Brian's Tennis Newsletter - 9th January

Hi Everyone

What a week of no tennis so far... And just when the courts are playable, some storm comes along! At least the evenings are getting lighter, when it's not dull and cloudy! Sunny days are coming soon.... Hang in there!

Fran Jones doing well out in Auckland. Norrie out in Brisbane last 16. Sonay Kartal doing well in Auckland too! Not long til Aussie Open.

Club News

25 years to the day I started coaching at our great club.. Who would have known it was going to last this long and a little bit longer! Some great memories and fun moments along the way. So many stories for the book one day! Thanks for putting up with me!

Brian - Singing (small).jpg

Big welcome to any new members of the club... Never hesitate to get in touch to ask about anything.

Social sessions on a Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoons are a good way to meet other members.

Good luck to our teams this year..

Don't forget the changes to the floodlight booking system.. You will have received an email for the club..

A reminder that there will be a little celebration of Sandy's life on Tuesday 27th January 11am in the clubhouse for anyone that can make it.

Coaching Tip of the Week - Attack the Middle of the Court

This is one double strategy that some people aren’t quite sure about in the beginning. Compared to singles, this doesn’t make a lot of sense, but the game is a bit different. It is perfectly fine in doubles to attack the middle of the court over and over again.

Attacking the middle of the court does a few things to help change the way the point goes. For starters, it forces opponents to communicate with each other so that they know who is taking the ball. Most seasoned double teams will be able to handle this, but it is a challenge for others if the shot is good. Even a little bit of hesitation can significantly alter a point.

Another thing to keep in mind is that hitting the ball towards the middle of the court does not allow for created angles. This turns defense into offense in some cases. If a team is in a vulnerable position and they try to go for an angle, it makes it a lot easier for the other team to hit an angled off winner without much effort.

Keep in mind that different doubles teams strategize in different ways. If the middle is covered by two players with their forehands on that side, hitting up the middle might not make as much sense. On the other hand, if the opponents are using their strong sides to cover the angles, hitting up the middle and attacking in that way can make it tricky.

Top New year's Resolution Ideas