Faster feet and better fitness? Goals achieved: A tournament title, perhaps? Or simply, but maybe most important, having more fun? OK, that all sounds good. How to get started, you
wonder? Look no farther than the talented and dedicated Bellevue Club Tennis staff. Tennis Director Brian Nash and Tennis Pros Geoffrey O’Connor, Steve Doerrer, Kate Dieveney, Zuzana
Brogdon and Heather Falkin are stepping up to the line and serving up their best tips. Just like you’d look for the right shot to aggressively return in a match, scan for the pointer or two that seem to be aimed right to your poised response. Make them part of your time on or off the court, and approach them with all you’ve got. Who knows where a few new tips, techniques and tweaks could take your game … or you?
MAKE A PRACTICE OF PRACTICING Practice may not make the oh-so-unattainable “perfect,” but focused repetition undoubtedly will yield gains in skill, comfort and confidence on the court. “A tip for beginners: make sure you are practicing the right way and not developing any bad habits.” (Kate) “Practice your service toss at home or in your office,
as the (non-dominant) arm needs extra time to learn.” (Geoffrey) “Take a private or group class, and then get on the ball machine to practice what you learned. Also, every time you
Geoffrey O’Connor
practice, serve a hopper of balls. This is the most important shot in tennis, but the least practiced.” (Kate) “Spend time alone hitting serves from the service line, not the baseline. Spend time on the ball machine for
repetition of strokes.” (Geoffrey)
FAVORABLE CONDITIONS Tennis-specific conditioning drills boost strength, build stamina and prevent injury during play. “Jumping rope and sprints help with being in better condition for long matches.” (Brian)
Kate Dieveney
“Build up forearm strength with light weights to prevent tennis elbow.” (Geoffrey) “I tell my clients to interval-train with alternating 30
seconds of sprints with 60 seconds of regular pace, weather it be bike, cross-training machine or treadmill.” (Heather) “I recommend agility training, such as jumping rope, quick sprints and shuffling.” (Kate)
FEET FIRST For a better tennis game, start from the ground and work up. “Proper footwork and court positioning is one of the
most important aspects of the game. Many players do not realize that they get most of their power from the interaction between their lower body and the ground.” (Zuzana) “I recommend regular drills for footwork. Often, people work
exclusively on technique and not as much on footwork. Footwork helps you get to the position to hit shots, and improves the ability to start and stop.” (Brian) “The split step is also very important. You should split every time right as your opponent hits his or her shot. The split step gives you balance and the ability to read the shot better.” (Zuzana)
THE FUN FACTOR Discovering the fun of tennis and then finding new ways to keep the game fun keeps players looking forward to time on the court. “It’s good for beginners to focus on playing the game and learning to enjoy actual play. That’s more important than learning perfect technique. That’s what hooks people.” (Brian) “Fun is achieved by not focusing on the end result, but
in the time spent on the court engaged in shot making, hitting winners and sharing the sport with friends.”
(Geoffrey) “You play better when you’re having fun and not putting too much pressure
Heather Falkin
on yourself. You’re not a pro—this is your recreation, your hobby. Take it seriously, but not so seriously that you can’t play.” (Brian) “Play with new people. I have played since I was six years old and after having children, I started playing
with new people. It made me really have fun with it again.” (Heather) “Meet a group of people your level who you can
practice with and afterward have lunch together.” (Kate)
Steve Doerrer
KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE BALL It’s one of the most widely used snippets of advice in sports, and for good reason. Concentrating lets you anticipate, quickly respond and stay in the game. “Watch the ball so carefully that you could place an X where the ball bounced on your side of the net.” (Steve) “Keeping your focus is so important. After every point, keep your eyes focused by looking at the strings on your racquet.” (Kate)
CLASSY COMPETITION Competing adds challenge and, with the right approach, offers rewards that extend past the lines of play. “Be prepared to lose a few, as well as win a few. Keeping a good attitude and making sure you’re having fun is important. I recommend playing as many practice matches as possible to get
used to the pressure of competition. And remember to breathe!” (Kate) “Competitive skills versus recreational skills include mental toughness, concentration over long periods, cardiovascular and muscle preparedness, and having a match preparation routine, including meals, rest and stretching.” (Geoffrey) “The biggest thing is to get comfortable competing. Even as an entry-level player, you can go and play against other people at your level.” (Brian)
EQUIP YOURSELF Great gear—from something simple to cutting-edge technology—enhances the tennis experience. “Equipment is very personalized, but an item all players should have in their tennis bag is the booklet ‘Friend at Court,’ a rules reference book.” (Geoffrey) “People can’t see themselves. One thing we have here is digital video equipment. When you show them, it makes correction a lot quicker.” (Brian) “Besides having a racquet that you really feel comfortable using, in the summer sun I highly recommend wearing a hat.” (Kate) “For advanced players I think strings are very important. You want a string that is durable but also has great playability. Make sure you know the tension that is paired with your swing speed.” (Heather)
ALL IN YOUR HEAD Footwork, conditioning and strokes give you potential to reach the top of your game, but only if your head is in the right place. “Tennis is 25 percent skill and 75 percent mental. Before you go out on the court, visualize the perfect serve, return, overhead, volley and approach shot. This should take no more than three minutes, so you are not mentally fatigued before you go out on the court.” (Heather) “The best book, period, is ‘The Inner Game of Tennis’ by Timothy Gallway.” (Geoffrey) “Watching and analyzing how the pros play will help you better understand movement and technique as well.” (Kate)
Zuzana Brogdon
“If you are learning a new stroke, practice at home with your eyes closed. A lot of tennis is muscle memorization. If you don’t have to think about your strokes while you play, your chances of success are greater.” (Heather) “People who get better have a passion for wanting to improve. They enjoy the process of learning and working. Tennis is a difficult game to learn, so you have to enjoy the process.” (Brian)
CHILD'S PLAY Kids have the opportunity to begin this lifetime activity early, but respond most positively with an age-appropriate introduction. “Introducing kids to tennis is always easier if the parents first hit the courts with them and instill a sense of fun, not competition. Another tried-and-true approach is starting kids off with a group like summer lessons, where games and drills provide the foundation.” (Geoffrey) “Using foam balls is great for small kids because they can keep a rally going. Kids love aiming at targets and playing various games. Also, set mini-goals for them.” (Kate) “Make sure you have a great foundation before you start adding the fancy stuff. And always listen to your coach. They are there to make you better tennis players.” (Heather)
For more information on any of the Club’s Tennis programs, call the Tennis Office at 425-688-3174 or e-mail tennis@bellevueclub.com.
