Spring is in the air – the sun is shining, the snow is melting and the flowers are blooming. There is energy in the air and it’s time to shake off those “winter blahs”!
A fresh start begins with Spring Cleaning. Why not clean out your bad tennis habits along with those closets?
Here are three bad habits in tennis that can be easily cleaned up: feet, breathing and focus.
Standing still while playing tennis is something everybody does. Tennis is a sport! If you aren’t constantly moving your feet, your body falls asleep and your reactions slow down. Keep your body and mind alert while you play by constantly moving your feet. You will be amazed what will happen to your game with this simple fix.
So many times I see people holding their breath when they hit the ball. Their body is tense and their strokes fall apart. Try blowing out or even saying a word while hitting the ball. While watching the pros you will notice they grunt while hitting the ball. This has a purpose. Breathing relaxes the body and helps you perform at your best. If you notice you are tense after losing a point, take a long deep breath to relax your body and mind. Again, this is a quick and easy fix with tremendous results.
And finally – focus! When you are behind in a match or just can’t seem to get in the groove while warming up, very often the culprit is your mind. You are probably thinking about too many things all at once. How can you stop and clear your thoughts to re-focus? Do just that: Stop. Take a moment. Bounce the ball a few times, walk toward the curtain, take a deep breath and start over. Don’t think about the score or your backhand – start fresh. Like Spring!
Born in Montreal, Canada, Philippe started playing tennis at age three. To become a professional tennis player, he moved to South Florida and trained full-time with the best juniors in the world. For a short time, he played Nationals in Canada, the Junior Tour (ITF) and ATP Tour tournaments. Due to injuries, he decided to coach some friends from the ATP Tour who were ranked as high as 500. He found coaching so enjoyable that he gained his USPTR Certification and started working full-time in tennis clubs where he taught all ages and all levels. He has been a coach/instructor for the past seven years and a Program Director in Weston, Florida for the past three years.