Keeping score plus choosing your racket

                                                My first tennis racket.

                                                Blog #4 open topic

When picking out a racket you want to look at the weight, size, and brand. I prefer prince and Wilson tennis rackets.  The color does not matter and will not determine how good the racket works.  I recommend trying demo rackets before purchasing any expensive racket, so you do not waste money.

            Make sure to talk to someone like a pro or coach about a new racket.  You can even find more information online before you buy.  A tennis player must carry a backup racket or rackets in case of a broken string.  You might also want a bag with extra necessities as well; on the tennis channel famous tennis players show you what they put in their bags during bag check. 

            To receive new strings take your racket to a tennis club because they all carry the equipment for a semi quick and easy string change.  If the grip of your racket needs changing, you have two options.  First you could take the old grip off and put a new grip on, which will cost a little more money.  Second you could place an over grip on top of the old grip.  Some over grips come now so that you can just slide them on over top.

If the cushion and first grip does not appear badly damaged then use an over grip, other wise you may take the grip off and start over.  Before changing a grip you might want to know how instead of winging it.  To put an over grip on start off at the base of the racket with the grip.  Wrap the material around avoiding looseness and creases.  Continue moving up the racket overlapping the grip until you reach the top.  Then tape the last part using given tape or electrical tape.  

All rackets contain a sweet spot or, “the place were the racquet’s bounce is maximized,” according to www.racquetresearch.com.  This spot just feels right when hit.  In order to lessen the vibration of the strings use a vibration dampener.  They come in all shapes and sizes.  Place the dampener towards the bottom of the strings.

            When keeping score use the correct point system: Love, 15, 30, 40, and game.  Always say your score first and then the opponents.  To avoid confusion, use scorecards.  When starting a game serve from the right side first.  Learn how to play with ads because a real match requires that you use them.  Do not avoid tie breaker situations; instead use them as a learning experience because at some point you will play a tiebreaker.

            When scoring if you hold the same amount of points as your opponent you can say 15 all instead of 15-15.  Sometimes people say 5 all as well.  Then if you forget the score knowing were you stand during each point may help.  For example when on the right side the score could be love all, 15 all, 30 all, 40 all (deuce), 30 love, love 30, 15-40, or 40-15.  When on the left side the score may be 15 love, love 15, 30-40, 40-30, 40 love, love 40, 30-15, or 15-30.  Therefore 40 love would stand incorrect if you were on the right side. 

            Even though scoring appears confusing and difficult now, with time and practice it all will become simpler and almost natural to you.

Quakertown tennis verses USTA team

                           Our USTA (United States Tennis Association) team at districts.

                                                     Blog #3 personal details/ anecdote

Quakertown contains a girls and boys tennis team, which both improve each year.  As number one singles player, president of the girl’s tennis team, and now assistant of the guy’s team, I represent our school.  Tennis will always be my name and part of my family.  However, I only started playing seriously four years ago.  I tried softball and a bunch of other sports, but tennis just stuck.  Tennis came into my life without drama or stress.

I learn a lot playing tennis and now feel the desire to compete and boost my rankings in tournaments.  As a kid tennis was nothing but fun, now I could play in college and for the rest of my life.

            The United States Tennis Association (USTA) allows you to form teams, compete, and make friends.  According to their website, www.usta.com, “In 2009 alone, they directed over $45 million to communities across America to build and expand public tennis courts, fund scholarships and grants, tutor, and provide rackets and balls to youth.”

            Last year I was part of a USTA team called the Zoniacs.  We played hard and won the majority of our matches and were able to participate in districts.  During districts the girls did well, mean while the guys struggled.  Throughout the day we faced some tough teams.  Yet we ended up placing in second.  Everyone was disappointed that we did not win and therefore lost out on our chance to go to Princeton.  However, that was the greatest day of tennis ever.

            Coming in first place out of seven USTA teams was a big step.  Now we must move on to bigger and better things by competing in districts on July 5, 2010 at the West End Racket Club.  Lindsey Tennis and Jackie Gubler feel ready to conquer as they approach their new opponents from the team, "Jet Magic.''  Jackie spins her racket deciding that the Zoniacs will serve first.  The other team appears nervous just like us.  The returner sees a bright green flash as the ball flies by her like a meter from outer space.  (Simile)  After Jackie’s serve takes them by surprise, we immediately win the point.  The match begins to become intense with rallies back and forth.  Every time we score we shout, laugh, and slap rackets.  While playing, green tennis courts and the sent of summer flowers surrounds us.  My opponents and I go head to head in a volley battle, and our side comes out on top.  The score seems of great importance while competing with all the coaches glaring at us.  I feel the pressure under the scorching sunlight and double fault, yet my teammate encourages me.  We can hear the crowd cheering us on.  My next serve spins and plops the ball right in the service box.  I am so amazed that I almost choke on my delicious spearmint gum.  Meanwhile our enemies look stunned, however they lunge managing to lift the ball over the net.  Now we put our game faces on and play until match point.  Finally Jackie slams the ball down, we win the match six to zero in both sets.  What a fantastic defeat.  (Anecdote)  All in all, despite their nervousness, Jackie and Lindsey win with hard work, lots of effort, and fun. (Nut Graph)

            While there, we got to eat pizza and water ice.  Afterwards we proved our team was great.  Despite the defeat, we still received metals, gifts, and lots of praise from our parents.  The sad part was that after that, our team split up.  Some went to college, some moved to the advanced team, and others stopped playing altogether.  In the long run, we enjoyed our time playing as a team and will always remember how close we were to going to Princeton.

            This year I plan to enter more tournaments and play a whole lot of tennis.  Again, I joined a USTA team.  Our team this year does not contain as much talent as last years.  Sometimes players do not want to come, and the desire to play does not show.  Serious players should be committed, not lazy.  Either way we laugh and play for fun.

            So far our team lost every match, but I see great change in some of the teammates game.  The extra practice on down times really helps as well.  We tried to recruit as many players as possible and play Sundays plus other days during the week.

            The Tennis Zone provides a place to play during the winter and costs less with a membership. Intermediate and advanced players play on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  I often go on weekends for round robin with my dad and Sunday match plays with other teens.  All of which really helps my game and keeps me practicing despite the snow.

            I hope that our girls and boys tennis teams this year will give their maximum effort to win and bring the school some pride.  My parents tell me, “If you got this far on natural talent imagine what a little effort and practice could do.”  I will try harder and always play the sport I love.

Game strategies along with how to play

                                     Me preparing for my first sophomore tennis match.

    
                                                    Blog #2 persuasive

Before a match you must strategize or plan out your tactics.  During the five to ten minute warm up of the match try to figure out your opponents strengths and weaknesses.  That way if they have a terrible backhand you can use common sense and hit to their backhand more in order to win and throw them off.

            Maria Sharapova, a famous tennis star, prepares for matches by doing a few good luck rituals. (Appositive) Claire Connors says, “Before Maria Sharapova serves, the 6’2” star struts up to the baseline and hits the ball downward with her racket four times.”

            If at all possible stretch before the match and run a few laps so you do not injure yourself while playing and so you can extinguish butterflies quickly. A 1989 Danish study suggested that, “elite male tennis players suffered 2.3 injuries per player per 1,000 playing hours.  Of these, 45% were upper limb injuries, 17% shoulder, 67% the result of overuse, 14% strains, 17% sprains, 2% fractures and 5% blisters.”

Last year I lost constantly because I did not warm up and was nervous throughout most of my matches.  I played in my first tournament last year and was defeated because I did not prepare myself by running or stretching at all and my parents were extremely disappointed in me.

            Never become down on yourself you need confidence in this game.  Let the fans and your parents fade away like a fog in the distance so you can focus. (Simile) This match rides on your shoulders alone.  Tennis, a mental game and a physical game, requires that you clear your mind of everything but the match. 

            Remember that dwelling on mistakes could throw the match and if you make a mistake let the error go.  If you lose take responsibility do not start blaming the wind or your lack of sleep.  Mostly because your parents hate to hear you wine and make excuses.

            Start off strong in order to play well from beginning to end.  Your ready stance and energy will make or break the match.  Staying on your toes for every shot helps you hit with control.  My parents constantly tell me I am not set and enthusiastic while playing.  However I prefer to wear a poker face so that no one can tell whether I am winning or losing, which really frustrates my opponents.

            Do not worry about hard hitting unless you can control yourself.  If your opponent hits hard serves than block them back rather than taking a full swing and blowing the ball out of the court.  You can use their own power against them.

            In order to achieve a victory you really must want the win.  Aggression can make you seem powerful.

            Strive to hit hard serves and avoid double faults.  Also do not step over the base line for you will have foot-faulted.

            Keep the ball deep in the court because hitting the ball short makes it easier for the enemy.  Also keep the ball away from your opponent, so that you can run them back and make them tired.

            As you play anticipate every shot and use creativity.  Try not to hit the same shots over and over because every shot you hit will become predictable.  Change it up and fake them out.

            Play the percentages; if you make fewer mistakes then your rival you will come out on top.  Under pressure avoid hitting a safe shot because you will often choke or miss the ball return and your opponents confidence will boost. 

            Rallies can last hours, so hurry to the net and put the shot away.  Also many people cannot handle lobs, so practice them.  Cover your true playing abilities during warm up and do not show any tricky shots that way you can stun them any time you please.  Do not be afraid to come to the net and end points as quick as possible.  A fast match shows a dominant player able to put shots away and win.

Parts of tennis court including application

My dad playing tennis with me at Milford Middle School.

Blog #1 open topic

Each tennis court contains numerous parts.  The base lines form the back ends of a court and a center mark or hash mark divides the base lines in two.  Sidelines and base lines outline courts and act as boundaries during a game situation.  Livestrong.com says, “For a singles match the court should be 27 feet wide, and it should be 36 feet wide for a game of doubles.”  Livstrong.com also says, “The center mark is four inches long and two inches thick.”The net cuts the tennis court in half and usually stands 3 feet high.  In a match the net may not be hit or crossed.  Nor may you hit your partner (in doubles) while serving because that will forfeit the point to the other team.

Did you know according to WTA rules, “At all Tier levels for matches in both Qualifying Singles and Main Draw Singles and Doubles, six (6) tennis balls shall be used and changed after the first seven (7) games and thereafter every nine (9) games.”

Doubles alleys, spaces located on the left and right sides of each court, are only used in doubles games.  Therefore these alleys are out of bounds in singles games.  While playing singles you can only use up to the single sidelines or inner most lines on both sides of the court.  The doubles sidelines make up the outermost lines on each side.

When playing doubles the server will serve close to the singles side line, but in a singles match the server often stands a foot from the hash line.

Service lines form the forecourt and the center service line further splits the forecourt into two areas.  This creates the ad and deuce courts.  The ad or advantage court is on the left while the deuce court is on the right.  Together they create the service boxes.  The areas on each half court where the service and center service lines meet, or middle T’s, which look like T’s.

A court contains four service boxes, two on each half.  The server will switch back and forth, serving to a different box with every new point.  While serving aim for the service box adjacent from your stance. Service lines surround each service box and are fair game if hit.  If you hit the net and the ball drops in the correct service box you will say, “Let,” and will receive an extra serve.

The loss of a point will occur if a person stands in, “No mans land,” the space behind the two service boxes.  Never remain in the middle of the court, if you want to go to the net go and stay there.  Indecisiveness will not help you win a match.  You can move forward easier than you can move back.

Keeping score, a common courtesy in tennis, requires you to say your total points and then your opponents before serving.  (Appositive)  After each odd game you can switch sides of the court.  Usually changing sides only happens outside so that each member does not receive any advantages over weather conditions, however you may switch when inside as well.

In addition more than one kind of court exists.  Frequently hard courts are used and so are hard true courts.  However courts also come made of clay (almost like cat litter), Astroturf, and grass all around the world.  Pros use them for their matches, while others use them for practice and fun.
According to www.buzzel.com, "There are right now 20 grass courts available for play at the Wimbledon complex.  The Number 1 Court is replete with large fans at either end for the court to dry in case of rain.  In addition to this, it has 5 red shale courts, 4 clay courts, and 5 indoor courts for club members."