White Columns Club Life October 2013 | Page 7

Tennis News TOP THREE PHYSICAL TIPS •  balls IN! You might be laughing out loud right now at this Hit extremely obvious statement. However, the quickest way to lose a match is to be inconsistent and not put enough balls in play. Consistency is the number one priority to compete well in ALTA. Power is no good without consistency. •  End points at the net. It is much easier to end points from the net than from the baseline. Most of the time players do not take enough opportunities to end points at the net. Players need to take a very proactive stance at the net and actively look to go get balls to end points. It is not enough to only end points when the ball happens to come to you. That is equivalent to hoping to win the lottery without buying a ticket. We must engage! If you are not being passed down the line, you are not poaching enough. How do I know if my poaching (net ending capacities) are working or not? Revert to mental tip #3… if you are winning more points than you are losing (even by one) by your current behavior, continue on! •  Breathe. No seriously, breathe. If your muscles are tense (a result of short breathing), your strokes will be as well. You cannot hit strokes cleanly and to your full potential with tense muscles. Breathing allows your muscles to stay loose and for you to hit the shots you are capable of hitting. Breathing can also help you stay calm and in the moment. A common mistake that most players make before competition is thinking they need to get “jacked” up. In fact, quite the opposite is true. Players need to get centered, focused, determined and calm. You have to be in control of your mind and your body when you compete to be in your ideal performance state. The late Arthur Ashe used to always say that the best way to compete is to be physically loose and mentally tight. I hope that these tips will lead you to a fruitful ALTA season! Rock on, calmly. Amy Pazahanick FITNESS White Columns Learning Center Open House You are cordially invited to our Learning Center Open House on Saturday, October 19, from 3 :00 pm – 5:00pm. Please drop by to mingle with your fellow members and meet our team of experts. We will have the latest equipment and technology on display and have a fun contest (bring your wedge) – the winner will receive a special prize. Complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres will be served.