Where to find quality Tennis shoes
The sport of tennis has surely been growing over the years with big names such as Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, Venus and Serena Williams, just to name a few. With the growth of the sport comes more merchandising of the sport and people wanting to play. Tennis shoes have been growing in quality and scope along with the growth of tennis in general. There are some people who say all types of sneakers are tennis shoes. Well not all sneakers are good for tennis let me tell you. So this article will be about places to find a great pair of actual sneakers specifically for the sport of tennis.
In my opinion the best place to buy tennis shoes are online. You have a large selection on the internet and can browse stores very quickly from the comfort of your own home. Not to mention you don’t have to waste time and gas driving around to different stores shopping. It’s also going to be a lot easier to compare prices online from a large amount of stores as opposed to only maybe a handful if you get in your car and drive to them. So in my opinion, shopping for tennis shoes on the internet is clearly the best idea.
If you do decide to go to an actual store to buy tennis shoes, make sure it’s a sporting goods store. The staff at a sporting goods store is more likely to be more knowledgeable about tennis shoes than at a standard shoe store. Not to mention they’ll probably have in stock most of the shoe sizes you’ll probably be looking for. You may not have as large of a selection with this option as you do with shopping online, but most of the time you can still get a pretty good pair of shoes.
Last but not least is buying tennis shoes from a normal shoe store. Such as Foot Locker or other standard shoe stores. They’ll probably know what a basketball shoe is, but if you ask for a tennis shoe, they may be clueless. These stores as less specialized for sporting shoes. While you very well may find tennis shoes there the selection probably won’t be as large. So this should be your last resort to shopping online or going to a sporting goods store. The latter option will more than likely always yield better shoe finding results.
So in conclusion if you really want to find a pair of quality tennis shoes, the way to go is online or sporting goods stores. I personally wouldn’t recommend normal shoes stores. So I hope this article was of some help to people and good luck finding a great pair of shoes for the great sport of tennis.
Engraved Tennis Trophies
The availability of engraved tennis trophies means that clubs and individuals have a way of providing inexpensive, yet impressive, awards to their members or visiting players who achieve success in tournaments; made in metals that look fantastic but dont cost the earth, the engraved tennis trophy is a quick and apt way to honour winners, as well as making an interesting gift or presentation.
Sports trophies are the ultimate sign of success and excellence and date back to ancient times, and some of the tennis world’s most famous symbols originate from sports trophies and awards, including the famous Roland Garros and Wimbledon silverware. Giving trophies inspired by such famous trophies is a way of getting ones members to feel needed and wanted, and also to celebrate their success.
As tennis is one of the most popular sports in the world it is no surprise that the engraved tennis trophies are very popular; they are present in the tennis clubs the world over, both amateur and professional level, and make a very impressive memento of one’s ability of the sport.
The truth is that the engraved tennis trophy does not have to be expensive, and makes a very viable purchase whether as a gift or an award. The Internet has opened up the market for engraved tennis trophies and has enabled suppliers to cut down on their overheads; this means the end product is cheaper to the buyer and especially so when many are being bought one time.
The ability to get tennis trophies engraved adds a unique air to the gift, and makes an award very individual and irreplaceable to the recipient; the trophy will enhance the feeling of success in the winner, and also bring about a sense of importance that is vital to ensuring members who are winners understand they are respected for it.
Buying engraved tennis trophies makes a lot of sense for clubs, and having them in blank ready to be engraved at a moments notice enables the club to have a ready supply of unique engraved tennis trophies at all times.
Presenting engraved tennis trophy to the winner or runner-up of competition gives them a sense of achievement, and also displays their prowess at tennis to their friends and family by way of their cabinets at home. The unique nature of engraved tennis trophy, one with the name of the winner in the dating types of competition engraved on it, makes a very special presentation indeed. This is why engraved tennis trophies will continue to be popular throughout the sporting world, and why recipients of such feel great pride and joy at having done well enough to be presented with a winners engraved tennis trophy.
Forehand Technique What Every Tennis Player Needs To Know
Forehand tennis technique can vary from person to person and is highly dependent on a number of different factors. Among the factors affecting the best forehand tennis technique for you are the following: age, body style, optimal style of play, agility, strength and more. One such factor is age. A younger player may be able to handle more extreme grips, larger swings, and other progressive tennis techniques whereas a seasoned player may benefit from more compact strokes and more traditional tennis grip choices.
Why? As we grow older, the body is less able to handle stressful body movements and/or modern tennis fundamentals. As a result, consideration should be given to a person’s age when making decisions on how to hit forehands. A good coach can assimilate information about a player and decipher the information to make the best decision on how a player can best optimize his or her forehand. Hitting a forehand is not as simple as some make it. Following a cookie cutter layout for stroke development is unwise. Each person has different capabilities so you are well advised to take time to think through what would work best for you.
Roger Federer’s classic style may work best for him but would not necessarily work best for a baseline grinder like Rafael Nadal who uses extreme topspin forehands to control the court. Although there are many variables to consider when deciding on the right backswing, stance, and follow through for your forehand stroke, most good strokes employ a few common technical elements including:
1. Start in a good ready position. If you are just starting, use a continental or semi-western grip as your dominant hand ready position. Your non dominant hand should be on top on the grip which will allow you to be ready to hit a forehand or a backhand.
2. As soon as you identify the incoming ball as a forehand, quickly turn your shoulders and prepare by initiating your backswing.
3. Generally speaking, there are two common backswing styles. You can turn your shoulders and take the racket straight back of you can employ the loop styles backswing (ala Andre Agassi or most other professionals for example). Ideally, you should prepare with the earliest and quickest backswing possible when first starring out (see Serena Williams or Venus Williams for a great example).
4. Contact the ball by swinging in a methodical and steady motion. If possible your contact point should be just below the ball in an attempt to “lift” the ball.
5. Following contact your racket should proceed upwards.
6. The forehand stroke typically ends by catching the racket with the non-dominant hand after contact or wrapping the racket over the non-dominant shoulder after contact.
7. Throughout the stroke, try to keep your eye on the ball until contact.
8. Finally, after hitting, be sure to recover to the ready position in the middle of the court.
The tennis technique tips above serve as a great start to developing an excellent forehand. Be sure to consult your tennis professional for expert guidance and to ensure that your technique fits your body style. Get out there and enjoy!
Tennis Mental Tips Tips to Win the Big Matches
When you are getting ready to play a big tennis match, it can be very difficult to stay focused and keep your head cool. There are many things that you want to remember, because they can make the key difference in you winning or losing. Tennis is such a physical game, but as you certainly know, it is even more a mental game. By learning tennis mental techniques and tips that will give you the advantage, you will always have the upper hand in a big match.
How to control your nerves
You always want to remember that although you may be nervous, your opponent may be just as nervous as you are, if not even more nervous than you. This is especially true if your opponent is ranked higher than you are. He is expected to win and is thrust into the spotlight in this way. So, he has everything to lose, and you have everything to gain. By being aware of this simple mind shift, you can become less nervous and hopefully your opponent’s nerves will go haywire.
Remember that your opponent is in big match, and competing just as you are. He even might be worried about more things than you are. You never know when they might be dealing with a nagging injury, or having an off day or whatever else he might be dealing with. Remember that the so-called pressure is not entirely on your shoulders at all.
Start Off Easy
When you’re playing in a large and important match, many players make the mistake of starting off by playing with super shots and big plays. However, what happens most of the time is that this might cause you to over play and make mistakes that could cost you the game. By simply starting out easy, and playing normally, you’ll become more relaxed as the time passes. This will allow you to take advantage of moment where you can be in control of the game. Don’t come out trying to make outstanding shots – simply play efficiently and keep your head cool and you will have the upper hand in big matches.
Don’t Be Intimidated
When you’re playing in a big match, remember that you’re simply playing with a ball on your side of the court. You’re not playing your opponent’s reputation, family, or anything like that. You’re working with the ball on your side of the court and nothing else. This is a great way to stay focused so that you can deal with any sort of situation in the game and also so that you can take advantage of your opponent’s weaknesses.
Another thing that will help you to keep from being intimidated is to stay competitive. Take advantage of all the opportunities when they arise and use them to tip the game in your favor. This is something that the world-class players always stay ready for. By utilizing these tips and ideas you will stay ahead of the game.
Tennis Rackets – A Selection Guide
The single most important piece of equipment a tennis player will purchase is a tennis racket. With the wide variety of tennis racket brands, models, types, and specifications on the market, selecting a tennis racket can be a daunting task. Prospective tennis racket buyers should consider several important criteria. These criteria are brand, racket weight, racket length, grip size, balance, and head size.
Many tennis racket manufacturers produce multiple racket models with varying specifications. Popular brand name tennis rackets include Avery, Babolat, Dunlop, Fischer, Gamma, Head, Prince, ProKennex, Volkl, Wilson, and Yonex. Each racket manufacturer has its own unique characteristics and nuances that pervade their entire tennis racket line. You can consult your local tennis professional or tennis racket expert for advice on the brand of racket that is most likely to fit your needs. Ultimately, however, testing out different brands of tennis rackets is the best way to find the right match.
Weight is another important consideration when selecting a tennis racket. Most tennis rackets weigh between 8.5 and 12.5 ounces. In general, lighter rackets are easier to swing and players that lack strength (e.g., older players, children) will be able to swing lighter rackets faster, generating more power. The overall effect of tennis racket weight is somewhat ambiguous, however, as heavier rackets, while more difficult to swing, are more stable and transfer more force to the ball upon impact. Thus, when choosing a weight, comfort is the most important consideration. Typically, players that are more skilled prefer the stability and control offered by heavier rackets.
While the length of tennis rackets is fairly standard, many manufacturers have begun to offer longer rackets in recent years. The standard tennis racket length is 27 inches. While the rules of tennis allow rackets to measure up to 32 inches, most tennis rackets measure from 27 to 28 inches. The benefits of increased tennis racket length are increased reach and increased power. Longer tennis rackets can provide more power because the arc the racket travels during the swing is longer (especially on the serve). Players that are more skilled generally prefer the maneuverability of standard length rackets.
Because the grip is the tennis player’s link between the tennis racket and his or her body, grip comfort is of supreme importance. Tennis racket grips typically range from 4 inches to 4 7/8 inches in circumference. Most adult tennis players use grips between 4 1/4 inches and 4 5/8 inches. The easiest way to determine your grip size is to grip a tennis racket and place the index finger of your other hand in the space between your fingers and thumb/palm. If your index finger fits comfortably, the grip size is correct. If your index finger does not fit, the grip size is too small. If there is a large amount of space around your index finger, the grip size is too big. Selecting the proper grip size on your tennis racket is important not only for comfort and for performance, but also for injury prevention. Using a tennis racket with a grip that is too large or too small can lead to arm injuries.
Tennis rackets are also classified by the balance point or how the weight is distributed in relation to the head of the racket. The two balance classifications of tennis rackets are head heavy and head light. Head-heavy rackets provide more power because they place more of the tennis racket’s weight behind the ball on impact. Head-light rackets, on the other hand, provide more control because they are easier to swing and maneuver and absorb more of the ball’s energy on impact.
One final consideration when selecting a tennis racket is head size. Typically, tennis racket heads range in size from 85 to 135 square inches. In general, tennis rackets with larger heads provide more power while tennis rackets with smaller heads provide more control. Players that are more skilled generally prefer the control and maneuverability offered by midsize tennis rackets (85 to 95 square inches) and midplus tennis rackets (95 to 105 square inches). Older adults and those who lack strength and precise strokes may benefit from oversize tennis rackets (110+ square inches). Oversize tennis rackets can lead to sloppy strokes, and are therefore not recommended for junior players.
Tennis racket selection can be a daunting process. However, understanding the specifications discussed in this article, brand, racket weight, racket length, grip size, balance, and head size, will help simplify the tennis racket selection process.