Features — May 15, 2013

The Scientific 7-Minute Workout 

I came accross this article in the May 12 issue of The New York Times Magazine and I thought it was worth sharing. In 12 exercises deploying only body weight, a chair, and a wall, it fulfills the latest mandates for high-intensity effort, condensing it into about seven minutes of steady discomfort — all of it based on science. Now there really is no excuse, so get off the sofa and give it a try. After all, what do you have to lose…a pound or two? — Jay Margolies, TennisOne Managing Editor

Throwing vs Swinging, part 2

In part 2 of his treatise on throwing vs swinging, Doug King clarifies more of the basic components to effectively hitting a tennis ball, particularly, the often confusing tip, "out in Front." Using Nadal as his model, Doug delineates the technique that differentiates the modern game from the classical approach. Once again, the concept of throwing vs swinging is expounded upon.

The Economy Serve and the Supplemental Serve

Serve and volley-maestro, Pat Rafter advises, "With the toss, let the arm go straight up."I Obviously, the more control you have at the ball toss, the more reliable your serve will be, right? But that bates the question: why did master servers like Pancho Gonzales, Pete Sampras, Richard Krajicek, and at the moment, Roger Federer bring the tossing arm back to the body and toss the ball with an arc? And that is question Jerôme Inen explores in the Economy and the Supplemental Serve.

ProStrokes 2.0 — Sari Errani, Forehand

Italy’s top WTA player, Sara Errani, has stormed the women’s tour with a breakout 2012 season where she reached the final at Roland Garros, the quarters in Australia, round three at Wimbledon, and the semis of the U.S. Open. As a junior, Sara spent four years at the Bollettieri Academy in Florida before moving to Spain and began working with Pablo Lozano and David Andres. Sara has an excellent serve and a big, grinding baseline game. Errani is also a phenomenal doubles player (Ranked #1 in 2012 and 2013),and that puts her in an elite class of players who can potentially win at any event.

From Last Issue

Roger Federer and the One-Handed Backhand

If you believe some of the TV commentates and other tennis pundits, the one-handed backhand is destined to go the way of the slide rule (remember that?), the transistor radio, and the coffee peculator and on the women's tour there maybe some truth to that. However, try telling that to the five players in the top 20 who still use this stroke. Christophe Delevaut takes a close look at one of the very best, Roger Federer's one-handed backhand.

Backboard Practice — How to Make it Count!

Everyone who has ever picked up a racquet has banged a ball off a backboard, a wall, or even a garage door. Fact is, in one hour of backboard practice you can hit up to 1,800 balls compared to 650 an hour on a ball machine or 150 during an average hour of match play. So, is this a good thing? It certainly can be and Joe Dinoffer shows you how to get the most out of your backboard practice.

ProStrokes 2.0 — Julien Benneteau, Net Game

Frenchman Julien Benneteau has perhaps the undesirable distinction as being the best male player to never have won on the ATP Tour. While he has appeared in eight finals, Benneteau remains a ‘best man’ to his sport. With his full western forehand and very conventional two-handed backhand, Benneteau’s game is well suited for clay,. The right-hander has reached a high of number 26 in the world (April, 2012) and currently is ranked at 28. New this issue, Benneteau's Net Game.

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