r/tennis • u/cchsbball23 WVSU Men's Tennis/ PTR Cert/ USRSA Master Racket Tech • Jan 08 '13
I am a DII collegiate head coach, Director at an indoor facility, and a USRSA Master Racquet Technician...AMA
I've done this once or twice before over the last few years. With the 2013 season starting back up, I figured it might be a good time to do another one! Please, fire away with any questions or comments you might have that you want answered! It is 9:30a EST and I should be around pretty much all day!
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u/chrstrm Jan 08 '13
i'm thinking about starting a youth tennis team in a disadvantaged area. currently, i'm running a boxing gym there, but i figure that not all the kids in the neighborhood want to get punched in the face. my tennis experience is limited to playing a couple years of high school varsity.
technically, my form wasn't great. i just had a wicked serve and volley game.
do you have any thoughts on how i should go about starting this youth team? i do have a very basic ball machine, and a few racquets lying around.
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
Where are you located? We are trying to get rid of some old junior racquets. I would contact some local tennis people and see about maybe some lightly used tennis balls. Also, most schools are happy to let people use gyms. Just craft yourself a net, or buy one of course, and go to work! It would definitely save you some court time costs
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u/chrstrm Jan 08 '13
i'm seattle. i wouldn't mind taking those racquets off your hands. i could pay for shipping?
as far as learning how to play, do you think i need to get any type of certification or anything like that from USTA? i'm not really sure how that works. for boxing, i had to become a certified coach.
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
USPTA and the PTR and I do believe USTA have a recreational coaching certification. Its not a tennis professional thing, but is exactly what you would want for what you are talking about.
Btw, if you are down to pay for shipping, im all for sending them. We can discuss it more later in the week
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u/chrstrm Jan 08 '13
and you can play tennis in a school gym?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
if you're talking about just getting some kids started with the game, a gym will work great. Obviously outdoors would be awesome and any indoor court time would be ideal, but we do a lot with elementary programs and low income folks just in the gyms
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u/TacticalTennis Jan 08 '13
Actually, since it is an AMA I should probably ask a question or three:
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What % of your time do you spend in practice running drills for your team vs small-scale instruction (working one on one, or one on two)?
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How do split time during practices between technique work, drills, simulated point play and actual match play?
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What do you focus on for your team in off-court conditioning sessions? What are your primary goals in this regard?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
I am a big advocate of fundamentals. Each practice begins with 10-15 minutes of cross courts on both sides along with some calisthenic drills to get the blood flowing. over the course of a 2 hour practice, at least 45-50 minutes is spent on basket/ball machine drills, just to stay sharp. With 6 courts at the facility, that obviously allows me to to do, say, ball machine on 1 court, assistant running drills on court 2, and me working 1 on 1 with a player on court 3, etc
I actually do very little straight up match play in practice. Every time we play sets, there is some type of stipulation. (for example, if you are UP in the game score, you only get 1 serve, if you are tied or down, you get the normal 2 serves). The split you ask about is really just determined by where we are in the season as far as match schedule. First month will have a lot more drills and footwork specific work, but as we near a tournament or a match, we will still have some technique work, but will switch more towards some match play
Our strength coach and myself we're both taught under Mike Barwis at West Virginia University. For those that don't know him, he is world-renowned in his training methods and now runs his own facility in Ann Arbor, Michigan and trains many, many professional athletes. Coming from him, we do a lot of olympic lifting. With tennis being such a fast-twitch power sport, doing multi-joint power and strength exercises is the most beneficial I believe. It is important to note, though, that you arent looking to "bodybuild" in the sense of mirror muscles or size, but functionality and applied strength
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u/TacticalTennis Jan 08 '13
I like the way you think - I run things very similarly in my program right down to the strength training. I'm a huge believer in multi-joint movements in strength training, and we try to integrate muscle groups as much as possible. Glad to know I'm not alone!
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
Glad to hear it! I think drills are vital as supplement to everything you do. Too many coaches just give the balls out and say "go play". I think a lot of it also comes from the fact that i've been running my tennis club and teaching tennis longer than I've been coaching, so that level of fundamentals has always stuck with me.
As for the conditioning, I think our way is the ONLY way. No bench press 1RMs or bicep curls in my gym. You need to lift with a purpose. For us, its to be as quick and powerful on the tennis court as we can
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u/angrywhitedude Jan 09 '13
What sort of things do you have your players do in the weightroom? If you wouldn't mind going into some more specifics for stuff like the exercise, sets, reps, rest time, weights as a percentage of 1rm or in whatever terms you think of them that would be cool.
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Jan 08 '13
How much difference do you think playing with mid-grade vs. top level equipment makes in a players game?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
You'd have to define the two. Just because a racquet costs $200 doesnt mean that its the BEST racquet. Each racquet you will ever see has a different balance, weight, and feel to it.
That being said, there is a large difference between a department store racquet and an actual racquet from Babolat, Wilson, etc. Those $15-20 racquets are basically aluminum and are actually bolted together. They can't be strung like "real" racquets, are prone to warping, etc.
If you are in the market, I would urge you to simply demo as many as you can. Don't buy Federer's racquet, just because he is the best player. Buy a racquet because it feels right in your hand.
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Jan 08 '13
I recently began coaching HS and wanted to have a better answer when kids ask me about purchasing a racquet, because I feel like it's a worthwhile investment especially if they are serious about playing all 4 years.
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
Definitely always suggest a "real" racquet. Most of the companies make affordable racquets that are not in the $180-220 range. Wilson Envy for example. Having quality equipment will do wonders for their game and will last a whole lot longer than something cheap as well.
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u/TacticalTennis Jan 08 '13
Not to hijack his AMA, but one thing to realize is that most of the 'sale' rackets at tennis warehouse are basically previous year models of current frames. Essentially the same racket with a different paint job at less than half the price. Encourage people to demo rackets as much as possible. Once you're into the realm of rackets that cost $120+ when they were brand new, the differences more come down to weight, balance and head size, each of which has a different impact on a player's game. You can help narrow down the weight ranges depending on the height/weight/strength of the player in question. Go for head-light rather than head-heavy rackets. Then demo like crazy til you find the right fit. I'd give more specific advice to someone I was working directly with, but that's with first-hand knowledge of their game.
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u/dropshot Jan 08 '13
And for a "real racquet", I suggest a racquet that is at least 10.5 ounces, head-light, 100 sq in or less (don't go to 110). There are some makes of racquets that are aimed at older players with deep pockets that are like 9 ounces. Generally, these are head-heavy, and give too much "power" without good control.
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u/angrywhitedude Jan 08 '13
What is your ratio of time spent either playing tennis or doing drills to running, lifting, or other conditioning?
In the gym, do you do squats and deadlifts or any variations thereof or is it mostly more olympic stuff for the compounds/multijoint movements?
Do you do any sort of prehab exercises just to make sure your players stay healthy or do you think just the main stuff you do is enough on that?
On the Master Racquet Technician thing how important do you think that certification is to somebody who is considering some form of coaching as a potential career?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
We are limited by the NCAA to 20 hours on court per week and 8 hours of conditioning. The players also take it upon themselves to play extra on their own
Squats and deadlifts are both progressions to Olympic movements and are extremely vital components
The stringing thing is great for the resume. It also opens up other options for me as far as tournament stringing and factory playtesting
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u/angrywhitedude Jan 09 '13
Specifically what sort of things do you have your players do in the weightroom? If you wouldn't mind going into some detail for stuff like the exercise, sets, reps, rest time, weights as a percentage of 1rm or in whatever terms you think of them that would be cool.
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u/jamauss Jan 08 '13
What made you decide to get the USRSA MRT certification? I've been stringing for years and have strung for pro events and just never really saw the benefit to getting certified. Is it more than just being able to put the MRT logo up in the area you string racquets at?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
I think we have chatted about the subject before. You are out west arent you? It has helped me a ton personally for credibility and being able to playtest strings for the companies before they hit the market. It looks great on a resume as well
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u/jamauss Jan 08 '13
Yeah I'm in the Phoenix area. Funny you mention the resume thing - I do all my stringing as a part-time hobby. My day job is in software development. When I do Challenger events I usually take time off from that.
I didn't realize MRT's get to playtest string. I used to be into trying out all kinds of different strings but now days I'm content with the couple of reels I have sitting by my stringer at home. :-\
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u/dropshot Jan 08 '13
What skills do home stringers need to add to make them better stringers?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
The first logical thing is just repetition. String as many racquets as you possibly can. What do you consider "better"? Consistency, speed, something else?
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u/dropshot Jan 08 '13
Mostly consistency, esp. in tension when tying off knots. I find that last string tied is always rather loose in tension compared to other strings.
In other words, if someone who has been doing home stringing came in to you for training, what are the likely things they would have to work on.
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u/jamauss Jan 08 '13
Keep in mind, the outer-most mains and outer-most crosses on a string bed will always seem to be the "loosest" strings because they don't have an oppositely woven string on one side. This is what keeps the rest of the strings seeming to be tighter - they have strings on each side of them woven in the opposite direction sort of "pressing down" on that string in the middle, making it appear tighter.
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u/scoote Jan 08 '13
I'd also be interested in what makes something keep consistent when tying knots.
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u/hijinked Jan 08 '13
I've been playing for about 2 years now and I'm having trouble staying consistent, are there any tips you could give me? What would be a good Head racquet to try out for someone who's been playing for just a couple of years?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
First off, with the racquet....if you don't want to go with their "game-improvement" lines and want more of a "player's racquet", your best bet would be the Radical or Instinct. The Speed and Prestige might be a bit more demanding than you would like
Secondly, with your consistency, there are a few key points:
Make sure you follow-through on every shot. This is the only way to guarantee a proper stroke and to get the spin you want. Too many people try to short-arm the ball, but that will make your shots go wild
More time on the court. Simply just play more. Its the most obvious point of all
Play the odds with your shots. Obviously we all want to hit like Djokovic or Federer, but most can not. Play your shots cross court as much as you can, as you have more length to work with. Bending your knees is vital to getting under the ball to make sure you get plenty of net clearance as well.
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u/hijinked Jan 08 '13
I'm having trouble going cross court when I'm on the Ad side, the ball always goes way wide or straight down the middle of the court. Do I just need to practice or is there something I'm doing wrong?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
Is this your backhand or are you lefty? In either case, you are probably having in issue with shoulder turn and contact point. If you are hitting a backhand with a closed stance, work on getting your contact point extended out from your front foot. That diagram, combined with a bit more rotation in your shoulders should help with your control
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u/TacticalTennis Jan 08 '13
Try getting the ball further in front - it can help you to clear the racket across your body in the direction you want the ball to go. It could also be a problem with your grip or your general swing path.
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u/dropshot Jan 08 '13
Most rec players that take lessons work mostly on offense (taking the short ball, approach, volley). Rarely are they asked to work on defense (i.e., the other side of this drill). What kind of work do you do on defense?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
I love the slice shot. It is something that is lost in the modern game, but we are seeing it more now with Dolgopolov and Tomic. I do a lot of work with the backhand slice and a nice high topspin ball, both of which can give you plenty of time to get back into position
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u/dropshot Jan 08 '13
No work on passing shots?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
Well now you're going back on your question. Nothing is more offensive than a passing shot
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u/dropshot Jan 08 '13
Well, if coming to net is being aggressive, the defense is passing that opponent who is trying to be aggressive, right? I mean, when you tell a player "you need to be more aggressive", that doesn't mean "play passing shots when your opponent comes to net", it means for you to dictate the point. A passing shot may be a tough shot, but it's a reaction to your opponent's offense.
In any case, what I mean is, how often do you work on students for passing shots, overhead recovery, defensive lobs, reactions to being attacked at net by an opponent.
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u/YetiCrabKing Jan 08 '13
Did you play tennis in college?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
I played club team, only because I went to WVU. They did away with the men's team years back because of Title IX legislation, but with the move to the Big 12 conference, it looks like they are getting it back.
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u/YetiCrabKing Jan 09 '13
That is what I think I am going to do as well. What do you know about the club programs at Vanderbilt and Wisconsin?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 09 '13
SEC tennis is fantastic. Wisconsin means you'll be indoors a lot, which some people prefer
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u/tboooi Jan 09 '13
Two things:
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How does the recruitment process work? (in general)
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How much does USTA ranking affect the recruitment?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 09 '13
Well, we can contact you about athletics during your junior year. During your senior year, you will make official visits to campus to check out facilities, hit with the team, etc. Letter of intent is signed during signing period if any athletic aid is offered. Prepare to stay busy during your final year of high school!
To be honest, the collegiate game is being overrun with foreign players. It seems that for some coaches, an ITF ranking means much more than any USTA ranking. That being said, for me at least, ranking doesnt matter as much as activity and consistency does. If you are serious about playing in college, show us that by playing a LOT of tournaments and doing your best
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u/garinrules Jan 09 '13
I've worked in a tennis pro shop for 3 years. I've been stringing the whole time and have become a very strong stringer. I finish most racquets quickly, but I think there must be tricks to speed things up. What can I do to bring my average stringing time down from 18-20 minutes?
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 09 '13
How is your cross-weave? IMO that is the one area where we can all improve. Also, try stringing one string ahead on your crosses. Still only pulling one at a time, but when you weave one ahead and pull tension with the loop, it staggers the strings so you can go OVER a low string, instead of the opposite.
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u/kbtennI Jan 09 '13
How often do you accept walkons onto the team?
Going to college next year and want to keep playing-- but i haven't contacted the coach anything.
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 09 '13
Contact asap, it never hurts. I generally always give a walk-on a chance. Reasons? 1. You never know what they might be able to do, and 2. most students cant handle the load of the practice and training to keep it up all year long. If you can walk on, prove yourself, and keep up with both tennis AND school, then hell yes, you're in
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u/kbtennI Jan 09 '13
Thanks! And-- when is your season for guys and girls? or is it a more "year round, match here tournament there" 2-3 a month. Because highschool is very compact within like 2 months
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 09 '13
We have BASICALLY a year-round season. Our fall consists of a lot of ITA tournaments and dual matches that are unofficially recorded. Spring season is January-April and is our "Championship Season", with all of our conference matches and seasons tournament
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Jan 08 '13
As someone who is interested in (dreaming of) playing DII or DIII college tennis in the future (currently a sophomore), what tips do you have that would aid in achieving that goal? If you could give one tip to the high school tennis player to develop further as a tennis player, what would that be?
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u/Lapro999 Jan 08 '13
Play tournaments, USTA sanctioned. You can improve your technique all you want but coaches see results
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Jan 08 '13
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 08 '13
no, its not exactly possible for anyone that isn't in the top 10 in the world.
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Jan 09 '13
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u/cchsbball23 Jan 09 '13
Make your brain a sponge. It is a weird url, but fuzzyyellowballs.com is VERY VERY good with online teaching. Soak up all you can
Play as much as possible. You simply can't wait till February to start playing. Hit against a wall, grab some ball machine time, have someone feed you balls, anything. You can't get better unless you have a racquet in your hand
Focus on fundamentals. Bending knees, turning shoulders, etc. Don't get lost in hitting hard or behind your back or anything. Just keep your feet under you, follow through on your shots, and make your opponent hit one more ball
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u/Lapro999 Jan 08 '13
Recently graduated D1 player here and there are a few questions I've always been curious about.
How many scholarships do you get for men's tennis for women's tennis compared to D1 schools.
I'm assuming you look at online recruiting (tennisrecruiting.net) how many stars do you generally look at to recruit.
How often do you lose out on players to other schools.
How do you win over your recruits? Do you use your school's amenities or its academics as advertisement? 5.How many letters and videos do you flip through a week?