Latest Posts

Secrets of Winning Tennis The USTA Encourages Double Dipping The Speed Ladder Tennis Beyond the Headlines: November 18, 2024 A Balanced Diet: Healthy Tennis Engagements A Balanced Diet: Better Nutrition for Better Tennis A Balanced Diet: Quality of Information

The USTA Player Development Journal

On By Teresa Merklin

The USTA Player Development Program produced a document in 2013 that continues to serve as a focal point for players to assess and track their tennis training. The “Player Development Journal” consists of three major sections. The first is an overview of the various playing styles so a player can understand the aspects of their own game. The second part is template pages for practice evaluation. The last section provides forms for post-match assessments. The “PD” (as insiders apparently refer to it) is available for free public download from the USTA at the link provided at the end of this post.

3 responses

SwingVision: Importing Video

On By Teresa Merklin

The SwingVision artificial intelligence tennis training application is primarily designed to work directly on a smart phone. That implementation puts tremendous analysis power directly into the hands of the players and enables immediate feedback. However, the use of a smart phone during a USTA sanctioned match is prohibited. Additionally, many players may be reluctant to drain their phone’s battery in a tournament setting. Fortunately, SwingVision can import data captured from an alternate device. I recently tested out that functionality and was very pleased with the results.

2 responses

SwingVision and the Cone Game

On By Teresa Merklin

The “Cone Game” is one of my favorite tennis practice drills. It is a great development tool because it gets the players into an Zen-like focus that is still layered with the pressure of competition. I recently used the SwingVision during a practice session that included the Cone Game and was very happy with the results. I continue to be completely enamored with the SwingVision application and service.

1 response

SwingVision is Transformational

On By Teresa Merklin

I finally got around to trying out SwingVision and was very impressed with the results. In fact, I immediately applied to be a brand ambassador for the product. I am absolutely kicking myself for not trying it out much sooner. As a strong proponent of video analysis, any technology that reduces the workload required for meaningful review is transformational.

Massage Ball on a String

On By Teresa Merklin

In 2019 I developed pain in my racquet arm that got so bad I couldn’t extend it across my body to hit a backhand. I went to my local Airrosti clinic for diagnosis and treatment. The source of the arm pain was traced to tightness in my shoulder. Part of the rehabilitation that was prescribed was use of a lacrosse ball for myofascial release of adhesions in the shoulder. It worked.

That Hits the Spot

On By Teresa Merklin

Sometimes the best tennis training techniques are also the most simple. I am a big believer that every player should spend some amount of time in their practice sessions hitting shots to targets. That includes serves, groundstrokes, volleys, overheads, drop shots, etc. When I go a week without performing target drills, it shows up in my matches. It’s ugly.

2 responses

A Great Doubles Drill from the Practice Courts at Indian Wells

On By Teresa Merklin

My friend Will Boucek produces a terrific tennis podcast “Doubles Only,” which — follow me closely here — focuses exclusively on tennis doubles tactics and strategy. In a recent episode, he shared a doubles practice drill that he observed on the practice courts at Indian Wells this year while watching Elise Mertens and Hsieh Su-Wei work out. This post shares my own diagram of the drill he verbally described.

The Perfect Pitch Rebounder

On By Teresa Merklin

In early 2020, I hastily purchased a Perfect Pitch Rebounder for tennis when it became apparent that shut down of my city park courts was imminent due to Covid mandates. Apparently other tennis players simultaneously did the same thing, as the device went on long term back-order shortly after mine was shipped. It didn’t seem sportsmanlike to write about a tennis training device that players couldn’t have, so I didn’t at the time. As we head into the tennis “off-season” this year, the device is once again widely available. It is the perfect time to write about my own Perfect Pitch Rebounder.

The Best of Bag Check: Oatmeal Edition

On By Teresa Merklin

One of the most unusual items from a Tennis Channel “Bag Check” video emerged without comment during last week’s post. The jump rope was originally highlighted from the video featuring Edina Gallovits. On subsequent consideration, I should have focused on the bag of oatmeal she whipped out with the description “best thing ever.” That is… not typically how I personally describe oatmeal.