Issue Date: August 17, 2008
3 smashing tennis tips
With the U.S. Open right around the corner, it's time to dust off your racket and get back to the court for a game of tennis. Whether you haven't played in a while or you've never tried your hand at tennis, you should prep your body for movements like sudden stops and racket swings, which your muscles may not be used to.
The key to avoiding injuries, according to E. Paul Roetert, managing director of player development for the United States Tennis Association and co-author of Complete Conditioning for Tennis, is to learn proper stroke technique from a certified professional. But if you're not ready to make that kind of commitment, here are three quick tips to help get you started:
Get a good warm-up. Start by jogging slowly around the court while making progressively larger arm circles or doing other aerobic activity that gets your blood flowing. Next, you can do dynamic flexibility exercises. "The key is to have your body go through the same motions you expect it to go through when playing," Roetert says. "Slow, controlled movements mimicking the strokes will do the trick."
Strengthen your shoulder and back muscles. "Rowing exercises are great to help avoid problems in this area," Roetert notes. "If you don't have exercise machines available to you, use inexpensive stretch cords or tubing that create the same pulling action."
Don't overdo it. Allow your body time to get used to new movements. "Rest and recovery are important," Roetert says.
Contact Jorge Cruise, author of "The 12-Second Sequence," at 12second.com.
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