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Neglecting the Between Point and Change Over Rituals

Posted on July 15, 2015 by in The Tennis Parent's Bible

 

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo

Neglecting the Between Point and Change Over Rituals

“Professionals think about a hand full of thoughts a hundred times in a single match. Juniors think about a hundred different thoughts in a single match!”

Guess when the critical mental toughness issues take place? When the ball is going back and forth or between points?  Between points.

Does your child have a problem with any of these? Time management, mistake management, anger management, implementing patterns, dissecting opponents, controlling their heart rate, controlling their emotions, distraction control, quieting their mind, avoiding lapses in concentration, controlling self-condemnation, self-charting and/or controlling nervousness.

If you said “yes” to any of these, your child can benefit from rituals.  Most juniors copy the pros as they apply external rituals such as toweling off and looking at their strings. While these are important relaxation techniques, the real benefits of rituals lie in the internal side.

Here are two internal habits that will greatly benefit your child’s mental game:

  1. The first exercise is to focus on the exact internal rituals the pros use in between points. Internal rituals include: emotionally getting over the last point, strategically planning the next point’s pattern, and applying relaxation ritual.
  2. The second exercise is to challenge your youngster to rehearse their change over rituals. This internal focus is a two-step process. First, only think about the last 2 games. Did they win or lose? Why or why not? Step two is to pre-plan any changes as they visualize the upcoming next two games.

FUN FACT: Youngsters have to rehearse these skills in practice sets before they become comfortable enough to apply them correctly in actual tournament play.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
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Maximizing Potential

Posted on July 13, 2015 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloThe Tennis Parent's Bible by Frank Giampaolo

Believing Weekly Lessons are Enough

I teach two families from Los Angeles. Both families come for 2 hours of private lessons each week. That’s where the similarities end.

The parents hold opposing views on how to raise a tennis champion. The Johnsons believe that they need to make their 12 year old Kelli 100 percent self sufficient. Mrs. Johnson says “It’s up to her to do it, I can’t force her.” As a result, Kelly hits about two hours a week.

Mr. Asari believes that no one gets famous all by themselves. He and his son spend approximately 15 hours on the ball machine, playing practice sets, serving baskets, going for runs, hitting the gym and watching tennis on TV.  They both get the same 2 hours worth of weekly lesson. The critical factor in the formula is not the lesson, but what the parents choose to do weekly around that lesson.

FUN FACT: The parents who see it as their responsibility to actively stay engaged consistently have higher ranked children, all the trophies, and all the college scholarship offers.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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Return of Serve Part 3

Posted on July 10, 2015 by in Championship Tennis, Maximizing Tennis Potential

The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloChampionship Tennis Cover

Return of Serve: Reading Serving Positions and Tendencies
As mentioned in the previous chapter, taking different positions along the baseline can offer the server better angles into the service box. A right-handed server may stand a few feet over to the left while preparing to deliver an extreme kick serve out wide on the ad side. A perceptive returner will spot the shift along the baseline and then slide over toward the doubles alley to intercept the wide serve.
Realizing that an opponent is repeatedly hitting the same bland slice serve down the T to the forehand on the advantage side should tip off an aware returner and instigate an offensive attack. The returner should hold a neutral position until the ball toss leaves the server’s hand; then, with a fast first step, the returner should quickly slide to the right to deliver an offensive forehand blow.
Reading the server often includes making educated guesses based on previous experience. Advanced opponents will choose to run the same “winning” service patterns on important points. By anticipating the serve and disrupting the pattern from the first ball, the returner will put himself in the advantage to start the point. When players practice
the art of paying attention, it pays off match after match.

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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Return of Serve Part 2

Posted on July 9, 2015 by in Championship Tennis

The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloChampionship Tennis Cover

Returns of Serve: Reading the Ball Toss
Certain serves come from certain ball tosses. For instance, if a right-handed server tosses the ball to his left side and arches the back to make contact, it will usually be a kick serve that goes out to the returner’s left, or backhand, side (if right-handed). In this case, the returner should slide to the left and prepare for a backhand return in the high strike zone, or he should run around the serve to crush an offensive forehand

If a right-handed server tosses the ball out in front and slightly to his right, it will most
likely be a flat or slice serve that goes to the returner’s right, or forehand, wing (if righthanded).
Once the returner spots this cue, he should slide to the right to prepare for a
forehand return. Keep in mind that the serve directions will be opposite for
a lefty server.

 

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Reading the Server

Posted on July 7, 2015 by in Championship Tennis

The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloChampionship Tennis Cover

Reading the Server
Anticipatory skills are one of the most important elements in a player’s ability to execute
effective returns of serve. Knowing the intended serve location before the ball is struck
is a serious advantage for the returner. How does it work? Basically, spotting and understanding
those millisecond clues aid the brain’s ability to send the desired motor program
down the nervous system to recruit the appropriate muscles in the appropriate fashion.
Again, this is a learned behavior that requires time and commitment. Exceptions shadow
every rule, but the following sections describe the most frequent serving cues.

Returns of Serve: Watching the Server’s Preparation
While in the ready position, the returner should study the server’s eyes. Servers often unknowingly give away their intentions by staring down their target. The returner should be coy; he can give that corner of the box plenty of space—that is, until the server tosses the ball. Then he should quickly and quietly slide into position to crush the return.

In addition to watching the opponent’s line of sight, the returner should pay attention to any other possible “tells.” In Andre Agassi’s autobiography, Open, he shares a story that illustrates this point. When returning Boris Becker’s massive serve, Agassi noticed that if “Boom Boom” was about to serve to the left side of Agassi’s service box, Becker
would stick his tongue out of the left side of his mouth. If he was about to deliver a body serve, his tongue would point straight out the center of his mouth. Before each serve to the right side of the box—you guessed it—Becker would stick his tongue out of the right side of his mouth. Agassi could anticipate the intended serve and jump all over it.

Anticipatory skills are one of the most important elements in a player’s ability to execute effective returns of serve. Knowing the intended serve location before the ball is struck is a serious advantage for the returner. How does it work? Basically, spotting and understanding those millisecond clues aid the brain’s ability to send the desired motor program down the nervous system to recruit the appropriate muscles in the appropriate fashion. Again, this is a learned behavior that requires time and commitment. Exceptions shadow every rule, but the following sections describe the most frequent serving cues. (For more info- Championship Tennis)

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Playing Styles

Posted on July 5, 2015 by in Championship Tennis, Maximizing Tennis Potential

The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis (Available at Human Kinetics , Amazon,etc.).  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloFrank Giampaolo

Playing Styles

Once players are fully attuned to their personality, body type, and athletic foundation,
they can more effectively adapt their playing style. Having an innate stylistic preference
leads to numerous advantages. The advantages include the following:
• The knowledge to hire coaches and trainers who possess personalities best suited
to accelerate his/her learning curve;
• The confidence that comes with knowing exactly how she/he performs best;
• The ability to lure opponents out of their preferred style and force them to play
out of their comfort zones;
• The ability to impose his/her best style, strategies, and tactics on the most important points;
• The improved  ability to reach his.her goal of mastering a minimum of three playing
styles—called A, B, and C game plans—which adds depth and variation to the
player’s game; and
• The opportunity to select a stylistically complementary doubles partner to help form a winning
team.
Though there are subtle variations, six basic playing styles are seen in tennis:

  1. Net Rusher
  2. All-Court Player
  3. Baseline Counter-Puncher Player
  4. Aggressive Baseliner Player
  5. Retriever Player
  6. Finesse Player

Do you know what your preferred playing style?

 

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Learn Watching Wimbledon

Posted on July 2, 2015 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from The Tennis Parent’s Bible.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloFrank Giampaolo

Watching Tennis on Tv

It is time to revisit my post on learning from the professionals.  Tennis on TV represents a great learning opportunity – watch the professionals with a purpose and improve your game:

Watch One Player’s Feet

Most Pros take 10 steps for every 3 steps a ranked junior takes. Have your child simply watch the player’s shoes.

Watch Between Point Rituals

They often appear to be looking at their strings while they use internal vision. Pros control their emotions and spot tendencies. This means they pay attention to how points are being won and lost.

Spot Offense-Neutral-Defense Situations

Shot Selection Way before the incoming ball reaches the net; a pro has chosen the next appropriate shot selection. Call out the correct choice as a Pro prepares to strike. If you can spot the appropriate selection with a Pro, spotting your opponents next shot will become easier.

Spot This Typical Mistake: “Change the Angle …Lose the Point”

Changing the angle is encouraged when you are inside the court. It is discouraged when you are behind the baseline. Watch for appropriate angle changing and inappropriate angle changing attempts. Even top pros often miss when they attempt a down the line screamer from way behind the court!

Spot Styles of Play

Who’s the hard hitting baseliner? Who’s the counter puncher retriever? Is there an all-court net rusher? Spotting the opponents style is the first step to devising patterns and controlling a match. If your child can spot a pros style of play, my bet is they’ll be terrific at spotting their next opponents style of play!

Spot Proactive Patterns

Pros do not simply react. They run one-two punch patterns. Can your child spot them? Ask them to point our serving patterns, return patterns, rally or net rushing shot sequences.

Spot Secondary Shots

Pros do not just have a forehand, a backhand, a serve and a volley. They have a whole “Tool Belt” full of secondary shots and they know when to activate them. Can your child spot a swing volley, a short angle/side door building shot?

Watch for Open versus Closed Stance Ground Strokes

Call out “open” and “closed” when you spot a Pro choose the appropriate stance. Understanding when and why you need them both is an important tool.

Chart Errors to Winners

Having a great understanding of where your winners and errors are coming from, as well as your opponent’s winners and errors may prove to be the deciding factor if your next match goes into a tie breaker! Actually charting a pro will lead to comprehending the importance of limiting errors.

FUN FACT: Top professionals often generate 5 unforced errors a match and 30 winners. Juniors generate just the opposite!

Court Positioning Chart

Chart a pro’s winning percentage while they stay behind the baseline versus their winning percentage while going inside the court. Often, juniors think they are better from behind the baseline. After charting a match, they find their winning percentage is actually better from inside the court. Watching tennis on TV can be a wonderful learning experience. It will secretly lead to improving your child’s mental and emotional performance on the court.

Thanks Frank

 

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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Short-Angle (Side-Door) Groundstrokes

Posted on July 1, 2015 by in Championship Tennis, Primary and Secondary Strokes

The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloChampionship Tennis Cover

Short-Angle (Side-Door) 

In a tennis match, most players prefer hitting hard to running hard. A short-angle, or side-door, shot is a terrific short-ball option that forces opponents to produce shots from an uncomfortable position. Instead of crushing the ball back, a player creates a short angle and demands movement, fitness, and agility from the opponent. Like any undeveloped tool, this is a risky option if attempted without training and repetition. When executed properly,
however, it results in taking opponents’ legs out from under them (wearing them out), putting opponents on the extreme defensive, or even giving the player an outright winner.
Unlike the high looper, the target window over the net for this shot is typically lower than on a standard drive. Because this is a cross-court shot, the ball travels mostly over the middle, or lowest part, of the net. Adding extra spin, especially topspin helps bring the ball down quickly into the court, and the resulting bounce can drag the
opponent even farther outside the court.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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Practice Smart

Posted on June 30, 2015 by in Championship Tennis, The Tennis Parent's Bible

The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis.  Thanks for visiting, Frank Giampaolo

 

 

“Practice in the manner in which you are expected to perform.”

Players wanting to maximize potential at the quickest rate are practicing in the manner in which they are expected to perform.Frank Giampaolo

Here’s a common scenario: John takes a lesson on Friday with his local teaching pro. The pro feeds every ball right to John’s primary strike zone. After a half hour of hitting these perfectly placed balls, John thinks, Forget the club tournament tomorrow—I’m going pro! John leaves the lesson feeling great about his game. The next day, he draws a moonball pusher in the first round of the tournament. The opponent plays at two speeds: slow and slower. He also hits with a higher trajectory than John is accustomed to, forcing John to hit at head level all match long. Not surprisingly, John goes down in flames. After the match, he thinks, I don’t get it. I was on fire yesterday. I’m great in practice, but I stink in a real match. The moral of this story? Players must practice in the manner in which they are
expected to perform. This is why some players feel good about themselves during lessons but seldom improve. Accelerated learning means practicing shots in those pesky secondary strike zones so that they’re second nature during competition.

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Serving Myths

Posted on June 28, 2015 by in Championship Tennis

The following post is an excerpt from Championship Tennis.  Thanks for visiting, Frank GiampaoloChampionship Tennis Cover

Serving Myths

In addition to involving the most varied technique, the serve also invites the most interpretations on how it should be performed. Although certain parts of the motion can be
debated (e.g., pinpoint versus platform stance), there are some popular teaching points
that time has proven to be dated or inaccurate.

Here are a Few Serving Myths: 

  • Toss high and you’ll have more time. Studies using slow-motion cameras have
    determined that a ball tossed 6 feet (183 cm) higher than the top of an outstretched
    racket head passes through the hitting zone of the service swing 20 times faster than a
    ball tossed around the peak of a server’s reach. If the player tosses lower, the ball sits in
    the hitting zone longer.
  • Scratch your back on the back-swing. As the racket head passes between the dominant
    hitting hand and the server’s head, the uncoiling inertia of the body’s kinetic chain
    actually throws the racket away from the back, or the center of the axis. This desired
    centrifugal force doesn’t allow for a muscle contraction, which would pull the racket
    head down to accommodate a back-scratching position.
  • Hit down on a serve. Remember Artis Gilmore from earlier in the chapter? He was
    7-foot-2 and still too short to hit down on a serve. So unless the player is about 8 feet tall
    (according to our serve study at the Vic Braden Tennis College), it is in his best interest
    to hit up and out while serving.
  • Bend your knees for great power. Though it can be important to the rhythm of the
    server’s motion, knee bend supplies the least amount of racket head speed for the serve.
    Instead, the player should focus on fluid, liquid power and hand speed.
  • There’s an ideal service motion. One of the most talked about myths in this book
    is that there is one best way to hit a tennis ball. In fact, customization and personal
    preferences play a critical role in a player’s ability to advance to the highest levels of play.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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