Get some spin on that serve! In order to hit using side-spin, you should not be plowing straight through the ball, but instead you should be hitting it with a little bit of a glancing blow. Change your swing in such a way that your racket face is going to move slightly up and then... across the line of flight that you're intending for the ball. If you were to pretend that there is a face on your ball, in order to get maximum side-spin, you need to swing to try and slice its left ear off.
With practice, you can learn to vary what degree you swing at up and across the ball, and then you will be able to vary the amount of spin that you place on the ball as a result. This side-spin serve is very important as it allows you to open up the court from the very first shot which helps you to take advantage of angles that were previously unavailable to you.
Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks and see you for tomorrow’s lesson!
Elliott Pettit
Elliott Pettit is iTUSA's Director of Tennis at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale at Gainey Ranch. Please visit our website at www.itusatennis.com and email me at elliott@itusatennis.com.
For anyone interested improving your tennis game please be sure to visit http://www.tennisswinganalysis.com to view our Free Tennis Swing Video Analysis Program.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Over and Out For Shahar!...February 19, 2010
Hello my dear friends from a sunny and warm Dubai.
Our run here in the Kingdom came to an end today against a very much in form Venus Williams. Shahar went down 6-2 and 6-4.
The first set was a one sided affair with Venus playing some great tennis and Shahar not being able to get going at all. The second set was a much different affair as Shahar began to play and take the initiative by becoming more aggressive and raising her intensity.
This gave her many more opportunities to impose the tactic we felt would work well against Venus and work well it did. There were two very important moments in the set when Shahar had key chances that she was unable to convert. One of these came at 3-3 with Venus serving. Shahar had a couple of break points, and in particular one where she a great chance to finish the point and get the break. This would have made a big difference I feel.
Still having said this Venus has not won 7 Grand Slams by chance. She is a great person and a great competitor. I admire her for many reasons and tennis is very fortunate to have someone like her. I would have still loved to see Shahar win but it was not to be.
I watched the match from a platform that was made behind the court as we played the match on a side court. I sat next to Shahar’s dad and Richard Williams his partner, and Venus coach Dave Witty whom I have had the chance to get to now here. He is a very nice guy and clearly a top coach. I wish him and Venus the best tomorrow in the final and truly hope that it goes their way.
After the match we returned to our private locker and stretched and met the press afterwards. I must say that even in the awkward and abnormal circumstances I have enjoyed the experience and of course leave Dubai very happy with Shahars performance.
This experience has shown what she has inside and the potential of what can still be done if we continue to work hard with determination and believe.
I want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read the blog and hope we can catch up one day in person.
My very best to you all and a great huge thanks to itusatennis academy for inviting me and selecting me to write this blog for them and the rest of you.
I recommend to everyone to have a good look at their site, which is www.itusatennis.com as it is packed with great tools to help everyone from players to coaches to progress their games and teaching methods and programmes.
My very best to you all.!
Pablo
Please visit our website at www.itusatennis.com
Our run here in the Kingdom came to an end today against a very much in form Venus Williams. Shahar went down 6-2 and 6-4.
The first set was a one sided affair with Venus playing some great tennis and Shahar not being able to get going at all. The second set was a much different affair as Shahar began to play and take the initiative by becoming more aggressive and raising her intensity.
This gave her many more opportunities to impose the tactic we felt would work well against Venus and work well it did. There were two very important moments in the set when Shahar had key chances that she was unable to convert. One of these came at 3-3 with Venus serving. Shahar had a couple of break points, and in particular one where she a great chance to finish the point and get the break. This would have made a big difference I feel.
Still having said this Venus has not won 7 Grand Slams by chance. She is a great person and a great competitor. I admire her for many reasons and tennis is very fortunate to have someone like her. I would have still loved to see Shahar win but it was not to be.
I watched the match from a platform that was made behind the court as we played the match on a side court. I sat next to Shahar’s dad and Richard Williams his partner, and Venus coach Dave Witty whom I have had the chance to get to now here. He is a very nice guy and clearly a top coach. I wish him and Venus the best tomorrow in the final and truly hope that it goes their way.
After the match we returned to our private locker and stretched and met the press afterwards. I must say that even in the awkward and abnormal circumstances I have enjoyed the experience and of course leave Dubai very happy with Shahars performance.
This experience has shown what she has inside and the potential of what can still be done if we continue to work hard with determination and believe.
I want to thank each and every one of you for taking the time to read the blog and hope we can catch up one day in person.
My very best to you all and a great huge thanks to itusatennis academy for inviting me and selecting me to write this blog for them and the rest of you.
I recommend to everyone to have a good look at their site, which is www.itusatennis.com as it is packed with great tools to help everyone from players to coaches to progress their games and teaching methods and programmes.
My very best to you all.!
Pablo
Please visit our website at www.itusatennis.com
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Up against the Great Wall of China
Once again good morning from the kingdom of Dubai!
Here we are on day 5 of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. Today we face Na Li from China. My title could not be fitter for the task that she represents for Shahar today.
She is a tough competitor, confident, and very difficult to beat like the one she beat today…both of them a true wall with the difference that the Danish never built a wall as the Chinese did, and I think that says something about their character and origin.
There is really only one way to bring a wall down and that is little by little which is exactly what Shahar will need to today in her match. The tactic I have prepared for her comes from a tactic that I put together for a another player of mine that beat Na Li a couple of years back. She has obviously improved since then, however the revised version can still be knocked down if the tactic is implemented persistently and consistently throughout the match. So will be easy? Far from it…but we have been here this week already three times and three times we have come through so lets see what God holds for us today.
I will write more after the match as I am now on my way to the warm up court where I will meet Shahar and all her “friends” for what promises to be another fun, hot, and tense day in the kingdom of Dubai…speak later.
And the wall came tumbling down! Before I speak about the match I have to tell you that for the first time I had to stop a warming up session to let the dogs on court…..they came in to smell for strange things…don’t worry I have not been going to the toilet on court. They had their sniff, though they looked more interested in playing with the tennis balls, and then left.
After the warm-up we headed to our locker were we spent the next hour and fifteen minutes talking about the match and the tactic we thought would work best.
Shahar came out of the blocks again very quickly and imposed herself breaking the first game and holding serve. The match then moved along until 4-3 when Na Li broke Shahar back. The key to the set came at 5-5 when Shahar returned very well and took her chance 40-30 up and hit a clean backhand winner from Na Li’s second serve. This set her up very well to serve it out, and serve it out she did. She closed the set with two great sets including an ace on set point.
Shahar asked me to come into the court to talk a few things over and in the mean time Na Li called the trainer on court. The match was stopped for about 8 minutes. The player then returned on court but by then Shahar was on her way. She raced to a 3-0 lead and began to serve the fourth game but by then Na Li claimed that her back was hurting her too much to continue.
Obviously I hope that her injury is nothing serious and that she recovers in time for the next tournament. She is a very nice girl and so is her husband. For us of course would have been nice to finish the match, however I am confident that they in which Shahar was playing would have been good enough to beat the number 10 player in the world today.
After the match Shahar cooled down and then I stretched her. As I was leaving her locker, that sounds pretty good hey “Her Locker”, the press was arriving for a conference. Mmm… actually just one journalist so it was more like a chat.
Tomorrow we have either Venus or Pavlyuchenkova. I will be coming along tonight to watch their match to see what we can do tomorrow to hopefully beat the winner and continue this dream run we are having.
Have a profitable day!
Pablo
Please visit us at http://www.itusatennis.com/
Here we are on day 5 of the Barclays Dubai Tennis Championships. Today we face Na Li from China. My title could not be fitter for the task that she represents for Shahar today.
She is a tough competitor, confident, and very difficult to beat like the one she beat today…both of them a true wall with the difference that the Danish never built a wall as the Chinese did, and I think that says something about their character and origin.
There is really only one way to bring a wall down and that is little by little which is exactly what Shahar will need to today in her match. The tactic I have prepared for her comes from a tactic that I put together for a another player of mine that beat Na Li a couple of years back. She has obviously improved since then, however the revised version can still be knocked down if the tactic is implemented persistently and consistently throughout the match. So will be easy? Far from it…but we have been here this week already three times and three times we have come through so lets see what God holds for us today.
I will write more after the match as I am now on my way to the warm up court where I will meet Shahar and all her “friends” for what promises to be another fun, hot, and tense day in the kingdom of Dubai…speak later.
And the wall came tumbling down! Before I speak about the match I have to tell you that for the first time I had to stop a warming up session to let the dogs on court…..they came in to smell for strange things…don’t worry I have not been going to the toilet on court. They had their sniff, though they looked more interested in playing with the tennis balls, and then left.
After the warm-up we headed to our locker were we spent the next hour and fifteen minutes talking about the match and the tactic we thought would work best.
Shahar came out of the blocks again very quickly and imposed herself breaking the first game and holding serve. The match then moved along until 4-3 when Na Li broke Shahar back. The key to the set came at 5-5 when Shahar returned very well and took her chance 40-30 up and hit a clean backhand winner from Na Li’s second serve. This set her up very well to serve it out, and serve it out she did. She closed the set with two great sets including an ace on set point.
Shahar asked me to come into the court to talk a few things over and in the mean time Na Li called the trainer on court. The match was stopped for about 8 minutes. The player then returned on court but by then Shahar was on her way. She raced to a 3-0 lead and began to serve the fourth game but by then Na Li claimed that her back was hurting her too much to continue.
Obviously I hope that her injury is nothing serious and that she recovers in time for the next tournament. She is a very nice girl and so is her husband. For us of course would have been nice to finish the match, however I am confident that they in which Shahar was playing would have been good enough to beat the number 10 player in the world today.
After the match Shahar cooled down and then I stretched her. As I was leaving her locker, that sounds pretty good hey “Her Locker”, the press was arriving for a conference. Mmm… actually just one journalist so it was more like a chat.
Tomorrow we have either Venus or Pavlyuchenkova. I will be coming along tonight to watch their match to see what we can do tomorrow to hopefully beat the winner and continue this dream run we are having.
Have a profitable day!
Pablo
Please visit us at http://www.itusatennis.com/
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Peer Ousts Top Seeded Wozniacki
As the sun rises!Hello to all my cyber friends!
I begin writing the blog today from the secluded locker room Shahar has to stay in. Shahar has gone to have a shower after this morning warm up.
As I sit here on my own I realize how blessed I am and how wonderful my life is has been so far. Don’t get me wrong I have had many trials and extremely difficult times, however as I sit here I realize that the most important things in life I have which are to have faith, be healthy, and have people to love and be loved.
Today we have another tough match. This time is against Carolina Wozniacki from Denmark. She is the tournaments number 1 seed and the number 3 player in the world according to this weeks ranking. We have played her before so we know her well and know what needs to be done in order to beat her. Shahar has had two very good matches so far and so we go into today’s match in 45 minutes confident though knowing that it will anything but easy as Carolina is a formidable competitor and will not give anything away.
The locker room is relaxed and we wait to see what God has for us today. I will continue writing after the match and tell you all about it.
Hello again here I am a very happy and proud coach. Shahar has just beaten Carolina 6-2 and 7-5. It was a great match and Shahar played impeccable tennis. I could have never asked for more from here especially in the circumstances we find ourselves at the moment.
The match started at noon and it was very hot today. Shahar came out of the blocks very fast and this made a big difference straight away to the match as she raced to a 6-2 lead.
The second set was much more tense as both girls traded breaks with each other. Shahar had 4-3 and 40-15 serving but was unable to win this game. Then she was up 5-4 and serving but Carolina played a great game and broke back. Shahar broke again and managed after 4 match points to win the set and the match.
There was much tension in the air as you can imagine and of course the reaction was one of joy and relief at the same time as I could see that both girls were struggling with the heat and a third set could have gone either way if I am honest due to the tiredness both girls had. In Shahars case justified as she has been made to play the first match each day on her court starting as early as 11 am one day. And this was after having played two matches the day before….
We play Na Li from China tomorrow. She is a very tough player and of course is not going to be easy. Then again it has not been easy so far so the further you go the tougher it gets.
I hope you are enjoying the blog as much as I am. Thank you for reading it and thank you to itusatennis.com for having the foresight and allowing me to be able to share this with so many of you.
See you tomorrow.
Pablo
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Picking Up Momentum!
Hello everyone once again!
Day three of the tournament went well for us once again. Shahar played her second round against last years finalist Virginie Razzano and defeated her 6-2 and 6-2.
The day began with the customary warm up and this time I hit with Shahar and made sure she did everything she wanted and felt she needed to do. Afterwards, she was taken to her own locker room to get ready and concentrate for her match. During this time we talked with the bodyguards about the cultural differences that exist between them and the Israelis and we had a few laughs, which was nice to keep the atmosphere cool and relaxed before she went in to play.
I must say that all 25 bodyguards are very nice people and I have enjoyed meeting all of them and spending time with them. At 11 am, Shahar entered the court and played a very clean and tidy match and built very well on the momentum she has begun to generate since the beginning of the year. Her tennis was very well executed and to be honest it could have been 6-2 and 6-0 should the opponent not have stopped the match for a medical time out which I felt affected Shahar's rhythm somewhat.
After the match I congratulated her and then rushed away to watch the match between Carolina Wozniacki, whom we play tomorrow, and Dominika Civulkova. This part of my job is very important as it helps me to put together a match tactic for Shahar that is not based on feelings or guessing but instead on facts that I have been able to see with my own eyes. Of course I know most of the girls anyways but it is always good to keep the facts up to date. During the match I chatted with Venus Williams' hitting partner and it was great as we had a very good laugh.
The day finished with a doubles match that Shahar and Galina lost in the final tiebreak. It was very close and Shahar played very well again so I am hopeful for tomorrows match even though Shahar has never beaten Carolina before.
It will be great for this momentum to continue and of course as we all know it will add to the already confident mood she is in and gives yet another push to break into the top 20 once again.
See you tomorrow.
Pablo
Monday, February 15, 2010
We Start with a Bang...Shahar Wins First Round!
Hello everyone!
Well what a day today has been. I woke up at 7:30 this morning and here I am at 18:15 just finishing my day.
I met Shahar this morning for her match at the club at 10. She warmed up in small garden where all the players warm up with 21 bodyguards around. We had military police today as well. We then moved to our pre assigned court where we met our partner and warmed up for the customary half an hour.
Shahar was then taken to a special area where she is on her own with her dad and myself. We waited for the match and then went on court at 12. The build up to the match was very tense as there is so much history behind this match with what happened last year. I have never seen so much media and photographers on a first round match. It is an understatement to tell you that by now the news must be all over the world, and you guys have a personal note from me…. it sure is worth it to be part of this wonderful site that itusatennis.com is running!
We played Yanina Wickmayer in New Zealand and lost there a very close match. During this match I saw many things in her game and so today I was able to put together and much revised tactic for Shahar. The match began slowly and Shahar did not really play at all the first set losing 6-3. She called me in and I tried to calm her down and get her to refocus. Refocus she did as she started playing the tactic and won the set comfortably 6-2.
Then came the famous final set. Yanina came out strong and broke Shahar on the first game and won her service game building a nice cushion. I knew though that if Shahar hanged in there and could break her she would win the set. The break came at 4-3 and then she went on to win it 7-5.
It is an understatement to say that both her dad and I shouted so loud I think the people around must have though we are in need of psychiatric help…still it was a shout that has been inside us for the last year!
After the match as Shahar is not allowed to speak to the press I had to so look out for my comments somewhere . We had some lunch and then got ready for the doubles where she partnered Galina Voskoboeva from Kazhakstan. They beat Caroline Wozniacki and Anabel Medina on a final set tie breaker 10-6 and with this put a cap to a great day and a great start to our campaign here in Dubai.
Tomorrow we have either Selina Sfar or Virginie Razzano who made the final here last year. So once again it is tough and it will not be easy, still we have every reason to be confident and hope for the best.
I hope many of you are following us and you know it would be nice to hear from some of you when you have a chance.
I am on my way to the shower, as you would not believe how much one sweats from the side of court!
Have a great day or evening wherever it might be that you are around the world
Pablo
Please visit us at http://www.itusatennis.com/
Well what a day today has been. I woke up at 7:30 this morning and here I am at 18:15 just finishing my day.
I met Shahar this morning for her match at the club at 10. She warmed up in small garden where all the players warm up with 21 bodyguards around. We had military police today as well. We then moved to our pre assigned court where we met our partner and warmed up for the customary half an hour.
Shahar was then taken to a special area where she is on her own with her dad and myself. We waited for the match and then went on court at 12. The build up to the match was very tense as there is so much history behind this match with what happened last year. I have never seen so much media and photographers on a first round match. It is an understatement to tell you that by now the news must be all over the world, and you guys have a personal note from me…. it sure is worth it to be part of this wonderful site that itusatennis.com is running!
We played Yanina Wickmayer in New Zealand and lost there a very close match. During this match I saw many things in her game and so today I was able to put together and much revised tactic for Shahar. The match began slowly and Shahar did not really play at all the first set losing 6-3. She called me in and I tried to calm her down and get her to refocus. Refocus she did as she started playing the tactic and won the set comfortably 6-2.
Then came the famous final set. Yanina came out strong and broke Shahar on the first game and won her service game building a nice cushion. I knew though that if Shahar hanged in there and could break her she would win the set. The break came at 4-3 and then she went on to win it 7-5.
It is an understatement to say that both her dad and I shouted so loud I think the people around must have though we are in need of psychiatric help…still it was a shout that has been inside us for the last year!
After the match as Shahar is not allowed to speak to the press I had to so look out for my comments somewhere . We had some lunch and then got ready for the doubles where she partnered Galina Voskoboeva from Kazhakstan. They beat Caroline Wozniacki and Anabel Medina on a final set tie breaker 10-6 and with this put a cap to a great day and a great start to our campaign here in Dubai.
Tomorrow we have either Selina Sfar or Virginie Razzano who made the final here last year. So once again it is tough and it will not be easy, still we have every reason to be confident and hope for the best.
I hope many of you are following us and you know it would be nice to hear from some of you when you have a chance.
I am on my way to the shower, as you would not believe how much one sweats from the side of court!
Have a great day or evening wherever it might be that you are around the world
Pablo
Please visit us at http://www.itusatennis.com/
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Another day in Dubai for Shahar
Hello:
I hope everyone is doing well today and your weekend has been a relaxing one so far, and before I forget Happy Valentines Day to all you lovers out there!
I woke up this morning to a beautiful view from my room though there is some considerable amount of smog here especially over the main city centre. I didn’t sleep very well as there are 3 hours difference with Paris, and though that does not sound like much it is enough to affect you when you are trying to fall asleep.
I had a very nice breakfast and read the newspaper before heading to the courts for our first practice with Samantha Stosur. Shahar felt somewhat tired and is not a surprise considering the trip we had to make to get here and the fact she has not really stopped since she played the Fed Cup. Still we felt the practice was a good one and Shahar even got a complement from Sam’s coach, Dave Taylor, about how much she has improved which is always very nice to hear especially from fellow coaches on the tour.
After the practice I worked a bit with Shahar on her footwork on a specific ball that made much difference once she adjusted to the right pattern of movement. I believe the footwork of a tennis player is so important as the tennis shot in my view begins from the ground up. Too many people move their racquet before they move their feet, and this unfortunately almost always means that they will end up hitting the ball uncomfortably and at the incorrect contact point. This is something that happens not just at the club levels of the game but also at this level.
The problem begins with the way a player thinks when she sees a tennis ball coming at them. Whatever the brain activates first will make the difference if it’s a good shot or not. If it’s the racket more than likely it will mean the incorrect stroke being hit, if it’s the feet normally the body will be in the ideal position and the balance of the body will be positive and not negative. Much like a foundation on a building. It it’s built properly then the building will be strong and not break down. This is, I guess a principle that can be used in life as well. Foundations is what is a about. You can’t have a nice house or a nice roof without the right foundation to hold it up.
This afternoon we are going to be playing with a hitter the tournament will be hiring for us so we will work on the last few things before our match tomorrow against Yanina Wickmayer from Belgium.
I suspect I will be going out tonight to see a bit of Dubai and so be sure that I will tell you what I find in tomorrows blog.
Enjoy your day and don’t forget to call that special one before the day is out. God bless.
Pablo
Please visit us at www.itusatennis.com
I hope everyone is doing well today and your weekend has been a relaxing one so far, and before I forget Happy Valentines Day to all you lovers out there!
I woke up this morning to a beautiful view from my room though there is some considerable amount of smog here especially over the main city centre. I didn’t sleep very well as there are 3 hours difference with Paris, and though that does not sound like much it is enough to affect you when you are trying to fall asleep.
I had a very nice breakfast and read the newspaper before heading to the courts for our first practice with Samantha Stosur. Shahar felt somewhat tired and is not a surprise considering the trip we had to make to get here and the fact she has not really stopped since she played the Fed Cup. Still we felt the practice was a good one and Shahar even got a complement from Sam’s coach, Dave Taylor, about how much she has improved which is always very nice to hear especially from fellow coaches on the tour.
After the practice I worked a bit with Shahar on her footwork on a specific ball that made much difference once she adjusted to the right pattern of movement. I believe the footwork of a tennis player is so important as the tennis shot in my view begins from the ground up. Too many people move their racquet before they move their feet, and this unfortunately almost always means that they will end up hitting the ball uncomfortably and at the incorrect contact point. This is something that happens not just at the club levels of the game but also at this level.
The problem begins with the way a player thinks when she sees a tennis ball coming at them. Whatever the brain activates first will make the difference if it’s a good shot or not. If it’s the racket more than likely it will mean the incorrect stroke being hit, if it’s the feet normally the body will be in the ideal position and the balance of the body will be positive and not negative. Much like a foundation on a building. It it’s built properly then the building will be strong and not break down. This is, I guess a principle that can be used in life as well. Foundations is what is a about. You can’t have a nice house or a nice roof without the right foundation to hold it up.
This afternoon we are going to be playing with a hitter the tournament will be hiring for us so we will work on the last few things before our match tomorrow against Yanina Wickmayer from Belgium.
I suspect I will be going out tonight to see a bit of Dubai and so be sure that I will tell you what I find in tomorrows blog.
Enjoy your day and don’t forget to call that special one before the day is out. God bless.
Pablo
Please visit us at www.itusatennis.com
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