that came well before that certificate.

Ah, but that glorious paperwork. Don't ever let it define what or who you are. And don't let others define your credence since you are whatever you believe yourself to be. Great men (and women) have irrepressible belief.

TENNIS NOTE: if you ever feel the pressure of winning or losing a tennis match, remember that there are much bigger challenges ahead and bigger victories in your life to be had (try raising children for example). This might help you relax and play better tennis than ever.

Episode 48: Sampras and Federer on the numbers

As we enjoy this year's Wimbledon, we look towards the numerical connection between Roger Federer and Pete Sampras. Besides their tennis greatness, do the numbers between them project a deeper link when we look at them more carefully?

Episode 47: Reflections from the Red Clay of Roland Garros

If you enjoyed watching the French Open, what if anything did you bring away from the experience that may apply to your own game? I'll tell you what I noticed from the two grueling weeks at Roland Garros.

Episode 46: A tennis ball with a purpose

Tennis balls come in a variety of styles, sizes and even colors. But each type has its purpose, and maybe there is more to these fuzzy spheres than meets the eye.

Episode 45: Four-score and 7 minutes ago

Let's talk basics of tennis scoring and how little separates a win from a loss. Or, let's not keep "proper" score at all!

Episode 44: Slice with your feet, then your racket

The slice backhand can be a successful shot in the tennis repertoire as both and offensive and defensive stroke. The difference lies more in the positioning of the feet than most would realize.

NOTE: pay particular attention to the feet and where letter A represents racket position and letter B represents ball position.

If the ball is in the same relative position (B), but the racket head is further along its path to the ball (A), then it stands to reason that the ball will be struck further in front at the hit zone. If the racket head lags behind due to having less time, the ball is struck more on the side of the body.

Episode 43: the board game named Tennis

Tennis has been compared to other sports and activities. Now I make the case for the similarities of tennis and backgammon. If you thought that a Chess match was like a tennis match, wait until you hear about the "oldest" game in recorded history.

Episode 42: Tennis stroke BANDAIDS

Reviewing Chapter 10 of the classic Brad Gilbert book "Winning Ugly", I present a snapshot of simple ideas that can provide assistance for forehands and backhands.

LISTEN TO DISCUSSION...Remembering the Battle of the Sexes

The early 1970's were a defining time in tennis. Hustler and former tennis player Bobby Riggs and female tennis pro Billie Jean King made history through the famous spectacle held at the Houston Astrodome known as the Battle of the Sexes. Listen to a lively discussion between Ron Miller and Ian Westermann (ESSENTIAL TENNIS) and callers from around the U.S. as we discussed the state of women's vs. men's tennis and the potential for an event like this to be repeated today.

Q & A: What would you pay?

Given the state of the economy, gas prices, and overall price gouging by many companies, what would you be willing to pay for a tennis racket? Sneakers? Other tennis equipment?

Episode 41: Kids starting tennis? Parents are the key to their success.

How can parents make an informed decision about their child's beginning involvement in tennis? Let's take at look at some available options that fit your schedule and your wallet.

Episode 40: Wearing your forehand inside-out

You may have seen pros running around their backhand and hit a forehand groundstroke. You too can capitalize on today's power forehand with some knowledge, a sharp eye and the legs to back it up.

LISTEN TO DISCUSSION...Starting kids in tennis

Listen to a lively discussion between Ron Miller and Ian Westermann (of the ESSENTIAL TENNIS podcast) and callers from around the U.S. as they discuss the when, where and how of getting kids started in tennis (March 5th episode of Essential Tennis Live)

Episode 39: "Old School" not ready for retirement

So you've been criticized for being out-of-date with your approach to tennis. Perhaps we could all learn a thing or two from past tennis concepts before they are placed on a dusty shelf and left to be forgotten.