Three Tips To Get Ready for Spring and Summer Tennis
Tip #1: Stretch The Right Muscles
A good warm-up is critical, so even before you begin to stretch, take five minutes to ride an exercise bike, run in place or jog around the tennis court. That way your body will be warm enough to get the most out of a rigorous stretching routine. As Kurlander says, “It’s tempting to just want to get out and start playing right away, but frequent stretching before and after you play is a great way to get limber and stay healthy.
Pay close attention to those parts of your body that have likely been more sedentary during the winter. The legs are the key to tennis, so stretching your hamstrings, quads and calves is essential.”
Tip #2: Take It Slow
Smart tennis players emphasize quality over quantity. Good tennis players know that it’s far better to be methodical and focused rather than play too long, become sloppy with your feet and generate bad work habits – or worse yet, get injured. This principle is doubly true when you’ve gone a while without playing too often. Says Kurlander, “Plenty can be accomplished at first with a brisk 45-minute workout or playing
one high-intensity practice set. You’ll get a lot of exercise and really hone your game if you approach tennis with a laser-like focus.”
Tip #3: Focus On Improvement
The early part of the tennis is a good time to devote energy less to competition and more to the improvements you want to make over the course of the year. More power on your forehand, sharper volleys and overheads, variety on your serve, sustained depth on your returns, incorporating new tactics – these are just a few of the many ways a tennis player can enhance his or her game. Says Kurlander, “Tennis is a life-long game. Too many players get too focused on short-term results over the long-term
process of improvement and building the skills that will help you enjoy the game for years and years.” As you seek to improve, look to take lessons, study instructional videotapes and read articles. Says
Kurlander, “It’s important to work with an instructor who genuinely understands how you play and how you learn. At our camps, for example, we always make sure our instruction appropriately complements the lessons the player has already learned.”
Matt Kurlander is the National Marketing Director for Nike Tennis Camps
A good warm-up is critical, so even before you begin to stretch, take five minutes to ride an exercise bike, run in place or jog around the tennis court. That way your body will be warm enough to get the most out of a rigorous stretching routine. As Kurlander says, “It’s tempting to just want to get out and start playing right away, but frequent stretching before and after you play is a great way to get limber and stay healthy.
Pay close attention to those parts of your body that have likely been more sedentary during the winter. The legs are the key to tennis, so stretching your hamstrings, quads and calves is essential.”
Tip #2: Take It Slow
Smart tennis players emphasize quality over quantity. Good tennis players know that it’s far better to be methodical and focused rather than play too long, become sloppy with your feet and generate bad work habits – or worse yet, get injured. This principle is doubly true when you’ve gone a while without playing too often. Says Kurlander, “Plenty can be accomplished at first with a brisk 45-minute workout or playing
one high-intensity practice set. You’ll get a lot of exercise and really hone your game if you approach tennis with a laser-like focus.”
Tip #3: Focus On Improvement
The early part of the tennis is a good time to devote energy less to competition and more to the improvements you want to make over the course of the year. More power on your forehand, sharper volleys and overheads, variety on your serve, sustained depth on your returns, incorporating new tactics – these are just a few of the many ways a tennis player can enhance his or her game. Says Kurlander, “Tennis is a life-long game. Too many players get too focused on short-term results over the long-term
process of improvement and building the skills that will help you enjoy the game for years and years.” As you seek to improve, look to take lessons, study instructional videotapes and read articles. Says
Kurlander, “It’s important to work with an instructor who genuinely understands how you play and how you learn. At our camps, for example, we always make sure our instruction appropriately complements the lessons the player has already learned.”
Matt Kurlander is the National Marketing Director for Nike Tennis Camps
