Hey guys,

With all the intense action taking place first round action going on at the US Open, I want to thank you for taking the time to visit the “US” Open Photo Challenge entry page.

Now, I know you probably want to get back to watching so you can pick up some strategies from the pros (…like I suggested ), so I’m just going to dive into it.

What do you get if you win?

The US Open is my favorite slam by far (…to attend live and to watch). The stars, the energy, and the heart-stopping pace of the serve, volleys, and unpredictable ground game.  So for the grand prize for this contest, I wanted to pick something really special as well as specific to this intense tournament that only happens once a year. You’re probably saying “Alright already haha, can we just get on to what we get?” Certainly

You’ll WIN the incredibly captivating US Open: The Open Book: Celebrating 40 Years of America’s Grand Slam (Hardcover) Plus DVD

These things are out of stock in many places, but I was lucky enough to find the last one at a tennis shop close by the tournament.  And let me tell you, you are really going to be amazed at this one.

I certainly was . “The Open Book” is a visually stunning celebration of the sport and spectacle of the US Open. On display are champions including legendary trailblazers Billie Jean King and Arthur Ashe… fan favorites like Jimmi Connors and Andre Agassi, lovable bad-boy John McEnroe, and modern greats Pete Sampras and Roger Federer. These players are sealed in time in some of their best and brightest  moments – captured in vivid images from some by the world’s leading sports photographers !

This is what some players who already have it think about it.

Oh yea, this is a beautiful piece of history and is definitely something to hold on to (…very tightly ) . Don’t take it out in the rain or accidentally leave it close to where your dog could get at it. In my eyes, this is one of the greatest tennis visuals ever.!  So…

HOW DO YOU WIN?

You’re actually going to laugh when you see how easy this is. We’re continuing on with the photo theme. All you have to do is submit a photo of you doing something tennis related.  It can be serious, funny, waky. It can really be whatever you want.

The title of this contest is the “US” Photo Challenge for a reason.  It refers to us, every single person involved in the TMC community.  And since, here at Tennis Mind Camp, we’re more like a family than just an ordinary website, I figured it would really be cool for us to see who we’re actually talking to and interacting with on a daily basis.  I mean, what family members have never seen each other haha? Not too many.

And not only that, but so we can show everyone who visits the camp that real people like you are benefiting and seeing *REAL RESULTS* so then they’ll get on board as well as reach their goals too.

CONTEST RULES:

1. Send photo of you in some sort of tennis activity to webmaster@tennismindcamp.com .  Either provide the link where the photo is located or simply email it as part of an attachment. Either way is fine.

2. Then, we’ll have a vote for the one everybody believes is the most unique. The one that gets the most votes will be the winner of this beautiful and *HEAVY* book and jam-packed DVD! Easy enough ?

*NOTE* I encourage you to do it now while you’re thinking about it and have a chance, because once the submissions reach a certain number I can’t accept anymore. Why? The polling program I’m using only lets you do so many lol.  Imagine that haha.  So, do it right now so you can make sure your spot is safe and secure because I know eager members like Jesus, Christi, Marcelo, Buck, Loobo, Richard, Danielle, Kathy and Jerry are sending theirs in as we speak.

The winner will be notified within 24 hours of the trophy presentation, and the prize will be shipped off the next morning. It’s only fitting that two champions be honored on the same day 8-).

Email me personally at webmaster@tennismindcamp.com if you have any questions.

Good luck guys!

Brian Hall, Head Coach

P.S. Are you enjoying the open so far? Wow, I mean did you see both Safina and Williams ALMOST go down? The heart of a champion.

Hey guys,

This is just me having some good old fashioned fun at the 2009 LA Women’s Tennis Championship in Carson, CA (…part of the Olympus US Open Championship Series). I interview some of the official staff, show off some of the tasty tournament treats, and a host of other things. It was a incredible tournament with a great vibe. So, I thought would be cool to share some of it with you.   Click the videos below to see how everything unfolded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWy5w1SK_Hk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zji2FvCd2Aw

Feel free to comment below, and let me know what you think. I’d love to know what was your favorite part. Oh, and if you received this post in your email and cannot view the footage, simply click on the link s below each video, and it will take you to the official YouTube channel where they’re all easily accessible. 

All the best,

Brian Hall, Your Tennis Mind Coach

TennisMindCamp

When attempting to return any ball out there on the court, your first step is going to be the most critical, both on deep as well as short balls.

…And most balls will tend to fall into to one of those two categories, so once you get that going, you’ll find yourself in great shape in the majority of points that you face.

You’ve probably heard that your first step needs to be explosive, right? Well, that’s very true, but it must also be propelling your body in the proper direction for that specific situation. Oh yea, it’s NOT the same for every predicament. NO WAY ha-ha!

Shall I explain? Ok.

Most people, when initiating their first step, choose to move laterally (…left to right) with the outside foot. And that is definitely the right move on most mid-range shots, meaning they’re not too deep in the court but by no means what we’d consider a short ball either.

But if your opponent hits you a deep ball, you want to react a little differently. You want to retreat a step behind you. So, you’re going to be angling your body more backwards instead of side to side.

For example, if you’re right-handed, and your opponent hit you a deep ball to your forehand side, then you’d want to take your right-foot backwards to cut off the the angle that way.

It’s sort of the same thing on the short ball as well except the opposite . Make sense? Let me be more precise, it’s the opposite direction in which you want to move your foot and shift your body.

I’ve seen a lot of misinformed players suffer on these balls which should really be “gimmies.” I mean, short balls are what you lick your chops over the entire match so you can come in and cream one.

But sadly, those players that I mentioned above, move laterally and then find themselves late when they attempt to execute their shot and end up having to lunge for the ball.  This usually results in an unforced error. Ughhhh…

Instead, you want to make sure that your first step is in front of you on the short ball. That’s right. As soon as you see it, BOOM, you’re in there. Cutting off the angle by coming into the court towards the ball will put you in a much smoother position to
execute a more offensively sound attack and save you valuable recovery time in the process.

———

In many instances, the reason why we miss-hit or even “shank” a shot is because we’re out of position by only a foot or so which isn’t much. So saving that lateral step in between going for the long and short ball will do tremendous things for your success and generate some really awesome results.

All the best,

Brian Hall, Your Tennis Mind Coach
TennisMindCamp
webmaster@tennismindcamp.com

P.S. Are you guys excited that the US Open is coming up? I’ll be there this year and try to get some awesome pictures and maybe even some video footage so I can share it with you on the blog.

Let me know if any one is going, maybe we could grab lunch or something.

The USTA just announced  former No. 1 Carlos Moya of Spain is withdrawing from the 2009 U.S. Open because of an injury to his foot.

Moya has been out of action for the majority of this tennis year. His ranking recently took a skid, taking him  out of the top 100. I bet that hurt… Ouch!   Also, Kei Nishikori of Japan was atop the alternates list for the previous year, but he won’t participate because of an injury as well.

The two unfortunate injuries mean that Ecuadorian Nicolas Lapentti who holds the world’s 106th spot in the ATP tour will now gain an automatic entry into the tournament’s main draw.

Remember guys, you always want to work on your fitness. Train your body both in and out of the gym. The stronger you are are, the less likely you will be to succomb to an injury.

Being in great shape and being physically fit can do wonders for your mind as well. Why? Becuase you won’t think twice about putting your body out there on the line in stretching for a hard to get drop shot. You can get to your proper setup and recovery position without getting winded or thinking twice about it. You’ll feel much more secure in everything that you do.  You’re NOT wondering whether your body will be able to handle it.

But hey, don’t get me wrong guys, some injuries are simply unavoidable (… like the twisting of an ankle while charging the net for a short ball), but you want to do everything in your power to prevent something like that from happening.  And strength training can definitely be a HUGE help in making sure something like the twsiting of a knee or something more serious doesn’t happen.

Because the truth is, you never want that to be the reason you miss a big opportunity that could change your game as well as your life forever. So good luck Carlos and Nicolas. We at TMC, wish you a speedy recovery and much success in the upcoming year!

Brian, Your Tennis Mind Coach

TennismindCamp

P.S. How many of you guys currently have a gym routine?  Just curious

Since you’re a player who always wants to play your best tennis possible , I bet you’ve tried to get a sneak peak at some of what the best players in the world do sometimes.

You’re probably watching the big slams like the US Open, Roland Garros, and maybe the biggest of them all that just started yesterday, Wimbledon on television with hopes of getting that true professional edge. Am I right?

Well, I’m glad you’re trying to gobble up every ounce of tennis you possibly can. We both know that many times, success will imitate success. So, you definitely will have some benefit from it.

But beware, doing this is not always a good idea. Now, before you call me crazy, let me explain. Learning from the best in the business is a great way to get better, don’t get me wrong.

But if you use this TV technique as your only strategy resource, not only do you severely limit your available shot selection, you could be getting a very distorted picture, ruining your chances at what could perhaps be an easy win.

A lot of times, without realizing it, we tend to follow the pros a little too much – so much we end up harming our own game in the process of trying to copy theirs. For example, what many players do is they say things like “Federer, doesn’t hit that shot, so I shouldn’t hit it either.”

In some cases, you might want to use that mindset, but not all the time. Federer does what’s best for his individual game plan. You should too. You don’t have to follow his style of play to the “T” by any means.

In fact, there are actually shots that you can use in your matches that the pros can’t. It’s the truth. A great example of this is the “dropper.”

The drop shot causes a massive amount of confusion for us, because they aren’t very common on the pro circuit. And since we don’t see it used much on the “big screen,”  many of us are literally scared out of minds to hit it.

You want as many shots at your disposal as possible, because each one has its own perfect situation where it can be used. But if you let that big black box dictate 100% of your play, you could end up really suffering for it.  Well, I’m here to tell you that you shouldn’t be nervous or afraid at all. Don’t let the TV trick you into not using this wonderful shot.

The reason why pros don’t use it as much isn’t because they don’t think it can’t ever help them get the win. They’re pros, for goodness sake! The big guns are too quick on their feet  and thinking twice the rate as the normal “after work” player. That’s why a drop shot isn’t terribly effective against them.

But when you’re playing against recreational players or club players (…95% of your opponents), however, drop shots can be just the ticket for forcing a player out of his or her comfort zone and destroying them in ways that are both hilarious and humiliating.

You just have to know when to use it and know where to pick your spots with it! Choose the wrong time, and you’re dead meat. But choose the right time, and you’ll really “break some ankles” out there. (see below)

The Dropper:

A. When NOT to use it:

Let me tell you, the drop shot is not a good idea if you are on the defensive. All you’ll be doing then is asking for the shovel so you can dig yourself in an even deeper hole while giving your opponent a perfect setup for a killer response.

And not only will you lose the point, you may get embarrassed if you have people watching, and then it’ll begin to affect your confidence a.k.a winning instinct. You may start playing “Not to lose” instead of “Trying to win.” And you definitely don’t want to be on that that kind of roller-coaster ride.

B. When TO use it:

The perfect situation for a drop shot is when you’re on the offensive end of things. For example, if you’ve pinned your opponent back behind the baseline or got him stuck in a corner, nailing a drop shot can quickly spell disaster for your opponent.

If you have an extra half-second to spare, give your opponent an extra dose of deception. Trick him into thinking you are going to hit a normal ground stroke. Hey, better yet, make them think you’re about to unleash a drive that will leave their heads spinning!  Oh, yea this will really have him fooled.

You do that by showing them an exaggerated back swing! Once they see this, they’ll prepare for a thunderous ground stroke, backing them up even further, causing them retreat.

Then when you change the spin at the last second, it’ll be almost impossible for them to catch up to it. This will, without a doubt, leave your opponent very winded almost guaranteeing  another point on your end.

But listen, timing is incredibly important with this strategy. If you give yourself away too early by not disguising it to resemble that of a normal shot, your opponent will know right away what you’re trying to pull and punish you for it.

The dropper has a slightly different looking back swing than a regular ground stroke. You’ll want to open your racket face so that you can cup under the ball and add some backspin. Try to aim the ball a couple of feet past and above the net. With practice, you can nail an efficient drop shot that’ll leave your opponents cowering in fear and wonder.

C. Destination: Most players try to go cross-court with their drop shots but hitting a drop shot down the line, though more difficult, can often be much more effective.

Whatever option you choose, try to make sure that there isn’t too much elevation on your shot or your opponent will know right away what you are up to. Too much distance in your drop shot is also a dead giveaway that will allow your opponent time to respond.

—

Developing a drop shot is definitely worth the time and effort required. In addition to guaranteeing yourself more victories down the road, you will take your game to a higher level that will allow you to play with more confidence and strength each time you step onto the court. And remember, the stars that are on TV are not the be all and end all. It all boils down to what your comfortable with and what fits your style of play the best.

Have a great week and an even BETTER game at Wimbledon!

All the best,

Brian Hall, Your Head Coach

TennisMindCamp

webmaster@tennismindcamp.com

P.S. I just added this cool widget to the blog so you never have to leave this site to get all the tournament updates at the All-England club. Now, you can get all the game-by-game scores, schedule of play, all the latest news and photos, and player statistics. Check it out below…

http://tennismindcamp.com/blog/everything-wimbledon-2009/