Jan Silva “The Tiger Woods of Tennis”

Jan Silva la 5 ani


Jan Silva la 6 ani


si .....


Jan Silva is a 7 year old tennis prodigy, from Rancho Cordova, California, who has been affectionately dubbed “The Tiger Woods of Tennis” and for good reason.
Barely able to see over the net, Jan is a true phenom, with a complete game. He has already mastered the fundamentals of tennis and possesses a one handed backhand that is the envy of all who have seen him, in action.

Discovered by the 2006 Australian Open Finalist, Marcos Baghdatis, Jan has captured world wide attention and has recently moved to France to train at the world’s #1 junior tennis academy, located just outside of Paris.

After multiple appearances on local television and in magazines and newspapers, Jan made the trip from France, for his first national television appearance, on the Ellen DeGeneres show, in September of 2006.

A tennis star has been born, indeed. As did Mozart, on the piano, so does Jan Silva, on the tennis court.

http://jansilvatennis.com/home.html

Atunci cand ai uitat esentialul

Articol aparut pe www.empower.ro

Pavel Nedved este cel mai valoros fotbalist al Cehiei moderne. A castigat Balonul de Aur, cel mai prestigios trofeu acordat unui fotbalist. A jucat si joaca la echipe uluitor de puternice si iubite. Aflat aproape de finalul carierei, la 36 de ani, Nedved lasa in urma sa o dara de speranta.

Povestea sa e zguduitoare si trebuie data drept exemplu tinerilor din scolile noastre. Cand avea 15 ani, antrenorul sau de atunci i-a spus pur si simplu ca n-are nicio treaba cu fotbalul! Ca e un anti-talent, ca nu e facut pentru acest domeniu. Ca mai bine se apuca de altceva.

Tacerea care ne-a fost impusa

Cati astfel de copii avem in scolile noastre? Cati astfel de profesori care ucid vise se ascund in spatele sistemului? Cine raspunde pentru urmarile resimtite in timp ale acestor ciocniri intre aspiratie si descurajare?

Cine are barbatia sa ia taurul de coarne si sa sparga buba plina de puroi? Pentru ca nerezolvarea unor astfel de probleme duce la starea de fapt din prezent. Elevi plictisiti de materia care li se preda, profesori jigniti (pe buna dreptate) de nivelul salariilor care li se ofera si parinti ingrijorati de cum merge procesul de instruire al propriilor odrasle.

Fiecare dintre noi are partea sa de vina. Ca nu tragem semnale de alarma, ca nu venim cu solutii, ca ne stabilim alte prioritati, in timp ce educatia (principala prioritate reala) e lasata de izbeliste.

Tinerii confunda atitudinea cu obraznicia, profesorii interpreteaza gresit disciplina si uneori o inlocuiesc cu mentalitatile depasite de vremuri.

Mai tarziu, asa ne educam si noi copiii. Le impunem propriile noastre aspiratii. Si le fixam reguli “foarte importante”. Uitam ca daca un om nu are pasiunea necesara pentru a face un lucru, totul e apoi cladit pe o temelie de nisip. Daca nu simti un gol in stomac atunci cand ai in fata ochilor mintii tot ce vrei sa faci, inseamna ca ceva nu e in regula. Inseamna ca acolo nu esti tu.

Sigur ca e bine sa fim indrumati pentru o cariera spre care am avea aptitudini. Dar cat de precise sunt astfel de evaluari? Cine ne poate spune cu adevarat cat suntem de buni? Cine imi poate spune mie astazi ce nu pot face peste 5 sau 10 ani?

In Romania si in intreaga lume sunt zeci de mii de sportivi super talentati care mor in anonimat. Si asta pentru ca cineva le-a spus cand erau tineri faptul ca la ce talent au, nu au cum sa nu reuseasca. Cine raspunde mai tarziu pentru esecul lor? Chiar ei, cei care au esuat, culcandu-se pe rogojina stropita cu mierea de albine din borcanele “oamenilor cu experienta”.

Intr-un articol memorabil, Ionut spunea ca viziunea e ceea ce conteaza. Sunt de acord cu el. Si mai cred ca pasiunea e cea care sta la baza viziunii. Armele letale pentru cei care inca mai au impresia ca ne pot tine intr-o inchisoare a ingerilor.

Topspin Forehand

Grip
- Eastern or Semi-western.

Preparation
- Keep your feet moving as you wait for the ball and have your racquet ready, supporting it at the neck with the non-dominant hand.
- As soon as you see the ball leaving your opponent's racquet start taking your racquet to the side and coil your upper body.
- The first step is initiated with the foot closest to the side of the ball.
- The racquet is taken back with both hands.
- Keep your non-dominant hand on the neck of the racquet until your body is turned sideways. This will give you good upper body rotation, storing energy that will generate some of the swing power and ensuring a short back swing providing better racquet control.
- Right elbow (for right handed players) is pointed toward the back fence and racquet is 45 degrees toward the sky with the hitting face pointed down.
- The weight is loaded on the right foot which is positioned somewhat behind the path of incoming ball.

Swing and Contact:
- The racquet forms a small C-loop in the air and drops under the path of the ball with the bottom of the racquet pointed up toward the approaching ball.
- The hips and upper body start uncoiling as the swing begins and the weight is transferred from the right foot to the left foot.
- The left arm moves across the body as part of the uncoiling process and for balance.
- The head remains still and eyes “glued” on the ball.
- Contact is made in front of the right hip about waist height. The head of the racquet travels low to high and through the ball trajectory to create topspin.
- Hips are positioned in either an open, semi-open or square stance, depending on the depth of the ball (see a description of Stances, here).

Follow-through and Recovery:
- The stroke ends with the right elbow up and pointed toward the target and the racquet over the shoulder or if a lot of topspin is applied on the ball, the follow-through is around the left elbow or by the left hip.
- Notice the 180 degrees body turn and the weight transferred onto the left foot.
- The recovery ends with a split step to get the body in balance and ready for the next stroke.

When do we use the Topspin Forehand?
- Pretty much on every Baseline rally, passing shots, and on some approach shots.

Slice Serve ("Side spin" Serve)

Preparation
- Feet are shoulder width apart (or closer), front foot pointed to the right net post, back foot parallel to the baseline.
- Body weight on the front foot (left for right handers).
- Grip - continental keep it loose.

Ball Toss
- I suggest that the ball hand and the racquet hand lift up at the same time (I use the term "Jumping Jack", without moving the feet).
- The left arm lifts the ball and the release of it is made above eye level for more control.
- The toss for the Slice Serve is slightly to the right and the height should be as far as you can reach with your racquet having your arm extended, without losing your balance for contact.
- As the ball goes up, the racquet is lifted to your side, the right elbow bends, pointing to the back fence, and the tip of the racquet up.
- Weight is transferred from the front foot to the back foot.
- The knees bend as you toss the ball or after the release of the ball (it should be your personal preference).

Swing and Contact
- As the ball reaches its maximum height, the feet push into the ground to lift the body up, the racquet drops behind the back and the bottom of the racquet points toward the sky.
- The racquet speed through the ball is generated by the "pushing up" from your legs, upper body turns uncoiling the shoulder, elbow extends, and the forearm and wrist pronate or rotate inward.
- At contact the whole body should be extended and as a result of thrusting from your legs the feet get off the ground and in the air.
- Keep your head up and in balance at all times.
- For the Slice Serve the racquet contacts the ball in a left-to-right "brush". Example: Imagine that the ball is a face of a clock. By brushing from 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock (or 8 to 2) that is how you create the "side spin".

Follow-through
- Right after contact with the ball, the racquet and the forearm drop first as a result of forearm pronation.
- The landing must be made on the front foot (left for right handers), back foot "kicks" back for balance.
- Both hands should continue to follow through on the left side to follow the normal body rotation to the left.
- Notice that on the follow-through, the racquet moves in a semi-circle in front and across the body as a result of the sideway "brush" on the back of the ball.
- The last step is a "split step" to get ready for your opponent's reply.

When do we use the Slice Serve?
1. First serve or second serve for variety.
2. Very effective from the Deuce side (for right handed players) or Left side (for left handed players) to pull the opponent off the court and create an opening.
3. Since the ball curves to the left (for right handed players) it can be very effective to "jam" the opponent with a serve that bounces toward the backhand and then curves into the body.
4. Since the "Slice" stays low, it can be used against players that use an extreme grip like Western.

Rafa in 1998

Nadal la 12 ani :)

The Video of the Week: Who Inspired the ATP Players?

Flat Serve - Follow-through

"It's not the will to win, but the will to prepare to win that makes the difference" - Paul "Bear" Bryant

Flat Serve - Follow-through


Follow-Through
- On the last part of the Serve motion, the follow-through is the continuation of the Contact Point.
- Right after contact, the racquet is lowered as a result of the forearm pronationg, elbow follows... In slow motion videos you can notice the elbow being kept higher than the wrist on the follow-through.
- The "Landing" is made on the front foot (left for right handers), back foot kicks back for mentaining ballance.
- Both hands end on the left side, by the hip.
- The final step would be the "Split Step" in anticipation of the server return.



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Flat Serve - Contact

"The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear" - William Jennings Bryan
Flat Serve - Contact

Swing and Contact
- Once you get in the "Trophy" pose (tossing arm extended up and palm pointed to the ball; racquet arm in the "L" position with racquet up; knees bend and head up) the next step is to push into the ground with your feet to meet the ball and generate the swing power.
- At this point the body weight is evenly distributed on both feet.
- As you push up to meet the ball, the hips and shoulders begin to uncoil and the racquet drops behind the back with the bottom pointed up to the sky.
- This position is described as the "back scratch" because it looks like you could scratch your back with the racquet.
- Tossing hand is pulled down and tucked by your belly.
- The racquet travels up to the ball on edge (the racquet side up) and just before the contact with the ball the forearm pronates to facilitate a square (flat) racquet face at contact.
- A lot of power on your serve can be generated from pronating your wrist as you contact the ball, and from your legs (pushing up)!
Definition: Pronation = the inward rotation of your forearm

How to learn the "Pronation"?
- The pronation is what you do when you give someone a "High Five"!
Face a partner, have your dominant palm above your dominant shoulder and facing your ear. From here, reach up and give a "High Five". You will notice that even though you start your swing with the edge up your palm turns and faces forward at the contact.
- For the next exercise go to a fence and stand about one foot away from it. Position yourself in the "Serve Ready" position, your racquet held with Continental grip above the shoulder and the edge pointed up. Swing up on edge and turn your wrist (pronate) just before the racquet contacts the fence. It's like giving a "High Five" with your racquet to the fence. Repeat this action about ten times.
- Next, grab a ball and position yourself at Baseline in the "Serve Ready" position with racquet just above the shoulder, edge up, elbow at shoulder high. Lift the ball up (toss) and reach with the edge of your racquet then turn your wrist just before you make contact with the ball. Give the ball a "High Five"! Repeat this action about ten times with no follow-through.

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Flat Serve - Toss

"You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them" - Michael Jordan

Flat Serve - Toss 1




"You've got to take the initiative and play your game. In a decisive set, confidence is the difference" - Chris Evert


Flat Serve - Toss (2)

Toss
- Start with the weight on the front foot, racquet and ball together (aproximately above the front foot).
- The ball is held in your fingers (not in your palm).
- As you begin the tossing motion, transfer your weight on the back foot and lift the racquet to the side and back.
- The tossing arm stays relaxed and extended; the release of the ball is made above the eye level. Open your hand at the "let go of the ball" to avoid pulling the ball behind you or flicking your wrist!
- Try to toss the ball at a height about a few inches above the maximum reach of your arm and racquet extended to the sky.
Note: I pay a particular attention to the toss because a perfect execution of it depends most of the time the outcome of the serve!
- As the ball travels through the air upwards, the racquet is taken back and up, the dominant elbow and knees bend.
- By the time the ball reaches its maximum peak, the weight is distributed evenly on both feet, tossing arm is extended, dominant arm is in a 90° elbow bent with racquet pointed up. This pose is called by some the "Trophy" or "L".

How to learn the "Toss Phase"?
- Start by standing sideways with feet shoulders width apart; weight evenly distributed on both feet; racquet and ball together just above the front foot.
• Lift the ball up keeping the arm extended and release the ball above the eye level; extend your fingers when you release the ball to avoid pushing the ball above the head.
Make sure you don't bend and push from your legs when tossing; the body stays relaxed and the ball is lifted only from the shoulder. Avoid jerking the shoulder; make the lifting smooth and relaxed!
• Now practice lifting the ball and bringing the racquet back and up in the same time. I call it "Jumping Jack without moving your feet". The racquet points up at the end of this motion and the racquet elbow is bent at about 90° angle. Some coaches call this the "L" position.
• Next step, you add the knees bending to the previous steps:
As you lift the ball and racquet up, the knees bend and you get in the classic "Trophy" pose.

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Flat Serve - Intro

"I might play a little better tennis than other people, but it is because I was given the chance, and not many people are" - Martina Hingis


Flat Serve - Intro

Grip
- Continental: The "V" of your hand (formed by the index and thumb) is positioned on the side number 1 of the grip. Keep a loose grip at all times!

Stance
- Feet are shoulder width apart; front foot pointed at about 45 degrees angle to the baseline, back foot parallel to the baseline.
- Shoulders are positioned sideways to the net.

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Video tenis

The Video of the Week: Andy Roddick - best ace ever


"People create their own success by learning what they need to learn and then by practicing it until they become proficient at it" - Brian Tracy

Incepand de astazi o sa postez exemple video cu lectii, tehnica si teme de joc pentru jucatori, antrenori si parinti. Acestea sunt inregistrari facute de Cosmin Miholca, Creator of WebTennis24.com, PTR Certified Tennis Professional, un prieten din Statele Unite si sunt gratuite.
Inscrie-te acum si primesti aceste lectii direct pe mail. Astept comentarii si sugestii aici pe blog. Multumesc.


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