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I'm Randy Reynolds

I’m a tennis professional who makes a living teaching tennis. I consider myself the luckiest person on earth. I appreciate you visiting the site, and hope you enjoy!

Hallow”tween:” A Trick Shot, That’s a Treat

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Halloween is one of the few times a year that we are encouraged to be someone, or something, different. The chance to put on a costume and momentarily disengage from our current reality. From zombie crawls to haunted houses, we like to be scared and seemingly helpless. On the tennis court, we can experience that same feeling as we face being down in a match, or that daunting moment when up at net, the opponents shot flies high and deep over our head. We race to the back court trying to gauge whether or not we will make it to the ball, and if we do, how are we going to execute a shot that has any validity. Welcome to the “tweener.”

History of the Tennis Tweener

The tweener made its tennis debut in the 1970’s. Shot makers such as Guillermo Vilas and Yannick Noah both claim to have originated this fun, but often low percentage, showy hit. In the 1980’s Boris Becker and Gabriela Sabatini continued the tradition, to the extent that Gabriela’s attempts became known as the “Sabatweenie.” Most recent newsworthy attempts at this trick shot go to French Open Frencesca Schiavone, culminating with Roger Federer in the 2009 U.S. Open against Novak Djokovic. Roger’s amazing get to the ball awarded him match point, and ultimately the match. Federer was later quoted as saying it was, “The greatest shot I ever hit in my life.”

And while the statistical probability of making the shot is incredibly low, according to former Stanford University coach John Whitlinger the odds of successfully winning a point with that shot is “…one out of 10 times.” It does not mitigate that fact that it is fascinating to watch 100% of the time.  Often, the tweener is met with a standing ovation and boisterous crowd approval. But it’s the mechanics of the stroke that are really fascinating. The shot maker has to race back from the net, facing away from the net, get to the ball before it reaches its second bounce, all the while keeping it in front of themselves. Finally, as the ball is dipping towards the court, the timing must be perfect to step in front of the ball, to knee height, in order to send the ball over the net to the other side of the court. And then, as Whitlinger states, “pray.”

Who Loves the Tennis Tweener?

tennis tweener trick shot artistRight here on our home courts at Caughlin Club, we are often rewarded with a first-hand look at the tweener. Our very own Chris Ferguson-McIntyre makes the shot look incredibly fun, and seemingly effortless. Saturday morning’s, with his mighty group of 10 and Under Tennis players, Chris treats them to a tweener on the regular. It’s a special moment when the kid’s faces light up in amazement as Chris runs to the backcourt to execute the perfect between the legs shot. Both the parents and the kids are entertained and inspired by showmanship that’s more fun, than showy.

The tweener and Halloween, the perfect time to momentarily step away from the at hand reality and be something we’re not. It’s the time to take a risk, try something we don’t do in a normal match setting. Like a Halloween costume, when it works, the tweener can transform us from tennis player to super hero.

We hope you enjoyed this weeks article. Please leave a comment and keep track of my ongoing tennis writing adventures by subscribing to the TNRS newsletter.

You Get What You Give

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Too often as sports enthusiasts we focus on what makes a coach, or a lesson, “great.” Maybe it was the fitness portion. We had a high intensity workout, our heartrate was up and we were sore the next day. It could be something that was said, or demonstrated in the lesson that “clicked,” allowing us to better execute a shot. We had a moment, where in all the times before, we couldn’t fully realize what our coach meant, but in this instance it all came together. And it’s in these times that we shouldn’t be looking outward to our coach, but back on ourselves, and see what we can do as students to make their job of teaching more beneficial for both parties.

Tell Your Tennis Coach Why You Play Tennis

Rosie Bareis Tennis Coach & USPTA Master Professional
Rosie Bareis, one of four USPTA Master Professionals in Northern California, leads a Coaches Clinic at Caughlin Athletic Club in August 2016.

Probably the most fundamental thing to know before we step out on the court is why are we playing tennis? What are we hoping to gain? The answer should be target specific. “I want to get better” isn’t clear enough. Better at what? Better than who? Being able to tell your coach detailed expectations, allows your pro to focus on results relating to your desired goal. As adults, there is no shame in admitting that your hope is strictly to get out and play socially. Not every tennis dream has to land you in the finals of Wimbledon.

As a junior, letting your coach know the reason you’re playing tennis will help them in structuring lessons and programs. The way a 60 minute, or two hour session, will go is based largely on what the pro knows about why you’re holding a racquet. The way the instructor instructs is different for, “I want to hang out with my friends,” “I want to play in high school,” or “I want to play tournaments, and compete at a collegiate level.” In turn, having a mutual understanding, will avoid frustration from your coach as they expect top 100 in the world results, from a student who’s just looking to make the varsity team.

Let Your Tennis Coach Know What Works Best for You

What kind of learner are you? Are you visual? Auditory? Kinesthetic? Exasperation can be a two way street when, as a student, you’re just “not getting” what your coach means. Perhaps their teaching methodology isn’t allowing you to fully realize what they are trying to instruct. In return, if your teacher doesn’t know what learning style works best for you, they may feel annoyed that you’re not paying attention, or simply “not trying.” Chances are you haven’t thought about the way in which you learn quickest, but don’t underestimate its importance in order for you, and your coach, to bring out the best in each other.

Make A Commitment

Finally, there needs to be a commitment from the student. Much like doing homework in school, there has to be a contract, of sorts, that you plan on completing. Simply showing up for your lesson, once a week, but never working on the lesson objectives at any other time, is doing you, and your coach, a huge disservice. Tennis is more than simply hitting a ball. There is a cardio component, a fitness aspect, mental challenges, in addition to the actual strokes. In order to realize your goal, you have to be willing to work on all the aforementioned areas. Too often, it’s easier to blame the pro for a lack of results, than to turn the mirror on ourselves and see what contributions we are making as earnest, willing students of the game. In essence, ask not what your tennis coach can do for you, ask what you can do for your tennis coach.

We hope this post motivates you to communicate more with the coaches in your life. We appreciate you, and if you enjoyed this post, subscribe to our email list by clicking the green button below, where we share tennis tips and tennis happenings with you.

You can add to the discussion by sharing any thoughts you have about the relationship between the student and the coach in the comment section below.

Why Playing High School Tennis is a Good Choice

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As we head into the final weeks of the high school tennis season, it’s a good time to consider the importance of athletics, both in school, and out. Sports are a powerful force that go beyond the realm of fitness, and become the basis for bringing people together; empowering one’s sense of self, and providing a future of health and healthy relationships. While we can experience tennis (the competitive and the social) as children, it really isn’t until we experience it in high school that it takes on a shape all its own.

High School Tennis Athletes Learn Teamwork and Cooperation

High School Tennis AthletesTennis, in its most basic form, is a seemingly solitary in nature. There is singles and doubles competition. The dynamic changes when the setting becomes a high school team. Now your singularity becomes plural, and the sense of inclusion is more profound. The team setting allows you to become closer to your peers, with a shared interest. These relationships can outlast high school graduation, and span a lifetime.

Community Representation

High school sports promote school pride. From the uniforms, to the pre match chant, the athletes come together as a conjoined unit. The fans are gathered to support the team, win or lose. The common goal is winning, cheering and defeating the opponent. The pride experienced creates a bond between the individual and the school. The relationship transcends time, and resurfaces when your alma mater wins a state championship years after you’ve graduated. It is a certain joy that you experience when your family, and friends, play for “your high school.”

Improved Academics Among High School Tennis Athletes

High school athletes are held to a different level of criteria than other students. The term “student athlete” arises out of each school’s requirement that team members must maintain a certain grade point average to participate in sports. For some students the only reason to keep their grades up may be strictly because of their desire to play on the team. Athletes are also monitored off the school campus. Team members know that if they get in trouble they may not be eligible to participate in the next match, or suspended from the team. Sports can be a great motivator for some athletes to challenge themselves academically and monitor their behavior off, and on the court.

High School Tennis Instills Sportsmanship

Of all the sports played in high school, tennis stands apart. The work that is done on the court is individual, but the results are tallied as a team. Coaching in tennis is not constant. Tips and consultation can only come when players are changing sides of the court, or between sets. Tennis relies on the honesty and integrity of the players to call their own lines, keep their own score and play until the match is completed, not until the clock stops. “Time outs” in tennis are limited and occur very briefly, making need for conditioning paramount. Fans of tennis are held to a different criteria as well. As a courtesy to the players, the noise during points is virtually nonexistent. Cheering should be done only when a shot has been executed successfully, not because an opponent failed at an attempt.

Responsibilities of the Student Athlete

Athletics, in general, provides life skills. They instill effort, and the notion that success is only achieved with 100% effort. Athletes have to work hard. They have to practice, condition, become students of the sport, and students in the classroom. High school athletes must be disciplined in balancing their studies and use of their free time. Athletes are role models, and must conduct themselves in a responsible manner, as a representative of their school, in order to stay on the team. Finally, our players have to recognize that in order to achieve the goal of winning, much like realizing success in life, they have to work together.

As we head into Individual, and Nevada State, tennis competition over the next week, we wish all of our student athletes the best of luck and remind them to have fun.

We hope this post motivates you to start thinking differently about high school athletics. We appreciate you, and if you have a moment, share any thoughts you have about your high school experience and how athletics has played a role in your life.

6 Simple Ways to Be a Better Tennis Coach

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We have all either had, or have heard, about that overbearing coach that yells at their students when they make mistakes. Maybe they used negative reinforcement throughout their instruction. Some people might defend the coach by praising their knowledge and expertise. However, teaching tennis technique, and proper form, is actually the easiest part of being a tennis coach.

Think about your favorite mentors or coaches. What made him or her special? How did they  connect with you? How did they make you feel? Perhaps it was their willingness to go out of their way to help you?

6 Simple Ways to Become a Better Tennis Coach

Great tennis coaches support their students and act as their guide. They instill confidence in their students and assist them to self-discover how great and capable they are. Here are some key aspects of a great tennis coach.

1.     Be Positive

better tennis coachCoaches create the environment for the students, and it should be both positive and safe. When providing instruction focus on what will help the student the most, and explain the benefits behind the change. For example, “Next time you hit your overhead, remember to make contact out in front of your head, so that you have a better chance of making it into the court.” When working with kids, or tennis players, that are critical of their abilities, provide positive reinforcement for effort, not results. Teaching tennis can take a lot of patience, but positivity is essential.

2.     Focus on the Student

Great tennis coaches focus on their students. Each lesson is a finite amount of time, and it’s an opportunity to make each student shine and progress toward their goals. On court conversations are best when they are about the student’s goals, or are initiated by the student.

3.     Engagement & Accountability

better tennis coachBeing able to captivate an audience, and keep them engaged, for an extended period of time takes practice and creativity.  Most tennis coaches do not have the luxury of hand picking their students, and often start out by working with younger, beginning tennis players. Engaging students is the responsibility of the tennis coach, and there is no one formula for success. What works best for a student takes creativity and innovation.

4.     Look the Part & Deliver Results

Tennis coaches should appear outwardly professional, a walking billboard of anticipated results.  Great coaches have genuine conversations with their clients, to establish what it will take to reach their goals. Clients are paying money, to essentially make them better versions of themselves.

5.     Continue Learning

Great coaches realize success is a moving target and in order to stay relevant they must be committed to life-long learning. Tennis professionals should, at a minimum, be certified. Certification establishes foundational education, credibility, and on court insurance. Insurance is important for independent clubs or smaller tennis operations. A client injury can capsize a business if not insured properly.

6.     Get a Mentor

Best Tennis Coach Reno, NVA key recommendation for tennis coaches that are looking to improve, is to find mentors that can act as a guides. The hardest part to teaching tennis technique is knowing what to look for. People that have been teaching tennis for an extended period of time can help others see cues, and clues, to a player’s betterment. Just as a doctor looks at symptoms to determine the cause before making recommendations, coaches should do the same.

Coaches provide support and guidance on, and off, the court. The lesson doesn’t end after the hour is completed… Following up and having a genuine interest in the student is what makes a great tennis coach. Be patient, continue learning, and enjoy the journey.

If you enjoyed this article please leave a comment or connect with us on social media. Our tennis professionals live and breathe tennis, and would love for you to come by the club and take a lesson while you are there.

Tennis Conditioning Drills that Bring Focus and Purpose

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On Court Tennis Conditioning Drills

Here are some tennis conditioning drills that Chris Ferguson and myself do regularly to push ourselves on the court.

Recommended Areas of Focus when doing Tennis Conditioning Drills

  1. The drill has to be challenging. Just enough so that we are pushed out of our comfort zone and need stretch our abilities to rise to the occasion.
  2. We focus on staying loose and seek to feel effortless control when hitting the ball so that we are more likely to get into the zone.
  3. We set the drill to a time limit so that we know we have a fixed amount of time to bring our best.

For the drills shown today we did intervals of 6 minutes. These are advanced drills and you can find the pros do these effortlessly on YouTube here so you can see the difference. If you would like to see the drills we used to build up to these comment below and we can share them with you.

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Cheers!

Randy & Chris

Warm Up Tennis Drills for Pre-Match Play

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Warm Up Tennis Drills

Warm up tennis drills are a great way to structure a tennis warm up at all levels of play. We have all seen a group of friends or a family step out onto the tennis court and start hitting groundstrokes from the baseline for a few minutes and call out, “Let’s play first good serve.” There has to be a better way to get warmed up on the court prior to match play.

In order to perform at your best you have to have a game plan to get you there. Today, it is common practice to have a dynamic warm up routine to get your body ready to start hitting the ball. But what are some quality warm up tennis drills you can use to get your timing and feel for the ball prior to your match?

Below are 5 warm up tennis drills that Chris Ferguson-Mcintyre and I, both former Division 1 college tennis players, do prior to playing our matches.

Warm Up Tennis Drill #1: Short Court

Warming up with short court helps you get your feel for your spins and timing established prior to moving back to the baseline. Both you and your partner start behind the service line and rally groundstrokes as if it were the baseline.

  • Key Areas of Emphasis

    • Establish your footwork and keep the proper distance between you and the ball.
    • Stay loose and meet each ball out in front.

Warm Up Tennis Drill #2: Reflex Volleys

To get your eyes and timing adjusted to a fast pace of play do the reflex volley drill. You and your partner will start behind the service line and volley to one another, aiming for each others chest, while closing toward the net after each volley when appropriate.

  • Key Areas of Emphasis

    • Split step and turn your feet sideways as much as possible on each volley.
    • Keep your center of gravity low.
    • Step forward into each volley as often as possible.

Warm Up Tennis Drill #3: Groundstrokes 2 Feet Inside the Baseline

To get use to taking the ball early, which is a best practice in doubles, stand 2 feet inside the baseline and adjust your feet to take the ball on the rise. This drill will help you pick up deep hard hit balls that occur during match play and build your confidence taking the ball on the rise.

  • Key Areas of Emphasis

    • Keep your center of gravity low.
    • Stay level throughout your stroke.
    • Stay intense with the legs and loose with the upper body.

Warm Up Tennis Drill #4: 2 Volleys and an Overhead

For this drill you will start behind the service line and your opponent will start behind the baseline. To simulate match play, you will get the first volley near the service line and close in toward the net for the second volley, followed by an overhead, and repeat.

  • Key Areas of Emphasis

    • Split step and have your center of gravity low.
    • Keep your shoulders over your hips as you close toward the net so you can adjust back for the overhead effectively.
    • The net man closes toward the net as often as possible.

Warm Up Tennis Drill #5: Serve and Return Drill

The server and returner set up as normal. Once the server serves the ball the returner aims to return the ball deep where the servers feet land near the baseline. The server hits his first ball as he would in a match.

  • Areas of Emphasis

    • Server adjusts back quickly after hitting the serve.
    • Returner aims for the specific area on the court. Aim small miss small.
    • Returner prepares his racket low and takes it back as early as possible on hard hit serves.

Tennis Drills to Come

That concludes the match preparation tennis drills for this post. Be sure to subscribe to the blog to receive the most recent posts from Tennis Nation Racquet Sports. The next tennis drills will be for a dynamic warm up routine so stay tuned. See you on the court!

Measuring Grip Size – Selecting a Tennis Racquet Grip

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The Common Question

One of the common questions that arise when selecting a tennis racquet is, “what is my grip size?” It is a very good question and one that should be determined prior to selecting your tennis racquet. You wouldn’t work out or play tennis in shoes that were too big or too small because if you did you wouldn’t perform at your best and may get injured as a result. The same consideration should be taken when selecting the grip size of your racquet. Having the right sized grip will make your tennis experience more enjoyable and pain free over the long run.

Determining Your Grip Size

Option 1

Step 1: Hold your racquet in the eastern forehand grip with your index knuckle and heel pad on bevel number three. For detailed information on finding the eastern forehand refer to the grip section of the blog.

Step 2: Place your index finger of your non hitting hand in the space between your palm and index finger.

Step 3: Determine if the grip size is too small, too big, or just right. If there is not enough space between your hitting hand’s ring finger and palm for your non hitting hand’s index finger than the grip is too small. If there is more than enough space for your index finger than the grip is too big. If your index finger fits comfortably, then the grip is just right.

Step 4: Adjust the grip size until you reach the ideal size. You can do this by selecting a racquet with the ideal grip size after doing the finger test or by selecting a slightly smaller sized grip and adding an over grip (adds 1/16 inch) or a heat shrink sleeve (adds 1/8 inch). You can repeat this process until you reach the ideal grip size. *This will increase the weight of the racquet slightly by 7-16 grams however the benefits of having a proper sized grip significantly outweigh the added weight.

Option 2

Step 1: Using a ruler measure your hand. Do so by raising your dominant hitting hand with your fingers close together as if you were asked to go under oath.

Step 2: Measure from the top of your ring finger to the second horizontal crease in your hand with the ruler. If the measurement comes out to be 4 ½ inches then you would select a 4 ½ inch grip size.

Step 3: If you are in between grip sizes select the one that is smaller rather than larger and add to it as described in option 1, step 4 until you arrive at your ideal grip size.

Why Having the Proper Grip Size is Important

To simply put it, by having the proper grip size you are going to have a more pleasant playing experience and lessen the likely hood of having tennis elbow problems. When the grip is too small it requires more grip strength to keep the racquet from twisting in your hand. Overtime utilizing a grip that is too small increases the risk of getting tennis elbow. When the grip is too big it limits your wrist movement and also requires more grip strength which overtime also increases the risk of tennis elbow.

Now that you have the found the right sized grip for you, check out the system for finding all tennis grips, or follow the link provided for a complete list of guides on tennis technique.

Novak Djokovic Diet

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Flashback: Novak Djokovic to 2010

Who would have thought changing the Novak Djokovic diet would make all the difference…

Think back to 2010 and earlier matches, when Djokovic would reach the later rounds of tournament play and appear to be playing exceptional tennis but when the match got extended or turned into a battle it seemed his energy would fade or he would begin to breathe heavily as if he had asthma.

Recall how Djokovic withdrew from the semifinal match at Wimbledon in 2008, the quarterfinal match at the Australian Open in 2009, along with the long injury breaks during the U.S. Open in 2009? Djokovic’s post match interviews attributed the majority of the match let downs or match withdrawals to health issues.

But then everything seemed to change for Djokovic in 2011…

The Big Question

How can it be that Djokovic went from struggling physically in the later rounds of tournament play to becoming arguably the fittest tennis player on tour? Novak won 10 tennis titles, 3 Grand Slams, and 53 consecutive matches in 2011.

Undoubtedly several factors played a role in Djokovic’s acceleration to the top of the tennis world, which include physical training, rest, and diet. However, from personal experience I would say that the greatest impact came from a change in the Novak Djokovic diet.

Novak Djokovic Diet

In early 2010 Novak Djokovic met with a Serbian doctor by the name of Igor Cetojevic who played a role in uncovering that Novak had gluten intolerance. Gluten intolerance is diagnosed by eliminating gluten from a persons diet and as a result the person has resolution of symptoms. Gluten is a protein that can be found in grains we eat such as wheat, barley, and rye. Most people associate being gluten intolerant with Celiac disease due to the initial symptoms being similar. However, Djokovic suffers from gluten intolerance which can vary in sensitivity where as Celiac disease can be debilitating and life threatening in some cases.

What is Celiac Disease?

The Celiac Disease Foundation simply states, “Celiac disease is an autoimmune disorder that can occur in genetically predisposed people where the ingestion of gluten leads to damage in the small intestine.” When individuals with Celiac disease ingest gluten their immune system reacts and damages the small intestine that can lead to the body being unable to absorb nutrients into the bloodstream.

What is the Impact?

People who have gluten intolerance or Celiac disease can be impacted negatively when they consume gluten. The symptoms of being gluten intolerant include feeling bloated, gassy, having stomach cramps, and appearing anemic among others. As a result of not being able to absorb all the nutrients consumed into the blood stream people with gluten intolerance or Celiac disease are not taking in the calories that a normal person would and as a result can become malnourished.

It is no wonder Novak Djokovic was fatigued during his tennis matches prior to his diagnoses. Undoubtedly, his body was not absorbing all the nutrients that he was consuming. He was playing his tennis matches with his gas tank half full.

Celiac disease and gluten intolerance has impacted my family as well. My mom was diagnosed with Celiac disease when I was in high school and I can recall years of her battling through the symptoms. My mom is an amazing cook and I can recall her lying down after dinner trying to calm her stomach. The rest of the family didn’t think much of the stomach aches; being all guys we attributed being gassy to her having a sensitive stomach or over eating. Hopefully she finds humor in it now. However, when her energy began to decline rapidly we all took notice.

My mom has always been a dedicated tennis player playing around three times a week, working out with light weights and doing cardio on off days. One morning she went out for a morning run and came back in total disgust. She said she couldn’t even jog a mile without stopping. It was as if she were being held back unable to muster the energy to do what she wanted to do. Days later my mom began seeking the advice of multiple physicians and was advised to take the same ELISA test Djokovic had taken and then it all made sense.

How common is Celiac Disease and being Gluten Intolerant?

Celiac disease is far better known then even a decade ago. About 1% of the population has Celiac disease and the diagnose rate is rising as the public is becoming more aware.  Also, 6% of the population has gluten sensitivity but these individuals do not have Celiac disease, according to Celiac Central.

Novak Djokovic Diet Solution = Gluten Free

The only cure to Celiac disease or gluten intolerance is to lead a 100% gluten free diet. Leading a gluten free lifestyle takes persistence and dedication. A person pursuing a gluten free diet would substitute wheat pastas and breads for alternatives that are made out of rice, corn, or oatmeal to name a few. Being cautions of anything you consume is also a must. For example, when my mom goes shopping she checks the back of food packages for modified food starch or other cues and clues that may indicate if the product contains or could contain gluten.

Fortunately for Novak, he has a whole team around him, including a dietitian and nutritionist to help him transition to a 100% gluten free diet. My mom was also fortunate due to being a registered dietitian herself and having experience with the effects that food and diet can have on people through her clinical work in the hospital.

A blood test can be done to screen for celiac disease and a bowel biopsy may be needed to confirm the results.  You must be consuming wheat, rye or barley food items daily before having these tests to have accurate results.

Novak Djokovic diet right for everyone?

Not all of us need to avoid gluten entirely in our diets, unless you have medical reasons or have been advised from your physician to do so. However, Djokovic and my mom’s story speak volumes to the effect diet can have on an athlete’s performance.

Think of the small steps that can be taken in your own lifestyle or diet that may translate into big results for your health and tennis game and share them with us by commenting below and subscribing to the blog.

Thanks for reading and I will see you on the court!