Change Your Grip on Life Through Tennis E-Book

Carmen Micsa

• Herausgeber: WS
• Kategorie: Lebensstil
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2019

Seitenzahl: 170

Beschreibung

After 25 years of playing tennis and learning new strokes and strategies, Carmen Micsa realized that whether someone plays tennis, runs, hikes, or walks, there is a strong connection between the physical and spiritual side of sports. Her fresh approach to fitness, spirituality, and the mental toughness that sports provide will make you use this book as a reference and guide to becoming the better version of yourself in life through sports. In her book, which is not just for tennis players, but for everyone who loves to exercise, Micsa includes two chapters on nutrition, the Zen of tennis, 100 life lessons learned from tennis, and many more inspiring and useful chapters. The book also provides hands on drills, exercises, and advice for tennis players and athletes on taking their fitness to the next level.

Leseprobe

CHANGE YOUR GRIP ON LIFE THROUGH TENNIS!

A Player’s Physical, Mental, Technical, & Nutritional Guide for Improving Your Game

Carmen Micsa

Wistful Press

CARMICHAEL, CA

Copyright © 2016 by Carmen Micsa

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, without prior written permission.

Carmen Micsa/Wistful Press

6100 Fair Oaks Blvd., Suite A3

Carmichael, Ca 95608

www.carmenmicsabooks.com

Book Layout © 2014 BookDesignTemplates.com

Change Your Grip on Life Through Tennis/Carmen Micsa.—1st ed.

ISBN 978-0-9983097-1-2 (eBook)

ISBN 978-0-9983097-5 (paperback)

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my dear father Danut Gramatic, who bought me a wooden racket when I was 12 in Lugoj, Romania. Even though the court in front of our apartment was without a net, we still played tennis. Playing tennis and soccer with my father will always be one of my most treasured memories about him. I also dedicate this book to my mother who supports my passion for sports and always believes in me.

It is also dedicated to my wonderful husband Catalin Micsa, who is my mixed doubles partner and who always beats me in singles. Through his athleticism and focus, he helps me become a better competitor, as he always makes me hit one more shot before winning or losing the point.

Finally, I dedicate this book to our sweet children, Alex and Sophia, who love to exercise and enjoy basketball and gymnastics. Our children are my reason to exercise, stay healthy, and strive for excellence. They support my love of tennis and are proud of their mother.

Acknowledgements

Special thanks to all my tennis coaches who have helped me become a better player and human being. A million thanks to Betsy Kessing, my very first coach, Yemi Tallman, Milun Doskovic, Amine Khalid, Reed Stout, Jason Johnson, Glen Davis, Martin Kosan, and everyone who gave me tips on improving my technique and taking my tennis game to the next level.

A million thanks to my outstanding editor Theresa Warren, who has been the most helpful, positive, and brilliant editor I could have asked for. I am extremely grateful for the day we met on the tennis court and had a great match. Not only do we have tennis in common, but we also share the love of English and writing.

Many thanks to my outstanding cover designer, Kellie W Patterson, who put a lot of hard work and passion to make my book look great.

And last, but not least, a heartfelt thank you to my amazing friend Jenni Wiltz, an award-winning author, who has helped and guided me through the entire book publishing process. You can find her books at http://JenniWiltz.com.

Introduction

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson

When I first started playing tennis, I never stretched, did weight lifting, or ran/cross trained. After more than twenty years of playing tennis and a lot of personal research, I decided to share my insights, my transformation, and my tips with other players so they could have access to my concise tennis compendium. It was only after fifteen years that I started to take my tennis game more seriously and appreciated the physical, mental, and spiritual side of tennis. In order to take my tennis game to the next level, I decided to join the American River College team and played for them in the 2014 season. During that season, I learned to properly warm-up, stretch, run, and lift light weights. This gave me a new perspective on tennis, which I wanted to share with other players.

Additionally, I thought that being an amateur league and tournament tennis player and not a high-ranked professional, would make my book more relatable to other dedicated recreational players’ journeys. The purpose is to provide useable knowledge on topics such as: cross-training, nutrition, and tennis equipment that has been experienced by other amateur players. Player-to-player advice is competing at tennis for fun, as well as competitively in USTA’s (United States Tennis Association) leagues and tournaments.

Tennis has changed my perspective on life and has helped me become more positive, confident, focused, and happier. It has also transformed me physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, which is why I keep researching and learning new aspects of the game. It was my goal to rise above mediocrity in tennis and life and try to achieve my highest potential.

This book represents my own personal tennis journey. I started as a self-rated 3.5 player in 1999. My husband Catalin and I played tennis for fun beginning in 1995 when we came to this wonderful country and marveled at the free tennis courts, which is uncommon in Europe. After many trials and tribulations, the USTA moved me up to the 4.5 level in 2015. This was also the year that I played my best tennis and finished number 2 in Northern California in

women’s 4.0 singles and number three in mixed doubles that I played with my husband.

My success came from applying the lessons learned from my American River College coach Reed Stout and many other coaches I have taken lessons from throughout the years. I am humbled by this long journey, and even though I am not an authority on tennis, nutrition, exercise, I have identified these ten assets that qualify me to write about my tennis and life success during my journey.

A B.A. and M.A in English (creative writing).

A published author.

Completion of over 100 USTA tournaments.

I have played tennis for 20+ years and still learning something new about this beautiful game.

A black belt in Taekwondo.

I breathe, eat, and sleep tennis.

A strong grasp of the mental aspect of the game, as well as its application to our lives.

I am a marathon and ultra marathon runner and believe in fitness and cross training.

Confidence that tennis players of all levels can find great strategies to become better tennis players and human beings.

I am a regular tennis player just like you who wants to share lessons learned to make your tennis experience smoother, more fun, and more rewarding.

Therefore, this book is perfect for the novice, intermediate, and advanced amateur tennis players, as well as junior players, other athletes, or anyone who enjoys fitness and exercise because of the cross training, fitness, and nutrition chapters. It can also provide a great insight to parents who want their children to enjoy playing tennis for fun or to obtain scholarships through tennis achievement.

I hope you will enjoy reading this book, and that you, too, will achieve a higher ranking, as well as make good use of the invaluable life lessons that tennis teaches us.

Play and win with LOVE! Stay humbled and grounded: my favorite mantra that I use during matches. And last, but not least, remember: “tennis is life,” so live life to the fullest! Carpe Diem!

Contents

Title Page

Copyright

Dedication

Acknowledgements

Introduction

Contents

CHAPTER ONE: Change

CHAPTER TWO: Learning and Topspin

CHAPTER THREE: Early Preparation and Slice

CHAPTER FOUR: Tennis Drills

CHAPTER FIVE: Drills and Exercises for a Stronger, Faster You

CHAPTER SIX: Cross Training and Conditioning

CHAPTER SEVEN: Breathing, Balance, and Staying Grounded

CHAPTER EIGHT: Speed and Split Steps

CHAPTER NINE: The Zen of Tennis

CHAPTER TEN: Mental Focus and Concentration

CHAPTER ELEVEN: Play Loose and Relaxed - Serve It Up!

CHAPTER TWELVE: Embrace Change by Playing Singles and Doubles

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Expand Your Tennis Toolbox with a Variety of Shots and Strokes

CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Rackets and Strings

CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Got Grips? Tennis and Life Grips

CHAPTER SIXTEEN: Eating a Balanced Diet - Proper Nutrition

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Carmen’s Fresh, Easy, and Healthy Menus and Recipes

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Tips and Lessons to Take Your Tennis Game to the Next Level

CHAPTER NINETEEN: The College Experience: a Faster, Fun, and Rewarding Way to Move up the Tennis Ladder

CHAPTER TWENTY: The PR of Tennis

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: Carmen’s 100 Life Lessons

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO: Tennis Resources

Works Cited

About the Author

CHAPTER ONE

Change

“I like to be in the creative spirit all the time. Everybody is moving – the people, our planet – you either keep up with it or you just stay where you are... But if you stay wherever you are, you actually regress.”

Novak Djokovic

John C. Maxwell’s quote “change is inevitable, growth is optional” epitomizes the key to getting better at everything we do, whether it is becoming better parents, professionals, friends, writers, athletes, or simply better tennis players. Albert Einstein also made a valuable point with his statement: “doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results is the definition of insanity.” This premise lays the groundwork for my objective to try and change your grip on life by changing your approach to a winning tennis game.

Let’s embark on a journey of transformation together by emerging out of our comfortable cocoons and disrupting complacency! If you don’t like the word change, use “tweak”, “adjustment,” or anything else that will help you improve as a person and tennis player. Do whatever it takes to get motivated. Refuse to be one of many recreational players who takes a ton of lessons from tennis pros, and yet, resists change.

How can your game improve if you are not ready to change your grip? Grip is imperative to learning slice or topspin strokes. Learning how to change your grip will assure adding new shots that will result in more flexibility and variety in your game.

When I played a few 4.5 tournaments in 2013, I took lessons from various tennis pros who each added a new dimension to my game. They worked with me to develop a topspin forehand, make my backhand stronger, and change my serve. After having learned three forehands, slice, topspin, and reverse topspin, or what many call “Nadal’s forehand” and two backhands, I became a more versatile player and took my game to the next level. Although my USTA rating was only 4.0, I finished number two in Northern California in the 4.5 singles. I lost the Grand Prix final to a good 4.5 player, but played well and welcomed the tougher competition.

The year of 2014 was my biggest learning curve year. I played for American River College team and had a blast learning new strokes and strategies about the game. The year 2015 proved to be my best year in tennis, as I finally got moved up to 4.5, a higher level in USTA (United States Tennis Association). All my tennis lessons had finally synced and cumulated in me. This new understanding of the game helped me be undefeated in tournaments and leagues for the first half of the year in Northern California. I finished number two in Northern California tennis tournaments (NCTA). I also played the Grand Prix in women singles, women doubles 4.5, and mixed doubles with my husband.

Some of the primary improvements I made were these:

Serving

(not hopping like a bunny anymore when serving).

Hitting my slice with a Continental grip

instead of Eastern.

Stronger two-handed topspin backhand

.

Adding topspin

to my game for versatility and variety.

Changing my racket to Babolat Pure Drive

and changing my strings to add more spin.

Even with the best instruction, great results are always dependent on the players’ dedication to practicing new strokes. Pro Amine Khaldi from Gold River Racket Club taught me for almost a year. He diligently worked with me to develop a topspin forehand and backhand that would add to my arsenal of tennis strokes. He used various contraptions and equipment to teach me the appropriate arm and leg positions for proper execution of a topspin stroke. Yet, my reluctance to use the strokes in competition and practice my newly learned topspin strokes resulted in less application of topspin in my game.

I also remember the lesson I took from Glenn Davis, a wonderful tennis pro from Natomas Racket Club. He taught me the acceleration on the forehand by having me hit a towel as hard and fast as I could. He also had me use the towel to pretend that I was hitting the ball to create a loose feeling in my arm and body. The relaxed feeling of hitting the ball can only come from constant repetition and not worrying about winning the point. The more we practice what we learn, the easier it is to relax and trust those shots.

Striving to win in competition was inhibiting my ability to practice new strategies and strokes pros had worked hard to help me learn. I decided I needed a different tennis environment that would provide more opportunities to expand my game. A good friend of mine, Tamra, invited me to join the American River College team. Taking a couple of classes at the college qualified me to join the team. Even though Tamra encouraged me to join, it was a conversation with another tournament friend, Sara, who assured me it could be a good move for my tennis game. Her topspin ground strokes were so impressive. I had to comment.

“You have such amazing topspin and ground strokes,” I told Sara.

“That’s because my husband and I used to play for a college team. We learned so much, as we were more mature than the other kids on the team and the coach really liked us,” she recalled smiling at the pleasant experience that trickled over the net of life.

“Wow! You can do that?” I remember asking her. “Be on the college team?” Sara asked. “Of course! Almost anybody can, especially on the women’s teams.”

A big light bulb went off in my brain! If I didn’t seize this opportunity, I could choose to be ripe and rotten, as Jason Johnson, another of my amazing tennis coaches, told me, or I could stay green and ripe. On the other hand, being a mother, made me seriously consider this game plan. Playing tennis for a college team to get better at a sport I should enjoy just for the exercise and social aspect seemed self-indulging. This would definitely take time away from my family. I was a good 4.0 player, but I aspired to become 4.5 USTA rated player, and higher. Despite the time commitment, my husband agreed and truly encouraged me to embark on this journey. I am so glad I did not listen to the doubting and guilty voices in my head.

Key points

Got grip?

Check your grip

and see if it needs tweaking.

Embrace change

.

Find two or three different coaches

. Get different opinions and suggestions to become a better player.

Find a coach who understands your game

, is more demanding, and asks you to make changes rather than offering empty praise.

Take detailed notes

after each lesson.

Have a tennis notebook

in which you jot down strategies, technique, shot selections, etc. Take notes on the players you played against. It will help you strategize the next time you play against them, especially if you lost.

Apply your lessons

through easy drills.

Play against various level players

. It will help you work on your game and see the improvement faster.

Play league matches and tournaments

. Practice against different opponents and challenge yourself.

Repeat, repeat, and repeat

to gain confidence and proficiency in your shots.

CHAPTER TWO

Learning and Topspin

“Tennis begins with love.”

Author Unknown

In August 2013, I went back to school to a twice-a-week tennis class that would prepare me for being on the college team during the 2014 season. I immediately liked our coach Reed Stout, and seeing my friend Tamra’s smiling face there made me feel more at home amidst all the 20-year-olds who would soon find out from me that I was there just for the pure joy of tennis. I already had a Master’s degree in English (Creative Writing). The classes were just for me to continue to grow and learn, and, most importantly, to be eligible to play on the team.

Coach Reed Stout liked my slices, but immediately sprang into action to teach me an effective topspin, which I knew I had to learn and was ready. He emphasized that turning my body fast was key. He stressed not to lunge or lean while striking the ball. Although I was fast at running balls down, coach Reed taught me to run behind the ball, then move forward to increase momentum and power. This resulted in hitting a bigger and better shot. Yet, my continued desire to learn how to hit a good topspin meant comprehending and breaking down the topspin moves.

Having already had instruction from Pro Khaldi on the execution of topspin strokes, the concept seemed clear. The term “windshield wiper” used to describe the topspin stroke was quite familiar to me. Yet, my idea of good topspin changed once I grasped that the power and effectiveness of a solid topspin depended on the legs and rotation of the body. I took notes and paid attention to my posture, footwork, early preparation, and staying grounded. The fundamentals to good topspin are bending the knees, staying low, and straightening up the body as we hit through the shot without jumping. The legs and hips create the power to hit solid topspin. I also learned to really place the ball. When I took the ball a little bit in front, I could easily execute a crosscourt topspin shot. When I waited for the ball to come closer to my body, I could hit a down the line shot.

One of the things we need to learn as tennis players is to use our legs a lot more than our arms. This advice that Coach Reed gave me was paramount to becoming a better player and hitting better topspin. I also learned that guiding or pushing the balls in, instead of relying on a wider stance and good leg power, weakened my game. It may sound confusing, and you’re probably thinking: “Hey! I thought I was playing tennis, not soccer.” However, power in tennis comes from the ground.

Try to think you’re a powerful twister. As you rotate your hips into the ball, you will gain more power in your stroke. Using my legs and hips felt as strange as climbing stairs on my hands. Although I have a black belt in Taekwondo and learned to smash through boards with good hip rotation, tennis seemed to be about strong arms that could help me power the ball to the other side of the net. I have learned to let go of this misconceived idea. Being a self-taught tennis player, I knew that I needed a new grip, stroke, and a new perspective. The mind needed to control my jumpy and explosive body that wanted to levitate when hitting shots, which was the wrong way to create power.

I thus understood that in order to strike the ball well, I had to plant my feet and rotate my hips through the shot, while fully extending my arm. Hitting the ball in balance had to match my inner harmony, while there was no rush other than getting to the ball and planting my feet. Gripping life in its stillness. Finding the peace and calmness of playing with a Zen-like mind.

Key points about topspin:

Get your body in position.

Early preparation

.

Turn your upper body

, shoulder, your entire unit.

Stay grounded,

as if your legs are one with the surface whether it’s hard-court, clay, or grass.

Loosen the grip on your racket.

Don’t tighten the arm while hitting, as you’re only stopping the flow. There is a reason everything we learn teaches us to go with the flow, or not swim against the current.

Wait for the ball

to get in your striking zone (hip level).

Take the arm back and go through your shot.

Hitting is the last thing that needs to happen, although our eager natures tell us to hit, hit, and hit some more.

Key points about learning:

Approach everything with an

open mind

.

Be curious

.

Be excited to learn something new

.

Dismiss fear

and doubts and plow through.

Practice what you learn

and implement it.

Don’t make excuses about your age!

It is never too late to learn something new.

Learning something new is not always easy, but

do not give up!

Set higher goals for yourself

, instead of being content with less.

Make it a goal

to learn something new every day

.

Enjoy the journey