My milkshakes bring all the boys to the... court

Simply put, there are a ton of outfit choices out there for tennis players.  The sport allows for many different styles and the freedom to dress in whatever is most comfortable.  A tennis player rarely has to match anyone unless they play for a school team or wants to match a doubles partner. I love this aspect. I can just throw on a pair of shorts and random shirt and I am ready to go! However, there are always those few people who can not appropriately handle this freedom.  I am sad that improper dressing is a problem in tennis, but for many girls the chance to impress/seduce a potential mate is too strong. There has been one too many tournaments that I have had to see a girls cleavage staring me in the face or had to deal with her bottom hanging out of a ridiculously tight tennis skirt.  Let's not forget the girl who will bounce around in a super short cheerleader type skirt with just as tight bloomers underneath though! So for this blog, I am going to address what outfits girls and guys should avoid.  (Sorry but I will not be posting pictures of such bad tennis style taste. I'm sure you can imagine)

This skirt is getting a little too close to the too short side. OOPS!

Girls:
1) Super low cut shirts.
We all love them, they are cute and show off just how adorable our collarbones are.  However, when you are running around for balls I don't want a show of just how much you were endowed in the upper region of your body.  That hunk in the corner of the court may compliment you on your shirt, but he is not interested in you, he is interested in what he just got a show of bouncing around.
2) Tight skirts.
I admit, I love them.  They show just how cute our backsides are, but they are still inappropriate.  Girls who wear these usually don't know what their opponent and audience get to see while they play: butt cheek, butt cheek, bloomer, too big of stretch! bloomer, butt cheek.  There is a right way to wear the tight skirt, which first starts with not getting it skin tight, dress so your grandmother wouldn't want to disown you on sight!
3) Short skirts.
Notice that the skirts tend to be the problem.  If you can't handle the skirt PLEASE just wear some good ol' nike shorts. I promise they are just and cute and comfortable.  I really can't say much about this. It is what it is. Most people are not ok with seeing your buns every time you pass by.  If you are trying to "get yo man" by this please just go to a club where such apparel is acceptable.

Boys:
Congratulations, you have really only two choices in what to wear! You rarely are told that what you are wearing is inappropriate and if you do you probably weren't trying to impress the opposite sex.  As a male, though you have less options, people will be able to respect your outfit even if it isn't the cutest thing you have ever put on. (Girls, aren't you jealous they get it so easy!)
1) Capris.
This is more of a biased rule.  Though I love Rafael Nadal, I would be much happier with him if he would wear normal shorts.  Guys, just don't. Generally girls are not impressed by your capris, even if you are the number 1 tennis player in the world.


It is sad that clothing must be discussed but it needs to happen.  So get The Ace in Life, without flashing anyone.

I want to ace some one already!

So far in my blog we have covered the importance of having a good attitude and not being afraid to lose in the quest to better yourself in the game of tennis.  I believe your mental game in tennis is the most important when playing, however it's about time we took a break and explained a few shots! But the question is: What shots should I put in the blog?  So I will cover 3 important shots: The Ground Stroke, The Overhead, and The Serve.  These are my 3 favorite shots and I have had to practice them the most, even more than my backhand slice!!!(which is tough since I'm right handed)

The Ground Stroke: This is the base for all tennis players. Once you can hit the ball you are ready to go out and practice. For beginners this is the hardest because they are still getting used to being able to see where and when to make contact with the ball. Most players play with the continental style of holding a raquet. I find this to be the most comfortable and it lets me put the most top spin on the ball. Now, as my first tennis coach would say, "Hold the raquet like you would a bunny! Don't strangle the bunny!" You don't want to choke the neck of your raquet, you want be able to correctly hit the ball. So as you stoke, remember to hold firmly but not hard. When you make contact with the ball you want the face of your raquet (the part with the strings) to face outward toward your target. It is a common mistake for players to face the raquet upward. Just remember, the ball will go wherever you tell it to, including the sky. The follow through is also important. As you hit you want the ball to be pushed out from you, using your core. This is completed by letting your arms follow and push the ball as far as you can till the release point. This stroke takes practice but it will be your best friend!

 The Overhead: This is probably the most athletic shot in tennis, it demands respect and lots of practice.  The easiest way to describe how to do this shot is as a lob come up over your head, move backward (position yourself sideways) and hit the ball high, drilling down into your opponents court.  It is important to stay sideways and follow the ball with your free hand to avoid a nasty spill or the humiliation of wiffing (completely missing the ball for those of you who don't play tennis).  If you don't feel that you can do this shot it is usually best is you just run back to hit a ground stroke.  However, this is a deadly shot and will allow you to easily close a point if you can do it successfully.

 The Serve: The serve is my personal favorite. It determines the point in my style of the game and it can determine if my opponent sees me as a threat. There are many different types of serves including slice, flat, and the dreaded kick serve.  But we will stick with a normal slice serve.  When serving remember to hold your raquet like you would a volley, this allows for the slice to happen.  The toss should be slightly in front of your body but straight up above the head of your raquet at its highest point.  You will make contact with the ball above your head at the highest point before your raquet begins to drop again. Don't try to drive the ball into the opposite court, this will end with the ball going into the net! Trust gravity to work and focus on hitting the ball correctly.  When you get the motion down correctly and feel comfortable you can add in the power of your legs to really drive that ball and catch your opponent off guard.  Trust me, its the best feeling to take a deep breath, toss the ball, bend the legs to store up energy and power, and release all the power you have on that little ball and ace your opponent on match point! With practice and a little time you too can get this ace down, The Ace in Life.