It was an honor for me to be on the master of speed Lee Taft’s tennis specific podcast this past week. Check it out!
Tennis Speed Show
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We had a Baby Boy, Zander!
I am taking a little time off from coaching tennis to spend with my family. However, once I get back I will continue with private lessons through the fall. It worked extremely well this summer given the current situation and allows me more flexibility right now. Once we get closer to the winter I’ll re-evaluate doing clinics once again. If you are interested please email me info@alexslezak.com.
Video Analysis
I have spent more hours than I care to count developing strokes, studying technique and using video to enhance skill acquisition. The difference between good and elite technique is often small and takes a deep understanding of biomechanics. All elite groundstrokes and serves have the same fundamentals for power production, use of elastic energy and spin maximization. Although it may look like professional players at the top of the game have different mechanics they are all fundamentally the same. The way the human body (joints, muscles and nervous system) assemble a movement pattern makes it as unique to an individual as their DNA but the fundamentals remain the same.
The technology in our phones have made what was once impossible to see with the human eye as simple as using the slow motion function. With the knowledge it is now easier than ever to analyze technique, identify limiting factors and objectively measure improvement over time. The visual learning style also allows players to “see themselves” instead of only being able to “feel” what they are doing on the court.
If you are interested in video analysis please contact me via email info@alexslezak.com for more information.
Important Summer Tennis Announcement
Unfortunately, with all that is going on with COVID-19 and the announcement that the high school campus will be closed this summer due to construction we will NOT be able to hold our regularly scheduled 2020 tennis camps.
As disappointing and unfortunate as that is I do have some good news. I will still be available for private lessons this summer. If this is something that would interest you please get in contact with me via email info@alexslezak.com or phone for the details.
Teaching all outdoor private lessons this summer will allow for the safest, most productive and flexible way to continue playing tennis.
I appreciate all the support over the years, stay safe and please keep in touch!
Coach Alex Slezak
The 2nd Most Important Shot
If you follow the stats or Craig O’Shannessy you know that somewhere around 65% of the points played in tennis are 3 shots or less. That is a serve, return and one shot after. And no that is not a made up statistic and it is true for Men, Women and Junior players.
The serve is by far the most important shot in tennis. And I am going to venture out and say the ability to turn backhands into forehands is the second most important shot. By doing so as a server you are often able to hit an outright winner, force an error, or put your opponent in a defensive position on the 3rd shot of a point. If you are a returner it allows you to be offensive on second serve opportunities by turning those weaker serves often aimed at your backhand and make it a powerful forehand. Here is a video showing the footwork patterns of the cross-behind and cross-front needed to turn backhands into forehands.
If you were wondering what makes up the other 35% of points played here it is. About 30% of the points played are 4 total shots and just around 5% are 5 or more shots. Listen to Craig O’Shannessy and practice like the game is played. Work on the serve, return and turning backhands into forehands.
Brain Game Tennis
I have a real treat for you today.
Let me introduce you to Craig O’Shannessy. He specializes in tennis strategy. I am being modest he doesn’t just specialize in it, he is the best in the world at it. He is on Novak Djkovic’s team! He is an analyst for Wimbledon, Australian Open, ATP, and the WTA. He is a data guy, he analyzed the game, and the numbers don’t lie.
He has a website called BrainGameTennis.com. I do not know Craig personally but I do know him professionally. I have learned a great deal about strategy from him and have taken almost every online course I am about to offer you access to.
Over the years Craig has created 10 courses that bring his life’s work to aspiring tennis players like you. His professional consulting was previously only available to the upper echelon of players in the professional game. I have personally taken almost every one of his courses over the years. This information I have learned as a coach has helped me tremendously. It has helped high school players win team, singles and doubles state titles. The strategies work when practiced and are applicable to all levels of the game.
Craig is putting all 10 of his courses on sale for 20% off through June 15th. Right now is probably the best time to dive into this stuff because when we can get back on the court nobody is going to want to be behind a computer anymore. Finally, Craig is a solid guy and if you do purchase by clicking the link below he will give me a 50% commission on the course just for sharing it with you. And for that I am very appreciative to both you and him.
www.BrainGameTennis.com – 10 Courses
Here is a list of all 10 of his courses and in order of importance.
- The First 4 Shots
- 25 Golden Rules of Singles Strategy
- Game Plan
- Numbers
- Short Ball Hunter
- Dirt Baller
- Getting Tight
- Between the Points
- Doubles Numbers
- 25 Golden Rules of Doubles Strategy
Driveway Conditioning Workout
Need some conditioning in quarantine? Set an exercise timer for 20 seconds of work and 10 seconds rest for 8 consecutive rounds.
- Round 1-2 open stance forehands/closed stance backhands
- Round 3-4 closed stance forehands/open stance backhands
- Round 5-6 wide open stance forehands and backhands
- Round 7-8 closed stance forehands and backhands
- Rest for one minute between rounds and during the rest shadow swing serves.
Repeat for 2,3,4 or 5 rounds depending on your fitness level.
Serve Power Exercises
The serve is probably the hardest thing to work on at home but the trophy or power position is one thing that you can improve upon. Below is a video of some exercises I have been doing at home with an aerobic step and bands.
Also look back at the series I did on serve technique:
Low Box Exercises
If you have an aerobic step at home here are some great exercises you can use to work on the ability to load and explode with the legs. And don’t forget to do your shadow swings and cover some ground laterally. This quick accelerations and decelerations are easy to practice at home and something that gets missed without playing points and sets.
The Hips Are The Engine
This post is applies to everyone but it is aimed at those working with young kids especially. The ability to create rotational power is a natural movement pattern for the human body. In the video below I use an 8 Board (developed by fellow tennis coach Jack Broudy) to demonstrate how the hips are the engine for rotational power. Developing good tennis strokes is directly related to being efficient at this movement pattern. I am not even sure if the 8 board is still in production. I have had mine for a while but it has been a fantastic teaching tool because it allows you to feel the movement.
Now for those of you working with little ones this is my son using a full size racket hitting off an air tee in my driveway. If you put relatively heavy things in kids hands and allow them to experiment with swinging it you will be amazed at how quickly they get the rotational power movement. This is why I steer people away from light aluminum rackets and to heavier 25, 26 and sometimes even 27 inch rackets. Small light ones can be easily swung with just the arm but with something heavy the body is forced to use the hips and that is what you want for the foundation of a tennis stroke in the long term.