Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Strong serving can put you in control of a tennis match. Poor serving can put you in a bad position. When your serve is off the mark, there are plenty of areas that are potential trouble spots. Examine each area and put in the practice time to correct any problem that pops up.
In tennis, the term "pronation" means turning your wrist and forearm together during a serve, turning quickly on the swing just before striking the ball. Expert tennis players use pronation to lend power to the serve. The brief but fast rotation of the racket just prior to contact with the ball creates powerful rotation that adds spin and speed, making a more effective serve. Players should use practice drills to work on pronation to develop muscle strength and movement.
John McEnroe, Monica Seles or Goran Ivanesivic are famous tennis players that belong to the 10 percent of people in the world who are left-handers. While a left-hander may require a special pair of scissors or knife for day-to-day activities, in tennis, being left-handed doesn't mean that you need a special racquet or that the drills will be different than the drills for right-handed people. However, being left-handed gives you an advantage in tennis, because your opponent will get the balls at unexpected angles and at a different spin.
To professional tennis players, the prospect of a frozen tennis ball probably doesn't rank high on the list of common concerns. However, such experimental musings about those fuzzy, bouncy balls can be just as interesting as the ins and outs of a backhand return. It stands to reason that very cold temperatures would affect the bounciness of a tennis ball, but only experimenting can prove it for sure. Whether for fun, for a science project or to gain an advantage in a tennis match, conduct an experiment and observe how freezing affects the properties of a common tennis ball.
Most modern tennis rackets of decent quality are made of graphite composites tightly strung with natural gut or synthetic polymer strings. Because these rackets are manufactured using advanced techniques, most kinds of structural damage -- such as a cracked handle or frame -- can't be repaired at a cost less than that of buying a new racket. Some problems that can be repaired include a frayed grip, broken strings, grommets, and head guards.
Vintage tennis rackets have a few key differences when compared to tennis rackets of today. Learn how to draw a vintage tennis racket with help from an artist in this free video clip.
When pillows are placed in the dryer on their own, the materials inside can clump up and cause your pillow to become flat. An old-fashioned method for preventing this is using multiple tennis balls in the load. As the dryer spins, the tennis balls hit and fluff the pillow while it dries. This method is not necessary, however, to clean and dry your pillows.
Badminton rackets are strung from the middle, which will reduce uneven stresses when replacing old strings. Many badminton players prefer two-piece stringing. Some badminton enthusiasts also add an additional half-pound of tension to their cross strings. This technique prolongs tension in the strings. Although you can pay a professional to string your badminton racket, it is also possible to do it yourself, provided you have the right equipment.
As the extension of your hand on a tennis court, a racket can suffer from quite a bit of strain. Its frame may even crack as the result of heavy use. Playing with a cracked racket can prove problematic. Cracks can compromise the grip and reliability of the equipment, reducing the effectiveness of your play. Only by completely replacing a cracked racket can you fully regain your game. Some simple tools, however, can temporarily repair cracks in a pinch.
Skee ball is an arcade game that was invented and patented in 1909. Players earn points by rolling or tossing balls in stacked holes that are each assigned a number of points. The player with the highest amount of points wins the game. In arcades, the winner generally earns tokens or tickets to redeem for prizes. However, to enjoy skee ball, you don't have to travel to an arcade or spend a great deal of money purchasing a skee ball machine. A skee ball "panel" can easily be made for a quick, fun game at home.
Drawing a tennis player is a great way to experiment with incorporating motion into a still image. Draw a tennis player with help from an artist in this free video clip.
Professional or competitive tennis clothing tends to be expensive. This is especially so if players are required by club or tournament regulations to wear uniforms in pristine or new condition. Clothing expenses only add to the costs of tournament fees, travel, equipment and other expenses associated with the sport. Therefore, many tennis players find sponsors to cover the cost of clothing.
A tennis ball mortar is made of three potato chip canisters duct-taped together. It needs baffles to fire properly. When you drop a tennis ball into the mortar, the ball drops only as far as the bottom of the top canister. Baffles -- small holes cut in the bottom of the top two canisters -- focus the force of the gas that is ignited in the bottom canister onto the center of the tennis ball and blast it out of the mortar tube. Cut baffles properly to get the most out of your tennis ball mortar.
Tennis players naturally feel comfortable when stroking a forehand shot. Using their dominant hand contributes to a feeling of confidence, which generally leads to better results. However, focusing solely on perfecting a forehand neglects the all-important backhand. Many players elect to use a two-handed backhand shot to provide more power on those shots. By following proper positioning and technique, you can become more powerful with your backhanded shots.
Teaching a kindergarten class music should be an enjoyable and active experience for the children. Before getting into the serious music exercises, it is advisable to warm up the kids to prepare them for music activities. Spend five to 10 minutes on warm-ups to ensure that the children are primed and ready to begin singing, playing and experimenting with music.
Female tennis players once wore white, full-length dresses on the court. However, tennis dresses have evolved to be shorter, more colorful and more fitted, allowing women to move more easily on the court and make a fashion statement. Designing a tennis dress is about creating an outfit that combines your personal style with practicality. Update your tennis wardrobe by designing your own custom tennis dresses.
The tension of string in a tennis racquet has a critical influence on your play. The tighter the strings the greater the control you have, but reducing tension increases power. Tension is not the only aspect that affects your game. The gauge, or thickness of the string, as well as the material it is made of and the density of the string pattern can all be tweaked to take advantage of your strengths. Normally, string tension is determined when you restring a racquet, but several options are available to help you between restringings.
Private tennis lessons can cost a lot of money, but you can save some cash when joining group lessons, which will require you to complete drills designed for multiple players. Group tennis drills are often fast-paced, a lot of fun and they give you the opportunity to play against players with various skill levels and styles.
Low-compression balls are made with less internal pressure than standard tennis balls. They are designed to make learning the game and skills of tennis easier; low-compression balls travel at slower speeds and bounce at heights to match a student’s age, size, skill level and mobility. Pressureless balls are made to look like regular tennis balls; however, they have no pressure inside and are designed to maintain their bounce longer.
Skilled paintball players meet every year to dodge rounds of paint, target their opponents and do their best to win. Professional paintball happens at skill level much higher than you can find at your local course. While paintballers play many courses, from speedball to woodsball, and many game types, like deathmatch and capture the flag, professional matches generally happen on one type of course.
Many people use tennis balls as "feet" for their walkers because the tennis balls help them scoot across most surfaces without having to lift the walker. Tennis balls are especially good for use on tile or wood surfaces, while they are not as effective on carpet. Tennis balls also can wear out quickly when used outdoors. If you want to put tennis balls on a walker you can complete the process in just a few minutes.
Every tennis racquet has a plastic cap on the end of the handle known as the butt cap. This cap is often removed during the process of installing a new handle grip on a racket. Removal of the butt cap allows access to the inside of the handle, which can be used to counterweight the racquet.
Once you master performing a basic forehand in tennis, in which you strike the ball squarely and with little-to-no spin, add some spin to the ball. One type of offensive and defensive shot is hitting a forehand with backspin. It is called a forehand slice. When you do this, the ball crosses the net, lands on the court and bounces low, becoming a drop shot that dramatically changes the pace for your opponent. Like any other shot you attempt in tennis, practice hitting a forehand slice repeatedly in order to master it.
Craft your own net for hours of table tennis enjoyment. Traditional nets include a cross-pattern, mesh-like design with flexibility to slightly bend from the force of a striking ball. A net is necessary to distinguish your side of the table from the opponent's side. Purchasing a prefabricated version can run you upwards of $37 -- a costly expense. Making your own net can save you substantial money and be constructed with several household tools in no time at all.
Storm drains and spouting are subject to getting clogged with debris. From leaves to tennis balls, a buildup or clogged storm drain can cause your spouting to work improperly and inefficiently. Removing tennis balls from spouts and drainage tubes involves using objects to help you reach the impasse.
Tennis is a high-endurance sport played either with partners or one-on-one. A tennis racket is used to strike and serve the ball, and it must fit your hand properly. A quality racket grip is an essential component to playing a successful game. Some racket grip diameters may be too big or too small for your hand. If so, you must modify it to suit you.
Much like the sport itself, the origination of tennis' intriguing scoring system is not entirely clear. Some suggest the 15/30/40 scoring came from the face of a clock, were a match was won once a competitor reached the 12 o'clock position, having worked around the clock face. Others suggest that the French created the scoring system and recognized 60 as a significant number in their culture, and so a tennis player had to reach 60 in four stages before winning a game.
Becoming a tennis champion is a goal for millions of kids and young adults. Getting to the point where this is a possibility for those who possess great natural ability involves a superior work ethic and an intense training program. While very few will ever accomplish the goal of becoming a tennis champion, there are a select few who have the drive, discipline and dedication to make their dreams come true.
The two-handed backhand didn’t emerge on the scene until the 1970s, more than 100 years after tennis was created, according to tennis expert Dave Smith. The two-handed backhand not only gives you power, it's also more difficult for an opponent to read than a standard backhand. It gives added control to the shot and is more forgiving if you hit the ball a little early or late. The only disadvantage is that the two-handed backhand limits your reach. For a lefty to perfect a two-handed backhand, you must first be familiar with basic tennis grips and stances and be proficient…
An open stance in tennis is a hitting position where the player has her feet parallel to each other. Many other stances require one leg forward, which provides a foundation to help generate additional force into the shot. An open stance is an effective position if you need to quickly return the ball and don't have enough time to move in a more sturdy position. The stance can also help you maintain position for your opponent's return shot.
Forehands and backhands, or ground strokes, are fundamental components in tennis because they are the most common shots. Many tennis rallies are completely consumed by each player's relentless ability to return the ball with a consistent ground stroke, which is why this can win you many matches without the need for other shots. The opposition usually gets a point when the ball is stroked into the net or out of bounds.
Several adjustments can be made to your tennis stroke so that you can generate more power, and this all starts with proper conditioning and many hours of practice. While the less common drop-shots in tennis don't require a lot of power, some of the best tennis strokes have a considerable amount of force. Expert tennis players are able to combine their power with pinpoint accuracy that sees the ball barely clear the net to land within the opposition boundaries.
If winter is right around the corner, it's time to pull out your toasty down coat. However, after sitting in a closet throughout the spring and summer months, your coat is likely in need of a thorough washing. As the feathers found in down coats tend to form clumps if washed improperly, it's important to take a number of precautions when washing your down coat. Interestingly, tennis balls are often required to properly wash down coats.
Ball boys and girls are hired for tennis tournaments, and the position carries many perks, including meeting players and watching exciting tennis matches. The salaries for ball boys are low but people seek these positions because of the excitement.
Most tennis players use the backhand swing less than a forehand shot, but a strong backhand swing can add a topspin to the ball and improve your game. Some players use a one-hand backhand, while others prefer a two-hand backhand. Each player should develop his own backhand swing style and practice drills that will help to improve power and accuracy when returning the ball.
From backyards to international meets, the game of badminton has remained a popular sport through the years. Whether you are competing in a tournament or just playing badminton for the sake of recreation, knowing the right techniques to get an edge over the competition can help with your game.
Performing a variety of warm-up exercises prior to running in a track meet is one of the keys to success. You have to make sure that your muscles are fully stretched out, warm and freshly oxygenated in order to perform at your best. Being completely warmed up and stretched will also lessen the possibility of injury during your event. Start off with a series of stretches designed to loosen all the major muscles in your legs and lower body, then move on to specific exercises designed to loosen your feet, back and hips.
"StarCraft," the science fiction strategy game, allows you to battle a variety of enemies in a quest for space supremacy. Playing "StarCraft" is simple, but mastering it can be difficult. Through many hours of playing the game, you will develop tips and strategies that help you succeed.
If you’ve ever watched a game of professional tennis, you might have noticed that the players were dressed in light colored clothing. Although many players choose to wear white when playing outdoor tennis because it reflects the sun, there are other things you should take into consideration such as your footwear. Other accessories will help make your outdoor tennis games more enjoyable.
A stiff tennis racket is more powerful than a racket that has more flexibility, and it absorbs more of the shock so that your wrist and arm incur less impact from the tennis ball. When it comes to selecting a suitable tennis racket, consider the weight and stiffness of the racket. A heavy racket with stiff strings will give you a powerful stroke as the racket connects with the ball. If your current racket is not as stiff as you'd like, then stiffen the strings yourself.
North Face makes a wide variety of outdoor materials, such as packs, tents and jackets. According to their website, they commonly utilize Gore-Tex in their jackets to create a water resistant coating on the outside of the jacket. While rain jackets and light outer wear can be regularly washed, North Face jackets with a down lining should be carefully laundered and with less frequency.
A two-handed tennis stroke will give you a shorter backswing and a quick and powerful return of serve. This technique is used primarily when the ball is close to the body. This stroke takes practice, but with dedication and patience you can master the two-handed backhand.
A new tennis racquet can have an immense impact on your game. Different racquets can have different weights, come in different face sizes, have different grips and return balls differently than you were used to with your previous racquet. The tightness of the strings can also vary and affect your returns. Practicing with the racquet is the ideal way to break it in, familiarize yourself with the feel of it and become comfortable enough to use it in a match.
You do not need to be Roger Federer or Rafael Nadal to make a living as a tennis player. There are semi-professional tennis tournaments played across the country in which you can register. Additionally, professional associations such as United States Tennis Association, United States Professional Tennis Association and Association of Tennis Professionals provide sanctioned and non-sanctioned tournaments. Make money winning tournaments, working as a tennis pro and teaching lessons. If you have talent playing or teaching tennis, it is a lucrative field.
Installing windscreens on a tennis court has a number of benefits. Cutting down on the wind flow across the court is the primary benefit, but the windscreens also help dampen outside sounds and serve as a privacy screen, keeping prying eyes to a minimum. In general, tennis court windscreens are made of three types of materials: polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene. Windscreens are also graded on weave density. Installing a windscreen on your tennis court can be done with common hand tools and in just a few steps.
Many elderly people, as well as the disabled or those recently ill, find that they have to often, or occasionally, use a walker to help them get safely from place to place. Often, these people, or those who help them, will place tennis balls at the feet of these walkers so that they can more easily slide the walker forward as the walk. Over time, these balls will become worn and need to be replaced. The process for doing this is relatively simple.
The thought of struggling to buy a gift for someone who either has everything or hates everything is enough to put a damper on the whole festive idea. When that person is an avid tennis player, however, the task is not only enjoyable -- but also has many options to make your present memorable.
While every tennis racket may appear the same to the naked eye, there are several factors that go into finding the perfect racket for each player. You must consider the length, weight, grip and stringing of the racket, among other things. However, just follow a few general guidelines to find the perfect racket for the player and his or her style of play.
A well-balanced tennis racket can mean the difference between a score or a flop. Since not all tennis rackets are created equal, you have to pay particular attention to the racket's distribution of weight. That is, you must know whether the racket is head heavy or headlight. A headlight racket means the head side of the racket is longer, when evenly balanced, than the handle side. Whether you are an experienced tennis player or are just starting out with the purchase of your first racket, it can enhance your game to look for rackets of a particular weight distribution, and…
Warm-up activities help energize students and prepare them for more intense activities during a physical education class. These activities also give students a chance to practice specific skills and improve basic physical movements. Prepare a variety of warm-up activities to get your students moving before gym class with a few supplies and a creative imagination.
