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Inside Tennis : June 2008

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7 Ways to Catch Wimbledon

Posted by inside_tennis Jun 24, 2008

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For those not fortunate enough to get the Tennis Channel, Wimbledon is the one time throughout the year that American audiences are able to gorge on great tennis coverage. Rarely do we get live early rounds, outer-court coverage and quality tennis coverage the game and the fans deserve.

From daily 10-hour streams on ESPN and ESPN2 to early rounds and quarterfinals on NBC, get ready to feast on the event from start to finish. Additionally, there are a number of non-traditional new medias that are helping to fill in the gaps. Careful, though, come July 6 this bountiful buffet will quickly return to the tennis famine we have sadly grown accustom to...


ESPN/NBC
Here's the 2008 Wimbledon TV Schedule including live, taped and video on demand schedules. Get ready to clear your calendars.


Radio Wimbledon
The official radio station of Wimbledon since 1992, Radio Wimbledon provides extensive commentaries for matches using a team of reporters around the grounds. You have to be within a 5-mile radius to catch the broadcast on your radio, but thanks to the Internet, you can catch the stream from your home office.

Wimbledon Live
Wimbledon LIVE is the official online video service for Wimbledon 2008. You can subscribe to get live and on demand video from up to eight courts including Centre Court and No.1 Court, previews, highlights, interviews and classic archive footage.

Slam Tracker
This is the IBM-driven Wimbledon score tracker. Flashy and addictive, makes a great compliment to Radio Wimbledon. Select "Live Scores" from drop-down menu and allow pop-up.

Live scores
Similar to Slam Tracker, more like Web 1.0.

ATP Videos
ATP's official site has re-launched in conjunction with their Feel the Power ad campaign. This video page offers some nice highlights and player interviews.

Get the Tennis Channel
Even though the Tennis Channel has to bow to the big boys during Wimbledon, it still offers some great highlights and taped matches from the bigger matches throughout the day. Otherwise, it offers a tennis fix 24 hours a day.

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Clay is dirty, unpredictable and can leave you face down in the dust. In short, some of the best tennis out there.

The slower court, increased rallies and wide varity of shots require your game to be at its best. To help you adjust to the nuances of clay, here are seven strategies for perfecting your slide game.

Build Your Endurance
Although clay is a lower-impact game, the long rallies mean you must be in top condition. Your endurance will be tested in the longer matches mixed with intermittent short bursts of speed where balance, flexibility and composure are vital for economy of shot.


Diversify Your Portfolio
Playing on clay gives you a chance to use every shot in your repertoire. Cross-courts, drops, slices and topspin groundstrokes are essentials. And ball placement is crucial. If your arsenal doesn't contain these gems it's time to practice up, especially with drills that involve at least six shots.

All About the Angle
The serve and volley associated with hardcourt games is tough to reproduce on clay. Your best tactic is to drill cross-court shots and keep your opponent moving. You may have to hit a number of shots before you get the right chance to win the point. Eventually you will find yourself with a wide-open court where the wins is just a tap away.


The Slide
Although sliding into a shot isn't essential, it sure looks good. Sliding on clay takes a little getting used to at first, but is an effective way to slow momentum and prepare you for the return. Try sliding on a smooth surface at home wearing socks. Notice how the pros do it using the toe of their back foot to assist the stop and aid in the transition.


The Toughest Virtue: Patience
The slowness of clay refers not only to the slower speed of the bounce, but also the increased time involved in winning the set. Although down-the-line wins may come easy at first, once you tire you'll find your unforced errors increasing or your return dropping in speed. Instead of relying on your hardcourt strategy, stick to the cross-court game plan and wait for your winner opening.

Hit Behind Your Opponent
Clay is a slippery surface to play on and makes it difficult to change direction quickly. A good strategy when playing on clay is to aim your shots behind your opponent in hopes that they won't have the time or agility to change direction and return. The downside: Be ready for your opponent to do the same thing me to you.


Head South
If you can't go to Spain and hit with the best, find a clay court in your area and practice as much as you can. Dig into it, slide around, get dirty. It's not very often you get to play in dirt, so make the most of it.

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The "Circle C Spinners." That was the nickname Vic Braden gave to the group attending his clinic on Saturday because of the common errors with their swings.


Long-time tennis coach Vic Braden was the special guest of General Manager and top teaching professional Fernando Velasco at the Circle C Tennis Club in Austin, Texas. This unique opportunity provided those in attendance at the weekend clinic insight into improving their game. The format was simple: three forehands, three backhands and three serves while Vic videotaped you from behind the baseline. Then the group would retreat into the clubhouse to watch the tape and discuss the errors Vic found in their swings.


It's one thing to look for errors in real time, but when the tape is slowed to 1/32nd the problems become glaring. Vic's solution to the Circle C Spinners' common problem was simple: start low and end high. Most of the players were bringing their rackets back way above their knees and ending with a short follow through, causing them to rotate on their flat feet. Vic's suggestion: bring the racket back below the knees, stay on your toes, follow through and end high. It's that simple.


An afternoon with Vic and Fernando was enough to take the games of those who attended ever so much higher on the NTRP scale.



Check out the photos from the event:



If you haven't attended a Vic Braden clinic, you need to check it out. His humor and insight was a great benefit to all. And Fernando's hospitality and added critique made the event a truly special experience.


Vic Braden is a sports science researcher and licensed psychologist who has helped countless individuals realize their full potential in tennis as well as their professional lives. Most noted for his unique ability to produce amazing results in short periods of time, Vic has had a hand in nearly every facet of the game of tennis and has made immeasurable contributions to sports instruction as a whole. After many wonderful years in Coto de Caza, Vic has established the Vic Braden Tennis Colleges at premier resorts across the country. He is considered by many to be the best tennis coach in the world.


USPTA Master Tennis Professional Fernando Velasco is the General Manager and Director of Tennis of Circle C Tennis Club in Austin, Texas. Fernando is considered one of the top teaching professionals and managers in the country having been selected as "National Pro of the Year" by the USPTA and "International Pro of the Year" by the PTR. He is a sought-out speaker at National and International Tennis Professionals Conventions. He is ranked in the National USPTA, PTR, and National USTA and Texas.



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inside_tennis

 Member since: Jan 31, 2008

Inside Tennis is the place to share comments and insight into this amazing sport of tennis. Whether you are a fan of the pros or just love to play, check out my blog then go out and play ball!

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