Short History Of Tennis

Tennis is now single of the most well-liked sports all across the world. Tennis has get one of the most liked sport in most countries. Now being covered by large television and sponsorship, tennis is considered one of the richest sport in the world. The sport is played for recreation and amateur tournaments by millions of folks. Players choose on their love of tennis following the styles of current champions Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and celebrated slam champions in Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, the Williams sisters, Steffi Graf, Martina Hingis, Martina Navratilova, and many more. If you’re a follower of the sport you would certainly recognize these names. How did the sport of tennis materialize? This sport is today on its unstoppable fame; it’s even becoming a contest about fashion.

When, who and how did the sport of tennis originate? The French invented a game they call “paume” meaning palm on the 12th century where they utilize their hands to move the ball. Within Europe the game became so popular and widespread that they started using rackets and change the name “paume” to “jeu de paume”. In 1873, Major Walter Wingfield created a game called Sphairistik, which is a Greek word for “playing ball”, he first played it on a grass court in Wales. It was given the name “sticky” at first and used in most books about the history of tennis, then it became known as “lawn tennis”, from which the present outdoor tennis advanced.

Later in history, lovers of the game had the need to compete and prove their excellent skills of the sport, so amateur and professional tournaments were established. Today, there are several international tournaments including the four tennis Grand Slams. The first of the slam tournaments is the U.S. Open. It was in this tournament where the tie-break was introduced in 1970 to break the tie games between FD Robbins and Dick Bell that went on for 100 games. Second is the Wimbledon Tournament which is Britain’s national championship and tennis grand slam. It was created in 1875 because of the growing popularity of tennis over croquet in England. The French Open is the third slam championship that was established back in 1891 and gained popularity in 1925. The Australian Open was included in the grand slam in 1905.

The sport continued to be popular; it became so ever popular as we know it today to the stage where it is likewise becoming a sport with the style. From tennis racquets used, to clothes, to shoes, to bags, even to head and wrist bands. They have all become so voguish and stylish not to mention that to complete the set of equipments and apparels for this game would fairly cost you. Celebrities have embraced the sport of tennis making it sort of controversial with the way players live the same life style.

Top Tips To Buy The Tennis Racquets & Tennis Shoes

Buying tennis racquets or tennis shoes can prove a daunting task, with several offline and online stores offering lucrative discounts. If you want to opt for the best equipment, then follow the below mentioned tips:-

1. Equipment stores Some online stores will offer wide range of Babolat racquets and squash shoes at affordable rates, while others may offer products within a particular price brand. Whichever equipment you buy, ensure that you purchase from a reputed store. To buy the best equipment, it is very necessary to have good knowledge of the sports equipment, which you are thinking to purchase of.
2. Quality Even though, several stores offer you lucrative discounts or second hand sports equipment, you should not end up buying such equipment. As, it may happen that equipment sold at such discounts is not of good quality and is poor in terms of durability and workmanship.
3. Warranty period You should be aware of product, which has a short warranty. Buyers should make sure that they get real value for their invested money. Even though, the price may seem inviting, you should not get lured by it and should think wisely. It is advisable not to buy any product from sources, which offers return to base warranty on equipment.
4. Compare prices It is very important to compare price of your desired equipment among various websites to get the best deal. Dont rush to buy the first one, you see on the website. Conduct an online research and see what other stores have to offer.
5. Search online and offline classified ads With the introduction of online services, online classified ads have expanded possibilities, where you can search for desired sports equipment. Instead of referring to local periodicals, you can access several local and nationwide classified ads online.
6. Shop around No matter, whether you are buying squash shoes or Babolat racquets, shopping around will help you to get the best equipment, you are thinking to purchase. By conducting an online and offline search, you can shop for the best one at the best price.

By following the above mentioned tips, you can make the right purchase and get value for your invested money.
To read more information on sports equipment like tennis racquets, Babolat racquets, tennis shoes, squash shoes, etc. you can surf related websites and online portals on the Internet. In this way, you will gain the required knowledge to buy the best one for your choice of sport.

Venus Williams Women’s Tennis Star

Tennis star Venus Ebony Starr Williams the sister of Serena Williams a tennis star player as well was born in June 17, 1980. Venus started her career in tennis at a young age and at 14 years old she was already infamous in the world of tennis. She became professional tennis player in October 31, 1994 with top seed opponent Arantxa Snchez Vicario at the Bank of West Classic tournament in Oakland. After losing the game with Arantxa Snchez Vicario, she didn’t join any tournament in that year.

Venus Williams is a former World No. 1 tennis player though at the current standing she ranked as the World No. 3 as of May 11, 2009. In her entire career she already won in the Wimbledon singles and doubles category as well as the reigning Australian Open champion. With 16 years of being a participant of Women’s Tennis Association tour, she has already won 56 titles-17 Grand slams, eight in doubles-women category, seven in singles and two in mixed doubles.

The star tennis player Venus had also played in Olympics and won Olympic gold medals in both women’s singles and doubles category. She’s truly a record holder for winning the most Olympic medals in tennis than other tennis players either male or female. She was the most successful tennis player ever win three gold Olympic medals.

Venus Williams is one of many great tennis players today that most feared to match with. With her long wingspan and agility on the court that she utilizes to win the match, she is one of the powerful tennis players. When in match, she was well comfortable with court grass like in Wimbledon where she has five titles which she was given the Grand slam title. Other than that she also had the fastest serve ever with record of 130 mph equivalent to 210 km/h in Zurich Open and holds the record of the fastest serve in Grand slam tournaments. She has been injured many times that resulted for her temporary retirement in tennis for recovery but always had sensational come back. With all that great things happened to her, family and friends have been supported at all times. Her sister Serena Williams is her partner in most women’s doubles category. Venus is coached by their parents Richard Williams and Oracene Price with trainer Kerrie Brooks.

In terms of spirituality, She is a Jehovah’s Witness devotee with two sisters other than her equally famous sister Serena Williams. With her successful career as a tennis player she also managed to have a different career as an image model for shirts, shorts and others. Being popular, companies want to make Vanessa Williams as their products endorser. There have been Vanessa Williams’s handbags and Vanessa Williams shoes of her own collection

She has an associate degree in Fashion Design that she received in December of 2007 from the Art of Institute of Fort Lauderdale as a Cum Laude with 3.5 GPA. She also has her own company and wants to pursue her career in interior and fashion design after her tennis career.

As a tennis player, she did great jobs inside and outside of the court. Venus was the one responsible for having equally rights between male tennis player and women tennis player. Venus fought for women to have same equal prize money as with men’s tennis players. She has won the battle in February after Wimbledon announced that there would be equal prize money for all players.

Copyright (c) 2010 Davide Botticelli

Forehand and Backhand Drives in Tennis

The forehand drive is the beginning of every strike in tennis, and, as such, should be more fully gone into. There are fixed rules of footwork that apply to all shots. To get a ball that is a short distance away, move the foot that is away from the shot and swing into position to hit.

If a ball is too near to the body, draw back the foot nearest to the shot and drop the weight back on it, again, being in place for the stroke. When hurried, and it is not possible to shift the foot position, throw the weight on the foot nearest to the ball.

The receiver should every time wait for the service facing the net. Once the serve is started on the way to court, the receiver should at once reach the position to receive it with the body at right angles to the net.

The forehand drive is made up of one unbroken swing of the racket.

All drives should be topped. The slice shot is an entirely different stroke.

The hitting plane for all ground strokes should be in the middle of the knees and shoulders. The most positive plane is on a line with the waist.

In driving across the court from the right (or No. 1) court, proceed the L or front foot a bit towards the side-line and move the weight a little sooner.

As the weight shifts, pivot slightly on the L foot and drive flat, diagonally, across the court. Do not “pull” your cross-court drive, unless with the express purpose of passing the net person and using that method to disguise your shot.

The forehand drive from the No. 2 (or left) court is the same for the straight shot down your opponent’s forehand. For the cross drive to the backhand line up your body along your shot and make your normal drive. Do not try to “spoon” the ball over with a delayed wrist movement, as it tends to slide the ball off your racket.

The backhand drive follows closely the standards of the forehand, except that the weight shifts an instant sooner, and the R or front foot should always be advanced closer to the side-line than the L so as to bring the body clear of the swing.

The ball should be met in front of the right leg, rather than belt buckle, as the tendency in backhand shots is to slice them out of the side-line, and this will pull the ball cross court, preventing this fault.

The racket head must be a shade in front of the hand to help bring the ball in the court. Do not attempt for too much top spin on your backhand.

Try to develop both forehand and backhand, and do not “run around” your backhand, particularly in return of service. This would just open your court. If you should do so, strive to ace your returns.

Bear in mind that the fast shot is the straight shot. The cross drive must be slow, for it has not the room owing to the increased angle and height of the net. Go down the line with your drive, but open the court with your cross-court shot.

Drive deep against a baseliner, but short against a net player.

Play your drive:

1. With the body sideways to the net.

2. The swing flat, with long follow through.

3. The weight shifting just as the ball is hit.

Do not attempt great speed in the beginning. The most vital thing about a drive is to put the ball in play.

Put the ball over the net into the other court. Accuracy first, and then put on your speed, for if your shot is flawless you can then learn to hit hard.

Why not visit tennis tips for more tennis information.

Clay Tennis Court Construction

The very name of clay court reminds you of French open, Italia Open and the god of clay court – Rafael Nadal. The concept of clay courts is highly variable in terms of materials and the methods of clay tennis court construction, so an in-depth know-how is an utmost requisite. In many countries including France and United States the so called Clay Courts actually may not contain Clay at all. The reasons why they are called so are because they tend to behave very much similar to a clay court. Today the fast-dry type courts are very popular due to their building cost and low maintenance. These are known to be the Synthetic Clay courts. When deciding among the Natural and Synthetic courts there are few points that need to be taken care of.

First thing to check is the availability of synthetic materials in your locality. For example if good quality clay is available then it might be cheaper to build a clay court than importing synthetic granules to build a court.

The climate also plays an important role. As natural clay tends to hold and capture moisture for a long it cause sever building damage if the place you are staying has far amount of precipitation.

Cost of maintenance, a clay court with surface level drainage system will definitely cost less than maintaining a below surface level irrigation for synthetic court. Not to be forgotten the availability of water source for natural clay court.

Following are the tips for constructions:

Firstly check with the authorities if a special permission will be required to build a tennis court. Usually if your backyard is the place then no permission is required.

A standard tennis court is 120ft by 60ft, but for general purpose court 110ft by 55ft will the do the job quite adequately. Not only this, it can save a fortune which can be used in building a store house.

Fencing around the back of the tennis court can be visually less intrusive.

The thickness of the clay tennis court can impact the speed and bounce of the ball. A thicker court will mean the ball will speed away after hitting the ground. Similarly a softer court will slow down the speed but for the very same reason the ball bounces higher and a player gets more time to take his or her shot.

As discussed earlier drainage can take a severe toll on your budget if not planned properly. The elevation of the court if same as the surrounding area will assist a lot in surface level drainage system.

For a natural clay court, the basic rule goes like 8 inches of cinders, then 1.5 inches of grave, 3 inches of clay and on top around 1 inch of surface mixture. Color of the surface is very important in reducing the glare of the sun.

The aesthetics of the court should be given extreme care. For a great range of color and textures there are varieties of materials available today. Not only texture, they also come in various grades from very fine to coarse materials. These can play important role to control from the amount of slide to the speed of play. The depth of granules over the surface can be cleverly adjusted to control the degree of slide on a synthetic clay court.

Dusting the tennis court with chloride of calcium helps to bind the surface material and make the courts wear better.

Even after every care been taken there can be chances that after first rain small depressions start to appear. These should be marked and gradually brought to grade by light top dressing of the clay surface mixing.

Finally, a court set open on the landscape can be somewhat of an eyesore. Plant some trees at a distance so that broken shadows dont fall on the court. Also borders of low shrubs around the court can harmonize the same with a natural look.