DATE: May 2010 [PDF]
Presidents Parley | From the Manager | Hunter's Lair | Results | New Members | Last Month's News
Our fourth meeting of the year took place on the twelfth of April. It was noted that we had sent Curt Cook flowers from the club with our best wishes. He received the flowers the day before he died. Curt had been a long time member and we will miss him.
The men may have noticed a slight adjustment in the men's dressing room, which seems to have alleviated a certain problem.
We also received a report from Gary on the work-for-dues program. This program will come under additional scrutiny soon.
We agreed to allow the Good Samaritan School to conduct a PE class at 1:30 p.m. under the supervision of our pro and assistant pro. This class will last about seven weeks. In addition to the usual amount that we earn from tennis lessons, we have levied a surcharge on the program. It is not entirely clear how many students will be involved, but we will earn an additional $300 to $350 from this program. Use time at 1:30 is low and this seemed like a good use of club facilities. On the other hand, a home-school group that inquired about the use of the facilities without the oversight of the pro or assistant pro was simply denied without further discussion.
The main part of the meeting was devoted to discussing a survey, which will be circulated to the entire membership. This is the most extensive survey ever conducted by the board of this tennis club. We tried to address the concerns that have been expressed to members of the board over the past several months. If we have left something out, please add it. This is an extremely important survey. We truly wish to serve the membership, but we can only do that if we know what the members want, what their needs are, and what they expect from the club. Be as honest as you can. It is essential that every member return this survey.
Capital improvements that we had been discussing such as resurfacing some of the courts or blacktopping the parking lot have all been deferred until we know what the membership desires. Please do not worry about "stepping on toes" or offending us. We want to know what you are thinking. Be honest and blunt with us.
I have tried to give hints for improving your game. These hints are important to take to heart if you want to win. Here is another underrated shot. It is the net-crawler. The net-crawler is best hit when the ball is slightly below the top of the net. Hit it with topspin. Aim for just the top of the net. That ball will crawl right up to the top of the net; it may roll along the net for a bit, and then will fall to the ground. It is arguably the most effective shot in tennis. Not only can it not be returned, but it also demoralizes the opponent. In the last couple of months, I have seen both Andy Roddick and Serena Williams hit such shots. Both apologized, but after they had wiped away those crocodile tears, both took the point and played on. My advice is this. Master the shot. Forget the crocodile tears, stifle the smirk, take the point, and play on.
President Ron Guenther
Choosing a New Tennis Racquet
Many factors make up the right tennis racquet for you. Here are some tips to
help you pick a new racquet or make your existing racquet perform better. Gary
has Head, Prince, Wilson and Babolat to demo in his pro shop.
Choosing a Head Size
The trend is toward bigger rackets because they put more power into the hands
of the player. There are three basic racket sizes available:
Midsize/Midplus - 85 to 104 square inches
Oversize - 105 -117 square inches
Super Oversize - 118 - 135 square inches
Larger head sizes will give you a better chance to make contact with the ball.
You'll have a bigger sweet spot and a more powerful shot. Large head frames
are great on volleys. They're also more stable on off-center hits - meaning
the racket will be less likely to twist in your hand.
The major benefit of midsize/midplus or smaller rackets is more depth control
(the distance the ball travels into your opponent's court).
Racquet Stiffness
The stiffer the racket, the more energy is returned to the ball. When the ball
makes contact with your racket, it stays there only a short time. Any flex in
a racket is wasted energy - power that cannot be transferred to the ball.
Stiffer rackets generate more power. They also have larger sweet spots for directional
control (making the ball rebound in the same direction or angle it makes contact
with your racket). They are also better at dampening vibration. With the trend
torwards stiffer frames, it is essential to find ways to reduce shock and vibrations.
Increased Shock Absorption and Vibration Dampening can be achieved with racquet
accessoriesmulti filament string, vibration dampeners and cushion grips. If
all three accessories are simultaneously used, vibration dampening is increased
by over 70 percent and shock absorption is increased by almost 60 percent.
Racquet Stability
With today's rackets getting lighter and lighter, it has become more important
that the mass, or weight, is retained in the head. A super lightweight racket
with mass in the head provides great maneuverability with the added benefits
of superior stability and enhanced power return. A lightweight racket with minimal
mass in the head can provide great maneuverability, but could cause twisting
upon impact, resulting in less stability and less power. Prince has introduced
a revolutionary weighting system featuring Triple Braid - woven titanium, copper
and carbon placed in three critical racquet locations: 10
O'clock, 2 O'clock, and at the bottom of the handle. This patent-pending technology
creates ultimate bi-directional stability
even on lighter frames.
Sweet Spot
The sweet spot is the most responsive part of the racket's face. It gives you
the most power and control and the most solid hit. It's also the place where
you feel no vibration or shock. Improvements in technology have extended the
sweet spot up into the top part of the racket face where most people hit the
ball. Prince's patent-pending Triple Threat™ technology produces an expanded
sweet spot in every direction providing ultimate bi-directional stability for
increased power and control and reduced shock to the arm.
Stringing Your Racket For Best Results
Stringing makes a significant difference in how a frame plays!
Selecting a Stringer: The first step in proper stringing is to find a professional
stringer who can answer your questions and help you choose the right string,
gauge and tension to fit your playing style.
Types of String: There are two basic string constructions: natural gut (made
from the muscle layer of beef intestine) and synthetics. Gut is best for playability
and synthetics are best for players seeking durability. With the improvements
in synthetic fibers, however, many synthetic strings offer a superb balance
of durability and playability.
String Gauge: The thickness of the string plays a big role in the balance between
playability and durability. Thinner strings (16 and 17 gauge) offer better feel
and playability while thicker strings (15 gauge) offer greater durability.
String Tension: Stay within the manufacturer's recommend string tensions which
are determined to maximize frame performance. For more power, string the racket
at the low-end of the range. Lower tension = more power. Higher string tensions
give less power but more depth control.
Restringing ?: Restring your racket each year as many times as you play each
week. Always restring at least once a year.
Reducing the Risk of Tennis Elbow
It is still unknown whether shock or vibration causes tennis elbow, or if stiffer
or more flexible rackets are harder on a player's arm. Poor stroke style has
also been mentioned as a reason for tennis elbow.
There are certain things you can do to reduce your risk of arm injury:
Lower Your String Tension
Lower string tensions produce more forgiving string beds, transmitting less
shock. The extra power generated by lower string tensions also allows you to
use less effort with each swing.
Check Your Grip
If your grip is too small, your racket may twist in your hand on off-center
hits, straining your elbow. Make sure your racket has the correct grip size!
Check Your Stroke
Improper strokes are the main cause of tennis elbow. Poor strokes like hitting
the ball behind you, or leading with your elbow on your backhand can produce
strain on the arm. See Hunter of Colby for an analysis of your strokes.
Check Your Racket
Every player is sensitive to different racket characteristics. If your racket
is still bothering your arm, try a more flexible frame, or vice versa. Stiffer
rackets generate more power, larger sweet spots, greater directional control
and higher vibration dampening - all factors which reduce the risk of tennis
elbow. The only real benefit of a more flexible racket is it
may offer less power (greater depth control) suitable for players with higher
and faster swing speeds. The current belief is that the benefits of stiffer
rackets outweigh the advantages of more flexible frames.
Tips To Properly Demo A Racket
" Bring both your demo and current racket on court so you can compare
the performance of each racket on all strokes.
" Warm up properly, and be sure to hit all strokes: serves, volleys, overheads,
and groundstrokes.
" Check the condition of the demo racket - are the strings relatively new?
Ask when the racket was last strung. Examine if grip is worn down.
" Play a "real" match - level of play you're accustomed to, regular
conditions.
" Make an effort to mis-hit balls to judge the stability and off-center
responsiveness of both your demo and current racquet.
Pro Shop May Special
The monthly special is that if you get your racquet restrung during the month
of May you will receive a free replacement grip. Check the pro shop page on
our web site to see all the pro shop items and specials.
Adult Sunriver Tennis Camp
Gary will be hosting his 27th annual Sunriver Adult Tennis Camp this fall. It
will be September 16-20 at the North Courts at the beautiful Sunriver resort.
Tennis will start Thursday afternoon with a welcome BBQ afterwards. Then a morning
and afternoon session on Friday followed by a long morning session on both Saturday
and Sunday. Price of $209 includes court rental, instruction, T-shirt and a
loads of fun in a great learning environment. If you have any questions give
Gary a call at the club.
Gary will do his Junior Camp at the club July 11-15
Web Updates
We are updating our web site to be more useful for members as well as people
checking us out. We can quickly hit the Facebook or Yahoo Group icon to get
to those pages quickly. We have added NTRP levels to telephone and email addresses
on the Web Membership Directoiry. Remember that you need and user (ttc) and
password (GaryandHunter) to access that page. These are great ways to network
with other members to arrange matches and get more people to play. We are adding
a pro shop page, club brochure and application forms if you have any friends
interested in Timberhill. Information is knowledge. We will continue to add
and take off the old items to keep the look updated and more useful to the membership.
Remember to check it out!!
www.timberhilltennis.com
2010 Timberhill Tennis Club Survey
All members were sent a club survey about a week ago. Since Timberhill is run
by and for you the membership the Board is asking for your feedback to help
mold the direction the club is moving. Please take some time and fill out your
survey so you can have a say what you think of the club, good and bad, and where
you would like to see TTC go in the future. If you sign and return the survey
in the addressed envelope you will be eligible for a drawing for a free lesson,
string job or tennis balls, but you have to sign and return the surveys to Mark
by May 7 to be eligible.
Work Party Thanks
Thanks go out to all the members who helped out at the Landscape Work Party
held Sunday April 18 at the club. Thanks to Corinne Butzin for organizing it,
Al Haunold, Peter Klingeman, Ron Guenther, Bud Bosler, Bob Anderson, Gil Beck
and Gary Watson. We got quite a bit of weeding and cutting back done for the
couple of hours we spent working together.
Good Job!
Spring is one of my favorite times of the year around here - I get to hear
stories from all different types of players about their match experiences in
leagues, tournaments, and team matches. Plus it's finally warm! One of the teaching
staff's responsibilities is to keep new blood flowing into the sport and our
club. Tennis Welcome Center programs have gotten many involved in tennis for
the first time, and more of these players are showing up on our 2.5 and 3.0
teams. More players means good news for Timberhill and tennis in general--always
stay on the lookout for those who may be interested in starting. If you find
a friend or colleague who has expressed interest, send them our way and we'll
channel them into the appropriate program. A good way to try this out will be
our second annual Tennis Across America free clinic, on Saturday May 15 at 9:30am
at the Corvallis High School courts. Anyone may attend this event, and there
may is no charge, so bring a friend! The schedule for adults and juniors has
been very busy this spring. Between our Tennis Welcome Center class, conditioning
and drill classes, the junior clinics, we've been staying busy working on everybody's
game improvement. Look for more adult classes this summer, along with a special
league that we're setting up. Stay tuned next month for more details!
Also a quick reminder that TTC is hosting the Mid-Valley Conference Boys and
Girls High School District Tournament on May 12, 13, and 14. Courts will be
in short supply during this event, but come out and support these young players,
many of whom practice and play here at Timberhill.
Upcoming Friday night Junior events
Rookie League 6:30 - 7:45pm; May 7
Junior Fest 7:30 - 8:30pm; May 14
Here are results of Timberhill's USTA Adult USTA League as of April 15, 2010
Women's 2.5 0-4
Women's 3.0 1-3
Women's 3.5 "McCarthy" 3-2
Women's 3.5 "Youngren" 1-4
Womens's 4.0 1-3
Women's 4.5 1-0
Men's 3.5 "Donel" 0-1
Men's 3.5 "Myers" 1-2
Men's 4.0 1-2
Christopher Kim 541-207-7432: Chris is a junior member who is 16 and playing at the Intermediate level.
Looking for substitutes or new people to play? Please feel free to use these
new members listed below to fill-in play times, or you can join our Timberhill
Yahoo Group, check out our substitute listings in the TTC clubhouse, or check
out our Web directory. Access to that involves a user and password.
User: ttc
Password: GaryandHunter
There are lots of ways to find other players as well as joining up to play in
many of our programs. If you really get desperate for players you can always
call or email Gary and he can help you out as well.