US Open Series welcomes Tennis Fans back

 Get your vaccines, get your tickets!

We're finally ready. Fans excited as the US opens up for Summer.

This is fantastic news and shows the tremendous progress the USA has made for going from worst to first in a year. Covid-19 vaccinations are at a strong level and we are getting more fans vaccinated safely and efficiently. Both kids and adults can enjoy summer picnics again this 4th of July.

Tennis-Bargains offering US Open codes, discount sales, and 2-for-1 promos!
We are ready for a vacation after almost 2 years. I can think of no better reward trip for tennis fans than celebrating together with friends and family at an outdoor event the success we've made in 2021.

Tennis is back and so are the fans for summer events in the USA

US Open Series Tennis - Fans are back for 2021

Tennis Events for Summer 2021

The Cincinnati Masters 1000 (Western and Southern Open) is the first big tennis event to announce it is ready for fans to come back in August at Full Capacity this summer!

European events with the French Open and Wimbledon are looking once again for America to lead. Restrictions overseas are slowly lifting in some areas but hotspots still rage on elsewhere. Still, in Paris and London and the Tokyo Olympics, the war has not been won yet. The message is still mixed for fans at those events.

No one is free until we are all free. - MLK

USA successfully battling covid-19 with vaccines

"Vote and Vaccinate"- two things we've done really well as Americans this past year.

Over 40% of all Americans are now fully vaccinated. Over 62% have at least 1 dose.

The tide is now in our favor. Please DO your part to help encourage others.

America returns to lead the World

As world history has shown - we might be a little slow to get going (and usually arrive last to the party) - but once we have that momentum, we cannot be stopped. Keeping the progress up, and staying healthy means that 2021 will be the last year we get grounded by covid.

It's now the golden opportunity for this generation to once again come to the rescue of the World.

How we fought, struggled, and finally end this pandemic will tell the tale of our lifetimes. Our choice and our actions will decide the fate of this era. It is how you and your children will be remembered in human history forever. Do your part!

Building the legacy of our nation and the destiny of every free person has the right to Health and the Pursuit of Happiness (tennis). It starts here in America and spreads to the world - Freedom, the proven cure.

US Open 2021 Plans to Re-Open

Governor Cuomo has just announced NY venues can return to 100% capacity for fully vaccinated fans. NYC reported the lowest rate of positive infections since the start of the pandemic. This Cincy Open event is part of the US Open series and part of the "road trip to NYC" that peaks with the US Open that plays in September.

If you have never been to the US Open before, this is a must-do on the tennis bucket list for all true tennis fans.

Read more about my tennis adventures to the US Open final @ JCtennis.com - one night after work, I boarded a standby flight from DC to go watch Rafael Nadal win his career grand slam. Nadal now has a chance to reach 21 titles. Exciting times for tennis!

US Open Ticket Information and Discount Codes

Sign up for our email list to get caught up with the latest tennis fan info.

Helpful tips will include:

• When will tickets be available?
• Which seats are a good deal and sold first?
• How do you find promo codes?
• Buy and Sell ticket recommendations based on who is playing and what sessions are hot.
  
  
• Where should you sit for the least (or most) sun?
• Which areas have the best airflow and open space?
• Recommended walking paths to save time and avoid crowds

From Memorial Day to Labor Day, this is a very positive outlook for summer.

As fans slowly trickle back into sports and stadiums, we are very confident that events will have new safety protocols such as all-digital tickets and re-designed fan zones. We will provide on-the-ground fan advice and links to medical guidance and travel policies for NYC.

We will also send out new maps to help fans stay away from crowded areas, see more tennis from up close, and where to go for taking breaks or day trips around New York City.

There will also be ticket giveaways on our Facebook fan page. We love to reward the NYC and Queens local community by sending pairs of tickets digitally to our winners. We want to say thank you to the healthcare providers and for staying NYC-Strong throughout the epidemic last year.

TopCourt Gold Membership Bonus Perks

TopCourt Gold Membership: On-Court Experience

Here is our behind-the-scenes experience with TopCourt. Brought to you exclusively, we take fans behind the lens to see how the movie magic happens.

Gold Member fans will have a chance to join me and some amazing pros at a future filming event.

You can get up to $50 back from me via Amazon Gift Card by signing up for a TopCourt Membership.

Miami TopCourt Trip Photos

Tennis pros filmed during the week in March at a private Miami residence include:

TopCourt's Class of 2021

• Alexander and Mischa Zverev
• Bianca Andreescu
• Felix Auger Aliassime
• Grigor Dimitrov
• Francis Tiafoe
• Brandon Nakashima

Highlights of the TopCourt Filming Trip

• Watching tennis pros demonstrate their tennis skills from a few feet away
• Enjoy a catered lunch and chat with new pros and their coaches each day
• Capture close-up photos and videos plus selfies on set, plus get autographed memorabilia
• Meet and greet the pros' families, coaches, and their entourage
• Rally on the center court using one of the Head touring pro's racquets (a pro stock model)
• Photos of my Miami tennis experience - Miami in March - food, fun, and friends

I can say hands down that the TopCourt On-Court Gold experience is worth many times more than any seat you can buy elsewhere. Especially if you are traveling from out of state or it is for a special occasion. I would rival it as a better bargain than even luxury box seats at the US Open. Comparing it to the Miami Open 2021, it was no contest at all. Each day there were at least two different pros.

Grigor Dimitrov shows off his modeling juggling skills

Other than being in a player's box or media credential, TopCourt is the closest anyone can get to the full fan experience in tennis with a campus of professionals and their coaches.

Interview with Alexander Zverev

As a film fan of Netflix, I loved seeing the director's perspective from behind the lens. TopCourt's team and crew are creating educational entertainment in real-time and improvising on the fly.

TopCourt producers all ask the questions that Gold Membership fans want to hear. You get to witness all the action live and unedited. All the bloopers, outtakes, and intimate moments.

Felix Auger Aliassime (FAA)

This racket was autographed and donated by FAA

Tiafoe and Andreescu share the same talent agency at Octagon Tennis.

Bianca Andreescu and the author

Go for Gold! - if you want a chance to meet the pros

Benefits of getting the Gold Membership Package:

• Lifetime experience event opportunities: (extra purchase) to go to attend the live filming.
• Double the Gold Court points: allows users to buy autographed items from the pros and bid on Lifetime Experiences via raffles
• Early access to "bonus" content: a nice-to-have incentive that mirrors Disney+. Being able to "unlock" new content early.
• Preferred Response Time on questions for the pros: I have not personally tried this feature. If you have questions for upcoming stars, I think this would be an excellent way to do Q&A.

Lifetime Experience Packages

Advantages

• Saving time from roaming around the courts searching for the pro
• Better high-end value than most VIP tennis tournament tickets
• Getting the 1on1 time to ask questions, take selfies, and more (I got an autograph from Alex Zverev. I told him I use the same Head Gravity Pro rackets and his insignia dampeners)
• Getting the invaluable selfies or autographs that so many wait hours to get a chance
  
  
• Share a catered lunch with the pros (we usually ate around 1-2pm)
• Feeling the full immersion with the players and coaches and family.
• Attend AM and/or PM sessions - offering a balance of both documentary interviews and action drills filming on the set.
• Comfortable and luxurious settings with food, refreshments, and A/C for guests
• Fixed schedule and time frame - having only a few hours or days, you really maximize your time instead of hanging around practice courts at a tournament hoping to get lucky.
• Seeing a full-scale filming production take place.
  
  I'm a fan of Netflix, and was really neat to see how the director orchestrates a whole production crew, drones, rovers, sound, lighting, and multiple cameras to make each TopCourt episode possible.

Lights, camera, action!  TopCourt filming on location

Costs

• Variable Expenses (Price? availability? dates?)
• Variety of player rosters (ATP and WTA) - so you may not have the pro you planned to meet.
• Possible Cancelations - due to covid-19 and players' match times - players may get rescheduled, or pros may cancel. We had expected Nick Kyrios and Denis Shapovalov to appear. But they both canceled last minute.
  
• Travel costs not included - Must spend travel costs to go to the location - I flew the only direct flight to Miami, which was a red-eye flight, and booked AirBnB accommodations about 5 miles away at my own expense.
• Seats and spaces are very limited - only a few other investors and guests (less than 10 total, I would estimate on any given day

Unexpected encounters and discoveries

Part of the fun is that you may discover something interesting about tennis pros you did not know much about before. During a brief rain delay the first morning, I chatted briefly with Brandon Nakashima and had some of the catered lunch outside with him and his coach.

I did not realize his new coach once worked with Novak Djokovic. He wore a Solinco shirt, so we chatted about Hyper G and Tour Bite strings. We all had lunch outside after the morning shoot. Brandon is also from the San Diego area, and we chatted about memories of Angel Lopez as his junior coach.

Crowning Moments for any Hardcore Tennis Fan's Bucket List

The tennis fan’s experience of seeing and meeting a top player is among the highlights of attending most pro events. As a freelance photographer, getting a great photo in ideal conditions is so difficult among media pros because of the conditions, movement, and other photographers – that it may be hours of wasted time to get one “lucky” shot.

You improve your odds of meeting your Tennis Hero by attending one of these "lifetime experience" events. It’s almost like cheating, in a way. You get to cut into an express line set up for a few hours dedicated to TopCourt and a few select guests.

It would be an amazing tennis birthday gift - most appreciated by someone who has been through all the traditional means of seeing a player in real life. Once there, the hosts will introduce you and allow you to mingle more comfortably with the pro. Getting a chance to share a few words and ideas with them can really make your day.

Building Courage around Tennis Stars

Several staff and investors that attended initially felt shy about approaching the pro. This is very human, and attending more of these events makes you better at asking questions and approaching strangers comfortably. Being well-tuned to the nature of their work and listening to their presentation hours allows you to feel attached and builds rapport with them.

Overall, I'm very impressed by the production value. My week with TopCourt and the filming crew gave me a deeper appreciation for the craft and lives of the pros as individuals away from the work/media pressure of the tour.

You discover each star is also just someone's child - each has their own humanity, soul, and personality as opposed to the circus environment of the Tour that tries to turn them into street performers. You meet their parents, family, and partners, and hear their life stories in their own words. It is an experience I hope everyone can experience once in their life.

TopCourt Gold Membership Offer Special

Join as a TopCourt Gold Member and get a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

Exclusively from Tennis-Bargains.com only. Sent after you complete your first month.

We are proud of this product, and that it promotes the fight against Covid-19 to keep fans safe, at home, yet engaged with Tennis. Tennis-Bargains.com is now a partner with TopCourt in the streaming tennis e-learning space.

Health is Wealth: Finding Internal Strength during times of External Crisis

“He who has Health has Hope and he who has Hope has Everything.” - Arabian Proverb

Tennis is about Health and Wellness.

Spring Forward Newsletter

I want to discuss Tennis and Health as it relates to this time of the Coronavirus. The BNP Open was postponed again due to the global COVID-19 outbreak that has impacted our international sport here in the USA. We now turn our eyes to the Miami Open to lead us into the Tennis Spring one year later.

While disruptive and tragic, the safety and health of the fan remain paramount to the game.
Without the spectators attending events, the sponsors will lose money and drop. In turn, the prize pools at tournaments shrink and all players would suffer. It is a vicious cycle. Protecting fans, communities and players should be #1.

Let’s take a page from Mr. Roger Federer’s playbook.
Invest for longevity and sustainable high performance. Seek to create a lasting legacy. When his career was at risk from overplaying, he shortened his travel schedule and kept in tune with his body.

He has awareness of the things he can control, the serenity to accept what he cannot change, and the wisdom to know the difference. Panic does not help. It only robs us of our mindfulness and peace. He created a balanced plan and knows that Stillness is the Key.

Only Roger knows how much playing is “enough”. For him, not his ego, that is the slim difference between being forced to retire early and winning another Olympic gold or Grand Slam. His return to Doha after over a year away reminds us that we can all come back to the sport we love.

An extended break

All top athletes know when to take recuperating sabbaticals and not tempt fate. Only they know their own bodies and minds. Their risk limits and priorities. A few unique souls can push those limits past breaking several times, like Rafa Nadal. But we forget he too needs the benefit of Rest and Recovery. There is no one right way to be. Step back today in order to better Spring forward tomorrow.

During this Tennis Sabbatical from the pro tour, I urge readers to seek some of this same reflection time to rediscover their own purpose. Find your inner child of tennis and your reason to play. 

Hope Springs Eternal

With Daylight Savings, we can all “spring forward” as a nation together. We can all enjoy that extra hour of sunshine. What a precious gift! Some things money cannot buy. Let’s not squander it glued to the news or social media.

I encourage all players to get outdoors, go for a short hike, and if possible, get back to hitting those tennis balls!

If stuck indoors and cleanliness is your passion, try some “Spring Cleaning”.
Open up some windows and let some fresh air in. Detox and de-clutter your room; even if that starts with just half of your desk – commit to removing those distractions in your view so you can maximize your performance and are ready to go back to work.

Building the habits to becoming Anti-Fragile
We can build up better resistance and keep our homes/minds/bodies clean and healthy. Taking contrast showers and getting Vitamin D to support immunity. Those are things we can control.

When you are sick you cannot do much. So while you are well, make preparations. Be courageous and make your own health the paramount priority.

“Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men." - JFK

Waiting to Inhale
Is there ever a more universal yet basic human function. When you cannot breathe, literally nothing else matters. I appreciate this fact when I step outside today - treasuring a few deep, conscious breaths to relax. Take a long, deep breath in and hold it for 10 seconds, then exhale slowly for 20 seconds.

Build up that extra lung capacity today. Go running or swimming. We can all inhale openly and store a deep breath of fresh air as you read this right now. We take these little things for granted until we see an illness like COVID-19 rob victims of breath.

Don't just observe sports - go out and play!

Sure, it is a pleasure to watch tennis points on Youtube. But it is even better to play some tennis with a friend. Individual sports like playing tennis offer a way to minimize large group density yet participate in some critical socialization and exercise. You are maximizing your cardio in a very short spn of time while being socially distanced from your nearest opponent outside. Alternatively, you can opt for hitting against the wall a few times a week to groove your strokes to get the rust off.

Spectating any professional sport is now all too easy in our digital world. You have to experience that magic for yourself on your own racquet. That's how we live an active and fully engaging life. At some point, we cannot stay in passive mode – is living vicariously through our sports heroes really the only way we want to experience the joy of victory or the anguish of almost winning?

Learn a new hobby or practice an old one yourself. We have to experience sports kinetically to find ourselves. To find true peace to escape our own busy heads. Just do it.

Look for small ways to be healthier overall in small steps one day at a time.
Instead of seeking a 100 mph serve on day 1, try to get 1% more consistent on your groundstrokes each week. Add just an extra 10 mins to improve your footwork and cardio – it will pay off many times over down the road! Not only in your tennis game but in your overall health.

Getting ready for the tennis season can be as simple as adding 10 minutes of extra power walking a hill or climbing a few more flights of stairs each day. Enjoy and savor your practices - that way you will be more eager to return again. Sweat, recover and repeat.

We need to appreciate these small things during times of trial. Disease tests not only our immune system but our mental courage to be proactive.

Keep Good Hygiene while still Keeping in Touch

Even in this era of “social distancing”, we should seek to build closer relationships. Even if it is just one person. Find the time for that 1on1 chat or in-person meeting to connect. Without large group gatherings, we can still keep our close bonds strong and avoid becoming anti-social.

Reconnect with Tennis Friends

Think about the top 3 people you haven't spoken to in a while or miss the most. Send them a message or better yet have a chat with them to catch up. Also, remember to give your mom a call!

Be healthy, be happy, be safe.
- JC

Tennis Racquet Reviews for 3.5-4.5 NTRP players @ 98 or 100 sq in.

It's March and time to demo the new Spring line of tennis rackets!

Coming out of Winter, it's a great time to invest in new tennis frames and/or fresh strings.

We spent 30 days, Feb 1 - March 1, demoing 21 fan-favorite frames for 2021 to bring you this comprehensive review. Whew!

We chose the most popular frames from these top manufacturers: Babolat, Head, Wilson, Yonex.

This year, we decided to review 98 and 100 sq. inch models. Tweener and Player Frames for 3.5-4.5 players.

The La Jolla Tennis Workshop was our choice for their demo program. It's our way to support a local small business and a community favorite here in Southern California during a tough 12 months of lockdowns.

Challenge: 30 Days to demo 20 Racquets for only $20?!

Most online shops let you try 3-4 racquets for 2 weeks at $25. A local tennis workshop offers more options and key qualities you can't get online: in-person service that cares about the small details and puts customers first. After getting feedback from a few "secret shoppers" and interviewing their staff, everyone I spoke to was knowledgeable, helpful, efficient, and customer-friendly.

Their main highlight is an excellent demo program of $20/month (4 weeks) to take out 3 racquets at a time for up to 5 days each. You can exchange demos as often as you like. If you buy from them, the purchase price is reduced by the amount of the demo cost. I purchased two racquets, and they gave me an additional $10 off for the pair. Please just mention Jacky sent you from Tennis-Bargains.

Mark, the owner, is very fair and knowledgeable about the subtle differences. After my feedback, he was the one who customized a recommendation for the final racquets I'll be using in the next few years. I only switch racquets every 4-6 years, so with this important decision, I did a very thorough playtest with as many popular comparison models back-to-back. 

Jason was very good about notifying customers when a racquet on the waitlist might be available again. The La Jolla Tennis Workshop is right across from the La Jolla Library. Please visit if you're in San Diego.

How we tested and compared our 98 and 100 frames

All frame sizes tested were 98 or 100 square inches this year. All fit into two general categories:

The "Tweener" (10.5oz-11.5oz) is intended for rising juniors or players in the 3.5-4.0+ levels, usually at 100 sq. inches. Extra power is given from the frame and launch trajectory.

The "Player Frame" (11.5+ oz) category is for high intermediate to advanced adults at the 4.0-4.5+ levels and generally have <100 sq inches. Generally, good technique is required, along with good timing.

Playtests and feedback:

We compared 3 similar models in each round with reference string tension at around 53 lbs. The strings used were the recommended poly/hybrid provided by the manufacturer. The racquets were used against 3-5 players ranging between 3.5-4.5 levels of different playing styles with feedback given as the "weight of my shot" and observations from the receiving end.

All of the top frames listed below were also used in match-play situations with both feeds and serve to start the point. Every 4 games, I would change a racquet and record my observations and results. Photos were taken of each racquet

Full Demo List

Babolat: Pure Strike 3rd gen 18x20/98/100; Aero MP/Tour; Pure Drive VS/100/Tour;
Wilson: Blade 18x20, Clash Pro, Burn 100, Ultra 100;
Yonex: Ezone 98/Tour, VCore 98;
Head: Radical MP/Pro, Extreme MP/Pro, Speed MP/Pro.

Best of Breeds

Tournament Player Frames - Yonex Ezone Tour, Head Gravity Pro

Spin-Friendly - Babolat Pure Aero, Head Extreme

Lighter, rally-friendly - Wilson Clash/Burn/Ultra, Head Extreme MP

18x20 String Pattern - Babolat Pure Stike 18x20, Wilson Blade 18x20, Head Gravity Tour/Pro (100)

Top Picks by Size and Play Style

Top Tweener 100 sq inches: Babolat Pure Aero

Top Player's 100 sq inches: Babolat Pure Drive Tour, Head Gravity Pro

Top Tweener 98 sq inches: Babolat Pure Strike, Yonex VCore

Top Player's 98 sq inches: Yonex Ezone Tour, Head Radical

Post-covid Tennis Racquets - Reviews and Prices

The breakthrough designs

Yonex - VCore and Ezone Designs

Some of the best quality control and 4.0+ player-friendly designs for strikers. The newest versions of both Yonex lines were standouts and best-sellers. We immediately understood why.

The Ezone premiered last year and is a very popular 2020 frame for the control player who demands quality and precision in their specs.

The Ezone (as featured by Krygios and Osaka) offers a classic feel and precision. For a heavier version, we also enjoyed the Ezone Tour for the added weight and plow-through. We recommend trying both.

The VCore line (red) is actually just a small adjustment made to the mold of the Ezone to allow for a bit more spin and a little less stiffness.

VCore adds slightly more spin potential on a slightly more forgiving frame in terms of stiffness. I felt the Vcore 98 was superior in class among the other 98 frames.

The Vcore 100 felt too light and lost a lot of the magical qualities in the 98 that we were so impressed with.

Head Racquets - Top Picks: Extreme, Gravity, and Radical

The Gravity Pro (5-star rating), Tour, and MP lines are all worth trying. Head has the most variants among all the manufacturers. Every player should be able to find a weight and balance in their wide range.

The Head Gravity Tour and heavier Pro models offer the 18x20 pattern on a 100 sq. inch head that we have missed since the Liquidmetal Instinct days.

We recommend getting the 2019 colors (shown on the left) at a discount. It is the same as the 2021 version, except with different colors, but you should save at least $60!

I have enjoyed the Head Speed, Radical, and Instinct models for tournament play for over 10 years in past demo reviews. This year's improvements were the most noticeable on the Extreme and Radical lines. Players should appreciate the newly updated improvements.

WTA Pros: Ash Barty (retired former #1) used the Gravity just before retiring. In 2023, even WTA pro-Bethanie Mattek-Sands explained why she officially switched to this model too.

ATP Pros: Alexander Zverev and Andre Rublev both sport the Head Gravity.

Most Arm-friendly

HEAD Rackets

The control and comfort of all Head racquets compared with the latest generation were very apparent. Now they have added Arytix. They have consistently made some of the softest frames with any manufacturer's lowest stiffness ratings (RA), allowing the body many more hours of hitting per week.

Wilson Clash

Pros: Lots of flex. Perfect for the baseline rally. Most arm-friendly frame with a RA rating of 55! Most frames have 60+ RA. Anything above 65 is considered stiff. The Clash Pro offers slightly more weight.

Cons: Against fast serves and strong volleys, the flex on these frames can work against you. Many players have added lead on the frames.

Head Gravity

Pros: The heavier Pro version feels very solid with amazing plow-through yet in an 18x20 closed pattern and a 100 sq. inch head size with a thinner 20 mm beam.

The Tour model is slightly lighter and more spin-friendly. It has a larger sweet spot than most other 100 sq. inch frames due to the "teardrop" shape.

Cons: Slightly less maneuverable at the net with the higher swing weight. Must have good preparation and technique for quality shots.

New Edition of Best Sellers (Babolat):

Babolat Pure Aero (the new 2020-21 "Banana" yellow)

Babolat's Pure Aero (endorsed by Nadal) continues to wow fans. It keeps all the classic Rafa spin and looping abilities. The one downside is that you may burn through more strings. The spin potential from wider center mains and the potential to snap strings quicker.

But if the spin game and loop shots are your game - there is nothing better. Paired with RPM Blast, it creates easy spin, power, and depth access.

Simply choose the weight that is most appropriate for your swing and abilities (Lite < Team < Base < Tour).

Babolat Pure Strike (3rd Gen in Red and Black)

Pure Strike has added more weight and better plow through with slightly more dampening technology to help with stiffness.

I used this racquet in the Project One-7 (2nd Gen) version for almost 4 years. The reason I needed to switch was because of shoulder pain last summer. It was aggravated by a stiff string with a thicker gauge poly strung too high.

Babolat Pure Drive (Metalic Blue) - the 2021 versions felt very solid and the Tour is one of the most improved lines for Babolat. With previous models, my game style did not particularly work with the Pure Drive even since the Roddick days. The post-2021 models feel much more approachable.

I also tried the VS 98 version but it requires a much faster and full swing with lots of racquet head speed. I typically generate a topspin shot for most groundstrokes.

However, after trying the new Pure Drives, I was impressed by how well they accommodate hitting a flatter ball and has a lot of control through contact. Rumor is that the swing weight can be slightly higher than the specifications.

If you want a true Tweener, ensure your racquet has the right weight and balance.  The metallic blue color scheme also impressed other reviewers.

Frame Stiffness and Injury Prevention - Frames and Strings

A word to anyone with pain, try to use as thin of a string as possible and lower the tension by a few pounds. By the time you lose tension enough to restring, the mains should be nearly breaking too. If your strings last forever and you have arm problems, I suggest putting fresh strings at a thinner gauge. 

Happy Playtesting!

2021 USTA Membership Promo Code for Half Off

USTA Membership Promo Code for 2021

Half-Off Promo expired May 2021. USTA Membership May 2021 Discount Promo Code.

 New policy changes for USTA Memberships in 2021

• Junior Memberships are now free
• Family Memberships no longer valid - individuals must now purchase their own
• Adult Members are $44/year and Seniors (70+) are $42/year
• All New Memberships are now 1 year only; existing 3-year and 5-year plans will be honored
• Lifetime Members are grandfathered - congratulations if you have one!

The last renewal code was for $22 off the USTA membership. Previous ones provide a free USTA hat for new memberships. Sign up below if you don't want to miss the next code or join our Facebook group.

Get our USTA Membership Code and Tennis Discounts today!

Our active subscribers always get new discount codes first

Like us on Facebook and get early updates for future USTA codes!

Please share, like, and invite your tennis friends, teammates, and leagues to play

USTA Members can get up to 50% off their annual membership fee

Coaching Tennis Best Practices for e-learning using 4K video footage

Nick Bollettieri: A lot of times - people don't believe what most coaches say.
"So remember - you learn a lot from Watching, rather than just Talking."
(Coach of Andre Agassi, Jim Courier, Monica Seles)

In Sunday Night Football, you often hear the comment, 'Let's go to the Video!'.
On Monday, those players sit in that room and watch for an hour or two exactly what they did.

Tom Brady was Superbowl MVP at 43 years old.
His Love of film made him a superstar.

5 Best Practices for e-Learning

#1) Freedom to skip around

It's not compulsory to watch every minute straight from Chapter 1 to Chapter 10.

Explore the topics and teachers you find interesting first. Then go back and briefly cover and explore other chapters at least the first few minutes.

Feel free to skip ahead or come back later. Seek the topics that spark the most interest and motivation.

#2) Don't Need to Binge!

Yes, this is not like trying to blast through 5 seasons of a sitcom in one weekend. It's not a race nor a time-limited food buffet to see how many dishes you can stack.

The goal is to understand this stuff and retain it.

• Watch a few videos, then take a break to reflect. I prefer my 25-minute "sprints".
• Can you explain what you learned to a peer, in your own words?
• Sleep on it - let your subconscious review the lessons and ideas overnight before bed.

#3) Learning to Balance the Ratio of Practice-to-Play Time

How to Study Smart is a great youtube video to watch for any student.

• Aim to learn one or two drills max per session.
• Practice each drill at least twice during the week.
• Repeat in your own words the key points first.
• Go out with a parent, friend, or coach. Demonstrate what you witnessed.
• When you teach someone else, you reinforce it. Always be a student of the game.
• Incorporate the new shot with the skill learned from the previous week

Stacking skills - also known as "Interleaved Practice" - is covered more in-depth from this book on teaching.

Make it Stick: the science of successful learning and their website.

I encourage students to pause mid-way through a video.
Create your own mini-intermission to reflect. I watch long movies this way too :)

Try to understand how the pros adjust to different balls (high bounces, short balls, or wide shots).

#4) Watch fast, review slowly - Stories, Drills, Instruction

1st - Skim through the stories and get the overall idea. Play the Stories at 1.5x speed.
2nd - Slow down the key Drills. 0.5x speed for the key sequences, perhaps without sound.
3rd - Watch the Instruction, then go back. Pause and take notes. Resume to explain it and reenact the lesson on the court for maximum effect.

GOAL: Aim to take away the top 1-2 key points from each lesson.

Self-Quiz:

• What are the basic mechanics?
• List one good habit to focus on. List one bad habit to avoid.
• Why is it used? When should you use it?
  

#5) Have Fun! After struggling with new concepts, try a Points Game or Challenge
Set some progression goals to level up and challenges with friends.

Level 1 - Make 3/10 in a target zone and try for 4/10, etc. Subtract points for unforced errors.

Keep it interesting but yet just challenging enough to keep going and not be bored.

Struggles:
The harder it is to learn something new, usually the better you'll remember it later.

E-Learning Takes Off, Fewer Barriers of Entry

These tips can apply to any online education platform.

Other MOOCs I would also highly recommend:

• Udemy
• Khan Academy
• Lynda.com

Higher Education Quality from Home

Leveraging fully online content delivery. College institutions aim to dissect the 4-year degree in manageable bite-sized chunks of certificates and micro-degrees. Is this the new trend?

Snacking for professional utility, rather than binge-eating to earn full diplomas.

Stanford GSB Executive Education - Micro-courses in Business and Finance tailored for working professionals. Unlike traditional MOOCs, these are enhanced, interactive digital equivalents to Stanford GSB courses. From a week to a quarter long, students can selectively customize their skillsets and education pallet at the class and electives level.

Edx.com - Courses from Harvard and MIT - many are free, and others allow users to earn professional certificates and MicroMaster specialties in a fraction of the time to complete a traditional degree. Plus earn it from anywhere in the World! 

Founded by Harvard and MIT, edX is home to more than 20 million learners, the majority of top-ranked universities in the world, and industry-leading companies. As a global nonprofit, edX is transforming traditional education, removing the barriers of cost, location and access.

Offering 2000 online courses from 140 leading institutions, edX helps people gain new skills, advance their careers, or learn for fun with courses in computer programming, data science, business, finance, marketing, engineering, language, humanities, science and more. 

TopCourt offers a hybrid learning model for tennis.

Education + Entertainment = "Edu-tainment".

Watch, Learn, Train, Improve your
Tennis from Home in 2021

Try our Free 14-day Trial of TopCourt

Stay safe, enjoy tennis, and learn indoors for $15/month.

Distance Learning - the school's schism of 2020

At colleges and schools all around the world - parents and teachers all understand this simple yet inconvenient truth. It affects all students - rich or poor, young or old, from rural to urban - the new classroom format is at home on the kitchen table...for better or worse, we must grow.

Education is shifting to becoming digital, continuous, and largely video-driven.

Digital content will reinforce more screen time.
In turn, we must seek more time outdoors to get unplugged and recharge.
Quality education must now be both engaging and entertaining in TicTock-sized chunks.

In the ocean of digital noise and swipe-left, he who can gather their attention first wins.

We must adapt or risk failing our children's future.
Not one semester, not one year, but one generation.

Seeking the right teachers and offering a patchwork library of content is the key.
Mixing in a digital "spoonful of sugar" is key to helping kids unlock learning while locked down.

Customer Acquisition starts with the big stars and names. Retention and interest are maintained with a campus-wide offering of appealing instruction. All-time classics add the mortar to those bricks.

It has worked for Disney+, Netflix, etc - wow them and then keep them engaged.

Bring them in with Mandalorian and Queen's Gambit.
Intrigue them with awe and diversity with Soul and Tiger King.
Keep them nostalgic for Lion King (live-action) plus Korba Kai season 3.

Advantages of Democratized Education

1. Learn Anywhere - Social Distance is baked-in. Crowded lecture halls become obsolete.
   
   
2. Dynamic Pacing -  smarter kids can accel at a rapid pace, not held back;
   slower students are not discouraged for not keeping up. Lack of comparison and peer judgment.
   
   
3. Asymmetric Sharing - One Teacher can now deliver personalized 1-on-1 lectures anywhere in the World at any time zone. Sal Khan of Khan Academy: "variable time, fixed outcomes".
   
   
4. Exciting Visuals - Classic topics must be modernized for newer viewers and younger audiences. Fan demand creative camera angles and personalized stories with real characters and emotions.
   
   
5. Scoreboard Challenges and On-Court Games as Tests - Fun, friction-less, and adaptive; knowledge retention should be interwoven and skill checks sprinkled generously. Public participation and replayability in practice are some keys to success.
   
   
6. Digital Badges and Points: Showering rewards for not just the right answer but also for showing the proper reasoning to arrive at those conclusions.

Tips for Teaching with Tech

1. Speed control - option to skim through chapters at 1.5x-2x speed in the background, or carefully study and replay the last 30 seconds of the key idea. Bookmark and highlight with time markers.
   
   
2. Build Your Own Replays - For clarity of understanding, each student should curate content like an editor. Imagine creating a movie trailer for each lecture of only the most important parts.
   
   Encourage those sharing eureka moments - like reading a great book, we get something new on the 2nd or even the 4th time. Aim to learn one new thing each day.
   
   
3. Freedom of Choice and Voting - Kids now get a very democratized menu for learning. They have so much more free unstructured, spare time outside the "core" curriculum.
   
   How we fill this "idle time" could determine their future more directly than ever before. Off-court or outside school, alternative education plays a much larger factor today. Giving diverse subjects options is a great way for kids to sample new or unrelated categories that might spark their minds.
   
   
4. Boundless Exploration - consumption of videos and memes has more than tripled in the last decade. Seamless transition to the next as we shorten intros and credits to squeeze in the next episode.
   
   
5. Breaking the Self-Inertia to Create Habits - Avoiding lazy idleness. Just Do it.  It's not just a Nike slogan anymore. Building routines around actionable knowledge is key.
   
   Procrastination is sinfully easy now; parents must be responsible gatekeepers. Learning now takes extra diligence at home to prevent their kids from automatically being lured away by all the other digital media vying for their attention.

Overlap the Practices with Match Play

Practice like you play. I recommend spending 15-20 minutes max per set of drills. It can be repeated after a break or a different drill. Do not simply repeat it to a point of exhaustion because your body will not want to repeat it the next day.

The mind must be fresh in order to avoid making sloppy bad habits and one should isolate each step.
The emphasis should be on Deliberate Practice - the pros put in the time during moments of solitude to hone in on very specific aspects whether in the gym, the court, or behind the screen. Outstanding athletes are mentally preparing before they prepare physically for a new challenge.

"Amateurs practice up until they get it right. Professionals keep practicing until they can't get it wrong."

Watch the pros on TopCourt. Each one exercises their craft religiously.

They understand that in order to bring a new pattern into a pro match successfully, they must be able to reliably compete for a living with it on the professional tour.

New tennis exercises need to be run over and over, then combined with old ones. Just like interval and interwoven training, the new is constantly molded with the old. Over enough time, it will blend in with the rest of the routine and workout circuit.

Even a short video gives you a small nugget of knowledge.

The viewer should decide what to watch first, last, or skip altogether.
Not all video clips are created equal. Not all teachers are created equal.

Tennis online training courses in 2021 - reviewed and compared

Watch selectively. Practice progressively. Learn passionately.

Mastery requires trial and error

You have to get your hands and feet dirty. You have to get out there on the court and actually create muscle memory in order to put it to use during a match.

Remember these words: "Don't tell me - just show me."

You have to go out to the real world and prove it can be done. It may not need to start on a tennis court. But learning must start with shadowing and rehearsing, or it won't stick.

In all likelihood, with anything challenging, we will not get it the first time.
Most people should go back to review the video (or take it along with them on an iPad or Tablet). Go back and replay it while practicing to get the steps right.

Real development that is lasting requires facing and overcoming adversity.

As a pro tennis instructor, I find it takes several sessions for each lesson to get comfortable for a student. It takes another few to get competent. With continued practice, it may require months to gain true mastery. But it has to be incorporated into your regular cycle of drills.

Two types of reward systems: ones based on success and that on effort.

The students who seek success tend to go for only the low-hanging fruit in order to get praise and rewards, avoiding embarrassment. 

Those students who are praised for strong effort and work ethic will tend to seek greater and greater challenges despite setbacks. Outside of competition, it is clear which players are in it for the league trophy and then there are those out there on the practice courts in the offseason because they love the game and improving.

There is no finish line.

Performance measurements and skill level cutoffs can also be a detriment to promoting a plateauing effect on young children. If a pass/fail system is always used, there is a tendency to do just well enough and then shut down. Real tennis matches require not only reaching the finish line but crossing it with momentum.