We have a Quick Start Tennis Camp for our younger players ages 4-8 that runs MTWTH from 10-11 am for $70 member, $75 fitness members and $80 non-members.

There is a Tennis Camp for Jr Aces and Jr Challengers that begins June 13-17 M-F and another one the following week June 20-24. Times 11-3 bring your own lunch, we provide drinks and snacks.  Cost is $250 for members, $260 for fitness members and $280 for non-members

For the more advanced players there is a Jr Tennis Camp that runs MWF from 2-6 for both June 13-17 and June 20-24. The cost is $180 for members, $190 for fitness members and $200 for non-members.

SUMMER TEAM TENNIS:
We have extended hours since the kids are out of school.  Our regular afternoon times plus some daytime hours.  When you register for the programs you can select from any of the times as you are paying for 8 sessions and can select from our complete menu of times.

See the times and information below.  Email me if you have questions or call me at 408-892-3806.

The summer is a great time to enhance your tennis experience, make new friends and enjoy the summer time at SJSRC.

SJSRC Junior Tennis Program

May 2011– August 2011

Junior STARS – Ages 4-8

Players learn to rally and play right away on following USTA’s Quick Start guidlines on 36 foot court using RED balls and appropriate racquets.

Pricing: $120/130/136 package of 8 sessions, Drop-in per session $20

Monday and Wednesday                               10-10:50AM (effective: 6/20/11)

Tuesday and Thursday                                  3:40-4:30 PM

Saturday 2-2:50 PM

Junior Aces - ages 7-11

Players with some tennis experience with focus on the basic skills, rules, & strategy of the game.  Goals are to develop sports skills, physical, & mental fitness. Play is on 36 and 60 foot court with RED and ORANGE balls.

Pricing: $130/144/150 package of 8 sessions, Drop-in per session $24

Monday and Wednesday                   11-12PM (effective 6/20/11)

Tuesday and Thursday                      4-5 PM and 11-12PM (effective 6/20/11)

Saturday 1-2 PM

Junior Challengers – ages 8-15

Low intermediates to intermediate players preparing for match play and tournaments.  Learn tactics and strategies, using a positive attitude and dealing with wins, losses and taking risks.  Participate in INTERCLUB  matches.  Play is on 60 and 78 foot court with balls appropriate to skill level and age. Entry skill level is ORANGE as defined at www.gripsprogram.com.

Pricing: $230/240/250 package of 8 sessions, Drop-in per session $35

Monday and Wednesday                   11-1PM (effective 6/20/11)

Tuesday and Thursday 4-6 PM and 11-1PM (effective 6/20/11)

Saturday 11:30-1:30 PM

Junior Excellence – ages 12-19

Jr.  High and High School players focusing on  match play, strategies, conditioning, and tactics for singles and doubles.   Entry skill level is DARK BLUE as defined at www.gripsprogram.com.

Pricing: $230/240/250 package of 8 sessions, Drop-in per session $35

Monday and Wednesday                  4-6 PM

Saturday 3–5 PM

NOTES:

• Package pricing shown is for members/fitness members/non-members.
• All sessions must be used within 12 months of purchase.
• Discount of 10% for each additional child from same family.

SJSRC Junior Tennis Program

Camps

Junior STARS – ages 4-8

June 13-17        MoTuWeTh      10-11AM Pricing: $70/75/80        Session A

June 20-24      MoTuWeTh      10-11AM Pricing: $70/75/80        Session B

Junior Aces and Challengers – ages 8-15

June 13-17        MoTuWeTh      11-3PM Pricing: $250/260/280 Session A

June 20-24      MoTuWeTh      11-3PM Pricing: $250/260/280 Session B

Junior Excellence – ages 12-19

June 13-17        MoWeFr           2-6PM Pricing: $180/190/200 Session A

June 20-24      MoWeFr           2-6PM Pricing: $180/190/200 Session B

Team Tennis

7 weeks, June 27-August 12

Interclub – ages 11-15

Team tennis for advanced beginners and low intermediates just getting into competitive play.  Weekly matches at various locations in the south  Bay area.  Play is on 78 foot court using GREEN low compression balls.  Matches are Wednesdays 1-3PM, with practice during normal clinic times. Entry fee $15.00 per match.

Junior League – ages 12-18

Team tennis for intermediate and advanced Jr High or high School players Weekly Team matches and practices. Entry fee $15.00 per match.

12 &15’s MoTu 2-4PM                                                   18’s MoWe 4-6PM, Sa 3-5PM

Match Play:       Boys, Th 1-3PM                Girls, Fr 1-3PM                                Co-Ed: either day

*NEW* RED/ORANGE Team Tennis

New this year – RED team tennis for STARS and ACES, Sundays 1-4PM at various locations using red balls on 36 foot courts.  ORANGE team tennis for ACES and CHALLENGERS, Saturdays 4-7PM using ORANGE balls on 60 foot courts.  Practice time during normal clinics.  Match play entry fee $15.00 per session. Locations for match play will vary from week to week.

NOTES:

• Package pricing shown is for members/fitness members/non-members.
• Discount of 10% for each additional child from same family.

• Congratulations to San Jose Junior Tennis /caption] For the 5th straight year, the juniors at San Jose Swim & Racquet Club in San Jose, California have dominated the summer South Bay League play. With outstanding performances by the boy's 12's, 15's and 18's, SJSRC has captured the best records in league play. There are also divisions......
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I lost in the semi-finals of the doubles this year – OK event for as little as I practiced. Hit with Kam often and some of the pros to practice. Knee is still swollen – have to deal with that when I get home.

Chairman of the Tournament Committee for the PTR Symposium next Feb in Orlando, past Chair of the PTR Master Pro Committee, Chairman of the Education Committee. We are creating 3 new education pathways for the pros with 10 and under tennis, adult tennis, and high performance tennis for continuing education.

Spokesperson for TennisConnect – internet provider for clubs, spokesperson for Rock Tape – kinesio tape for athletes and Wilson Premier Advisory Staff – one of 20 in the USA.  Keeps me busy but fun to be involved in the sport I love.

Kameron hit about 5-7 hours a day.  He played a kid from Sweden who hit the ball well and served well.  Another kid, Justin was from New Jersey, a lefty, who was good but erratic.  His best hits were with the other PTR pros and a young 18 yr old girl from Mexico.  He was in 2 on court presentations by the pros who were speaking.

Karen got a chance to be Mom and chill a little bit in the middle of her tax season.  We went to the evening parties put on by the different companies and the tennis trade show.

Weather has been great until this Wed – about 60 degrees.  Love playing on the clay courts, seeing all my friends, improving my knowledge and enjoying my family.

Looking forward to getting home on Thurs afternoon and back to work with the juniors and the adult drop in on Thurs night.

Thanks to all of you,

Ken DeHart
SJSRC Director of Tennis
PTR & USPTA Master Professional
408-892-3806 cell
www.kendeharttennis.com

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The #2 seeded team (Butorac & Rojer) in doubles came to our club (San Jose Swim & Racquet Club) in honor of the effort Steve Chiu gave in selling tickets and promoting this event from our club.  Eric and Jules and were awesome ambassadors of the game.

Eric Butorac & “Jules” Rojer were extremely personable with the juniors. They hit with them, played against them in games and told how they got to the pros.  They encouraged them to practice so every ball they hit had a purpose and to get better each day.

Eric from Gustavos College in Minnesota and Jules from the tiny island of Curasol.  Both now 29 were OK singles players but together make a great doubles team.  They reached the semi-finals of the Australian Open and were seeded #2 at the SAP Open.

The highlight of the SAP – Milos Raonic, the 20 year old Canadian.  He moves well for 6’6”, serves 140 – outwide and moves the serve around (130-149 mph) with a kick that forced Verdasco to return most second serves from above his head in the finals.

His movement is balanced and his weapon of choice – the forehand left Verdasco shaking his head in amazement often.  He would be in a rally with Verdasco controlling the tempo into Raonic’s 2-handed backhand for 5-6 shots.  Suddenly Raonic would take over the rally and put Verdasco on the run from corner to corner.

The kicker – the kid likes to come to the net, out of a rally.  He has great volley hands and moves well at the net.

Down 2 mini breaks in the 1st set tie breaker – he breaks Verdasco and goes on to win the 1st set.  We all thought – this is it, he choked in the breaker but he played well.  Well, it wasn’t over – very composed.

The second set – close all the way.  However, Raonic get a service break and goes up 40-15 match point.  Verdasco saves a point but Raonic serves big, high and fast in the ad court to win the match.  A crazy fan did yell on match point as Verdasco was about to hit the return that made it sound like a linesman had called the serve out.  It did affect Verdascos return but never the less – game, set and match to Milos.

Milos was well spoken in the awards presentation and acknowledged he had not shown such composure in his last tournament and lost in the second round.  At which point his coach threatened to not accompany him to this event.  He is 20 years old – there will be lots of ups and downs as he finds himself.

Look for this kid to be a factor in the game.  He walks with a Sampras slumped shoulder look between points but like Sampras, his posture changes when the point starts.

Weapons: Serve, forehand and attacking ability to go to the net.

To work on: Backhand (not a weapon but keeps him in the game to set up his forehand) and movement to that side of his body.
Experience & emotional consistency.

Ken DeHart
SJSRC Director of Tennis
PTR & USPTA Master Professional
408-892-3806 cell
www.kendeharttennis.com

Photo Credits: globalite

• Congratulations to San Jose Junior Tennis /caption] For the 5th straight year, the juniors at San Jose Swim & Racquet Club in San Jose, California have dominated the summer South Bay League play. With outstanding performances by the boy's 12's, 15's and 18's, SJSRC has captured the best records in league play. There are also divisions......
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Congratulations!

For the 5th straight year, the juniors at San Jose Swim & Racquet Club in San Jose, California have dominated the summer South Bay League play. With outstanding performances by the boy’s 12′s, 15′s and 18′s, SJSRC has captured the best records in league play. There are also divisions for girl’s 12′s, 15′s and an 18′s that is co-ed. It is usually more challenging to field the girls teams so they are often co-ed in the other age divisions as well. SJSRC girl’s 15′s are always competitive and our girl’s co-ed 18′s are league champions.

League matches consist of 4 singles and 1 doubles match, however, coaches may add as many matches as the opposing team can accommodate. This promotes getting more juniors to play matches. Coaching during the matches by the home and visiting coach is encouraged to help the players learn while they play. Match results are mailed in to a league coordinator more as a formality.

A play-off is held at the end of the league play and individuals are awarded trophies as well as the winning team for each of the age groups. Coaches can mix the gender of the age divisions by calling the other coach to notify them that there will be a mix of boys and girls for this weeks matches.

The challenge for each club is getting enough players for each weeks match as many parents schedule vacation times and enroll players in specialty camps during the summer. The next challenge can be getting enough drivers to get all the players to the oppositions club on time that week. It is a hurried adventure for the coaches for those 7 to 8 weeks – but well worth the effort as the players love playing on a team.

In addition to the Junior League Play, there is Junior Interclub which is designed for younger and less experienced players, both boys and girls. Matches are held on Wednesday and include teams of approximately 10 boys and 10 girls (or as many as each club can get together that week).

Players play 5 games of doubles with a partner against the other clubs team. They come in, report their scores and are sent out (with a new partner often) to play another 5 games and come in again for another match.

The matches usually last for 2 hours including an “Around the World” contest where prizes (popsicles and such) are awarded to the winner, runner up and often to the 3rd and 4th place players. To be included in these matches, players need only to be able to serve and keep score. Coaching is encouraged and sometimes parents help with keeping score and where to stand. At the end, the players all line up and do high 5′s with the other team

San Jose Swim & Racquet Club has been the dominate team in Junior Interclub again this year. Many thanks go out to coaches:

• Al Juodikis, who heads up our Junior Quickstart program for kids ages 3-8 and often compete in Junior Interclub, Junior Aces and Junior Challengers.
• Brittany Hall, in her 3rd year with us this summer who assists with all the teams, serves as a driver and coaches the tennis for the Summer Sports Camp.
• Jesse Soza, a former player for the Junior Teams who assists in coaching, driving and teaching.
• Phil Unger, a Junior Excellence player and boy’s 18 player who helps with the younger players.
• Shelby Nemeth, a girl’s 15 and 18 and under player who helps with the younger players and with our Summer Sports Camp program.

A special “Thank You” to all the parents who assist with rides and to all of you who allow us to coach, teach and become fiends and mentors for your children.

We hope you will keep you children in tennis throughout the year. We will continue to have clinics and we will have matches on the weekends for our young junior players.

Keep on playing, Tennis-A game for a lifetime… just ask Dr Ken Hayes, his wife, Janet Grey Hayes, Vic, Xavier, Martha, Charlie, Dick, Betsy, Joanne, Rosemarie and the many club players who continue to play in their 70′s, 80′s and 90′s.

Photo Credits: aloshbennett

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In today’s game “topspin” gets all the press.  Everyone focuses how big the shots are, how much the pros use it and so most all the juniors and club players want to be like the pros.

When you listen to the talk about the really great ones who play the game you will also hear about how well they play defense to stay in the point and force the opponent to play uncomfortable shots.

Federer’s “chip” backhand return that lands about the backhand service line of the opponent is deadly.  The opponent must move up into the court to retrieve it from below net level and decide if they will attempt to come to the net behind their shot or retreat to the baseline after their shot.  When pulled really wide on the forehand, you will see the players use “underspin” to neutralize the opponent until they can recover position on their side of the court.

So what is the “otherspin” and how do you use in practice and match play?

There are 3 basic types of “Underspin Shots”.  The name of the underspin can easily refer to the depth of the shot.  Some shots will entail using more underspin than others and the amount of underspin you use can cause different problems for your opponent.

A low bouncing underspin can make it difficult to lift the ball deep into your court.  The 3 types of underspin are hit from the same basic racquet position and therefore provide a great element of disguise.  The 3 types of underspin are:

1. “Drop Shot” refers to an underspin ball that bounces close to the net and does not bounce forward very far.
2. “Chip Shot” refers to an underspin ball that bounces around the service line.
3. “Slice Shot” refers to an underspin ball that bounces near the baseline.

There are 7 basic reasons to use underspin:

1. Disguise - Out of the same motion you can hit any of the 3 type of underspin.  The “up” position in the racquet preparation position allows you to hit topspin by allowing the racquet to “loop” down under the ball and hit topspin drives, loops and lobs as well as from the same position create drop shot, chips and slices.
2. Defense - Buy time as the underspin can slow down the speed of an incoming ball or slow down the speed of the ball you send back to your opponent.  The underspin ball, because of the lower angle of entry over the net than the topspin will cause timing problem for the opponent as well.
3. Change the rhythm - By using the dropshot you can force an opponent to have to rush to the net to get the shorter ball and leave the security of their baseline.  This opens up an easy lob return over their head on the next shot.  The chip shot will have a second bounce low and near the baseline and often forces the opponent to bend low to pick up the ball and hit it up and short to you.  The deeper slice can make the ball bounce lower and faster as it leaves the court and change the opponents timing as they have to adjust their shot from the normal ball they hit against.
4. Approach shot - a lower and shorter underspin ball can make it difficult to pass you when you come to the net because of the unusual spin and low bounce of the approaching shot.
5. Return serve off a very slow, spinny or fast serve - the underspin will help you to avoid over-hitting the slow ball yet add a spin that can make it difficult for your opponent.  Spinning a spin ball is a great way to neutralize an opponents shot and the shorter underspin motion can make it easier to return a fast in-coming serve.
6. Defense off a high bouncing ball - it is difficult to do much with a high bouncing ball that is rising as it crosses your baseline because of height or spin, especially if you try to hit a topspin ball back.  Slicing off the high ball requires little effort and little racquet work to return the ball deep and soft to your opponent or to chip it short and slightly angled so they cannot hit a high deep ball on the next shot.
7. Offense – take time away by hitting a faster under spin ball that has a lower and skipping approach to your opponent making it difficult to get under the ball to return it to you.  The ball will seem to accelerate as it comes off the court and rush your opponent.

Solving Problems/Selling Solutions:

1. Some players say they do not want to hit underspin because they can’t do it.
   1. This is not to replace the shot you have but to add a new shot to your game so you will have more weapons to defeat your opponent.
   2. All new skills are challenging but an understanding or how to hit  the underspin, who to use it against, what it does to your opponent, where to hit it when to use it, when to use it and why it is important to use will give them confidence to practice it and slowly add it to their game.
   3. Use underspin as a mid-court short court warm up shot instead of topspin or flat shots to be able to keep the ball in play more effectively against players who hit too hard in the warm up.
   4. This shot is the same motion as your underspin volley and dropshot which you would use when close to the net anyhow.
2. The pros don’t use it:
   1. The pros do use it for the same reasons we want you to use it: disguise, buy time, change the rhythm, defense, approach shot, drop shot and offensive approach when the opponent is already in position.
   2. Notice that more of the pros not only use it on their backhand but several are using it on the wide and low forehands as well to get the ball back into play so they can look for another chance to go on offense later in the point.
   3. Because a lot of the juniors do not use it they hate to hit against it.  This is evidenced when adults who do use underspin play topspin juniors and they hate it when the “older” players hit drop shots, chip shots and slice against them – it messes up their timing.
3. I can’t hit underspin because I use a topspin grip:
   1. Don’t give up your topspin grip, add a new grip to your game so you have more options.  When you see a replay of a drop shot by the pros, the announcer will say, “see how he changed his grip at the last minute to hit the drop shot?”
   2. All the pros use a variety of grips for different kinds of bouncing balls, different heights of in-coming balls and different kinds of spins they want to hit. This is true on ground strokes and volleys – just ask McEnroe or Roy Emerson what grip they use on volley and they will ask you, “what height is the incoming ball?”
4. I like to play an attacking type of game:
   1. By using some underspin in certain situations, you can force weak returns that will allow you to move forward and play a more aggressive and attacking game.
   2. Sometimes your opponent is as strong or stronger with the attacking game than you. You will need to keep them off balance to prevent them from continually attacking you.  Play some shots that force them to defend or else create weaker returns by underspinning low and short or deep and slow so you can go on the offense occasionally.
5. I can’t play against soft hitters:
   1. Soft balls have a downward trajectory off your racquet and using underspin helps to pick the ball back up over the net.  Underspin can also help avoid over-hitting on slow balls while allowing you to place the ball back to your opponent to stay in the point or gain an advantage through an unusual spin or placement.
   2. Resist the urge to “kill” the short and softer ball.  You will usually try to swing harder than normal to put the ball away.  If you must try to put the ball away, walk through the ball as you contact it so the power will come from the legs and not the arms.
6. I don’t like to practice and using new shots mess up my game:
   1. Practice during the warm up by using underspin to warm up from the service line. This is the area you would normally use it in a match anyhow.  The shorter motion allows you to keep your hands in front of you, see the ball and the racquet at the same time and even slow down balls that are too hard by your opponent in the warm up.
   2. When you return a ball to your opponent during the match so they can serve, use underspin to give the ball back to them so they can serve.  This allows you to practice while the match is in play and develop confidence in a new shot at the same time.  If you just made an error, returning a ball to your opponent in a positive way helps to “erase” the error and replace it with the feel of making the shot.

A truly great player will develop as many weapons as possible for different kinds of opponents and situations.  Don’t limit the growth of your game by forgetting the “otherspin-underspin”

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