Thursday, March 31, 2016
Zone 1-2-3 Tennis: Zone 1-2-3 Methodology by Craig Bobo
Zone 1-2-3 Tennis: Zone 1-2-3 Methodology by Craig Bobo: Zone 1-2-3 Tennis is a quick and easy way of teaching students what type of backswing and what type of footwork is needed to get to the bal...
Friday, January 30, 2015
Coach Craig's Sweet 16 Keys to Playing Winning Doubles
How to Play Winning Doubles
1. Practice Doubles sets and tie-breakers, so you have rehearsed what may happen under pressure
2. Prepare for your match by proper rest, hydration, and having everything you might need in your bag (wraps, band-aids, athletic tape, K-Tape, ibuprofen, towel, cap/visor, sunscreen, sportscreme, water jug, and electrolytes).
3. Stretch, get your feet moving, your blood flowing, and if you have access to courts prior to your match, warm-up some half-volleys, reflex volleys, overheads, cross-courts, serves and returns, and play a tiebreaker.
4. Identify in warm-up and throughout the first 4 games of the match whether your opponents' are Righties or Lefties, what side they are playing, and what their strength's and weaknesses are.
5. Understand that this is a TEST, and you must figure out how to pass it by thinking, communicating, asking questions, and figuring out solutions.
6. Understand your proper positioning at the net and when returning, as well as, variations you might use when you need to make a change - Check with your Coach to get a visual on this one.
7. Focus on your first-strike shots... Serves & Returns. Game-plan must be to protect your serve and break at least once a set.
8. Serves - initially serve in each game at 3/4 pace and with some spin going to the "T" and Body to take away angles and to get your net partner involved in finishing shots. Once you get up in a game 40-15 or 40-Love, then go bigger and/or change your spot, so you keep from being predictable, and may win an easy point... even if you lose the point, you've shown them a different look. Mindset should be ALL FIRST SERVES IN PLAY, because we don't want to live off our 2nd serve in doubles. Our partner at the net cannot be as aggressive at the net on 2nd serves and the opponent gets to step in hurt us more on 2nd serves.
9. Returns - ALL RETURNS IN PLAY... Short backswing and move to the ball. 80% of your returns should go cross-court and 20% down the line.
10. Observe the 80/20 Rule - 80% of balls from the backcourt cross-court, 20% of balls from the backcourt down the line. Once you move forward, into the front court, low balls - still 80% Cross-court and 20% Down the Line, but if you get a high ball close the net and take 80% of high short volleys down the alley and 20% cross-court.
11. Remember these 2 sayings... DOWN THE MIDDLE SOLVES THE RIDDLE, and when we are at the net and get a short high volley... DOWN THE ALLEY ENDS THE RALLY.
12. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER: 1. Where you are going to serve 2. Where you are going to return. (Most good partnerships use signals and/or talk in between points, and most probably do a lot of both), and 3. By calling the ball and/or directions (Such as: Mine, Switch, Stay, and Let it go).
13. Know where your partner and whether they are hitting an offensive shot or defensive shot by a quick glance, but keep your shoulders forward and racquet up... Don't turn around, just a quick glance to right or left if they ball gets past you, so you know where to position yourself next.
14. Poach in the first game your partner serves of a match to get yourself into the match, and to send a message to your opponents. If you miss out, or they pass you, put your helmet back on and go again soon thereafter to get yourself engaged early on.
15. Shrink the sidelines in a Tiebreaker and don't go for cute or trick shots in one... finish the set on a positive note whether you win it or lose it.
16. DON'T EVER GIVE UP... Even if they're hot and your not. Their game could drop, you could get hot, and something may happen... so don't quit. (I was playing an important deciding match at Sectionals one year, and the other team was on fire... we couldn't match their intensity or shot-making. I hit a short dropper and one of the players pulled a hamstring badly trying to get to the ball. After that, we exposed his inability to move and before long, they walked up to the net and retired. Another big match in the same situation at nationals, 2-2 in matches my partner and I were down 9-5 in the 3rd set tie-break, but never threw in the towel and won the deciding breaker/deciding match 12-10... So, DON'T EVER QUIT :)
I hope these tips help you. Check out more of our stuff at www.craigbobo.usptapro.com and at www.Zone123Tennis.blogspot.com
See You On the Courts,
Coach Craig
1. Practice Doubles sets and tie-breakers, so you have rehearsed what may happen under pressure
2. Prepare for your match by proper rest, hydration, and having everything you might need in your bag (wraps, band-aids, athletic tape, K-Tape, ibuprofen, towel, cap/visor, sunscreen, sportscreme, water jug, and electrolytes).
3. Stretch, get your feet moving, your blood flowing, and if you have access to courts prior to your match, warm-up some half-volleys, reflex volleys, overheads, cross-courts, serves and returns, and play a tiebreaker.
4. Identify in warm-up and throughout the first 4 games of the match whether your opponents' are Righties or Lefties, what side they are playing, and what their strength's and weaknesses are.
5. Understand that this is a TEST, and you must figure out how to pass it by thinking, communicating, asking questions, and figuring out solutions.
6. Understand your proper positioning at the net and when returning, as well as, variations you might use when you need to make a change - Check with your Coach to get a visual on this one.
7. Focus on your first-strike shots... Serves & Returns. Game-plan must be to protect your serve and break at least once a set.
8. Serves - initially serve in each game at 3/4 pace and with some spin going to the "T" and Body to take away angles and to get your net partner involved in finishing shots. Once you get up in a game 40-15 or 40-Love, then go bigger and/or change your spot, so you keep from being predictable, and may win an easy point... even if you lose the point, you've shown them a different look. Mindset should be ALL FIRST SERVES IN PLAY, because we don't want to live off our 2nd serve in doubles. Our partner at the net cannot be as aggressive at the net on 2nd serves and the opponent gets to step in hurt us more on 2nd serves.
9. Returns - ALL RETURNS IN PLAY... Short backswing and move to the ball. 80% of your returns should go cross-court and 20% down the line.
10. Observe the 80/20 Rule - 80% of balls from the backcourt cross-court, 20% of balls from the backcourt down the line. Once you move forward, into the front court, low balls - still 80% Cross-court and 20% Down the Line, but if you get a high ball close the net and take 80% of high short volleys down the alley and 20% cross-court.
11. Remember these 2 sayings... DOWN THE MIDDLE SOLVES THE RIDDLE, and when we are at the net and get a short high volley... DOWN THE ALLEY ENDS THE RALLY.
12. COMMUNICATE WITH YOUR PARTNER: 1. Where you are going to serve 2. Where you are going to return. (Most good partnerships use signals and/or talk in between points, and most probably do a lot of both), and 3. By calling the ball and/or directions (Such as: Mine, Switch, Stay, and Let it go).
13. Know where your partner and whether they are hitting an offensive shot or defensive shot by a quick glance, but keep your shoulders forward and racquet up... Don't turn around, just a quick glance to right or left if they ball gets past you, so you know where to position yourself next.
14. Poach in the first game your partner serves of a match to get yourself into the match, and to send a message to your opponents. If you miss out, or they pass you, put your helmet back on and go again soon thereafter to get yourself engaged early on.
15. Shrink the sidelines in a Tiebreaker and don't go for cute or trick shots in one... finish the set on a positive note whether you win it or lose it.
16. DON'T EVER GIVE UP... Even if they're hot and your not. Their game could drop, you could get hot, and something may happen... so don't quit. (I was playing an important deciding match at Sectionals one year, and the other team was on fire... we couldn't match their intensity or shot-making. I hit a short dropper and one of the players pulled a hamstring badly trying to get to the ball. After that, we exposed his inability to move and before long, they walked up to the net and retired. Another big match in the same situation at nationals, 2-2 in matches my partner and I were down 9-5 in the 3rd set tie-break, but never threw in the towel and won the deciding breaker/deciding match 12-10... So, DON'T EVER QUIT :)
I hope these tips help you. Check out more of our stuff at www.craigbobo.usptapro.com and at www.Zone123Tennis.blogspot.com
See You On the Courts,
Coach Craig
Wedgewood Tennis Tips
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Thursday, January 22, 2015
Tony & Liezel's 5 Keys to Great Tennis
Tony Huber, world famous coach & Liezel Huber, former #1 Women's Professional Doubles Player are friends of mine. They shared with a group of my juniors and adults at Walden Country Club on Lake Houston last Spring, their 5 keys to great tennis.
Using our fingers on 1 hand as markers, here are Tony & Liezel's 5 Keys to Great Tennis:
1. The thumb = Put the Ball in Play
2. The index finger = Direction (Cross-court, Down-the-line, Inside Out)
3. The middle finger = Depth (which means selecting to play a particular ball short or deep... master both)
4. The ring finger = Spin (Topsin or Slice/Underspin, and at times no spin to flattening it out... master them all)
5. The pinky = Power
You're thinking Power is last... yes, that's what two experts say. We definitely want to develop and master both power and pace (pace is a heavy ball that comes from a long follow-through and weight transfer behind the shot), but to get to the top levels we must prioritize the order of our techniques and tactics to achieve our highest potential.
Using our fingers on 1 hand as markers, here are Tony & Liezel's 5 Keys to Great Tennis:
1. The thumb = Put the Ball in Play
2. The index finger = Direction (Cross-court, Down-the-line, Inside Out)
3. The middle finger = Depth (which means selecting to play a particular ball short or deep... master both)
4. The ring finger = Spin (Topsin or Slice/Underspin, and at times no spin to flattening it out... master them all)
5. The pinky = Power
You're thinking Power is last... yes, that's what two experts say. We definitely want to develop and master both power and pace (pace is a heavy ball that comes from a long follow-through and weight transfer behind the shot), but to get to the top levels we must prioritize the order of our techniques and tactics to achieve our highest potential.
Saturday, January 3, 2015
15 Components of Becoming a Better Tennis Player
15 Components of Becoming a Better Tennis Player:
1. Take Private Lessons
2. Get involved in Group Drills
3. Hit off the Wall - (Play the wall matches)
4. Serve & Return
5. Use the Ball Machine
6. Develop a Nutrition & Fitness Plan
7. Play full 2 of 3 sets practice matches
8. Sets some written goals with your coach
9. Develop a Tournament Plan with your coach (Play both Singles & Doubles every chance you get)
10. Become a student, and Keep Learning & Growing, Learning more from your losses than your victories.
11. Have Fun & Enjoy the Journey
12. Acknowledge the other players' good shot(s) & be a good sport whether it's your day or not
13. Develop yourself a set of note-cards with key points to remember & tactical plays, just like a football or basketball coach would have on the field with them
14. Come prepared with everything you might need during a match. Water, snacks, electrolytes, band-aids, tape, ibuprofen, icy-hot wraps, grips, cap/visor, change of clothes, towel, sunscreen, extra racquets that are strung...
15. Never Give Up... The finish line is often closer then you think, so Press On!!
*Key terminology to take away from this article & do more research on:
1. Palm Down
2. Palm Out
3. Change-of-Direction Shots
*REMEMBER, WATCH THE BALL... -AND FOLLOW THE BALL... -AND PLAY THE BALL... -NOT YOU'RE OPPONENT.
Please pass our blog on to others that you think might benefit from our teaching.
Good luck on this awesome journey you've embarked on... See you on the Courts, Coach Craig
1. Take Private Lessons
2. Get involved in Group Drills
3. Hit off the Wall - (Play the wall matches)
4. Serve & Return
5. Use the Ball Machine
6. Develop a Nutrition & Fitness Plan
7. Play full 2 of 3 sets practice matches
8. Sets some written goals with your coach
9. Develop a Tournament Plan with your coach (Play both Singles & Doubles every chance you get)
10. Become a student, and Keep Learning & Growing, Learning more from your losses than your victories.
11. Have Fun & Enjoy the Journey
12. Acknowledge the other players' good shot(s) & be a good sport whether it's your day or not
13. Develop yourself a set of note-cards with key points to remember & tactical plays, just like a football or basketball coach would have on the field with them
14. Come prepared with everything you might need during a match. Water, snacks, electrolytes, band-aids, tape, ibuprofen, icy-hot wraps, grips, cap/visor, change of clothes, towel, sunscreen, extra racquets that are strung...
15. Never Give Up... The finish line is often closer then you think, so Press On!!
*Key terminology to take away from this article & do more research on:
1. Palm Down
2. Palm Out
3. Change-of-Direction Shots
*REMEMBER, WATCH THE BALL... -AND FOLLOW THE BALL... -AND PLAY THE BALL... -NOT YOU'RE OPPONENT.
Please pass our blog on to others that you think might benefit from our teaching.
Good luck on this awesome journey you've embarked on... See you on the Courts, Coach Craig
Tennis 3's
THE BIG 3's:
A. Zone 1-2-3
B. 1. The Back-court, 2. The Mid-court, 3. The Front-court
C. 3 Types of Spins: 1. Topsin, 2. Slice or underspin, 3. Flat
D. 3 Types of Shots: 1. Offensive, 2. Defensive, 3. Neutral
C. 3 Way's to Become a Better Student: 1. Move your feet, 2. Play the Ball, 3. Have FUN
D. The 3 Most Important Shots: 1. Serves, 2. Return of Serves, 3. The Forehand
E. 3 Way's to Pass the Test: 1. Figure out your opponent's weaknesses & strengths, make mental & even written notes on change-overs, 2. Develop a Game-plan in the early stages of the match, 3. Maintain a positive test-taking mindset, asking yourself positive "How to" Questions in order to implement the proper tactical plans... -(Try to Think like a side-line coach).
F. 3 Keys to a Great Serve by Definition are: 1. Routine, 2. Rhythm, 3. Smart Decisions
G. 3 Off-Court Keys to Great Tennis: 1. Sleep, 2. Nutrition, 3. Fitness
A. Zone 1-2-3
B. 1. The Back-court, 2. The Mid-court, 3. The Front-court
C. 3 Types of Spins: 1. Topsin, 2. Slice or underspin, 3. Flat
D. 3 Types of Shots: 1. Offensive, 2. Defensive, 3. Neutral
C. 3 Way's to Become a Better Student: 1. Move your feet, 2. Play the Ball, 3. Have FUN
D. The 3 Most Important Shots: 1. Serves, 2. Return of Serves, 3. The Forehand
E. 3 Way's to Pass the Test: 1. Figure out your opponent's weaknesses & strengths, make mental & even written notes on change-overs, 2. Develop a Game-plan in the early stages of the match, 3. Maintain a positive test-taking mindset, asking yourself positive "How to" Questions in order to implement the proper tactical plans... -(Try to Think like a side-line coach).
F. 3 Keys to a Great Serve by Definition are: 1. Routine, 2. Rhythm, 3. Smart Decisions
G. 3 Off-Court Keys to Great Tennis: 1. Sleep, 2. Nutrition, 3. Fitness
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
13 Tips for Your Next Lesson
WEDGEWOOD TENNIS BLOG
13 Tennis Tips to Make a Difference in Your Next Lesson
1. Safety comes first - please remove balls from under & behind other participants
2. Warm-up for 2 minutes to prepare and prevent muscle strains
3. Listen and learn
4. Help others
5. Have FUN ��
6. Don't compare yourself... Get a little better each time
7. Book your next lesson in your calendar
8. Ask for homework
9. Become a student - take notes, read articles, watch tennis.
10. Adopt a methodology. www.wedgewoodtennis.blogspot.com
11. Make the wall & ball machine 2 new friends
12. Just begin, enjoy your journey, and never give up. It's not where we start that counts, it's where we finish.
13. Bring a friend who can join us in your journey.
Thank you for being a member. Your participation, feedback, and ideas help us serve you better.
*The TIA -
Tennis Industry Association released a recent article stating tennis teaches more life lessons and skills to develop our children into well adjusted adults than any other sport. Tennis is now being used to ace Autism and assist with other diseases and disabilities.
By Craig L. Bobo,
Director of Tennis, USPTA Elite Professional & PTR Professional
13 Tennis Tips to Make a Difference in Your Next Lesson
1. Safety comes first - please remove balls from under & behind other participants
2. Warm-up for 2 minutes to prepare and prevent muscle strains
3. Listen and learn
4. Help others
5. Have FUN ��
6. Don't compare yourself... Get a little better each time
7. Book your next lesson in your calendar
8. Ask for homework
9. Become a student - take notes, read articles, watch tennis.
10. Adopt a methodology. www.wedgewoodtennis.blogspot.com
11. Make the wall & ball machine 2 new friends
12. Just begin, enjoy your journey, and never give up. It's not where we start that counts, it's where we finish.
13. Bring a friend who can join us in your journey.
Thank you for being a member. Your participation, feedback, and ideas help us serve you better.
*The TIA -
Tennis Industry Association released a recent article stating tennis teaches more life lessons and skills to develop our children into well adjusted adults than any other sport. Tennis is now being used to ace Autism and assist with other diseases and disabilities.
By Craig L. Bobo,
Director of Tennis, USPTA Elite Professional & PTR Professional
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