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Tennis Hobbyist

Posted on August 5, 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 Giampaolo

A partially committed parent is simply a hobbyist. That’s fine – tennis is an incredible hobby that teaches many life lessons. However, a hobbyist parent should be satisfied with raising a hobbyist tennis player and not expect champion results. In today’s game, it’s unfair to expect your child to become a champion without parental commitment.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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Bad Line Calls

Posted on August 3, 2015 by in Cheating, Maximizing Tennis Potential, The Tennis Parent's Bible

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

Frank Giampaolo Maximizing Tennis Potential Junior Tennis

Q: Is gamesmanship new to the game?

Frank: Let me share a story regarding Jack Kramer. Back in the 1990’s I had several opportunities to chat with the legend. One of our topics was regarding these “creative line callers”. Jack said that back in his youth, (in the 1930’s) as a top ranked junior, he estimated that there were an average of 6 bad lines calls for most of his competitive matches. Remarkably, that number of creative line calls remains the same.

Experts agree it’s not only the number of “gamesmanship” issues per match that determine the outcome of the match but the ability or inability to recover and persevere. Gamesmanship is found in every age division, from the 10 and under beginning crew to the national level juniors to the ladies leagues all the way up to the 90 and up division of competitive play. The point being is that it isn’t going away, so parents and coaches would be wise to assist the athletes with the solutions needed to overcome these difficult situations.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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Poor Pre-Match Preparation

Posted on July 31, 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 GiampaoloMaximizing Tennis Potential with Frank Giampaolo

Poor Pre-Match Preparation

  1. Changing fundamental grips or strokes– Changing fundamental grips or strokes just before an event often leads to not having the old stroke any longer and not having the new stroke ready for match play.
  2. Cramming for the event by overloading the practice schedule. This behavior often leads to drained, low batteries on match day.

3.Overdoing the off-court training– Overdoing the off-court training the days just before an event, often leads to soreness, fatigue and injuries come match day.

  1. Adding unfamiliar components to routines– Adding unfamiliar components (such as exercises, practice routines, stroke preparation, meals, etc.) could lead to physical, mental and emotional confusion.
  2. Seeking out only “Up” practice matches– Seeking out only “Up” practice matches breeds low self-esteem and zero confidence.

6.Warming up past the point of diminishing returns-Warming up the same strokes too long often leads to your mind playing tricks on you. A seemingly solid stroke may appear to be flawed by over analysis.

Exception to the Rule: Often players and/or parents do not want to get off the tournament trail due to the ranking race.  In this situation, changes must be made to improve while on the tournament trail. Players/parents will have to accept the fact that losing a battle or two may be in order to win the war. In other words a player may have to lose a minor tournament or two in order to improve enough to be able to win Major tournaments in the future.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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Focusing on Group Training

Posted on July 20, 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 Giampaolo

Putting Them in the Crowd to Get Ahead of the Crowd?

In my opinion, group clinics, or academies are terrific for intermediate players seeking repetition, socialization and tons of fun. Although it may be cheaper, large group training isn’t always in your best developmental interest.

The top players spend about 20 percent of their time in group situations. Top players at an academy usually are sparing or working with a private coach.  When is that last time you saw a phenom in a large group standing in line to hit one forehand every five minutes?

“To get your child ahead of the crowd, why would you put them in the crowd?”

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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Handling Cheaters

Posted on July 18, 2015 by in Maximizing Tennis Potential

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

Frank Giampaolo Maximizing Tennis Potential Junior Tennis

 

How should my son handle cheaters?

Before we look at cheaters, let’s take a quick look at your own vision. That’s right, your eyes. Studies we did back in the 80’s at The Vic Braden Tennis College showed some interesting data. The human eye cannot register a two millisecond event. That means you cannot actually see the ball hit the court or watch it hit your racquet. The eye is greatly affected by two variables: perspective angles and motion blur.

  1. The first vision variable is the perspective angle that you’re watching from. Try this eye opening exercise at home. My bet is that you’ll laugh as you fail miserably.
    Stand at the back fence on one side of a court. Turn facing the fence so you can’t see the court. Ask a friend to place 4 balls on and just beyond the service line on the other side of the net. Ask them to repeat it with 4 new balls on the opposing baseline. When the task is complete, walk slowly to your baseline and try to make 8 correct line calls. Which balls are in, which are out?
    Don’t forget that in match play, the ball is only sitting there for about 2 milliseconds (two one thousands of a second). Next, walk towards the other side. As you take a sideline view things change! Now go stand behind the other baseline. Things really become clear. We find that your child may be cheated on average 5 times a match, but usually your youngster plays out balls in even more. You see balls landing a half an inch long appear right on the line from the angle behind their own baseline. This means your child may be falling into the common trap of cheating themselves!
  2. The second vision variable is motion bl This occurs when you are running, landing, jumping etc. While in motion, your eyes are actually moving in their sockets and you could be considered “legally blind.” (That’s why you can’t read the paper as you go for your run!) So the first time your child says, “Are you sure?” your child should be asking themselves not the opponent.
    Now let’s look at those Cheaters or “Creative Line Caller” from a deeper perspective. Cheaters will force your child to grow. They will stretch your child beyond their normal frustration tolerance levels. Handling cheaters is a necessary stepping stone to becoming a tennis champion.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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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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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?

 

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
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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
FGSA@earthlink.net
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Doubles Part 2

Posted on June 26, 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 Giampaolo

DOUBLES- PART 2

Question: My son is on the court working on his strokes five days a week. He practices more than most kids ranked above him at the club. My question is why are doubles so hard for him?

Answer: Winning doubles consist primarily of serving, returning and secondary strokes. In fact, with high school age boys, the doubles points last an average of 3 hits. That is a serve, a return and maybe a volley. Practice in the method in which you are expected to perform. To be great in doubles, spend at least one day a week on serving, return of serve and transition volleys.

 

Question: When should a net player look to poach in modern tennis?

Answer: There are 3 basic poaching opportunities. Poaching as well as “fake” poaching is a critical element in keeping the opponents uncomfortable. Emphasize that poaching is tons of fun! Reward your child every time they attempt a poach.

FUN FACT: Often the poaching player draws errors and wins points without ever touching the ball. Visual distraction is an important element in competitive tennis. If your child needs to poach more, they should look for an opponent who is vulnerable. This could be a vulnerable court position or strike zone at contact.

SPECIAL NOTE: The primary strike zone is waist level. An opponent striking a ball around their shoe laces or leaning back to strike a ball above their shoulders puts them in a vulnerable position. So…poach!

Here are the three most common times to poach:

(For the below example, A= Server; B= Servers Partner; C= Return of Server; D=Return of Server’s Partner.)

1.) A serves to C’s backhand= B is poaching.

2.) A serves & volleys, C returns at the feet of A= D poaches.

3.) A and C are in a baseline exchange, B or D spots a vulnerable strike zone, body language or court position from the opponent= poach.

 

Question: How are doubles different than singles?

Answer: The only true similarity is that both games are played on the same of court. Here is how we break down the differences:

  • Different “secondary” technical strokes are called upon more often
  • Different tactical patterns are used in different formation
  • Different movement is required
  • Different communication and anticipatory skills are required

SPECIAL NOTE: Plan on training doubles and/or playing doubles a minimum of one day a week.

 

Question: My daughter doesn’t like to volley. Can she still win at doubles?

Answer: You bet! At least up to a certain level. Her first step in playing doubles without attacking the net is to choose a partner that’s ok with this fact. Second, she’ll need to choose a system of doubles that exposes her strengths and hides her weaknesses.

The four common systems we see on the WTA pro tour are:

1.) Both players rush the net

2.) One up and one back

3.) Double back

4.)”I” Formation

FUN FACT: The most vulnerable system in doubles is one-up- one-back. The most common system played around the world? One up one back!

 

Question: Our high school coach says don’t ever look back at your partner’s ground strokes, yet I see pro’s doing it. Which is right?

Answer: In my opinion, slightly using your peripheral vision to quickly detect the quality of your partners shot is a huge advantage. Picking up visual and audible clues as soon as possible is a major part of the evolution of the game. Pros make their living by picking up these clues and moving before the opponent even makes contact with their shot. Anticipatory speed is a learned behavior.

FACT: Let’s say you are at the net, only looking forward. Your partner is in trouble hitting a vulnerable, lunging floater. Well, your partner knows your dead, both opponents know your dead…Guess who does not know you’re dead? …You!

 

Question: My son and his partner serve 120 mph and can rip the ball. They are super aggressive, yet they lose in doubles to less talented players. What are they doing wrong?

Answer: Being aggressive in doubles is critical. Offense, unfortunately, is more than just hitting hard. Ask your son to look into the other sides of offense.

  • Time management: Taking away time with aggressive positioning.
  • Changing the angle of the ball versus just crushing it.
  • Applying building shots: These are essential in forcing the opponent into vulnerable strike zones and positions.

Contact: Frank Giampaolo
FGSA@earthlink.net
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