TennisTalk: Ask Glen
Ask Glen is a weekly article providing key tips on everything from rules to gameplay to court savvy...to even a little bit of history. "Glen", of course, is Glen Howe, USPTA Master Professional and superintendent of the Tennis Division.
Use the following form to "Ask Glen", and be sure to look here every week for more answers to some of our best questions.
This Week's Questions
Dear Glen,
I will be trying out for my high school team this year in a couple of months. I really want to make the team for my first time. Do you have any suggestions that would help me accomplish this?
Dear Junior,
My compliments to you for trying out for your tennis team. With the amount of peer pressure these days, I would like to wish you luck in your pursuit. There are a number of things that can improve your chances to make the team. First, you should workout and aerobically get in good physical shape. It is important to put your roadwork in so you never lose a match due to poor conditioning. Long distance as well as sprints can help you compete well.Second, the key to making a position on the team would be to winning sets in your challenge matches. Everyone who has tried out for high school and college teams has experienced this pressured situation. If you win sets, you will make the team and maybe even elevate to one of the top spots. If you lose a lot of sets, you may get cut from the team. It's not the worst thing that ever happened. I didn't make my junior year high school team, but went on to have a fairly successful college and tournament career.
Your goal should be to play at least 20 full sets of tennis against different opponents before tryouts commence. If you get in shape and play sets of tennis, this is your best way to maximize your chances for the team.
Dear Glen,
I am an avid singles player in my mid-fifties. My issue is that after extended matches, I tend to cramp on a regular basis. I have tried numerous preparations to avoid cramps but nothing has worked completely. Any ideas?
Dear Tennis Player,
I have known many players that cramp during tennis matches. Many cures such as Gatorade, bananas, and other remedies can help but not cure cramps.Muscle cramps are an involuntary contraction of a muscle that doesn't relax. These can vary from slight twitching of the muscles to severe pain. The exact cause of muscle cramps is unknown but improved stretching before and after competition has been found to be effective. Other factors associated with cramps are extreme heat that causes a loss of fluids. Salt, potassium, and other nutrient levels fall and potential for cramps increase. In this case, the key is to hydrate before the match.
Another important factor would be to improve your fitness level. This can help avoid the tightening of muscles that leads to faster fatigue and cramps. The total answer is common sense medicine. A combination of all the above remedies should be considered.
Dear Glen,
How many times can you toss the serve up to start a point?
Dear Tennis Player,
A server can toss the ball and decide to catch it with his hand, his racquet, or let the ball bounce. This can happen, as many times that is possible within the 20-second time frame. The only thing that may happen is that a player tossing the ball that many times won't have a lot of tennis friends to play. My recommendation is to work on your service toss.
Dear Glen,
I am a senior player and struggle to play the game of singles and doubles as I have gotten older. Are there strategies to counter my lack of mobility? What do the best nationally ranked players do that are in their seventies and beyond?
Tom
Dear Tom,
Years ago, I competed in the 35's grass courts and observed some of the best 70, 80, and 90 years olds in the country. It was interesting that the best players were standing three feet inside the baseline and were moving their opponent back and forth unmercifully. If the ball was hit deep they would volley the baseline shot. The other characteristic was that their opponent was always running after the next ball.Many club players slow the ball hit down or hit lobs to buy time. The tactic I learned watching the best senior players shortens the reaction time of the opponent. This can be incorporated into regular play if practiced by club players.
Other November Questions
Dear Glen,
Last week, I was playing doubles and my opponent ran to a short ball and contacted the ball shortly after the second bounce. We stopped because the ball was "not up".
My opponent's contention was that he got the ball before the second bounce and it was their point. What is the call?
Dear Confused,
According to USTA rules 24.b, if the player does not return the ball before it bounces twice consecutively, the point is lost. The main question is who will make the call on the ball that is "not up". According to "Friend at Court", guideline #5 states that players make calls on their own side of net. This tennis etiquette book is for use when referees are not available. So, to answer your question, it is your opponent's call.
Dear Glen,
I have been playing tennis for almost ten years. My game has improved a good amount and I find myself attacking the net more frequently. The problem is that my backhand volley is not very good. I have a two-handed backhand from the backcourt and have been trying to learn a one-hander at the net for flexibility. Any suggestions on how to transition to a better one-handed backhand volley?
Richard
Dear Richard,
My suggestion to you would be to keep the two handed stroke for some volley hits and use the one hander for shot that are not within reach. If you look at the Williams sisters and how they pummel their backhand volleys, this would give you good reason to keep the two-hander on high balls. To transition to a one-hander, open the top hand and use it for reinforcement.The one-handed backhand volley can be taught by using the non-dominant hand to pull tension on the racquet before releasing. This will give more support to the racquet and tends to help a player lead with his racquet. It is also important to remember that the racquet head should be kept above the hand. This will help maintain support and keep the eyes on the same level as the racquet.
Dear Glen,
What and how are the effects of topspin and backspin created?
Dear Tennis Player,
Spins are used to control the ball and keep it in the court. The effect of the spins can also create difficulties for opponents and help create errors. As a generality, topspin is hit high and hard and backspin is hit low and slow.Topspin is hit by brushing the ball from low to high. The rotation creates wind resistance and assists gravity in bringing the ball to earth. This gives you the ability to hit the ball much harder and keep it in the court. As far as backspin or slice, the spin is opposite rotation of a topspin ball. The reverse rotation of the ball creates a carpet effect and the ball will sail. Backspin will give you the ability to make the ball slide or stop in place depending on the trajectory that is hit.
Both of these spins are essential as you improve your level of play. Contact a qualified teaching professional to learn these strokes.
Dear Glen,
The Masters tournament in France was quite exciting with Jo-Wilfred Tsonga winning in the final. Several times when their strings break, they went over to their tennis bag and got a new racquet. Are these racquets strung any specific way for the players?
Strung out in Quincy
Dear Strung-out,
In this highly competitive world, the racquets in a world-class players bag are matched perfectly. The strings and tension are exactly the same. All the racquets are balanced perfectly to create a consistent swing speed. The grips and age of the racquets are closely matched. If a string breaks, the player can pick up another frame with the confidence that the new stick will be the same. There is so much at stake on the pro tour that the equipment can't be left to chance when so much is on the line.
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