The Secret of on Court Fitness Training - Tennis Racket Junior

Thought this article went hand in hand with the last post and it's by the same author. Definitely think it's a good addition here.

If you are looking for a good racket for your junior player, click on the banner!



Hope you enjoy the article.

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Did you already wonder how you could improve your performance without having to go to the gym or run for miles and miles everyday? On court fitness training is one of the best training method that can help you to improve the specific skills of your activity. To describe more in details this kind of training we will talk about on court fitness training for tennis players.

On court fitness training includes all the different practices that are done on a tennis court. Most on the time on court fitness training is done to improve the agility, quickness and specific movements of the players. Training on the tennis court helps the players to be really specific and to understand exactly how these drills could help them to become better tennis players.

There are so many different kind of practice you can run on court to increase a player fitness level that you can just use your imagination and make sure that the drills you are implementing are tennis specific.

First of all use tennis racquets in most of the case to add some specificity. You can start by doing the drill without any tennis balls. Run to a cone as if you were going to hit a forehand or a backhand, shadow the stroke and come back to the starting point. When you do these kinds of specific movements, make sure that you are using an explosive first step that you are balanced all the time and use proper technique when you recover like using a cross over step and the side steps.

This basic drill can be used for all the strokes, included the volleys and overheads. Repeat several sets of 10 repetitions for each stroke. Make sure your player or your self is really using the right technique in his footwork and that he is as intense and fast as he can.

This will help to improve the explosive power and quickness very fast.

For more advanced players you can start to add resistance as bunjie cords behind the players. Repeat different kind of movements, focusing on the right technique and the resistance will help to become even more explosive on the court.

Once the players are able to do this drills with the right footwork, do not forget first step and recovery steps are two keys for tennis players, you can start to add live balls that you feed at the same spot every time..

This can be done with or without resistance. The player focus on his movements and the fact that he now has to hit a tennis ball will add even more specificity.

Once the player is able to use the proper technique and to be quick during this kind of drills with live balls, he will move a lot better and be a lot quicker during real match situations.

Another great workout that I like to use as on court fitness training is medicine ball rallies. Have two players playing point in the service boxes with a 4 to 8 lbs medicine ball. Make sure this medicine ball bounce and make them play different tie breakers, using forehand and backhand throws. This will of course help them to improve their upper body power but also their footwork and balance on the court.

You can also improve their aerobic capacity with on court fitness training, while moving for the length of a point, usually less than 10 seconds, and recovering between each set for 25 seconds. Those ratios are specific for tennis and if you do this for at least 20 minutes it is a good way to improve your players specific endurance.

On court fitness training is the best practice you can do to improve a tennis player specific conditioning. There a lot of different drills that you could use. Visit http://www.fit4tennis.ws if you want to learn more about on court fitness training for tennis.

Patrick Muller is a Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Fitness Director who has been working on different physical activities. He is mostly specialized in tennis and he is leading fitness training for tennis players of any level. Patrick Muller is the creator of http://www.fit4tennis.ws.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Muller

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The Importance of Agility Exercises For Tennis

Surfing again at EzineArticles.com and I saw this article about agility exercises for tennis. It resonated in me as I've seen this done in football, baseball, and kickboxing. Never thought of it as working with tennis, but it only makes sense.

Since it isn't done enough at the earlier levels, like the juniors players, thought it would be a good addition here. Hope you enjoy it!

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How to move well on the tennis court? What is agility training? A lot of players and coaches do not know how to use tennis agility exercises. Agility training is not incorporated enough at low level, but it should because it is an easy way to improve a player performance.

Tennis agility exercises include everything that helps a player to improve his coordination, balance and footwork. There are thousand of drills to improve tennis players agility and this will help them to be better on the court. Basic coordination drills as catching or throwing tennis ball with or without movements are an easy way to improve beginners and young players' agility on the court.

Ladder drills can be used at all levels and ages. The only difference will be the intensity and complexity of the tasks. These drills are fun and can be very helpful to improve a tennis player coordination and footwork. Tennis is an activity that involves movements in every direction this is why it is important to work on a ladder, with forward, backwards, and sideways movements.

Hurdles drills can be used to help players improve their technique while moving. These drills will emphasize the different muscles action as the hips flexor. The player will have to use a good technique if he wants to clear all the hurdles and later he will be able to use this on the court and then to move better.

Good tennis agility exercises also help players to improve their specific movements. Easy drills done on court as running to a ball and doing a shadow will help players to move better. In this kind of drills really focus on the first step and the recovery steps. No balls are involved, the perfect footwork technique has to be used and once the player starts to do this without thinking he will be able to it on a real situation with tennis balls.

Balance training also contributes to players' agility. This can be done on court doing drill only on 1 leg or also on unstable surfaces as BOSUs or balance discs. Depending of the level just have the players balance for 1 minute on 1 or 2 legs and then you can start to close the eyes, add shadows with rackets or tennis balls catches and throws.

Working on the sand is for me one of the best ways to improve tennis players' agility and movements. Sand is an unstable surface that makes the movements a lot harder. It will help players to work on their balance and leg strength. Once a player is able to move well on the sand, it will be a lot easier and he will be lot quicker on the tennis court.

Tennis agility exercises should be included in every training program, it can be done on or off court and are usually easy and fun drills that can really help a tennis player to improve his game. There are so many different kinds of exercises, you can use books or your own imagination, just make sure that the correct technique is used.

You can visit http://www.fit4tennis.ws to get agility training and fitness program that will help you or your players to bring their game at a next level.

Patrick Muller is a Strength and Conditioning Specialist and Fitness Director who has been working on different physical activities. He is mostly specialized in tennis and he is leading fitness training for tennis players of any level. Patrick Muller is the creator of http://www.fit4tennis.ws.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Patrick_Muller

Picking the Right Tennis Racket - Junior - For You

Well, Hello, and Welcome Back!
While I was surfing, I found another great article on how to judge what size racket is a good fit for YOU! Very informative and I thought it was definitely a good content choice for this blog. I hope you enjoy it.

If you are looking for a good tennis racket, please visit Racquet Depot.

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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.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis racket.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samantha_Kay

Being Clear About Family Time When Your Junior Is Playing Tennis

My blog is about Junior Tennis Rackets, however, let me be blunt, this article will apply to ANY sport or activity your child(ren) may be involved in.

Let me give you just a little bit of background about myself. I'm a mom of three sons (all grown up now) and I ran a Family Daycare Business from my home for six years when they were younger. I have lots of experience with kids and having 3 sons going through their teens all at the same time, you find yourself getting tough real quick when you need to!

I remember a few years that were pretty easy when only one of my sons would join a sport or activity for a season and having all three in the same sport at the same time wasn't bad either. You know, same fields, approximately the same times for practices or games, same equipment hanging around the house, that kind of stuff.



However, I also remember seasons where all three of my boys would be in a different sport or activity where NONE of the practices were in the same area, times were all over the place for conditioning and games, you were asked to help coach with carting other kids around, you got snacks for the team when it was your turn, and the uniforms kept getting more and more expensive.

All of a sudden, there was no such thing as "family time".

You know, that "time" the family sets aside to share what's going on at school or at work, you talk about friends, goals, plans for the next day, homework, grades or teachers, what's good and bad in everyones lives . . . and the list goes on.

What happens when you are so busy getting everyone to their practice/game, bringing the kids to this field, this court, this "place" they have to go to because they play a sport or are a part of a team, and family time just fades away?

How about when one or two of the kids are involved for a season and there's one child that didn't join anything, but they have no family time because Mom and Dad are so busy carting the other kids around to where they need to go at all hours after working all day that there is no time left over for them?

That child is left out. The family starts suffering. Mom and Dad are so frazzled that all of a sudden they start getting edgy and tired because there is no time to relax and just enjoy each other again.

Tough love needs to come out and some rules need to be set.

Now this may not apply to you; there may be only one child, one sport/activity, maybe one parent doesn't work and is able to handle a hectic sports schedule with no problem. Maybe going to sports games and activities is what the whole family wants and lives for the go-go-go life.

But what if that isn't you, isn't your family situation, do you need a break?

I'll share what my family had to do once the boys were all old enough to want to join this sport and that activity and Mom and Dad were frazzled trying to keep up. Because as parents, we want our kids to be happy and active, sports are great for kids. It builds their confidence and self-esteem, it motivates them to do better in other aspects of their lives, they love being active.

But you gotta set limits to preserve the family time.

We finally had to put our feet down at the beginning of each season, whichever one it happened to be, and we set a schedule down on paper. Each child had to give us what the practice times/days were, coach had to give us a schedule of games or matches, and we had to work it out so we could count on at least 2 afternoons or evenings where we had a blank space for family time. Yes, there were times that weather kicked in or something happened that infringed on that time, but, overall, as long as we had one or two evenings a week set aside, we were good.

Even when they got older and they started driving a car (oh, boy, oh, boy, that's an article all by itself!) they knew they had to be home on certain nights so we could all be together. They were allowed to bring friends with them (I have almost a dozen "adopted" kids who call me "Mom"), but they had to come home, and they had to be home on time to eat dinner with the whole family.

That was just the way it was because we took the time to make sure it happened.

There were a few seasons when one child wasn't able to join a sport or activity that season because it conflicted in too many blank (meaning family time) spots. They had a choice, join something else (preferably something one of the other boys was doing) or take a break and skip a season.

Once they got the concept that we did things together when we kept that time aside for the whole family; i.e. fishing, camping, playing card or board games, dining out, going to the movies, playing pool, whatever . . . the sulks didn't last long.

A large draw for playing sports is being with friends, doing something, staying active, feeling good about yourself, right? So if the family time you spend with each other can bring those components into the mix, many of the same feelings they get by playing sports or joining activities will still be there.

They may sulk for a short time, but it doesn't take them long to get the big picture. Just because they are kids or young adults, don't underestimate them when it comes to figuring things out.

They may complain to their friends that "Mom is making me come home to eat dinner with the family and then we're going to shoot some pool in the game room" and try to put the blame on Mom (or Dad) for having to go home and not be with their friends, but down deep, most of these kids are going to appreciate the rules being clear and concise. Kids LIKE knowing what the parameters are and they have to learn to make decisions based on those rules.

By being clear about the time you expect them to spend with the whole family, you are giving them a very solid foundation on what family is all about. You are teaching them that family is important and that concept should stay with them for life.

On a side note, it didn't take me long to know that my boys (after all, they are BOYS) would gripe to their friends about the strict dinner meals and try to make Mom and Dad sound unreasonable to their buds. MOST of their friends were NOT sympathetic as many of them had parents that worked as hard as we did and they didn't have set family or meal times. MOST of the times, their friends would come to our house to eat a meal and stay on joining us in whatever we happened to be doing that night.

By doing that, their friends were also showing my sons that others wished they had what we were "forcing" them to do and reinforced the feelings that family is important.

I'll close by saying that my "baby" is 20 and my oldest is 24. We STILL have family time, we still have lots of their friends join us for meals and activities, and my boys still talk to me about what is happening in their lives, who they spend time with, and what their goals are. I also have about 6 boys, all in the same age group, who drop in periodically to say "hi" and ask "what's for dinner tonight?"

Tennis Rackets Junior - Tips To Choose The Best Racquet

I'd like to share another great Junior Tennis Racket article I found at EzineArticles.com. Tennis Racket Junior would like to give as much information and good content as possible on tennis racquets for juniors so they have the best chance of excelling at their sport. I hope you find the following article informational.
Michelle



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In order to play the best game you can, you must have the right equipment. Of course, your racquet is the most important piece of tennis equipment you will ever buy.

Tennis racquets are divided into three main categories:


Power racquets - which are most suitable for beginners and middle intermediates.

Tweener racquets - which are best suited for intermediate to advanced players.

Control racquets - made especially for more advanced players.

For those who are either new at the game of tennis, or only play periodically, a power racquet is best. Designed to accommodate those with weaker, shorter strokes, the power racket features a larger head, which creates a larger hitting spot, which gives the racquet more power. A heavier head, or balance, also gives these racquets more maneuverability, making it easier for those with little training to play a decent game right form the start.

Tweener racquets are lighter, and may feature a larger or smaller head, depending on the type of racquet chosen. These racquets are usually longer than the power racquet, which offers more control and power, especially for handling groundstrokes.

Those with more training and experience on the court may find a control racquet to offer the most control and added precision. Although they do not feature the same amount of power as their counterparts, Control racquets usually feature smaller head sizes and heavier weights.

When choosing a tennis racquet it's important to also check out their weight, balance, frame size, and length in order to choose the correct one for your body size, and playing ability. Check with your instructor a qualified salesperson to see which size is best for your size, weight and playing ability.

As is the case when choosing an adult racquet, children must be fitted with the correct style and size in order to play properly.

When choosing a tennis racquet for you budding tennis pro, follow these important buying tips:


-Children five years or younger and/or 3 feet 11 inches or shorter, need a junior sized racquet featuring a frame between 19 and 21 inches.

-Children ages five and six and/or 3 feet 11 inches need a light weight racquet of 7 ounces and a head size of 91 sq. in. Grip size should run about 3 and ¾ inches.

-Children 6-8 and/or 3 foot 11 inches to 4 foot 6 inches should use a 23-inch frame.

-Those over 4 foot 2 inches, should be using a 25 inch frame with about a 100 square inch head (or more). This size is especially good for junior players who may be getting close to needing an adult size racquet, but still needs the lighter weight, balance, and maneuverability of a junior tennis racquet.

-26" frame with a weight of 8 ounces is good for children 8 to 12 years of age and around 4 foot 6 to 5 feet tall.

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Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Matt_Hick

Tennis Racket Junior - Being Sensible When Buying Racquets

Let's be sensible sort of says it all when it comes to our kids wanting to join a sport and Mom and Dad have to start shelling out some serious money for sports equipment.

With the Holidays coming right around the corner, I figured this would be a good time for this article.

Having had three sons (all grown up now) that went through a myriad of sports each season during their growing up years, I feel like I have plenty of experience on this one.

Example Scenario: "Hey, Mom, Joey's parents are giving him tennis lessons and he's already got a Junior Wilson Racket that costs $90! I want lessons, too, and Joey's Mom says she'll bring us both to lessons so you don't have to travel!"

Ok, parents, can be feel me on this one? Oh, boy, oh, boy, kids really do know how to tighten the screws.

As a parent, you want to give your kids every opportunity to succeed and be happy in life; be it learning, sports, music, you name it. You really do want your kids to be happy. And learning is never a waste, right?

Well, the learning is never a waste, but purchasing expensive sports equipment before your child has gotten past the excitement of a new sport and being thought "cool" CAN be a waste of money. Some of these sports can be very expensive to start up and some of them are even more expensive to maintain.

The sensible option might be to "borrow" a racquet from a family member, maybe a friend or a neighbor. There is nothing wrong with going on an auction site and purchasing a good secondhand racquet to start your junior off in the sport. Now I am not saying to get any old racquet just to start them off, if they are juniors, they really do need to have junior racquets, not an adult racquet that won't fit them well and will not give them a good chance to see if they can do well because it doesn't fit them.

I'm just saying that unless they have gotten past that first critical month without any waning of excitement or commitment to the sport, it may not be in your best interest to "buy the best", shall we say. If your junior is still psyched about their lessons and are practicing every minute they have free after being in the sport for at least a month, then you have a good chance that your junior is going to stick to the sport.

That's when you reward them by upgrading to a better tennis racquet, maybe better tennis shoes, and the list goes on and on.



I'll share a little bit about myself and tell you that my third son got involved with some sports and music growing up; the normal soccer, baseball, football, trombone, drums, and then guitar.

Well, none of them lasted long, but because he was the youngest of three and had friends who were in sports and music, he wanted to join stuff. And joining stuff always meant Mom and Dad had to fork out money.

By the time he got to the guitar stage, we were REALLY smart on this buying stuff. He got a very inexpensive acoustic guitar borrowed from a friend's child who had outgrown it. He practiced and he practiced and he practiced. It wasn't long before we could actually tell what song he was playing, and that was something new. He'd never lasted at anything long enough for that to happen!

He started writing his own music and saving up his own money to buy equipment, so we upgraded the guitar, still not the best, but a better one, after a few months. By the end of that year, we had upgraded his guitar to something that he was very proud to play and he started his own band.

To this day, and he is 20 now, he is the lead guitarist of his own local band, writes all their music, and lives for practicing songs on his guitar. He found what he really loves, but only AFTER going through approximately 8 sports and music phases where he really, really, really wanted equipment or instruments until the passion wore off and he got bored with the sport.

Don't let that happen to you. Because when your child "does" find his or her passion, when they find what's right for them, that's when you want to be able to help them upgrade and purchase what they need to excel at what they love.

If you keep buying equipment, keep buying instruments every time your junior gets a "bug" to try something new, it's like the boy who cried "wolf" and you won't want to listen anymore.

Make sure you limit the budget to what is manageable so when you see your junior finally feel passion for that one thing they are good at, YOU feel good about helping them learn and grow.

Click Here for Tennis Racquet Depot where you get sensible prices.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle Lacroix Toro

Basic Tips On Picking Out a Good Tennis Racket For Juniors

Well, Good Afternoon!

I happened to be looking through some YouTube videos this afternoon and viewed one on junior tennis rackets. It's pretty basic, but . . .

Sometimes basic is better than fluffy and you still don't know what you're looking for. :)`

Here's the video from Lincoln @ the Austin Tennis Center: