Oscar Wegner's Posts - Tennisopolis : Tennis Social Network2024-03-29T02:14:16ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegnerhttp://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3139027404?profile=RESIZE_48X48&width=48&height=48&crop=1%3A1http://tennisopolis.com/profiles/blog/feed?user=0htxde0zztjzj&xn_auth=noPlay Like the Prostag:tennisopolis.com,2013-11-27:1869403:BlogPost:10986232013-11-27T03:30:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149926?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149926?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> What is wrong with the idea, on the forehand, of turning the body and the feet sideways, taking the racquet back early, stepping into the shot, and following the line of the ball?</p>
<p>Simply, everything.</p>
<p>The reason why the modern forehand is naturally open-stance is two-fold: 1) the open stance keeps the hand closer to the ball, making it easier to find it. Imagine…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149926?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149926?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a>What is wrong with the idea, on the forehand, of turning the body and the feet sideways, taking the racquet back early, stepping into the shot, and following the line of the ball?</p>
<p>Simply, everything.</p>
<p>The reason why the modern forehand is naturally open-stance is two-fold: 1) the open stance keeps the hand closer to the ball, making it easier to find it. Imagine turning sideways similarly to shake hands with another person. You would be unbalanced and reaching uncomfortably across your body for his hand.</p>
<p>2) The modern forehand is circular, across the body, not in the direction of your shot. This makes the contact more of a brush, where you spin the ball and feel it longer, thus having more control than on the straight through-the-ball stroke.</p>
<p>Beyond that, there is a lot less stress on the lower back, hip, knee and ankle.</p>
<p>Tracking the ball with the racquet in front, just like the pros, has definite advantages as well. The ball slows down appreciably, 60% from baseline to baseline. When you track the ball with the racquet in front and wait till the ball is near to take a complete swing, you observe and adjust to this slow-down and trajectory of the ball a lot better. Early preparation leads to an early swing decision where you still don't know your contact point.</p>
<p>Unfortunately, tennis is mainly taught sideways, preparing early, stepping forward and hitting through the ball.</p>
<p>You could call this conventional tennis or baseball tennis, and it will derail your progress.</p>
<p>Give a try to the new techniques and decide for yourself what works best.</p>
<p>And watch my DVDs. Knowledge is power and you could improve beyond what anyone let you believe you could.</p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-2">Oscar Wegner - <a href="http://TennisTeacher.com" target="_blank">TennisTeacher.com</a></span></strong></p>Don't Lose Your Headtag:tennisopolis.com,2013-11-20:1869403:BlogPost:10975002013-11-20T22:30:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153443?profile=RESIZE_480x480" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153443?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350"></img></a> <span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The tennis court seems very big to cover. Could that be an illusion? Is that really real, or a matter of viewpoint?</span></p>
<h2><span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">If you are in the center of the baseline, it only takes three or four steps to…</span></h2>
<p><a width="350" target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153443?profile=RESIZE_480x480"><img width="350" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153443?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350"/></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">The tennis court seems very big to cover. Could that be an illusion? Is that really real, or a matter of viewpoint?</span></p>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">If you are in the center of the baseline, it only takes three or four steps to get to the side line. A few more steps to get to the corner of the service or to a short ball.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">What matters, what can make distances insurmountable, is your idea of the matter.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">I’ll give you a better idea. Follow the ball with your eyes and your head. It’s your reflex center.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">The head will go, the feet will follow. Don’t worry about your feet. The weight of the head is quite large in respect to that of the body, much more bone dense. It will start you in the direction you want without a thought.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">And don’t worry, on tennis courts, you won’t lose your head.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">I have never seen the feet stand still and the head roll.</span></h2>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Oscar Wegner, <a href="http://TennisTeacher.com" target="_blank">TennisTeacher.com</a></span></p>Solving the Riddletag:tennisopolis.com,2013-11-13:1869403:BlogPost:10963422013-11-13T19:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153036?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-center" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153036?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="600"></img></a></p>
<p>I hope you had the chance to watch both the WTA Championships in Istambul two weeks ago and the ATP World Tour Finals in London last week.</p>
<p>Although it looked like a superb mastery of the game, all performances showed brilliance interspersed with unforced errors galore.</p>
<p>Why is it that champions can make such astounding shots but err so often when the…</p>
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153036?profile=original" target="_self"><img width="600" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149153036?profile=RESIZE_1024x1024" width="600" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>I hope you had the chance to watch both the WTA Championships in Istambul two weeks ago and the ATP World Tour Finals in London last week.</p>
<p>Although it looked like a superb mastery of the game, all performances showed brilliance interspersed with unforced errors galore.</p>
<p>Why is it that champions can make such astounding shots but err so often when the stakes are so high?</p>
<p>What predisposes them to look so assured but at times miss simple shots?</p>
<p>Are they just human like the rest of us or is there a more precise reason, something that could really help one and all?</p>
<p>Yes, top pros are human. But misconceptions, false data, even minuscule at times, affects both focus and mechanics, leading to a riddle seemingly profound.</p>
<p>Top pros have found operating ways that they trust by instinct. In general, they are so simple that they defy the norm.</p>
<p>The problem is that what seems so easy from the player's instinctual viewpoint is generally not fully acceptable for someone else involved.</p>
<p>Players, including top ones, want to improve day in and day out. They seek new ways. More data. Rather than fiercely protecting and improving what they already have, they seek masters for a new viewpoint.</p>
<p>Therefore, change is called upon.</p>
<p>Fortunately, tour pros, rather than trust prevalent lore, are more aware of what works and what does not. Thus, more carefully protect their own beliefs. But are not impervious when they trust someone knows more.</p>
<p>Their only problem is that the pertinent information may be so delicate that any misaligned influence can easily throw the player off.</p>
<p>If they, and you as well, only knew how simple answers are and that the riddles were not natural but self-created within the sport itself, trust in oneself and one's creations would only grow. Confidence is the result of knowing the precise relation between cause and effect.</p>
<p>For amateurs, false data, overflowing, is confusing and faults show up abundantly. They may also trust change too much.</p>
<p>But is there change for the better? Look for it, and when you find it, it may be so easy that you'd be surprised.</p>
<p>And that, my friends, is the simplest answer, to the riddle, of all.</p>
<p><strong>Oscar Wegner - <a href="http://www,tennisteacher.com" target="_blank">tennisteacher.com</a></strong></p>Best of the Besttag:tennisopolis.com,2013-11-06:1869403:BlogPost:10948572013-11-06T20:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149966?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149966?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> <strong>Roger Federer</strong> is still full of promise. His recent performances reveal that he is in great shape and playing close with Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal.</p>
<p>All he needs to do is fix a few mishaps on his forehand and regain the confidence in what was at one time the best forehand in the world.</p>
<p>Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Juan Martin…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149966?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149966?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a><strong>Roger Federer</strong> is still full of promise. His recent performances reveal that he is in great shape and playing close with Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal.</p>
<p>All he needs to do is fix a few mishaps on his forehand and regain the confidence in what was at one time the best forehand in the world.</p>
<p>Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and Juan Martin del Potro are superb performers, but Roger, technically, is still the best player that ever lived, while Serena is his female counterpart.</p>
<p>I had the privilege to practice or compete with several generation players, from Pancho Gonzalez, Rod Laver, to John Newcombe and more, and coach Guga Kuerten and Bjorn Borg for his second comeback. <strong>None were as complete and as gifted as Roger.</strong> He has a new dimension of efficiency and natural use of the body for every tennis task. </p>
<p>I would venture that if he can get rid of a few misconceptions that have impaired his timing and strokes, he could be, in 2014, on the driver's seat once more.</p>
<p>And for yourself, keep this in mind:</p>
<p><span>How does the body work best through any stroke? Actually, it is with a lift, not by staying down like the fables of old. Even on modern volleys, the body goes up while the arm strikes down and across with a stop. Conventional coaching differs: "</span><em>Stay down</em><span>", "</span><em>Follow the ball</em><span>". It has many misconceptions, in fact more than 20 trite ideas that make tennis a much more difficult sport than it actually is. More at: <br/> <a href="http://tennisteacher.com/Secrets.html" target="_blank">http://tennisteacher.com/Secrets.html</a> and <a href="http://tennisteacher.com/eBook.html" target="_blank">http://tennisteacher.com/eBook.html</a></span></p>
<p>Oscar Wegner</p>
<p><a href="http://www.tennisteacher.com" target="_blank">TennisTeacher.com</a></p>The Magic of Calmly Waiting Mentally While Moving Fast and Furiouslytag:tennisopolis.com,2013-10-28:1869403:BlogPost:10934802013-10-28T20:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p class="ccFontUpdated"><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149577?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149577?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> Tennis seems to be a very fast sport, but I have a surprise for you:</p>
<p>IT IS NOT!</p>
<p>Let me explain.</p>
<p>From baseline to baseline, a groundstroke loses more than half its speed. A forehand hit at 100 MPH at one baseline gets to the other baseline at around 40 MPH. One hit at 50 MPH gets to you at 20 MPH.</p>
<p>A serve hit at 100 MPH gets…</p>
<p class="ccFontUpdated"><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149577?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149577?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a>Tennis seems to be a very fast sport, but I have a surprise for you:</p>
<p>IT IS NOT!</p>
<p>Let me explain.</p>
<p>From baseline to baseline, a groundstroke loses more than half its speed. A forehand hit at 100 MPH at one baseline gets to the other baseline at around 40 MPH. One hit at 50 MPH gets to you at 20 MPH.</p>
<p>A serve hit at 100 MPH gets to the other baseline at approx. 45 MPH. Imagine being Rafa Nadal returning serve about 6 ft. behind the baseline. He has times to scratch several parts of his body, all the while running to meet the ball for a masterful return.</p>
<p>What makes the game look so fast? YOUR IMAGINATION! You see the ball starting fast and you make up your mind about it's speed.</p>
<p>Rather, use your power of observation of the last stages of the ball flight, well after the bounce. </p>
<p>According to Andre Agassi, he hit the ball when it stops. I have never seen a ball stop in mid-air, but I use this concept to get students in the Zone. And it works!</p>
<p>If you calmly observe the ball while you are running, tracking it with the racquet in front, rather than behind you all prepared to slam it like in baseball, you'll find the ball easily, you'll stroke it more efficiently, you'll have more feel and control. </p>
<p>Gone are the days when you had to prepare early. You'll feel you have more time the other way around, waiting for the ball to get near your racquet.</p>
<p>Become a better player, much more serene and able, by waiting for the ball.</p>Volley Attitudetag:tennisopolis.com,2013-10-16:1869403:BlogPost:10905622013-10-16T05:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149178?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149178?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> <span class="font-size-2">A player needs to commit to a strategy. Obviously, you would keep a winning tactic, and you would change a losing one. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">If you are losing, and you see your opponent is better than you on groundstrokes, there is something you can try. Volley aggressively, do it constantly, and commit to it.…</span></p>
<p></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149178?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149178?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a><span class="font-size-2">A player needs to commit to a strategy. Obviously, you would keep a winning tactic, and you would change a losing one. </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">If you are losing, and you see your opponent is better than you on groundstrokes, there is something you can try. Volley aggressively, do it constantly, and commit to it.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Show your resolve.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">If you get passed once, just dismiss the occurrence. Keep going forward, put the volley in the court, and keep the attacking attitude. More times than not the opponent starts missing passing shots or give you a few sitters that you can easily put away.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Realize that the match can start tilting in your favor. Keep up the pressure and the good works.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2">Oscar Wegner, <a href="http://www.tennisteacher.com/" target="_blank">TennisTeacher.com</a></span></p>Efficient Powertag:tennisopolis.com,2013-10-09:1869403:BlogPost:10888012013-10-09T17:30:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149077?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149077?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="280"></img></a></p>
<p>It is usually thought that to control the ball you need to slow down your game.<br></br> <br></br> That is, if you lack topspin.</p>
<p><br></br> With topspin, you can exert your power without any doubts of your shot landing on the court.</p>
<p><br></br> You may hit some balls short, but they are still uncomfortable for your opponent due to the spin.</p>
<p><br></br> It is also thought…</p>
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<p>It is usually thought that to control the ball you need to slow down your game.<br/> <br/> That is, if you lack topspin.</p>
<p><br/> With topspin, you can exert your power without any doubts of your shot landing on the court.</p>
<p><br/> You may hit some balls short, but they are still uncomfortable for your opponent due to the spin.</p>
<p><br/> It is also thought that extension towards makes the ball go deeper, but that is not quite efficient.</p>
<p><br/> Extension towards the target becomes more of a slap that a controlled hit.</p>
<p><br/> First of all, the ball comes out of your racquet with less rotation or none.</p>
<p><br/> Secondly, the arm is not connected as much to the body as when you hit across.</p>
<p><br/> Power depends on two things: acceleration and weight applied.</p>
<p><br/> Bending the arm connects the body to the impact much more efficiently, through contraction of big muscles, that following the ball with your stroke.</p>
<p><br/> Additionally, it is easier to contract the biceps, quite a large muscle, that the fragile, small muscles of your shoulder.</p>
<p><br/> Look at little kids attempting to put power on their strokes. They hit up and across, rather than forward.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Unless, of course, they have been trained at baseball, and play tennis forward with little control.</p>
<p><br/> Apply the same principles to the two-handed backhand. Hit up and across.</p>Is Tennis Difficult? The Shocking Truth!tag:tennisopolis.com,2013-10-02:1869403:BlogPost:10875872013-10-02T21:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><span><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149254?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149254?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="360"></img></a></span></p>
<p>Tennis is easy to learn, to play, to teach and to enjoy. The shocking truth is that tennis has been made difficult. So ingrained is the false data accepted as truth about a century ago that it has affected, to this day, coaches, commentators, sports writers, even pros.</p>
<p>Something fateful happened to tennis in the birth of the 1900s. The Doherty…</p>
<p><span><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149254?profile=original"><img width="360" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149254?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="360"/></a></span></p>
<p>Tennis is easy to learn, to play, to teach and to enjoy. The shocking truth is that tennis has been made difficult. So ingrained is the false data accepted as truth about a century ago that it has affected, to this day, coaches, commentators, sports writers, even pros.</p>
<p>Something fateful happened to tennis in the birth of the 1900s. The Doherty brothers, one of them a former Wimbledon champion, published a book in 1903 in which they described tennis as a game of circular motions, well adapted to the body, natural moves and positions, hitting across the ball, and a game of feel.</p>
<p>In 1904 P. A. Vaile, an attorney, wrote a “classic” book called Modern Lawn Tennis in which he described tennis as linear, similar to cricket, where the body is sideways and the stroking effort is forward, practically defacing what the Doherty brothers had published. This 1904 so-called “Modern Tennis” book became the worldwide mantra for learning tennis for the more than 100 years that followed.</p>
<p>In America, for a century, tennis has been taught as similar to baseball, again sideways and with a forward effort when hitting the ball.</p>
<p>Even some of the greatest players of all time fell for these misconceptions and wrote book after book that did not reflect the way they played themselves. And this saga continues, perhaps somewhat modified, through present time.</p>
<p>What changed in the 1990’s in Europe, Asia and South America, shown by a plethora of new stars thereof? Simply, my 1989 and 1992 books, widely accepted in those continents, and my 1997, 1998, 1999 ESPN International tips across more than 150 countries, with billions of impressions, shattered those misconceptions and created a new generation of coaches and youth who rose to their personal best.</p>
<p>What happened in the USA? Tennis Magazine derided my 1989 book. Their editorial staff called it simplistic, ineffective and unrealistic, forewarning their readers without even trying the techniques. The coaches associations’ educational staff shunned it as well, ridiculing it, misleading their 30,000 plus members and the public those coaches served. Why? Their educational resources and know-how would have been shown to be faulty and their reputation compromised.</p>
<p>This long-time misrepresentation in the USA has had a negative impact on both the business of tennis as well as competitive performance toward national excellence. Based on this single false datum, instructors and the organizations dictating how tennis should be coached have created unnecessary complications, resulting in non-optimal performance and a resultant failure to succeed. Worse still, it perpetuated an atmosphere of strain on coaches and their players, imposing excessive effort and force in both teaching and playing techniques, including pain to elbows, lower backs and knees.</p>
<p>Failure to recognize, as already proven, and implement that tennis is easy constitutes an abuse of the privilege and responsibility within the tennis teaching profession, and is an affront to the public seeking expertise and guidance in being introduced to and coached to the highest possible levels of competence in this wonderful sport.</p>
<p>Learn REAL Modern Tennis and enjoy the game! Try these techniques and you be the judge.</p>
<p>Oscar Wegner - <a href="http://www.tennisteacher.com" target="_blank">tennisteacher.com</a></p>
<p><span> </span></p>The Frametag:tennisopolis.com,2013-09-25:1869403:BlogPost:10852392013-09-25T06:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149099?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149099?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> <span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In older times the ball was addressed squarely with the strings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In modern tennis you approach the ball with the racquet’s frame, the upper edge, starting from below the ball for topspin, the lower edge, starting…</span></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149099?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149099?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In older times the ball was addressed squarely with the strings.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">In modern tennis you approach the ball with the racquet’s frame, the upper edge, starting from below the ball for topspin, the lower edge, starting from above for slice.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Tennis today is more of brushing, massaging, deflecting the ball.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Not only is contact longer in this fashion, it also elicits spins and more control.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Power is no longer the main consideration. Modern racquets and strings have great response and generate ball speed with a lesser effort than with the racquets of old.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Even further, when you are looking at the ball you are about to strike, having the edges in mind increases your awareness of the racquet angle, especially of the vertical angle that determines the height of your shot, linked to the amount of spin you want on the ball.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is almost as if playing tennis with the hand. The fingers have feel, have awareness. The racquet has not, but you feel it in your hand.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Use the edges, feel them as if they were the index finger and the little finger of your hand.</span></p>An essay on tennistag:tennisopolis.com,2013-09-21:1869403:BlogPost:10845512013-09-21T17:30:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149231?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149231?profile=RESIZE_480x480" width="350"></img></a></p>
<p>Tennis is usually a reflection of the emotional tone level and the technical knowledge or “feel” of the individual. Learning from the emotional “tone scale” research by L. Ron Hubbard, we can see where the individual places himself to play tennis. Anger or fear, apathy, interest, enthusiasm, anxiety; some people are ingrained in an emotional tone level, while others…</p>
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<p>Tennis is usually a reflection of the emotional tone level and the technical knowledge or “feel” of the individual. Learning from the emotional “tone scale” research by L. Ron Hubbard, we can see where the individual places himself to play tennis. Anger or fear, apathy, interest, enthusiasm, anxiety; some people are ingrained in an emotional tone level, while others can move up and down. Some are cause over the situation, some are the effect of it and may go up or down with the score. </p>
<p>In general, human beings operate between apathy and enthusiasm, and those more accomplished or savvy, between action and serenity. There are also social levels adopted where the person wants to look good, such as being conservative or polite. Technique heavily affects performance. Good technique breeds confidence. Emotional tone level adopted determines the operating state.</p>
<p>The more knowledge on both subjects, the more the person is empowered to play the ball with confidence, the more ability the player sums up to string a direct line between cause (his handling of the ball or stroke) and his placement of the ball. </p>
<p>Professionals usually operate across a gamut of tone levels, the most predominant being action in which the player intends to be quite serene, with attention mostly engrossed in tracking the ball, finding it in a peculiar and familiar way where he can strike it with their favorite action. </p>
<p>That is the essence of Modern Tennis Methodology: it teaches you, in the correct order of importance of 1) tracking of the ball, 2) the action on the ball, 3) the finish of a stroke, which leads to a completed cycle of action and to a recuperation in a most efficient, most natural manner without having compromised the stroke. All the while, the mind is calm, while the person, in aggressive but well-controlled action, has all of his force and responsibility in achieving maximum effect, through power, spin and racket angle, to place the ball at will.</p>
<p>There is a delicate balance between timing and execution, best achieved when the player KNOWS the relationship between the two.</p>
<p>Because human beings love to strike, they usually go into the hitting phase too early. There are a few variables; one-hundredth of a second too early and the result is different. The ball jumps out of the strings. Rather than utilizing a direct contact, top pros “massage” the ball across the strings while accelerating the racket, which itself transforms the hit into spin and power. Even though the ball stays on the strings just thousandths of a second, it has been observed to travel across the strings ¼ inch or more rather than rebounding straight forward. </p>Performing vs. Thinkingtag:tennisopolis.com,2013-09-10:1869403:BlogPost:10812612013-09-10T06:30:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<h2><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149143?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149143?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="264"></img></a> <span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Is tennis difficult?</span></h2>
<h2><span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Most players at every level would agree.</span></h2>
<h2><span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Nonsense. It has been made…</span></h2>
<h2><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149143?profile=original"><img width="264" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149143?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="264"/></a><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Is tennis difficult?</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Most players at every level would agree.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Nonsense. It has been made difficult.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">I have established some astounding principles that make tennis a much easier sport to perform.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">One of those tenets is that human beings can play tennis more efficiently at a simpler level where feel and instinct are enhanced and thought is minimized.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Maximized are the ability to be and stay in present time, leading into perceptions and awareness not considered normal for an individual, such as the slowdown of time.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Although dismissed as too simplistic by critics in the fields of tennis coaching and tennis sports science, the essence of this modus operandi comprises “tennis of the future”, reflecting the performance of top pros and very young children who have not yet been conditioned to “think”.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Human beings, in general, love sports and the feel of conquering non-harmful physical challenges with exertion yet ease. They also want to excel at acquiring knowledge in how to transform a challenge into a win, on how to make a seemingly difficult task into a pleasant accomplishment, a fulfilling experience, something easy to achieve.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Using these principles we can anticipate the popularity and massive incursion of the public into a sport that enhances the sense that a serene, relaxed way of playing aligns best their inner feel of oneness between the spirit and the thrill of experiencing and mastering the physical universe.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Oscar Wegner, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tennisteacher.com/">TennisTeacher.com</a></span></h2>A Simple Path To The Modern Forehandtag:tennisopolis.com,2013-09-04:1869403:BlogPost:10795612013-09-04T05:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149154?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149154?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="150"></img></a></p>
<p>Have you ever used a sponge ball (those oversized orange/yellow now sold for kids) and played it back and forth over the net with your hand?</p>
<p>This is perhaps the most basic and most helpful drill of all.</p>
<p>If you don't have a partner, you can do this drill against a wall or your garage door. Once you are proficient with your hand, then do it with a racquet,…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149154?profile=original"><img width="150" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149154?profile=RESIZE_180x180"/></a></p>
<p>Have you ever used a sponge ball (those oversized orange/yellow now sold for kids) and played it back and forth over the net with your hand?</p>
<p>This is perhaps the most basic and most helpful drill of all.</p>
<p>If you don't have a partner, you can do this drill against a wall or your garage door. Once you are proficient with your hand, then do it with a racquet, first holding it short, then normal.</p>
<p>For the backhand, hit barehanded with the left hand first, then with the racquet, with the left hand short on the grip, then with your two-handed grip.</p>
<p>Work on control mostly, doing the three Fs (Find it, Feel it, and Finish), where you give the ball a good lift and at the finish you point to where the ball went with the butt of the racquet.</p>
<p>Brush up and across as well during the contact.</p>
<p>Initially, there will seem to be too little a time to finish the stroke as above, but with practice you'll feel a different rhythm and quite comfortable.</p>
<p>Move like a gazelle or a dancer, naturally, avoiding the skipping steps that complicate your performance.</p>
<p>Adopt a comfortable distance from the net or the wall, where you can easily keep the ball in play, back and forth.</p>
<p>Tennis is like a dance.</p>
<p><strong>Oscar Wegner - <a href="http://www.tennisteacher.com" target="_blank">TennisTeacher.com</a></strong></p>First Reactiontag:tennisopolis.com,2013-08-28:1869403:BlogPost:10776072013-08-28T18:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<h2><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149133?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149133?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> <span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Many players react by separating the hands and moving the racquet first, losing valuable time to reach a distant ball.</span></h2>
<h2><span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">It is best to keep the non-playing hand on the racquet, so you make with your torso (and…</span></h2>
<h2><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149133?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149133?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Many players react by separating the hands and moving the racquet first, losing valuable time to reach a distant ball.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">It is best to keep the non-playing hand on the racquet, so you make with your torso (and your foot closest to the ball) your first move.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">You don't even need to think of preparing at all.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">You lean towards the side where you need to run to, sliding the outside foot just like a sprinter, using your weight to start the body in that direction.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">The second step will cross over, not the first step. You just run like when you were a kid, with no special steps.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">That will already turn your body, preparing you to take a swing when you get to the ball.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">It is better to get closer to the ball than farther. Reaching too far impairs your balance, and should only be done as a last resort.</span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">In essence, get your body there, then strike the ball<span style="font-size: 1.5em;">.</span></span></h2>
<h2><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-3">Oscar Wegner, <a href="http://www.tennisteacher.com/" target="_blank">TennisTeacher.com</a></span></h2>The Secret of Off-Center Hitstag:tennisopolis.com,2013-08-21:1869403:BlogPost:10757662013-08-21T01:30:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149211?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149211?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"></img></a> <span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Most players have the goal of hitting the ball on the center of the racquet.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">They succeed unless there is a difficult situation.…</span><br></br></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149211?profile=original"><img width="300" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149211?profile=RESIZE_320x320" width="300"/></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Most players have the goal of hitting the ball on the center of the racquet.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">They succeed unless there is a difficult situation.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Why? Because that is their intention, their goal.</span></p>
<p><br/> <span class="font-size-2"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">It is also an idea backed up by most coaches, not quite observant of this fleeting fact:</span> <strong><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Top pros hit topspin strokes quite below the center.</span></strong></span></p>
<p><br/> <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">How is this? Do they know that that’s where they hit?</span></p>
<p><br/> <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Revelation: they may not know consciously that they are doing that. What happens is that with so much constant practice they get a certain feel of ease and more control on hitting below the center and they adopt it instinctively.</span></p>
<p><br/> <span class="font-size-2"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">I happen to coach that purposefully. I have seen a number of pros have bad days without realizing why. They fight their instinct, thinking that it is better to hit on the center.</span> <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Realize that the torque of hitting below the center keeps the racquet closed and the ball does not fly long.</span> <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">You also get more topspin and you don’t need to grip the racquet tight.</span></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Oscar Wegner</strong>, <a href="http://www.tennisteacher.com/" target="_blank">TennisTeacher.com</a></span></p>Tennis Tip from Oscar Wegner: Transferencetag:tennisopolis.com,2013-08-14:1869403:BlogPost:10732242013-08-14T07:00:00.000ZOscar Wegnerhttp://tennisopolis.com/profile/OscarWegner
<p><a href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149926?profile=original" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149926?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="150"></img></a> <span class="font-size-2" style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong>I have tested, for decades,</strong> an interesting experiment that has proven helpful to a lot of players, from amateurs to pros. Rather than trying to position your body at a certain distance from the ball, track the ball with your playing hand or hands as if you were trying to catch…</span></p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149926?profile=original"><img width="150" class="align-left" src="http://storage.ning.com/topology/rest/1.0/file/get/3149149926?profile=RESIZE_180x180" width="150"/></a><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2"><strong>I have tested, for decades,</strong> an interesting experiment that has proven helpful to a lot of players, from amateurs to pros. Rather than trying to position your body at a certain distance from the ball, track the ball with your playing hand or hands as if you were trying to catch it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Now comes something that is instinctive, dictated by your intention of driving the hand to your favorite end of the stroke. For example, you track the ball with your hand, you see it right where you want it, with a bit of back and forth hand movement you then accelerate your racquet diagonally, that is, up for topspin and across your body for control. You finish the stroke pointing the butt of the racquet to where you sent the ball.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-2"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">It is an easy <strong>transfer of focus</strong> where you transition from catch to hit with no doubts or reservations in the blink of an eye. </span><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">You may even have your racquet quite loose.</span> <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">It may seem too simplistic, too left to chance. But by keeping both hands on the racquet while tracking the ball, your playing hand will determine the timing necessary and the details of your stroke. Just make sure you finish the stroke all the way.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Focusing initially on the hand, rather than on the racquet, can develop several abilities. One is something that you most likely learned at a very young age: the skill to catch a moving object while YOU are on the move as well and then throw it away.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Another resulting advantage is the simplification of the thought process. There is a hand and there is a ball you want to catch. Nothing else matters. I’d like to venture that there is no thought necessary at all. You are free to go about it as you please.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">It is nothing complicated, nothing rushed. Your lower body may be in an emergency, running fast. It will tend to look for efficiency to help you execute your primary intention, which is your stroke. Let your body teach you. Feel it and don’t force it in authoritarian ways.</span><br/> <span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-2">Give it your best try and let me know the results.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;" class="font-size-3"><strong>Oscar Wegner</strong></span></p>
<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;"><strong><span class="font-size-2"><a href="http://www.tennisteacher.com/" target="_blank">TennisTeacher.com</a></span></strong></span></p>