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Failure is (Sometimes) the Best Option Training for Speed, Agility, and Quickness The Psychology of Rules Versus Requests Child’s Pose Tennis Beyond the Headlines: September 30, 2024 Why is it (almost) always the Singles? Evaluating the Alternatives of Shortened Formats for USTA League Championships

How to Change the Rules of Tennis

On By Teresa Merklin

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has stewardship over the Rules of Tennis. There is a process for changing the rules and updates are made on a fairly regular basis. Did you know that until 1961 the player delivering the service had to keep one foot on the ground? The elimination of that requirement was a rule change that materially changed the play of the game. Sometimes updates to the rules emerge from technology advancements. The entire Player Analysis Technology is full of examples of recently added rules and restrictions.

The Lobster Ball Machine

On By Teresa Merklin

Tennis ball machines hold a special place in my heart. I personally own two full fledged ball machines as well as a toy that has been repurposed to effectively work as a ball machine. My local tennis club has a commercial grade ball machine that I also frequently use. I love them all. I have decided to write about them in order of acquisition which means that my Lobster Elite 2 which was purchased back in 2009 is the first out of the chute.

May is #NationalTennisMonth

On By Teresa Merklin

The USTA sent an email late last week promoting May as #NationalTennisMonth. That message did not go out to all USTA members and the best guess is that it was directed toward tennis service providers. In fact, the links in the message are to a “Marketing Generator” that tennis service providers can use. The marketing generator is basically a set of templates for the USTA Net Generation program. A service provider can edit these templates to add their own logo and facility information. The finished products are available for download which means that it is up to the service providers to contract printing services.

Reality TV Pitch: Cash Cab – Tennis Edition

On By Teresa Merklin

This weekend I have been pitching ideas for tennis themed reality shows into the ether. To round out weekend, I have one more proposal. The idea is pretty simple. Bring back the Reality TV quiz show “Cash Cab” picking up passengers from tennis tournaments and asking questions relating exclusively about tennis. It might not inspire anyone to pick up a racquet, but it would certainly be entertaining.

Reality TV Pitch: Venus and Serena’s Play Tennis Challenge

On By Teresa Merklin

This weekend the Fiend at Court is proposing ideas for Reality TV shows that would be entertaining while promoting the sport of tennis. Today’s pitch is for a reality show that features a head to head competition between Venus and Serena Williams. Each sister would have a team of players who have never played tennis before. The challenge for the two sisters is to teach each player to play the game of tennis. Each week would feature wacky tennis skill related challenges that would culminate in something resembling a “World Team Tennis” showdown.

Reality TV Pitch: Billie Jean King coaches Nick Kyrgios

On By Teresa Merklin

This weekend the Fiend at Court is even more unplugged that usual for the weekend series. Stick with me. I have been brainstorming potential solutions to the most pressing problems in tennis. First, there is an urgent need to expand public spectator interest in the sport. Second, Nick Kyrgios needs a coach. For me, it is a short trip from the juxtaposition of those two problems and a genuinely inspired (and, well… crazy) idea.

Bill Tilden: Match Play and the Spin of the Ball

On By Teresa Merklin

Bill Tilden was arguably the first superstar of tennis. He was a dominant force in the early 1920s and his list of tennis accomplishments is littered with records and all-time firsts. Tilden was also an accomplished writer with editorials and columns on tennis popular in the print media. Until I came across a reference to Match Play and the Spin of the Ball in Ted Tinling’s book last week, I had no idea that he also authored a book on how to play tennis. I was delighted to discover that Tilden’s book has recently been digitized. Naturally I purchased a copy.

Rene Lacoste’s Ball Machine

On By Teresa Merklin

Rene Lacoste is best known for the premium brand of sporting apparel that bears his name. He won seven Grand Slam Championships and was one of the “Four Musketeers” of the formidable French Davis Cup team that dominated tennis in the late 20s and early 30s. He also invented the ball machine, a fact that I was reminded of during my recent reading of “Ted Tinling: Sixty Years in Tennis.”