This question has been asked often by students of mine - but only after they\’ve known me for awhile. The reason they wait so long to ask it is because they don\’t ever want to admit that the reason they lost a match or a shot is because they \’choked\’. When push comes to shove, however, every player out there must admit that they\’ve let their nerves get the best of them at one time or another; and it doesn\’t feel good to admit it. Our failure to perform to our known level of ability is sometimes too much to bear. We make excuses. We find a scapegoat. It was the wind. Or the sun in my eyes on that last double fault. My opponent\’s constant \’grunting\’ threw me off. God forbid we be honest with ourselves and perhaps admit that we need some training in order to prevent this type of behavior in the future.

Training? Yes, training. You see, to some observers, people are either born \’mentally tough\’ or \’mentally weak\’, period. While people do have different personality types, I, for one, DO NOT believe this theory holds any water. Rather, I believe that players can be trained to deal with the dilemma of pressure. So back to the original question: How do you keep from choking under pressure?

First, ask yourself what your definition of \’choking\’ is. If you are referring to, let\’s say, a second serve that is normally very reliable but is letting you down during key points, then you are dealing with what most people refer to as \’choking\’. (We\’ll deal with that in a moment.) However, if you are dealing with shots and strategies that you\’ve seldom dealt with before (perhaps you are attempting to serve-and-volley when you normally play from the baseline), then you have hit an area where you don\’t have much experience. In this case, your nerves are getting the best of you because you know, deep down, that you haven\’t yet acquired the skills necessary to accomplish the task you are attempting. This is not choking, but rather a lack of skill in making choices that give you the highest percentage of winning. Make sure you\’re not confusing \’choking\’ with inexperience.

Getting back to what \’choking\’ truly is, and how to prevent it, let\’s take a look at a match situation, and see how two players might face it head-on. First, let\’s look at a player who has a very laid-back personality and doesn\’t get excited about too much. (The Swedes from the 70\’s, 80\’s and 90\’s are good examples: Bjorn Borg, Mats Wilander, Stefan Edberg, Joakim Nystrom etc). Let\’s call this guy…Lars (sounds Swedish, right?) Okay. People like Lars who play tennis in a \’laid-back\’ manner (emotionally speaking) are far less likely to \’blow up\’ when they miss a shot. They are far less likely to talk negatively to themselves on the court; and they are far less likely to \’choke\’ than a person with an \’excitable\’ personality. Why is that? It is because Lars\’ naturally laid-back personality allows him to not really get too emotionally \’wound-up\’ over the consequences of whether or not he misses a shot. It\’s his personality to \’roll with the punches\’ and focus on one shot at a time. Does that mean Lars is naturally going to be a better tennis player than most? Not at all. It is simply a facet of his personality. There are other areas of Lars\’ game where his \’laid-back\’ personality is often times a hindrance. For example, Lars has trouble motivating himself on the court during practice, and has a much harder time putting pressure on his opponent - again, a facet of his laid-back personality.

Now let\’s look at an \’excitable\’ player named \’John\’. John\’s excitable personality leads him to be fierce, driven and ultra-competitive on the tennis court. As a function of his \’excitable\’ personality, he is driven to expect rewards when he performs well, as he feels he\’s \’earned it\’. However, there are times when the pressure to hit a good shot weighs more on John than it would on Lars, even if they were facing the exact same situation on the court. The reason? John\’s excitable personality causes him to become emotionally invested in the outcome of the match (or point, or shot, etc), which leads to him putting pressure on himself to perform well - but often times just the opposite happens. All of the consequences of not performing outweigh the consequences of performing well for him. How come? He expected to perform well and expects positive results. In his mind, he thinks “Woopty-doo. I\’m supposed to beat this guy, so there\’s no big reward if I do. But if I don\’t…”

You can see now why the pressure mounts for excitable John. John\’s completion of the sentence “But if I don\’t…” would give you more insight in to why people \’choke\’ than you can imagine. Imagine if you could just keep on asking John questions after he finishes the sentence “But if I don\’t…” Let\’s ask John and see shat he says:

Q: “John, if you lose this match, what\’s the worst that can happen?”

A: “Well, I\’ll be out of the tournament.”

Q: “And?”

A: “And everyone at the club will know I lost and wanna play me to see if I they can knock me off, too.”

Q: “What\’s so bad about that?”

A: “Well, how would you like to spend 5 years and $10,000 on tennis lessons just to lose?”

Q: “This isn\’t about me, John, it\’s about you. How does spending all that time and money on your game make you feel?”

A: “Like I wasted a lot of time and money.”

Q: “How does wasting time and money make you feel?”

A: “Like a complete fool…”

The answers really are there, and once you find those answers you will be able to embrace the pressure. John\’s ultimate reason for not wanting to lose the match was because he\’d feel “Like a complete fool.” His insecurity is what\’s causing the pressure. It has nothing to do with his abilities. He feels his performance on the tennis court is what determines whether or not he\’s a fool as a person.

Now those were just two examples of two distinct personality types. I offered them up for you as a way to relate to the experience. However, no matter what your personality type, you can train yourself to deal with pressure. The way to beat the \’choking\’ phenomenon has been studied by sports psychologists and men of genius as long as sports have been around. While I claim to be neither a psychologist nor a genius, I will tell you that through my observations and experiences over the years, the one sure-fire way to get a handle on pressure is to embrace it. The simplest way to embrace pressure is to realize the cause of it. Most pressure comes from the fear of an unwanted outcome. The key word here is \’fear\’. Now that you know this, you must ask yourself a question: “What\’s the worst that can happen, and what are the consequences if my fears are realized?”

Example: Jessica is down 30-40, at 4-5 in the third set of her state qualifying match. She\’s on her second serve. She\’s worked hard to get to this point, and if she can win this match she\’ll make it to the State Tournament for the first time. She\’s a senior in high school and it\’s her last chance. If she double faults, it\’s all over. You can see why she would be feeling the pressure. Is there a way to beat this pressure? Is there an answer to the question: “How do you keep from choking under pressure?”

Yes, there is; but here\’s the kicker: Jessica would have had to train herself prior to getting in this situation in order to beat the pressure by embracing it. She would have had to declare her intentions, goals and possible outcomes far in advance. She would have had to understand that she wouldn\’t define herself as a person by her results; win or lose good or bad. She would have been training herself to see - and meet - pressure in a whole new way. She would be empowered to embrace the pressure, make it her own, and know that, win or lose, she\’d \’put it all out there\’. She would\’ve realized long ago even if she didn\’t get her desired results, the world would not end; and that if the moniker of \’State Tennis Championship Qualifier\’ didn\’t follow her name in the yearbook, that the sun would still come up in the morning, she\’d still be \’Jessica\’, and she\’d still be okay with it.

Kyril Popoff is a former NCAA Div1 All-Conference Tennis Player, Instructor, Coach and Author.

His books include THE TEN LAWS OF TENNIS SUCCESS and FOCUS & WIN: WHY YOUR TENNIS GAME ISN\’T WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE, & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!

You can sign up for Coach Kyril\’s Tennis Lessons, Tips & Tricks newsletter at:
http://www.coachkyriltennis.com

During my freshman year at Cleveland State University, our team traveled to Florida to play a series of matches against teams down there. During one particular match, I encountered a player who literally defined the term \’Pusher\’.

This guy was quick and had endurance. He had decided early on that he was in no hurry to get off the court, and would run down every shot I threw at him; and believe me, I was throwing heat. After losing the first set, I made up my mind that I was not going to let this guy beat me. After all, I was the \’better\’ player with \’better\’ strokes, right?

Just as I was about to walk back onto the court to start the second set, a thought occurred to me: How was I losing points? I hadn\’t spoken to my coach (he was coaching another player at the time of the changeover), but that\’s the first question I knew that he would\’ve asked me.
I asked myself this question and the answer came back: “Unforced errors.” Okay, so now I had something I could grasp. Fine. What was causing the unforced errors? Impatience, and a lack of a good plan.I eventually decided that I had to come up with a plan on the fly. I did, and coupled with being just a little more patient, I came back to win the match in three sets.

In order to understand what I did and how to apply it to your game, you need to first understand the pusher\’s mind set. This is really easy. The pusher is telling himself to just get every ball back over the net, no matter what. When playing a baseliner, the pusher is not too concerned about placement, and will usually end up putting the ball into the smack dab center of the court, right on the \’T\’. When faced with a serve-and-volley player, the pusher will try to run down every ball and lob constantly, hoping you either miss a volley or blow the overhead. When faced with an all-court player, the pusher will combine the two above mentioned tactics.

What do you do? Well, now that you know how the pusher thinks and plays, it\’s time to figure out where his weakness is, and exploit it. The pusher has A LOT of weaknesses in their game - or they wouldn\’t just \’push\’ the ball back every time! I want you to think long and hard about that, and really let that sink in. Okay, now let\’s see where the pusher is weak.

First of all, pushers do not have a command of \’power\’ ground strokes, if they have anything resembling good ground strokes to start with. From this alone, we can gain insight into several weaknesses:

• Pushers have a hard time generating power and combining it with accuracy, which is a requirement of having \’good\’ ground strokes.

• Pushers have a hard time hitting passing shots, for the same reasons just listed.

• If a pusher has weak ground strokes, they probably have a weak serve as well.

• Pushers have a hard time with high balls, again for the reasons listed above.

• Pushers hate for points to end quickly, because those are points they probably lost!

Now that we know the pusher\’s weaknesses, we can come up with a plan to exploit them. The first thing you need to do when playing a pusher is to make them do what they don\’t want to do; and one of the things that pushers HATE to do is generate their own \’pace\’, or power when hitting the ball, because they can\’t control it. One way to make the pusher do this is by hitting your ground strokes deep, about ¾ speed with A LOT of topspin. This forces the pusher back off the baseline and makes the pusher generate their own power, rather than just using the power from a hard shot you hit to them.

Another way to get the pusher \’out of their game\’ is to serve and volley, because they can\’t hit passing shots very well. (Again, if they could, they wouldn\’t be a \’pusher\’). If they try to lob you, put the ball away; if they are lobbing you well, hit the overhead anyway and stay at the net. Constant pressure will make the pusher buckle. If they are hitting you lobs over and over, and you can\’t do anything about it, than you need to improve you serve before you attempt this tactic.

Yet another way to beat the pusher is to \’chip-and-charge\’; take advantage of every short ball the pusher hits you, and get to the net. Don\’t just get to the net for the sake of being there, or the pusher will just lob you all day long. Get there on a short ball, make a good approach and be ready for the pusher\’s response.

Since the pusher\’s mentality is one of “I\’m gonna run down every shot you hit”, make him do just that - on YOUR terms. Hit a ¾ speed, well placed shot that angles off to the side; then hit a long, deep shot. This forces the pusher out of their \’moving-side-to-side\’ game (which they love to do) into moving up and back at awkward angles. When you finally get an opening to hit a winner, don\’t force the angle or the speed; just hit another well placed, ¾ speed shot toward your intended target. More often than not, even if the pusher gets the ball, the reply will be weak or a lob at best.

Use these techniques the next time you are on the court - and watch the \’pusher\’ fade away!

Kyril Popoff is a former NCAA Div1 All-Conference Tennis Player, Instructor, Coach and Author.

His books include THE TEN LAWS OF TENNIS SUCCESS and FOCUS & WIN: WHY YOUR TENNIS GAME ISN\’T WHERE YOU WANT IT TO BE, & WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT!

You can sign up for Coach Kyril\’s Tennis Lessons, Tips & Tricks newsletter at:
http://www.coachkyriltennis.com

You are in love with the game of tennis and can not get enough of it. Starting off in school learning to play on basic gym equipment was the beginning-then in college you made sure that you took tennis as your required physical education classes.

The time has now come for you to get your own personal equipment and you want to get a tennis racket of your very own. To make a personal statement to everyone that you have come of age, are serious about this sport, and want to compete with your friends evenings and weekends.

What type of tennis racket are you going to purchase? They vary in length, weight, and head size, and you will need to figure out which one is the best for you. Think back to your beginnings playing this sport-what did you like or dislike about the different tennis rackets you used. This can be a starting point to begin narrowing down your choices.

A very important component for the tennis racket is the head size as the power behind your swings is directly affected. A larger head will give you with more power than a small head and also provides you with a larger hitting area making it a little easier to hit the ball. Generally speaking, a smaller racket head appeals to more accomplished players seeking more control, while larger rackets appeal to beginning and intermediate players seeking more power and a larger head.

They range in length from 27-29 inches with most people selecting the 27 inch ones. However, a longer handle provides more reach on ground strokes, adds leverage on serves, and slightly more power, than one with a standard length.

The weight has also been reduced making them lighter and easier to hold.
If you have friends or co-workers that also play, ask them about the type they use and why. They will enjoy talking to you about the sport and in providing you with information and advise. And, there is nothing more flattering than to ask someone for their opinion on a topic that they really enjoy and believe that they are an expert in.

Some of these people might even loan you some of their equipment so that you can try it out and find out whether or not you like it. No matter what your preference for a tennis racket is, you have to find the best one that meets your needs. This may even mean renting them and testing them out for a few games. This is probably the best way to have an opportunity to use many different types, styles, models and different manufacturers without spending a lot of money on ones that will just end up collecting dust in the closet.

Get out and play every weekend. The exercise is good, you will meet new people, and be out in the fresh air. This is much better than spending your weekend sitting in front of the television or going to the office to catch up on work.

Enjoy yourself, life is too short.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis racket

Watching tennis matches on television is one thing, but to see a match in person is out of this world. You wouldn’t think tennis stadiums are really that exciting and that watching a match on television is just as good if not better. However, that is not the case at all. In fact, watching tennis live from a tennis stadium increases your adrenalin and makes the match that much more enjoyable. On television the tennis match may get a bit boring watching the ball being hit back and forth. But, if you head to a tennis stadium and watch the match live it is a completely different experience.

First of all, you get a good view of the players. You see what they are doing, how they are reacting, and where the tennis ball is going. You get involved with the match watching it live from a tennis stadium which is something you can’t do from home. In addition, you feel a connection to the game. At home it is easy to take a bathroom break, or do other activities while watching the match. But, if you are watching the tennis in person from a tennis stadium you will be screaming for your favorite player, out of your seat, and really involved.

It is a completely different experience to watch tennis from a tennis stadium than it is to watch it from your home. So, if you are a tennis lover definitely go and buy some tennis tickets and see a tennis match live in person as your next match. More than likely you will change your way of watching tennis forever!

Frank Collins is an avid tennis fan and see matches live whenever possible. By going out to buy tennis tickets you will have an enjoyable and entertaining experience.

So you have decided to take up tennis? Or maybe you are content to be a spectator but you would like to expand your knowledge of the game. There are a lot of variables to tennis, from the proper clothes to the equipment, from the rules to the players, but there are some constants in the game too.

At seventy-eight feet long from baseline to baseline, and twenty-seven feet wide – thirty-six feet for doubles matches – the size of the tennis court is one of those constants, and one can learn a lot about the game simply by understanding this field of play.

While the size of a tennis court never changes, the surface of the court can vary from location to location. There are three basic types of surfaces on which tennis is played, and each surface dictates a particular style of play.

Clay courts are made of crushed stone, brick, or shale, and are usually reddish orange in color, although they can be green as well. Clay courts are considered slow courts where balls tend to bounce higher and more slowly than on other surfaces. Consequently, points often last longer on clay courts as players tend to stay near the baseline – the line farthest from the net – and play defensively because it is so difficult to simply blast one by their opponent.

Clay courts are more prevalent in Europe and South America than they are in the United States. Of the professional Grand Slam tournaments only the French Open – or the Tournoi de Roland-Garros as it is officially known – is played on a clay surface.

The second kind of playing surface that one would find on a tennis court is grass. Rarely seen because of their high maintenance costs, grass courts are grown on firmly packed soil, much like a golf green. Of all the playing surfaces, grass presents the most variables to players.

Wear and tear, moisture, firmness of soil, and the length of time the grass has grown since being mowed all play a role in the playing characteristics of a grass court. Despite these variables, grass court players can usually expect the ball to bounce low forcing the players to get to the ball faster if they are to have a chance at a return; hence, grass courts are fast courts.

Successful grass court players typically play a serve and volley style of game where they quickly rush to the net after serving in hopes of forcing their opponent to hit a fast and perfect return; not easy on a fast, grass court. The most famous grass court is most certainly Centre Court at Wimbledon, home of The Championships, Wimbledon, a Grand Slam event and the oldest event in championship tennis.

Faster than clay courts yet slower than grass courts, hard courts are the most common type of tennis court. Constructed of cement or synthetic materials, hard courts vary in speed and bounce, but generally fall in the middle of the spectrum on both fronts. Hard courts are also the most conducive to all styles of play and, unlike grass or clay, they do not provide significant advantage or disadvantage to players with different styles.

Consequently, hard courts are often considered to provide the fairest test of all around skill. The United States Open and Australian Open are both played on hard courts, although the US Open uses an acrylic surface while the Australian Open utilizes a synthetic surface. Indoor courts are a variable of hard courts that are usually made of cement, wood, or even artificial turf. They typically have similar playing characteristics that are similar to other variations of hard courts.

Now that you understand the different surfaces that can be found in tennis you can use that knowledge to enhance your strategies on the court, or your appreciation for the game as a spectator. Either way, you must understand the tennis court in order to fully understand tennis.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the tennis court.

So you are heading off to the tennis courts for a friendly match among friends. You pack your racket and balls, don your tennis warmup suit, pull on a pair of sneakers, and you are ready to go; right? Wrong; any old pair of sneakers will not do, and you need a pair of tennis specific shoes if you want to make the most of your game. Sure, tennis shoes look good and will complement your outfit – and fashion is important – but that is not why they are indispensable; function, not form, makes the proper shoes a must.

While tennis shoes may look like ordinary, generic sneakers, they are anything but. They are shoes designed specifically to help you make tennis moves while protecting you from injury. Further, they are designed to withstand the kind of wear-and-tear to which tennis is sure to subject them. A typical running shoe is designed for straightforward movements, and it is cushioned in the heel to absorb the pounding impact that running delivers.

However, a running shoe does not have the lateral support that one needs during the side-to-side movements that tennis demands. If you wear a running shoe to a tennis match you are likely to limp off the court with a sprained ankle; running shoes do not have a supportive upper that will protect you from a rolled ankle. A shoe designed for tennis has a supportive upper portion that will provide the stability you need to move quickly and avoid injury.

Watch the feet of some tennis players the next time you are at the court or watching on television. You will notice that many players drag their trailing foot on the ground during their ground strokes, and especially on their serve. You will also notice that it is the toe portion of their foot that is being dragged.

Tennis shoes – unlike many other styles of athletic shoe – have a reinforced toe that is usually protected by the same durable material as the sole of the shoe. Without this protection the typical tennis player would wear a hole in the toe portion of their shoe very quickly. A shoe designed specifically for tennis has this area covered so the lifespan of your shoes will be dramatically increased.

The sole of the shoe is where the rubber meets the road, and that is especially important in the game of tennis. The soles of tennis shoes are designed to provide superior traction because the tread is built with the court surface in mind. Further, the sole of a shoe designed for tennis is made from a material that will not leave unsightly scuff marks on the court surface. It is for this reason that many courts do not allow shoes that are not tennis specific on their courts.

Tennis shoes are available in a wide range of styles and colors that are sure to complement any outfit, and that is especially important if you are a style conscious player. But more important, a shoe that is specifically designed for tennis will protect you from injury, provide tennis specific traction, resist wear-and-tear, and protect the court as well.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis shoes.

Tennis has long been one of the world’s most popular sports so it should come as no surprise that many people take up the game each year. But taking up tennis is more than borrowing a tennis racket and heading over to a court. Clothing, shoes, rules, and etiquette are just a few of the elements of the game that beginners must learn, but perhaps there is nothing more important to understand than the basics of the tennis racket. Purchasing a racket that best complements your skill and physical abilities is crucial to enjoying early success as a tennis player.

If you are interested in tennis then you have probably strolled though a tennis shop, the tennis section of a sporting goods store, or even browsed the website of an online tennis retailer. And if you have done any of those things then you are probably confused about which tennis racket is best for you. With an understanding of racket basics you can cut through the massive selection and find a racket that suits you, so let’s get started!

The first thing you will want to look at is the size of the head – the frame that holds the strings – of the racket. Between the grip and the neck on most rackets you will find a label that displays the size and square inches of the head. Generally speaking, these measurements will place a particular racket into one of four categories:

* Midsize (85-92 square inches),

* Midplus (93-105 sq .inches),

* Oversize (106-115 sq. inches) and

* Super Oversize (over 116 sq. inches)

The size of the racket head has a direct impact on the power and control offered by the racket. Large heads provide great power, but at the expense of control, while smaller rackets provide less power and more control. Beginning players are usually best served by opting for a larger heads that not only provide power, but offer forgiveness on hits that are not close to the center of the head.

The next aspect of the tennis racket that you need to understand is just as important as the size of the head; the size of the grip. A properly sized grip is not only a key to hitting good shots, it is integral in avoiding injuries such as the dreaded tennis elbow. While having a proper grip size is critical, selecting a proper grip size is quite simple.

Pick up the racket with your hitting hand and make sure you palm is on the same bevel – the ridges on the grip – as the racket face. Take the index finger of your free hand and try to slip it into the gap between your palm and fingertips of the hand that is holding the racket. If your finger just fits then you have a properly sized grip. If the gap is too small for your finger, or so wide that your finger fits easily, then you need to select a different size.

Next you must consider the strings. You will find that some rackets are prestrung, while others require that strings be installed. As a beginner you will probably be well served by a prestrung racket as premium rackets – rackets without strings – are generally expensive and suited to better and more skilled players.

String density is a term that refers to the spaces between the main and cross strings on the racket. The smaller the hole, the denser the racket, and the more power it generates. As a beginner you should focus on dense, powerful rackets that will help you generate power until you develop a more consistent tennis stroke.

Selecting the proper tennis racket will allow you to get the most out of your time on the court. Be sure to keep an eye on the attributes mentioned in this article, and look for a racket that has string tension that is in the middle of the scale. A good grip and medium tension will give you a combination of power and control that will not only help your game, it will help prevent tennis elbow as well.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on the best tennis racket.

“Hey! You know my son just plays it like a pro and I believe he is going to be a big star someday but i don’t know how should I tell him more about it. I need to know some real necessary information. ”.

If you are one of those parents who had to say or feel the words above, we have some guidelines for you. Some information that can help your child to perform better or at least make a foundation for becoming a good player.

Well, it’s not a big deal; Tennis practice can be started even without a net or even if you have not bought a new good net your kid, you can use a homemade net, start practicing on safe streets or even start with a wall and remember walls are very good they never ever miss a single ball.
Once you are good at hitting the ball you can buy some good balls, racquets and net and use a good ground.

Now there are several ways you kid can step further on national level.
The first good step will be your kid getting a chance to play in ‘United State Tennis Association’ (USTA) junior competition.
This event is organized at regular intervals and all you need to do is keep an eye on the schedule and necessary information so that your kid can fulfill the eligibility criteria.

Besides applying to this the parents should motivate their child to attend seminars and workshops or help your child as a coach or get him some professional training.
A good idea will be to gather other children, may be classmates of your kid, and form a team and become a coach of it.
These were a few basic guidelines for all who wish their child to get into this sport.

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There was a time when selecting tennis clothes was quite a simple endeavor; the tradition of wearing tennis whites made the selection process quite streamlined. However, as anyone who follows tennis knows, the days of watching Martina Navratilova or Jimmy Connors take the court wearing all white are long gone, and today’s game is one that embraces fashion forward styles and functional fabrics.

Today’s best players, like Roger Federer and Maria Sharapova, are often seen in apparel that spans the spectrum of color and fashion; not surprisingly, the rest of the tennis world has followed suit.

Today’s tennis clothes look great on and off the court, and they are made with performance fabrics that surpass the cottons of the past in nearly every way. Modern polyester fabrics like Coolmax™ and Wickaway™ are available in a wide range of knits and colors, but it is not their style but their utilitarian qualities that make them so ideal for tennis.

Performance fabrics – like polyester, nylon, and spandex - breathe unlike traditional textiles allowing you to stay cool and dry even during the height of summer. Further, these high tech fabrics hold their shape and color much better than their cotton counterparts, allowing you to look good before, during, and after your match, and their high durability will allow you to continue to look good in the future.

Modern textiles are just one aspect of contemporary tennis clothes; these clothes are fashionable and functional as well. While there is nothing wrong with wearing traditional whites to the court, proper tennis attire now includes bright colors and prints which continue to gain popularity at all levels of the game. Style and form are important considerations when selecting tennis apparel, but one should be careful not to ignore function as well as the traditions of the game.

All tennis players should own a proper warm-up outfit, which is typically a two piece suit consisting of long pants and a long sleeved top. A warm-up outfit helps the athlete stay warm and get loose before a match, and it is also the traditionally preferred attire for arrival at the court. Tradition also holds that warm-up suits should be removed during the actual match unless it happens to be a very cold day.

During a match, men should wear tucked shirts and tennis shorts, although more and more the untucked look is becoming a presence in professional and amateur tennis. Women should wear short sleeved or sleeveless shirts paired with skirts or skorts – shorts that have styling that resembles a traditional skirt.

It is important to note that the traditional tennis attire is still alive and well in some places, particularly at some tennis and country clubs. If you are invited to play as a guest at a club, check with the club or your host in order to be certain that your tennis clothes are appropriate and fitting with their dress code.

No tennis outfit is complete without the ever important accessories. Tennis shoes should be sneaker style, and it is probably best to purchase sneakers that are specifically designed for tennis. Not only will true tennis shoes perform better, they will not have black or dark colored soles which are banned at many courts due to their tendency to leave dark scuffs on the playing surface. Make sure you complement your tennis outfit with fashionable socks as well as things like headbands, hats, or wristbands; all of which will help keep your face and hands dry and ready for action.

Tennis is a game deeply rooted in history and tradition, but with some careful shopping you can successfully span those boundaries by wearing tennis clothes that perform well, look great, and stay true to the traditions of the game.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on tennis clothes.

Tennis is a physical sport. Running, jumping, swinging, and sometimes diving on the hard court; like any sport, there are many ways that tennis players can incur an injury. However, there is one injury that is so prevalent among tennis players the injury itself has the word tennis in the name; that injury, of course, is tennis elbow.

While tennis elbow, known medically as lateral epicondylitis, is not limited to tennis players, it is estimated that one third of all tennis players will experience the condition at some point in their lives. Anyone who engages in lifting at the elbow, or repetitive movements of the elbow and wrist, is likely to be susceptible to this condition, so naturally tennis players are at high risk.

The cause of pain from this condition is not a medical certainty, although it is believed that it is caused by small tears of the tendons attaching the forearm muscles to the bone at the elbow joint. It is the muscles of the forearm that are used to cock the wrist back - extensor carpi radialis brevis – that are the suspected culprits in this condition.

So how do you know you have tennis elbow and not some other painful condition? Individuals with this ailment typically feel pain on the outside of their elbow, especially when grabbing an object and cocking back the wrist. The pain is generally more severe when lifting something – although pain while resting should be expected - and it is often described as a pain that radiates down the forearm. Pain from tennis elbow generally starts gradually, although it has been known to have a sudden onset as well.

If you believe that you are suffering from tennis elbow you should consult with your physician immediately. Treatment for this condition is typically noninvasive, and over 90% of patients are successfully treated without surgery. Tennis players can often address the problem through some subtle changes in their equipment and technique.

A good first step is to make sure that you are using a racket with a properly sized grip. Another option is to reduce the tension on your racket strings. That reduction in string tension will soften the impact of the ball, and reduce twisting of the forearm during off-center hits. Lastly, changing your actual tennis stroke can help reduce the negative impacts on your elbow as well. Players who learn to swing without leading the racket with their elbow in a flexed position can often alleviate much of the condition and reduce the likelihood of reoccurrence.

There are noninvasive medical options that can address the pain of this condition as well. Anti-inflammatory drugs are used to combat both pain and inflammation. If a regimen of anti-inflammatory drugs is not successful, cortisone injections are an option that has proven successful for some patients.

However, injections are not always successful and if relief does not come quickly then you are likely not going to be served by continued injections. However, medication is not the only avenue that one can explore when trying to alleviate pain and discomfort in the elbow region. Use of an elbow brace can reduce the strain placed on the elbow during the tennis stroke.

Sadly, if the aforementioned treatment options are not successful then surgery may be the only road to relief. The good news is that surgery has a very high rate of success, and it is only required in a small percentage of patients.

For more information on tennis try visiting http://www.TennisQuestions.com, a website that specializes in providing tennis related tips, advice and resources to include information on tennis elbow