Getting in Shape

So when I planned to play in the USPTA Nationals on Marco Island, Florida this September I had a plan in my head to “get in shape” and take this tournament serious. That meant I would play against some of the club members – not too much better than me so I could still experience the “thrill of victory” without too much “agony of defeat”.

Thanks to Reno, NT, Ted, John, James and a few of my lessons that I got to hit with during the week. I was ready, ha ha. Surprisingly, I was playing pretty well and with the help of Dr. Omara and the guys at the score clinic, I was able to rid my body of knee, hip and a few other pains. I was suddenly experiencing the ability to move decently on the court and get to balls again.

To be honest, I was playing the best I had played in about the last 3-4 years on a consistent basis – until Tuesday morning when I felt especially fast and decided to go get a shot that I would have in the past not been able to even think about running after. After the 5th step at a speed that was blinding – for me at this time in my life, I felt it – the right hamstring. I hit the ball, grabbed the hamstring and kept running into the next court – only because I couldn’t stop.

Oh well, the best laid plans of mice and Ken. Off to the score clinic to see what kind of damage I had done. It actually felt more like a big time cramp in a specific area than a tear. I had torn the left hamstring earlier in 2009, so I had a reference point.

Poor Dr “O”, he knows when I come in he is in for another – guess what I have. Like most of my members at the San Jose Swim & Racquet Club I wait until I have a big problem to seek help. I get more for my money that way??? And I usually like to wait until I have several aches so I can get them all treated at the same time. Only problem, the doctor doesn’t have all day to treat just me. Why not, am I not important? I mean after all I think I am – it’s broke can’t you fix it – NOW?

In his best doctor voice he says, “Ken, what did you do now?” I tell him my sob story and tell him how well I have been playing, I leave in 3 days to go play, can you fix me, now and sorry I haven’t been in to see you in months. First it is E-Stim, another treatment, some investigative research on the area, some Graston Technique treatment, some stretching and ice. Good news, it is a strain and not a complete tear.

Ice – ice baby is the recommendation, no rapid acceleration or deceleration and how many times can you get in to see me before you leave on Thursday? I have a day and a half to work that in plus: get out the newsletter, string 8 racquets, get my presentation ready to speak on Hilton Head, pack my suitcase, answer 47 emails, do the draw for the Ace Cancer Tournament and teach 12 hour Tuesday and Wednesday.

Whey, got most of it done, saw the Dr. 2 times and got to the airport a by 6:30 Thursday morning – thanks to my wife, Karen. The leg feels good, even after 9 hours going from San Jose to Atlanta. I am waiting in the Atlanta airport for my last leg of the flight – Atlanta to Hilton Head. I should arrive about 10 pm, get a rental car, find my condo I am staying at and get ready to attend workshops all day Friday and Saturday with a 3 hour presentation I will make on “59 Best Drills and 25 Corrective Techniques”. I hope to practice on Sunday and have the hamstring feel great, fly to Ft Meyers, Florida, drive an hour to Marco Island, get to the hotel at 1 am, I get some sleep and be ready to play my match sometime on Monday as well as attend an 8 hour High Performance Training Course and meet Kameron and Karen who will be arriving from Disney World around noon.

Ah… the life of a tennis pro! Wouldn’t trade if for any other job in the world.

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This “branding” is applied with a particular kind of ink that can vary in color – usually red or black.  It is applied using a small bottle of ink or paint in a plastic container about 3-4 inches long and about an inch in diameter.

The tube has a felt-like material at the end of the tube.  When the bottle or tube is tilted downward toward the racquet string the ink will flow to the end of the tube that allows it to flow from the tube to the surface of the strings.

When the tilted tube with the felt-like material at the end is rubbed against the strings of the racquet, ink will be transferred to the strings (although I once had a customer who insisted that I “weave” the logo letter into the strings). The tube has a screw on cap that will protect the ink from running out or drying from the air.

The ink is applied by tracing a “stencil” or precut design so the ink will have a chosen shape on the strings.  Once allowed to dry it is semi-permanent until struck repeatedly with a ball or other object and begins to show signs of wear.

Here are 7 reasons to “stencil” or logo a racquet:

1. “Branded” - obviously, the racquet company wants people who are watching you play to be able to recognize that your racquet is their particular brand from 3 courts away.  The more you see their brand the more you will think of their brand when you go to buy your next racquet.
2. “Get paid to play” - the more famous you are the more likely the companies are to actually “pay” you to put their logo on your racquet strings. Now when you are playing on TV, the audience can recognize the brand of racquet you are using.
3. “Just like the pros” - Once you win the match and receive the trophy and millions of dollars, the audience will want to rush out and buy the same racquet for themselves and their family so they can play just like you.
4. “Have a target”- having the logo on the strings can allow you to have a target for the ball to contact while playing – as opposed to always hitting the frame.  The strings are 100 square inches of available hitting space as opposed the ½ inch wide frame.  It is pretty amazing how often we can hit the frame vs the strings.
5. “Wear pattern” - as you play the ink begins to come off the strings as the ball is constantly hit in the middle of your strings – or not.  But it creates a wear pattern that is proof positive exactly where you have been contacting the ball on your strings in practice and match play.
6. “When to string” – while not totally accurate the disappearing logo can be an indicator of when it is time to restring your racquet.  Or at least when to get you logo re-touched up by the local pro shop and have everyone think you have a new racquet or string job.
7. “Can’t touch this” - create your own special logo with your initial or design so no one can steal your racquet.  If they do, you will be able to recognize it is yours from 6 courts away.  Warning, this could lead to a confrontation and embarrassment so be sure there is a big audience around to watch the event.  Hopefully the culprit has not chosen to use the same design as you as this could be embarrassing for you as well – just kidding.

7 reasons to “stencil” or logo your racquet is just a simple thought about an everyday thing that happens in the tennis world.  Do you have other ideas why you would logo a racquet?

Photo Credits: 1

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