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I don’t know about you but when I watch Wimbledon I like to see which racquet the pros are using.

This seemingly insignificant habit is an important one, and I wouldn’t be surprised if almost all tennis players did this from time. Racquet manufacturers realised this a long time ago; why else would they pay many millions of dollars to a player just to use their brand?

Although the top players are a powerful advertisement, there are other factors that also influence the choice of the club player when choosing a new racquet.

The “Try This One” factor is probably the most important way someone can make the right choice. Borrowing a demo racquet from your local sports store, or from a friend, is a quick way to compare a few racquets. I imagine that this is why the oversize tennis racquet has become the as popular as it is. Not that many pros use them, but for an average person they just feel great to try out.

Most people don’t have the time or know how to develop their technique properly, and some just aren’t interested. Racquet manufacturers realised this a long time ago and started developing features to make a racket more forgiving. A larger head racquet not only makes your shots more powerful, but also doesn’t jar as much, thus protecting against injuries to the wrist and elbow.

Is there a limit to how big you can make an oversize tennis racquet?

The official tennis authorities tried to ban the use of the larger oversize heads (115 sq inches), but it became so popular that it is no longer regarded as a “freak” racquet. There are racquets available above 130 sq. inches which are colossal, but I’m sure they could get it even larger than that if they would be practical to play with.

What is the best oversize racquet of all time?

In my opinion it is the Prince Oversize Graphite. It made a fantastic impact and became very famous. Andre Agassi started his career with this racquet and when he switched racquet sponsors they replicated the design of the Prince OS as best they could. You can spot the Graphite a mile off because it has a double bridge - an extra beam in the triangular hole.

Its successor the “Graphite 2″ was also a very successful racquet, but these are difficult to get hold of brand new. Some say that this is even better than the original. I was almost the perfect design for a racquet. It set new standards for stiff frames for good players, and the technology used is still utilised to this day. The better players were able to get more accuracy with the stiff racquets because there was no deflection of the racquet. It didn’t bend and twist on impact, and so if you hit the ball in the centre it went exactly where you wanted it to go.

Other companies followed in the footsteps of Prince; the most notable was the Head Oversize range called the “Radical”. That one was incredibly accurate just like the Prince OS. This was no coincidence, as both racquets were used by Andre Agassi. I’m sure head were trying to appease Andre who loved the amazing feel of the Prince original.

Tim Brennan
Oversize Tennis Racquet Enthusiast
http://oversizetennisracquet.com/

Tennis is a very physical game, but at the same time it requires a strong mental toughness. Without this foundation of mental toughness, you can be in for some serious heartbreaks and painful experiences. There are some really great ways that you can develop this but most of all it comes from simply experiencing the game. It takes time to build up the callous that you will need in order to play with precision, without allowing frustrations and stresses to break you during your game. Here are a few mental tennis tips that will help you develop a strong mental toughness foundation for tennis.

Losing

No one enters a game of tennis expecting to lose. However, each time you lose, your mental toughness develops a bit more. This is especially true if you experience a heartbreaking loss, such as being tied and then losing the tie breaker. Other examples might include winning the first set and then losing the match, having a match point and then losing a match, or even losing to a very lesser ranked player when you’ve already beaten an amazing player just before. Any of these things would cause a very painful loss, because you’re pretty sure that you’re going to win. It’s like having the tournament in your hand and then dropping it. These things are necessary to build up a mental toughness for tennis.

Another thing that will help you develop this strong mental toughness foundation would be getting too frustrated by things outside of the game and losing the match as a result. A lot of times, when you’re so psyched up for a game and you’re really excited, there are things which might frustrate you to the point of not being able to play the game at your best. These can be simple things like noise or the wind. Things like this can make you lose your concentration easily. There can also be serious things like bad calls or nervousness that frustrate you to the point of losing your concentration and not playing at your best.

How to overcome these issues

The thing that separates the great players from the mediocre is learning to overcome these issues. True champions will keep a positive mindset and think of these things as simple learning experiences and they will truly learn from these mistakes and losses. Staying positive in the face of these issues and staying focused on what you want is the key to becoming a great player and developing a great mental toughness.

No matter how great of a tennis player you are, you will eventually experience these things, and if you become negative and believe that you will never win because of one thing or another, you will probably not succeed with tennis. However, by developing your mental toughness and by understanding that every single great player has experienced things like this and that it is a simple learning process that will make you great, you truly will be great. So, stay positive and learn from the mistakes that you make. This is a great start to develop your own mental toughness.

Discover all the closely-guarded secrets and the mental tennis tips to improve your game and boost your confidence on the tennis court. Click here to learn more about tennis mental toughness now: http://www.mentaltennistips.com

My son has a group of friends who are always doing something with a ball. They love baseball, basketball , football, golf and tennis and will go out of their way to be sure that every day involves one of these sports, if not more. I was on a trip to Las Vegas earlier this year attending the National Sporting Goods Manufacturers Convention when I saw a game I knew they would love. It turned out I was right and the summer of 2008 will always be remembered at our house as the year that Street Tennis invaded our backyard and never left.

Street Tennis is a tennis game that involves a lightweight racket, a simple net and a very special ball. The rackets that come with the game are lightweight, smaller than conventional rackets and perfect for hitting the special durable foam ball. The net stands about 2 feet high off the ground, which is perfect for being able to play the game in a small area but also high enough that a net is involved to factor into the play of the game. The net is held in place by a couple of large plastic bases that can be filled with water to add weight and stability. The net is setup within minutes of opening the box the game comes in, allowing play to begin very quickly as the excitement mounts. 
 
The rackets that come with the game are a cross between a junior racket and a regular racket. They have strings and are at a decent tension level and they are a little thinner than a traditional racket which makes it easier to hit a ball within a confined space by providing the player with more mobility in the swing. The rackets are durable enough to hold up to a group of high school kids playing with them for a couple of months so I am confident that they are well made. 
 
What makes the game unique in my opinion is the ball. The ball is made of a heavy foam rubber that has the feel of a thick and hard sponge that is strong and durable enough to withstand great efforts of topspin and backspin from the rackets. The ball is heavy enough to hit winners from all angles and to react to topspin to keep the ball in the court and light enough to not hurt at all if you get hit in the face with it at close range.
 
My kids setup the Street Tennis game in our backyard and dragged the net across the basketball court. We have just enough room to shoot three point shots (about 40 feet across) so the distance is perfect for them to whack the ball and to have it stay in the court. The games played have been fast and furious, lasting well into the darkness of night aided by the basketball court overhead light. My boys are now considering taking up tennis as a sport to play for the school, which is fascinating given their love of baseball. My oldest son has told me that his actual tennis game is much improved after having a racket in his hand for most of the summer.
 
I am thrilled that the Street Tennis game was such a nice diversion from video games and other indoor games that many kids play these days. Whenever I hear a parent talking about inactivity or a lack of exercise for their family this summer I always tell them about what fun my kids had this summer playing Street Tennis.

Chuck R Stewart operates a tennis web site offering a new tennis game which is great for playing backyard tennis or beach tennis Street Tennis is an affordable and fun way for the whole family to enjoy the great game of tennis. Chuck has enjoyed playing the game of tennis for the last 30 years enjoys sharing the love of the game of tennis with players of all skill levels.

Just ask Martina Hingis what it is like wearing the wrong tennis shoe. She once claimed that her shoe sponsor provided poor fitting shoes that caused her foot injuries.

Finding the right size tennis shoes to wear is more important than you may think. If shoes are too small, you are likely to experience pain and other foot problems. If you are wearing shoes that are too large, you may develop blisters and feel unstable while moving. Even if you’ve worn the same size for years, it is good to double check your size periodically, as our feet do change over time.

What is the correct shoe for tennis?

Tennis shoes are made for playing tennis, although many people find them comfortable for every day use. Many of the most popular brands of athletic shoes make tennis footwear, like Nike, Adidas, K-Swiss, Reebok and Wilson.

When you look for a tennis shoe, you want a snug fit, with a durable outer sole. The shoe should feel light and comfortable, while providing good traction and cushioning. It is also advisable to select a shoe with a protective toe

How to select the correct size

If you are updating your size, or are unsure what size you need, the first thing you should do is measure your foot. You’ll want to make sure you measure your feet at the end of the day, when your feet are at their largest. Be sure to have the same type of socks on while measuring that you anticipate wearing in the shoes.

When trying to figure out your size, always measure both feet. They will differ slightly. When choosing your shoe size, go with the measurement of your largest foot.

Take a piece of paper for each foot. If you are doing the measuring yourself, make sure you are seated before tracing around each foot. If someone else is doing the tracing, you should stand for the best measurement. Trace around each foot with a pencil… keep the pencil as vertical as possible, and always in contact with your foot as you go around each foot.

Now, take a ruler and measure the tracings. For length, you’ll want to measure accurately from the longest point on the toes to the longest point on the heel. For width, you’ll want to measure between the two widest points on each foot. Measure in either inches or centimeters. Now, take your measurements and match them up on the conversion chart, located at http://www.tennis-fanatic.com/shoes/conversion.htm to find the size you should wear.

Different types available

When you are shopping seriously for tennis shoes, you’ll find different types available. Some offer light weight, others are a little heavier made for more aggressive players. Be sure and check out the descriptions of the shoes, so you get the type you need.

Where to get your tennis shoes

You can shop online for tennis shoes or go to your local athletic shoe store. Of course, you can try on shoes at your local store. If you are ordering tennis shoes online, having the exact sizing for your shoes is helpful so you don’t end up sending them back.

One thing you can try is go to the athletic store and try on a shoe you like. The shop online and see if you can find a cheaper price. If you can order online.

Over the years I have worn many different tennis shoes. From the good old Dunlop Volley’s to my latest K-Swiss shoes. In between I have owned an Andre Agassi shoe from Nike and an Adidas Response model.

To read about the latest tennis shoes visit http://www.tennis-fanatic.com/tennis-shoes/. You can also sign up for the tennis-fanatic.com newsletter.

The 27-year-old tennis player ex number one in the world, the Swiss Roger Federer began his run for a fifth US Open title as defending champion only early this week in New York City. Federer whose reign in the top position came to an end during mid August 2008 will fight his way through the finals as he has stated himself that winning this year’s US Open Grand Slam has become his immediate priority as he strongly feels he has lots to give to the sport still.

Federer’s singles professional career include 55 ATP titles of which 12 are Grand Slams in all surfaces and in the all world latitudes except the French Open at Roland Garros where he has been runner up for three consecutive years. It is really not necessary to speak about all the different achievements Federer has set to his name, as we all know he is one - if not - the greatest player in the history of tennis.

During the 2008 ATP Tour, Federer encountered many health issues which became a non-stop nightmare for the tennis player who struggled for most part of the first six months of the year to get back on his feet. His weak health condition and his vague decision on whether to partner with a new coach to renew his game style and try different strategies became his doom. Many of us believed Federer could have turned things around if he would have yielded to the fact that there are many young talents striving to get to the number one position but the months went by and we saw no change.

Nevertheless, Federer has stated that his ATP career is not over yet and we believe it to be true as there is no doubt he is still an extraordinary player with amazing abilities that no one had seen before. While at Wimbledon Federer seemed different, he knew that could be a turning point in his career and there, we all witness how both long-time rivals; Federer and the Spaniard Rafa Nadal fought relentlessly to win at the All England club. But unfortunately for the Swiss his best effort was not enough and after the 5-hour play which later on became a 7-hour match due to a rain delay - he gave in.

More recently at the Olympic Games in Beijing, Federer seemed more concentrated in winning the doubles tournament, which he in conjunction with fellowman Stanislas Wawrinka achieved by defeating the Swedish couple formed by Simon Aspelin and Thomas Johansson. Both Swiss players were awarded with the men’s doubles gold medal.

Up to this point in the men’s draw at the US Open, Roger Federer who by the way - seems more relax and comfortable with his game - has played two rounds; the first against Argentinean Maximo Gonzalez and the second against Thiago Alves who Federer defeated in three sets 3-6, 0-6, 3-6.

In the third round Federer faced Radek Stepanek who is currently ranked 30th in the ATP rankings and managed to defeat him in consecutive sets and now he will face the raising Russian star Igor Andreev in the fourth round. We hope for the Swiss master as he will always be called to move into the quarter finals getting closer to defend his last year’s title.

Claudia Beckford provides outstanding and current content to sports enthusiast in the sports betting industry for http://www.instantactionsports.com/uk/