Who the heck is Mauro Marcos and…
Posted on January 5, 2011
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Coach Kyril introduces Coach Mauro to the Internet through The Tennis Vault.
\”Who the heck is Mauro Marcos, and why should you care\”
Never Too Late To Change Your Strokes
Posted on December 29, 2010
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After I learned “this particular way“, isn’t it too late now to change my strokes??
“Nope, it is “never too late to change” anything that can be reprogrammed. The way you hit today is a product of the muscle memory you have trained, and all you have to do is retrain it, it’s as simple as that. Now, most people aren’t too patient to go through retraining something that has worked for them whatever much it has”. It’s mostly just because “initially” any changes will feel strange, weird, awkward. Trust me, it will NEVER Be Too Late to Make Changes On Your Tennis Strokes!! You can do it, you “really can”!! You just have to try any of the changes you need or want the right way and “believe you can do it!! “You Can Improve Your Strokes”!!
(Besides 30+ years of teaching & coaching experience, I must say my Physical Education Bachelors Degree in the 80′s has a lot to do with my opinion here).
Doubles “Feelings” – True Partnership
Posted on December 15, 2010
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One of the “worst feelings” in tennis is “missing” an “easy important-point shot” when playing “doubles”. No wonder, “who would enjoy” the feeling of “letting your partner down”, as it seems to feel like inevitably?! Mostly, if you feel like you are missing way more shots than your partner that day, then it eats you up inside, and makes you feel guilty. Well, let me tell you, even way worst is the feeling you have when, you glance at your own partner after the point is over and notice a “clear look of disappointment” or “anger” or a “negative attitude in general”, makes you feel just way worst even than you already are feeling. You just “feel the complaint look” from your partner, and from there on you feel like you are playing “with a gun pointed to your head”, so much pressure to “not miss” and let your partner down. Now, when your partner gets to the point of voicing him or herself to you right after the point, telling you what you did wrong or what to do instead, then you start feeling like a “cannon” is pointed to your head now. So, to always be a “great partner” in doubles, no matter how well or bad your partner plays, be sure to be “supportive” No Matter What The Outcome Of The Point Is!! Period!! Just be very positive towards your partner when he or she misses, and they will miss a lot less to begin with!! They will feed off of your positive or negative energy!! So, you should choose the one energy type you want to send out to your partner, either to help them, or to make things even worst for them!! It’s “up to you” to make your partner feel OK when they miss “any” shot, “really up to you”!! Think about it…
Forehand Versatility Is The Real Weapon
Posted on December 1, 2010
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More than just trying to be able to blast bombs with your forehand, seeking ending points fast with winners, how about “also learning and training an accurate & versatile forehand”, with which you can besides hit going for winners, also work your opponent hard making them run all over the place every point, taking away their energy, or/and, be a lot less predictable with your shot, having also angles, chips, spins, dropshots, lobs, loopy deeps and many other “variations to keep your opponent guessing” all the time. The “best players” are “not one dimensional”, instead they have an arsenal of “go-to-shots to choose from”, many different “gears to play with”, therefore making it way “more difficult for your opponents to handle”. A Powerful Forehand is a big weapon indeed, but in my honest opinion, to be a “complete player” you must have “more than one option”, just “in case” that particular “skill” is taking the day off”.
Choosing the 1 or 2 Handed Backhand
Posted on November 17, 2010
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Which one of these is a better stroke, the 1-handed or 2-handed backhand??
In my opinion, which ever “one that suits you better“, suits “your style of play“, suits “your feel“, or feels “comfortable for you“. If there was a better one, then “all” extremely competitive players would be choosing that one. Just a few comparisons here: The 1-handed backhand has more “range“, more “freedom“, more “versatility“, and also helps a lot when it comes to mastering the art of hitting backhand slices. The 2-handed backhand has a little more “control“, it’s easier to “retrieve hard shots“, easier to “hit high balls“. So, the choice between them ends up being personal, again, “whatever feels better and more comfortable for you“. My opinion? Try both, make sure you choose the one that’s best for you.
Which Grip to use for “X” Stroke
Posted on November 3, 2010
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Choose to use the one that of all correct different options for that particular stroke feels right for “You”, the one that feels most comfortable for “You”, the one that gives “You” more control (accuracy) and more feel (for touch and power amount). The one that suits better “Your” style of playing, the one “You” are capable of doing, and using without much or hopefully any difficulty. THE ONE THAT Makes “YOU” Feel like the Racket is an Extension Of Your Arm, and the Racket Head is now the new big Palm Of Your Hand“… THAT’S THE ONE!!
How to play Pusher’s High Slow Balls
Posted on October 20, 2010
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Unless you are also a pusher, and feel that you are a better one, it’s best to not try and measure forces with him/her in their kind of slow steady safe playing style. Best is to be on a “good day”, focused, concentrate big time, and try to impose yourself playing controlled-aggressive moving opponent around the best you can, to open up some court space for winners, “or/and”, you can go to the net and force your opponent to have to try a winning passing shot, but that only works if you can volley well, and mostly if you have a really reliable overhead smash, because we can’t forget that pushers lob so much whenever they are pressured by approach shots. I also coach players to learn a drop shot and have that in their arsenal, so that you can instead of trying to neutralize their opponents pushing ways, take them out of their game, by “making them” hit different shots than their favorite ones, and with a drop shot you can bring the pusher to the net and force them to volley, which they won’t like much at all, hehe!
Dealing with Choking in Tennis
Posted on October 6, 2010
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The Mental Side of Tennis is Fun and Challenging, and is also Very Tricky at times. We are all familiar with those “Choking Moments”, in which we feel like our arms are wrapped in a straight-jacket, unable to swing loose… or even though up on the score we can’t put a set or match away, or… worse, we don’t have a clue of what to do next, so lost our brain becomes. To reduce your mistakes to the max when “tight”, first play offensively (with purpose), do attack, but with “controlled aggression”, because just defending induces to just choking more. Make sure you do these 3 things to cut down on your errors: MOVE YOUR FEET, WATCH THE BALL & HIT IT OUT IN FRONT (well timed)!! Most Errors are because of Bad Footwork, Not Watching the Ball and Hitting it Late. Make sure you take care of these 3 areas as you’re out there battling, and things won’t be so hard after all, but FUN instead, as you face the challenging adversities of a normal tennis match.
Move like a Cat, Pounce on Opponent
Posted on September 22, 2010
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To attack your opponent, hitting with either more pace or accurate placement, you need to obviously be in a “good position” in relation to the incoming ball, and that is “be set up to hit it”!! To do that, good footwork is “a must”, there’s no cutting corners here, “you got to do it”!! With efficient moving on the tennis court, your shot quality will be way superior comparing with not being constantly in motion. So, be sure to move well, “like a Cat”, to be able to “pounce on your opponent”!!
Hello Friends, Students & Tennis Lovers
Posted on September 8, 2010
Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Hello there to all my friends, students, family members and Tennis Lovers of this Planet !! It’s with an immense pleasure that I connect with you all on this first Post on my Tennis Blog, to let you know that I so very much thank you all deeply for your support throughout all these years. I’ll be sharing lots of tips, precious knowledge gathered and self-invented, philosophies, stories, photos, video-clips, etc… all accumulated over 45 years of playing, 30 of these years teaching and coaching tennis in 2 different countries, in 9 different States in the USA, many big Clubs & Academies, also Private House’s, Condominiums, Parks, Buildings, University, Resort Hotels & Summer-Camps. The opportunity to work with many so called tennis VIP’s, ATP Tour Ranked and College Players, Top Ranked Juniors has played a big part, I could not have been more blessed in my career, and also feel lucky to have been in the right place at the right time on a few occasions. In simple words, I have been blessed with so many completely different teaching & coaching experiences, to add to the Physical Education Bachelor degree I chose to get back in 1980 and it all molded into the tennis professional I have become. I hope time will help me register here my life’s very joyful tennis journey!! I’ll be in touch, posting regularly, it’s time to let it all out 
Cheers!! SALUTennis!!