Hey guys,

While eating my pre-work out breakfast this morning, I was looking at some of the emails that came in from our TennisMindCamp players over the weekend, and there was one that really stuck out to me.

And since I think there are a lot more of us that probably have this tennis dilemma, I decided to share my solution to this one with all of you.

The question was…

“Coach, I know I’m supposed to drink water like propel or some sort of sports drink to stay hydrated and so I don’t cramp up, but what if I don’t drink enough or I’m so focused on what’s going on in the match that I forget.

I don’t want to be forced to retire or default the match from dehydration.  But I’ve already waited soooooo long.  What should I do if this happens and I really start to feel sluggish?”

Well first off, let me tell you, if you haven’t been recharging your mind and your body consistently throughout the tennis match (…especially when playing tennis in extreme heat), your in-game health, focus and performance are all going to take a humongous hit. So, you should definitely be concerned.

Not to mention, you up your chances of coming down with a serious case of hyponatremia. You’re probably thinking, “What the heck is Hyponatremia?”

Well you see, the more you play, the more energy you use.  And the more energy you expel, the more the level of nutrients (…particularly electrolytes) your body needs to perform at a high level, goes down.

And if you let those nutrients drop beyond a certain point,  then you’re going to be in extremely dangerous territory.

That said, Hyponatremia is what you experience when you’ve passed that critical threshold. It’s a metabolic condition where there are simply not enough electrolytes like sodium (salt), chloride, potassium, magnesium, and calcium in the body fluids outside the cells.

How do you know if you’re suffering from this unfortunate condition?

Well, God forbid you ever feel its effects… But if you’re unlucky enough to come down with this condition while playing, you should know how to recognize it.

These are some of the symptoms: nausea, vomiting, headache, confusion, lethargy, fatigue, appetite loss, restlessness and irritability, muscle weakness, spasms, cramps, and even seizures.

That bad?!? Oh yeah, I’m NOT playin’ around folks.  It’s going to feel like you’ve just been hit with a ton of bricks, then blasted by a screaming Andy Roddick forehand immediately afterward.

Now don’t go crazy on me, you CAN reverse the effects and get yourself back in the tennis match (…even if you’ve already started to feel a decline), but you don’t have a lot of time.  You need to act fast!

So, what do you do, get the biggest container of liquid you can find and chug it down in one HUGE gulp ASAP? No, just suddenly grabbing and gulping down an entire bottle of Gatorade as fast as you can isn’t going to fix the problem. In fact, it just makes things worse.

(1) It’s going to take too long for your body to respond to it, and (2) you’re going to feel heavier and much slower because you downed so much all at once.  Oh and you know what,  hyponatremia can also affect athletes who consume too much fluid.

So, what’s the solution? Tell me already, right?!?

Ok… Ok…

It’s Pills – Electrolyte Pills!

Electrolytes are the main ingredients that your body uses loses AND is the core substance in nutritional sports drinks that help your body recover.

And it’s the same stuff in these electrolyte pills. But these can save you by giving you a much needed boost and can bring your game back to life – and do it *QUICKLY* without weighing you down.

Now, there are two main types of electrolyte pills: Tablet and gel-capsule form.  I would strongly recommend the gel capsule because the absorption rate into the body is a heck of a lot higher (…close to 90%) and much faster than the other.

Here are a few of the leading brands of electrolyte pills:  Hammer Endurolytes, NUUN tablets, Elete, Ultima Replenisher, and ZYM Tablets.  Feel free to try these out and see if it works for ya.

Now, by no means am I saying that electrolyte pills should take the place of a consistent hydration routine.  You NEED to be drinking before the match and during every changer over. That ‘s the most surefire way to eliminate the chance of cramping up, compromising technique, and losing focus.

In my opinion, this is solely an emergency strategy or maybe something you end up using alongside the other I suggested.

—-

This was a great question, because it makes us pay attention to the problem that a lot of us suffer from – knowing but not doing.  See, it’s not enough to know that you should drink. You *HAVE * to develop a hydration routine and make it an A-list priority to do it every time out.

So, make it a habit.  Do it whenever you’ve got a racket in your hand -  in tennis practice sessions, exhibition matches with your friends and hitting partners, and especially in real games.

Do that, and it’ll be second nature to you when it matters most. You’ll never forget and risk sabotaging your chances at a great win because of it – again.

Have a great day and an even better game!

Brian
TennisMindCamp

P.S. For more tennis tips, tennis secrets, and tennis strategies, click here.

It’s common sense that as a match progresses and more energy is used, you’re going to tire. Right?  As you hit more shots, and as you’re forced to run more balls down…

Your technique will start to decline… Your tennis footwork will begin to go and your focus will begin to fade as well.

Yeah, it really is frustrating when you’ve got a grade A game and can only show it a fraction of the time (..before the match really gets going) because of player fatigue.

And here’s the kicker, it doesn’t matter how good a player you are… We all have to deal with it.  That’s just mother nature for ya.

But listen…

How would you like to defy nature?

How would you like to go through an entire match without showing any sign of wear and tear, forcing your opponent to deal with your best stuff from racket spin to handshake?

Well, the findings of a new scientific study could be an answer to your prayers.  This study says you can eliminate that awful fatigue by adding something that you’ve seen in your bathroom or under your kitchen sink for years.

I’m Talking About Baking Soda!

Dr. Chen-Kang Chang from the National Taiwan College of Physical Education recently conducted a study that suggests that by adding a little sodium bicarbonate ( baking soda) to your pre-match beverage, your engine will be running like that of a formula 1 racer, all the way until the last point has been completed.

He says that if taken on the morning of a tennis match, it’ll enable you and other tennis players alike to eliminate many of the side-effects that we endure when fatigue sets in (…dry mouth, weak knees, fading technique, etc), allowing them to play at an optimum level throughout.

How’d they figure this out?

A group of 9 tennis players in the study was selected and given a drink. Of those nine, some included a small sample of baking soda while others were given a placebo.

Next, all were asked to go through a series of activities that would analyze and test their playing ability (…control on ground strokes, serve accuracy and consistency, and court movement etc.)

They did this once before and another immediately after participating in simulated match play.

Then, they checked out the results!

Conclusion:
What exactly did Dr. Chang and his team find?

“We found that sodium bicarbonate supplementation can prevent the fatigue-induced decline in skilled tennis performance seen during matches,” Chang said.

What does this mean?

Scientifically speaking, baking soda positively changed the acid-base ratio in the blood by decreasing lactic acid levels, which are commonly attributed to fatigue.

And in regular terms… “The service and forehand ground stroke consistency was maintained after a simulated match in the bicarbonate trial. On the other hand, these consistency scores were decreased after the match in the placebo trial,” he said.

So there you have it. It’s pretty simple.  Dabbling in your household box of baking soda before you take the court may really improve your tennis game, your athletic performance and your ability to consistently perform over long stretches.

But be careful, you want to make sure you don’t take too much of this stuff, because it can also cause your potassium levels (…which help fight against dehydration) to dip.  If that happens, it can cause abdominal cramping, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Now hey, if you’re a little weary about your “arm&hammer,” go ahead and break out the Ovaltine next time you’re in for an intense tennis training session.  Drinking chocolate milk also has been proven to refuel fatigued muscles (… and increase athletic performance in tennis) – without any possible side effects.

Have a great day and an even better game!

And for more ways to fight the onset of fatigue and to make sure you have great energy throughout every match you play, click here.

Brian
TennisMindCamp

Hey guys,

It’s been crazy in New York over the past few days. Top seeded players have had to battle back from the brink of defeat, while others like Andy Murray never could really pull it together and suffered a major upset.

There’s been an outcry over an over-the-top dress worn by one of our players from another planet.  We’ve had a major fan-on-fan brawl that eventually led to a 3 year US Open ban!  Yea, it’s been a wild first week.

But considering all that, there’s still something else that has been talked about by literally every analyst at the Open and been felt by the skin of every fan and tennis player in attendance – the HEAT!

If any of you have been watching the US Open, you’ve probably heard the commentators lamenting about how tough the on-court conditions have been.

Though it’s come down and cooled off a little bit (…thank goodness), the first week of the US Open has been literally blazing hot (…hotter than I’ve ever remembered it being)!

I know first hand, because I’ve been frying out there each day myself, in the Ashe, Armstrong, and Grand Stand stadiums.  On-court temperatures at the U.S. Open have consistently been shooting up into triple digits!

Now even though it was close to unbearable for most fans, the players got it by far the worst.  It affected their bodies, as well as the outcome of their matches.

“The weather was my biggest enemy today,” said Ivan Ljubicic from Croatia, who credited the scorching heat for his loss, more than Ryan Harrison (… who could have been this year’s Cinderella story).

He was also quoted as saying, “The concrete of the tournament’s hard-courts, it’s just brutal.” Why would he say that?

Well, on the hard courts, it’s even greater than what you and I feel, sitting 10 to 20, or even 100 rows above it.  It reflects the heat upwards towards the players, making it an average 15 to 20 degrees hotter for the people working the hardest! Add that to the already increased body heat, and you’ve got a horrible problem.

Now though some players (…like Ljubicic) fell victim to the weather’s wrath, some managed to pull out big wins and are still alive in the tournament today, despite it.  So, how were those players able to withstand these wicked weather conditions? What did they do?

Some say it’s the product of working hard to be in great physical shape, while others believe that you staying hydrated is the key.   And I actually talk bout these concepts in much greater detail in TMC Strategy Secrets 101.

But these are both very true. And of course, you want a combination of these two elements to avoid both a physical and mental collapse.

But there’s also something that you can have ready in your bag and eat during changeovers to keep your mind sharp and your muscles firing.

Tennis Nutrition: Believe In Bananas!

Yes, Bananas. I knew about how great they can be for athletes, but couldn’t believe I hadn’t posted something on it before.

So, when the announcers during the US Open online broadcast of the match between James Blake and Novak Djokovic  began to talk about it (…not to mention the footage I recorded of at least 2 players per round scarfing these down these bad boys), that’s what made me say Ah-Ha… I should tell or at least remind you guys (…if you’ve been told in the past).

Now listen, when you unfortunately have to play in 90 degree and 100+ degree temperatures, you want to have at least a couple bananas in your bag, ready to go.  Why?

Because when you’re playing hard, you sweat out a lot of nutrients your body needs. And in the extreme heat, you’re going to perspire much more profusely and lose those nutrients at a much faster rate.

Two of the most important nutrients your body loses are sodium and potassium.  And if you want to be able to kick it in to the next gear and push past these conditions, without collapsing or being forced to retire, you’re going to have to replenish those nutrients asap!

And bananas are great for this, because they are often dubbed one of the most potassium-packed food on the market – absolutely great for your tennis nutrition.

I’m telling you, that sodium to potassium balance in the body is very important in maintaining constant blood supply to your muscles, which in turn will both enhance and distribute your energy supply to active parts of your body (…giving you more energy).

Many in the sports medicine, tennis nutrition and therapy fields appreciate the potassium-power delivered by this high energy fruit.

Because hey, when you get to a critically low point with them, your body will start to cramp up. And it’s going to hurt!  So, you want to bolster your tennis nutrition and attack this potential problem before it hits and takes over.

Tennis Nutrition And Muscle Response: The Bad News

Because once that happens, BAD NEWS! You might never get your muscles back to responding as efficiently as you want, and it can very well cost you the match, from your inability to continue.

So, don’t wait until you can barely walk to start eating. Just like with your hydration routine, do it during EVERY change over. Take a bite… Take  gulp… Take a bite… Take A gulp…

So next time you feel the temperature starting to rise (…like in New York, Miami, or Las Vegas in the summer time), pack a couple of Chiquita bananas  in your tennis bag.  You’ll be much better equipped and perform at a much higher level..

Hope you enjoyed this quick US Open update and fruit-filled tennis nutrition tip. Oh, and let me know what you thought of this tip and your take on how the open is going so far.  I’d love to get your take on everything.

All the best,

Brian

TennisMindCamp

Enjoy the rest of the open… Gotta run!

Hey guys, if you’ve ever been to tennis practice, you’re going to want to hear this.

Over this weekend (…in between touching up TMCSS 101, getting ready for one of my best friend’s wedding), I had a few extra minutes. So I  thought I’d do something a little different and a little fun.

What I did was, I recently bugged (…tapped into)  the tennis practice of nearly every highly competitive tennis player known to man. It was tricky at first, but it finally worked.

Now, since I couldn’t type out everything from every tennis practice of all 1,659,756 players and coaches word for word. I summarized what I saw the most frequently and that was having the most impact.

Check it out…

Sound familiar? Thought it was just you? Not at all. This sort of coach to player difference in opinion happens ALL the time in tennis practice.

This alone, is one of the things that tends to cause some of the biggest snags in a workout and can even cause a potentially great career to come to a screaming halt. It just wastes too much time.

Clearly, the coach has the better view in this situation. But that doesn’t seem to clear things up – obviously. So, why does this happen? Where does this come from? Why do us players have such a problem with it?

Well, we as players tend to hold one or both of the following beliefs :

2 Ways We Have Major Tennis Practice Setbacks

1. The Invincible Desire: We think that we can do no wrong. Believe it or not, this many times stems from the intense desire to get better – seeing any type of correction as a weakness and possible delay in our progress.   Either that, or… we’re just plain old stubborn haha.

OR…

2. Super-Human (Double) Vision: We have the idea that we’re some kind of superhuman that has eyes that are double-sided – as if we could look outwards towards the ball and our opponent while simultaneously looking backward towards ourselves. Yes, IMPOSSIBLE. But, we still subconsciously believe that.

Whether you have 1 or both of these beliefs, it will simply do you no good.  So what’s the answer? What can be the “be all” and “end all” to solve this once and FOR ALL?

Video: The Tennis Practice Quick Fix

VIDEO! Bring a video camera out to your next practice. A lot of the big time pros use this strategy. Now, in case you we’re wondering…

No, it doesn’t need to be some $3,000 Sony Super HD Camera with a zoom so strong, you can see the moon.  A simple, mini-recorder from your local electronic store (…like the Mustek DV 526L Camcorder with digital player/voice recorder) will more than do that job.

You can either use a tripod for and extra steady view. Or ask your hitting partner to to lend a hand if you’re looking to get a more mobile type of shot (…great for hard angles).

By doing this, you’re taking the guesswork out of the entire equation. No more arguing. No more going back and forth with your coach during tennis practice. You get all the right answers with indisputable evidence.

If you’re not getting down, the cam will show you – plain and simple. If you tend to get a little flat-footed or sloppy on some shots, it’ll show you. And if you’re doing a phenomenal job on everything, you’ll be able to see that as well.

Bottom line, this will save you a ton of time and make your tennis practice session 10 times as productive. You’ll know exactly what parts of your game that are weak and need tweaking and what parts are solid enough to do some real damage as they are.

They’re will be no OPINION, only FACT. You know what they say, the camera never lies!

Have a great week and an even better game!

Brian Hall, Founder
TennisMindCamp

P.S. For those curious, no I didn’t magically tap into or spy on anyone . I thought it’d be a clever way to make the strategy tip pop a little bit. But if you’d like more tennis tips like this one, visit this page.

P.P.S But, FACT. I was polishing up TMC Strategy Secrets 101. And FACT, the Andrew Bynum and the Lakers Did Silence the Thunder!

Heard of Luxilon tennis strings before? If not, you just might be able to add a lot of direction and control to your forehand, back, and serve, after reading this.

If the name Luxilon does ring a bell, hopefully you agree with what I’m about to say.  If not, go ahead and let me have it, below in the comment box .

Now, when you have your opponent on the ropes and you see an opening (… a good amount of open court space), you don’t want to baby the shot over the net and let your opponent back in the point after you’ve done all that “hard” (…or should I say smart haha) work.

You’ll want to increase the pace some and close the point out.  Right? Of course, you want to put your opponent out of their misery and win that point, set, game, or match.

But here’s the issue that many players struggle with, and probably you yourself at times as well. Can you CONTROL it? Can you still get the ball to land in the court, when the pace picks up? Or does it sail to the back fence?

I mean, yea we all “know” how important it is to control your shot.  But “knowing” and actually  “doing” are two totally different animals.  I mean nobody says, “Watch me hit this one 5 feet out and into the stands.” It just happens. And as a result, the point is lost and your frustration  starts to build.

The unfortunate truth is, a large number of players are able to hit pretty well and obtain a good level of control when applying a low to moderate level of pace.

But when they attempt to pick it up and add some extra fire to their shots, the balls go everywhere EXCEPT to their specified target. Then, of course, they try using good old topspin per their coaches instructions. And sure, at times, that will work.

Or should I say, it SHOULD work haha. Other times, players can possibly see no difference at all or complain about the ball losing its “bite” in the process. Does this sound like you too?

If so, then the “tennis gods” may have just answered your prayers. Yes, now there is a way you can finally be able to enjoy the same beautiful blend of power and safety as the big-time pros without having to change a thing about your mechanics.

And no,  it’s not some completely new concept you have to learn to  add to your game.  It’s much simpler than that. The answer lies in your equipment – more specifically your tennis strings.

What strings? Luxilon is the name, and helping players control their explosive strokes is their game.  That’s right, this new stuff by Luxilon tennis strings have been specifically engineered to combat the “control” problem that so many tennis players are suffering from head on.

At first, it was only known among the inner circles and the elite players, but now the secret is no longer a hush-hush thing.   Now, it’s the string that players of all levels can’t wait to get their hands on.  And for that reason, it’s really taking the game by storm.

I mean, it’s turning around the games of so many players.  You know what, you don’t have to take my word for it.  The numbers speak for themselves.  Just last year, Luxilon distributed more than 3,000,000 (…3 M-I-L-L-I-O-N) feet of this stuff just to the Miami area alone!

Yikes, I know! And the reason why so many players are so hungry for this stuff isn’t  because they like the color. And it’s certainly not because of the high-power spokesman or tons of commercials and promotional ads. You barely see this stuff mentioned in the mainstream media. It’s because IT WORKS!

It’s actually doing what it’s supposed to. It gives players more control. It’s helping players like you quickly erase a horrible problem in their game and unlock the shackles that have been keeping them from so many potential wins in the past.

How does it work? Well, the #1 factor lies in its polyester base. Yea, the polyester is what allows the big boys who use it like Marin Cilic, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Leyton Hewitt etc…

(…and the big girls who also use it) like Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, and Dinara Safina  etc. to literally plaster the ball with  pace and power without the fear of it sailing onto the next court or into the 3rd row of the stands.

So yea, if it can handle the pace applied  by those players, I’m sure you shouldn’t have anything to worry about either.  Oh, and the best part is, your shot won’t lose much of its velocity or impact. In other words, you won’t have to give up something to get something in return, which is great!

Now you might be saying, “Hey, this ‘poly’ stuff is nothing new.”  True, the polyester string isn’t a brand new invention or concept. But, in order to formulate this one-of-a-kind material, they’ve taken it a giant step further by combining it with their own special ingredients and revolutionary polymer fibers to create some pretty insane results.

What are they? What are the mysterious elements that they mix the “poly” with? Who knows? I certainly don’t haha.

That stuff is top secret! Yea, if that information we’re to get out, too many copycats could emerge. And the owner/founder would sound like the queen from Johnny Depp’s Alice in Wonder Land, screaming “Off with their heads!” haha.

Now With Luxilon Tennis Strings, There Are 2 primary Ways To Lace Your Racket:

1. Luxilon tennis strings in the mains as well as the crosses.

2. A mixture of Luxilon tennis strings and pure gut (…used for just a little bit more punch and power).

You can try both, and see what works for you the best.  Now, of the many options Luxilon provides, the one that is the most popular goes by the name of Big Banger Alu. So, if you’re not sure which one to try first, that might not be a bad pick.

Now, this all sounds great, right? It sure does! But… Yea, there’s always a but, isn’t there? Some players have experienced some stiffness feeling in their arms and some soreness in their wrists when using this string.

But per a statement by the company, a new version, known as (… Luxilon M2) will be offered shortly. The Luxilon M2 will have a more gentle feel, and there shouldn’t be as much pressure  on your arm. Problem solved.

So yea, a few months ago, we briefly talked about how important equipment can be to a tennis player’s success, and that idea has only intensified here.  So, try some out and see if they work for ya. This could mean the difference between a big win and a “I’ll get ‘em next time.”  For more info on Luxlion string, click here.

Have a great week guys, and an even BETTER game!

Brian, TennisMindCamp

P.S. I recommend that you also take a look at other “polys” like: Babolat Pro Hurricane, Tecnifibre Pro Red Code, or Isospeed Hybrid spin.  Those are all great alternatives that can give your level of control a sizable boost without taking much from the bite on your shots.

P.P.S: Just a couple more weeks until TMC Strategy Secrets 101 will be released. Promise! Again, thanks for all your emails and concerns .

Now if you’re a player who’s just starting out, the very idea of having a close bond or connection with your tennis racket is absurd and perhaps disturbing.

You might think anyone who does that has completely gone to the crazy side of the court… if you know what I mean. After all, the racket is simply a brainless tool to be used and discarded at a whim, entirely dependent on its owner’s commands, right?

Yes, that’s true, you have total and complete control over where your racket goes when attempting to hit the ball. But your racket has quite a bit of say in how well your shot will be executed and the level of additional impact your balls may have during the course of a match.

The problem is not enough players understand the amount of influence the racket actually has. This mental error usually stems from ignorance, being naive or plain out cocky.  Inside, some players are thinking that there’s no possibility that they could be getting any outside help apart from their hard work and willingness to win. Honestly, I feel sorry for those players, because they’re greatly limiting themselves and their possibility of success.

Just ask around, and you’ll find plenty of tennis players who have tremendous skill and ability that will graciously tell you that it’s not their skill alone that wins them matches. I can speak from personal experience on this one too. When I first started, I was using a Wilson pro staff, the same model Sampras used. I only started with that, because that’s what my dad handed to me when I had my first lesson.

Well, I wasn’t hitting the ball like Sampras as you would imagine haha. I felt like I couldn’t get any power at all, and it seemed like I was using twice as much energy as I should’ve been. That led to frustration. But when I made a switch to one made by the Head Company, it was a 360 degree turn around.

I was hitting the balls better. I felt more fluid on every shot, and I was getting a much better balance of power and control. And the coolest part was, I didn’t change a thing about my mechanics and how I hit the ball.  That’s when I really saw the light of how important having the proper “thunder stick” is to a player’s performance. And that’s why I really want to stress this to you guys early, so you’re not wasting precious time, when you could be seeing results at a much faster rate.

I mean, just as a craftsman needs the right tools to carry out a particular job in a competent and proficient manner, so must the tennis player, regardless of skill or ability. So, you must choose carefully.

A common rookie mistake is to assume that all tennis rackets are created equally. Now, to the inexperienced eye, upon a casual glance, yes they are pretty identical. However,  there’s much more involved than what meets the eye.

The reality is that tennis rackets have ALL been uniquely designed for different kinds of players and playing styles. Each particular model has been created by using different materials and these materials can and will greatly affect the overall feeling the racket has when it’s in your hand. And as you and I both know, feel makes a world of difference out there.

Picking the right one can make your life so much easier while out there on the court. But on the other hand, if you pick the wrong one, you could be in store for an uphill battle and a lot of unnecessary frustration.  That’s why big-time pros like Raphael Nadal, James Blake, Venus Williams, and Andy Murray make sure every racket they use is uniquely tailored to very precise specifications – specs so personal that no racket available in your local tennis shop would mass produce and even offer it to the public. They know it makes that big of a difference.

Now, I don’t expect you to know which one suits you the best right off the bat.  I’d recommend the good old “trial and error” method to help you make a decision. If you go to any sports store that sells rackets, it’s highly likely that they’ll have a process where you can demo their rackets for a small fee. Test them out, and see which one gives you the best results before you go reaching for that credit card.

Though trial and error is great, I know you don’t have time to blindly try out every single racket in the shop until you find the right one. That could be a lifetime in itself –  not to mention the expense in gasoline having to drive back and forth multiple times.  So, to save you some time, I’ve created a TennisMindCamp Cheat-Sheet for racket selection.

(Check it out below)

Racket Selection Cheat-Sheet:

Head Size: When it comes to the head size of your tennis racket, size really does matter, but bigger is not always better. In most cases, if you opt for a larger head size then you’ll get more power and thrust to your serves and ground strokes, but you will lose some of your control. The reverse is true should you opt for smaller head sizes.

However, while you may favor one particular style over another, your personal strategy will dictate your head size choice. For example, if you like staying close to the net, then you’ll need a higher level of control over your shots and so the smaller headsize is ideal for you.

Balance: Again, just as with the head size, balance falls into one of two extremes and so it comes down to the player making a tactical choice as to which one they favor more. If there is more mass centralized in the head of the racket as opposed to the handle, then this means that you’ll be able to hit the ball with a higher level of velocity. But remember, you’ll have to deal with a reduction in direction control at the same time.

Stiffness: This is really more a matter of personal preference. While stiff rackets will generate more power for a shot, they require a higher amount of energy to be expended in order to finish the shot.  This means that you will tire out much sooner.

Weight: The weight of the racket will effect the amount of racket speed you get on your shot. The less the racket weighs, the quicker your racket can fly. The heavier the weight, the more effort it’ll take to get it around to execute the shot.

In short, if it’s comfortable and you feel good playing and winning with it, use it! Ignore the labels and marketing, and play with the racket that best suits your game and gives you the highest level of comfort.

So, think smart, and  use the criteria above.  If you’re in doubt after using the cheat-sheet, make sure that you speak to an expert or someone who has played tennis for sometime so that they can better advise you as to what would be your best choice.  You’ll be glad you did, and so will your wallet.

Have a great day and an even better game,

Brian Hall, Head Coach
TennisMindCamp
webmaster@tennismindcamp. com