BTP Client Appreciation Week!

With BTP client Christopher Bevans at my 4th of July pool party

This week, I would like to feature some photographs of BTP clients. I am incredibly blessed to have wonderful, dedicated tennis clients. Thank you for allowing me to help you improve you tennis game and for helping me to be a better teaching pro every day. 

Congrats to BTP client Maria Kosmetatos for her 2015 USTA PNW win!

Hoover Li repping BTP winter wear 

BTP + Seahawks! Ashley Winters knows a winning combo when she sees it.

Logan and Casey Smith tried out BTP lessons for the first time recently. They are the grandkids of long-time BTP client Pam Baker.

BTP 4.0 USTA Team: Congratulations on the great season!

Thanks everyone!

Proper Grip is Tennis 101

Eastern Forehand Grip

Eastern Forehand: Basic grip to apply to all shots

a. topspin groundstrokes

b. underspin and flat groundstrokes

c. all serves

Semi-Western Forehand

Semi-Western Forehand: Grip used for mild topspin; forehand groundstrokes only

Western Forehand

Western Forehand: Grip used to create heavy topspin for forehand groundstrokes only

Continental

Continental

a. groundstrokes: use this grip to hit a forehand flat or with underspin--- or ---one and two-handed backhand shots flat, slice, or with topspin

b. serves: flat, slice, topspin

c. all volleys

Two-Handed Backhand

Two-Handed Backhand

a. Eastern grip top and bottom hands [pictured]

b. switch to Continental grip on the bottom hand to achieve more topspin

The Benefit of a Backboard

Has anyone ever practiced with a backboard, or used one as a teaching tool? If you hit against a wall 5 minutes a day, that equals to 6000 strokes a month. 20 minutes per day= 292,000 balls hit a year. Backboards allow you to consistently practice any kind of stroke you want, including ground strokes, volleys, and serves. No playing partner is required and it also provides a great cardio work out. Rebo Wall and Smith Tennis (Great Base Backboard) both offer models. Check out Agassi and his mullet demonstrating above.

www.rebowall.com/
www.tennissmith.com/

Blackburn Tennis Productions Swag!

I've been busy this year dreaming up and creating tons of new Blackburn Tennis Productions products to keep my clients decked out. Check out the new exclusive BTP releases below!

And coming soon, in collaboration with Matty Fresh...

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

http://blackburntennis.com/

Keep that Core Hard!

Keeping a strong core (pelvis, hips, torso, lower back) is a smart way to perform better and resist injury, especially of the lower-back sort (the most common tennis injury). USTA posted a great article to its website with tips on exercises to target these important areas (via Tennis 15 30).

"Is your brain hard-wired to hit a tennis ball incorrectly?"

Interesting food for thought: Coach Keith Coleman discusses how our wrists naturally over flex when hitting a forehand stroke. I see this over and over in my lessons-- my clients will excessively snap instead of keeping the wrist static while pushing through he ball. The result is inconsistent, ineffective shots. Read more here.

Think men are faster tennis servers than women? 

Think again. This interesting article by Slate explains how women consistently serve at speeds comparable to their male counterparts.

Sabine Lisicki (picture above), broke Venus Williams record for fastest female serve this past summer at the Bank of the West Classic, clocking in at 131 mph. That serve was faster than any serve Roger Federer produced during 2014. It's barely slower than world #1 Novak Djokovic best serve this year and "equal to or better than the fastest serves of at least 29 men, including" many seeded players. 

http://www.slate.com/articles/sports/sports_nut/2014/09/sabine_lisicki_record_serve_science_explains_why_female_tennis_players_can.html?wpsrc=fol_fb

Campers Have a Ball at Blackburn Tennis Productions' Youth Summer Camps!

BTP tennis camps have been a hit so far this summer, here at Portland Athletic Club. We've had a great groups of kids for both our June and July sessions. Coaches Mikayla and Arianna have done an excellent job leading campers through fun tennis drills and games. We kept the kids cool with ice pops, water balloon breaks, and end-of-the-day swimming! You have one more chance to get your child involved! Our last camp will be from August 18-22. We only have a few slots left, so register right right away. 11am-4pm $199 503-292-2649

In tennis, teaching proper technique and skills to children from the start is of utmost importance. USTA has made it mandatory that instructors now complete the "Coach Youth Tennis" curriculum before becoming certified.

“Elevating the quality and standards of teaching tennis to our youth will have lasting impact on our sport for years to come,” said USTA Player Development General Manager Patrick McEnroe. “’Coach Youth Tennis’ provides tennis teachers of all levels with the tools necessary to teach the sport to children.”

http://coachyouthtennis.com/

Portland Athletic Club's Traveling Team

PAC vs Salem Tennis and Swim Club

Doubles Match High Five

Duel Match, Portland vs. Salem at Willamette University

Pro Anthony Blackburn and Assistant pro Nathan Ramos work on the line-up

PAC Traveling Team

Perfect Form 

Watching and cheering on teammates

Group huddle!

Summer is coming! Register for Youth Summer Camps Today.

Summer is coming! Why not give your kid a healthy outlet to socialize, exercise, and work on his or her tennis game? Registration is now open for our all-levels youth summer camps. We have three 5-day camps scheduled for your 9-17 year olds: June 16-20, July 14-18, and August 18-22 and a 3-day camp for your younger ones: June 23-25, ages 4-8. 5-day: $199 3-day: $99

Beyond working on their tennis skills with professional coaches, campers will have a chance to swim in our pool and play various on and off-court games. Sessions fill QUICK, so be sure to sign up early. Call Portland Athletic Club today to get signed up: (503) 292-2649.

Portland Athletic Club

5803 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy.

Portland, OR 97221

Blackburn Tennis Productions wishes you a...

HAPPY AND HEALTHY NEW YEAR!

Summer Tennis Events

At Blackburn Tennis Productions

Volley Camp

· June 28-30

When: 12:00pm – 3:00pm

Who: High school and college levels

(middle school OK with approval)

Where: Portland Athletic Club

What: Everything you need to know about the volley!

Junior Summer Tennis Camp

· June 20-24

· July 11-15

· August 15-19

When: Monday-Friday, 11:00am - 4:00pm

Who: Ages 7-17 years old

Where: Portland Athletic Club

What: Drills, on-court coaching, and FAB workout

Price: $199

Questions? Contact Anthony Blackburn at iwantlessons@blackburntennis.com, or call the Portland Athletic Club at 503-292-2649.

Samkutty, Casey Win First Pre-District Girl’s Doubles Tennis Tournament

(From left) Samkutty, Casey, St. Clair, and McGinnis pose with their prizes after playing in the finals of the Pre-District Doubles Tennis Tournament.

Samkutty, Casey Win First Pre-District Girl’s Doubles

Tennis Tournament

PORTLAND, Oregon (May 3, 2011) – The doubles team of Madeline Samkutty, 14, and Rachel Casey, 15, beat Kelsey McGinnis and Meredith St. Clair, both 17, to capture the Pre-District Girl’s Doubles Tennis Tournament title, held at Portland Athletic Club (PAC) last weekend, April 29-May 1.

Samkutty and Casey fought their way to the finals by defeating Abby Farrell, 17, and Hannah Anderson, 16, in a riveting three-set semifinal match. In the consolation draw, the doubles team of Arielle Bradford, 18, and Jacqueline Sheridan, 15, topped Karlee Hight, 18 and Hayley Burns, 17 to become consolation champions.

Scheduled between the end of the regular season and the beginning of district play, this tournament was designed to help high school players sharpen their skills and survey their competition. It was a non-sanctioned USTA event, so coaching was allowed.

“With the high school tennis season already so short, teams so large, and weather so poor this time of year, some kids are playing only a few matches leading up to their district and state tournaments,” tournament director and PAC head tennis professional, Anthony Blackburn, said. “I created this tournament to provide more match-play opportunity for these kids, without affecting their ranking with the USTA or their standing on their high school teams.”

This was PAC’s second high school tournament this year, the first being the High School Kick-Off Tennis Tournament, held March 4-6. According to Blackburn, the Kick-Off Tournament was a great success, with over 50 high school players from all over the Portland and surrounding areas competing. Coaching was allowed in both tournaments, giving the players a more accurate high school match scenario. Blackburn wishes all the participants good luck in their upcoming district and state matches.

To acquire the full tournament results, visit www.portlandathleticclub.net/tennis_academy.asp or call the Portland Athletic Club at 503-292-2649.

###

Portland Athletic Club to Host High School, Pre-District, Doubles Tennis Tournament on April 29 - May 1

PORTLAND, Oregon (April 4, 2011) — The Raleigh Hills-based Portland Athletic Club (PAC) will host a High School, Pre-District, Doubles Tennis Tournament on April 29-May 1. Events are limited to Boys’ and Girls’ Doubles only; no singles. The tournament will have a consolation round, so that each player is guaranteed at least two matches. The entry deadline is April 26. The cost is $20 per player. Registration forms may be downloaded at www.portlandathleticclub.net/tennis_academy.asp.

Scheduled between the end of the regular season and the beginning of district play, this tournament is designed to help high school players sharpen their skills and survey their competition. It is a non-sanctioned USTA event, so coaching will be allowed.

“With the high school tennis season already so short, teams so large, and weather so poor this time of year, some kids are playing only a few matches leading up to their district and state tournaments,” tournament director and PAC head tennis professional, Anthony Blackburn, said. “I created this tournament to provide more match-play opportunity for these kids, without affecting their ranking with the USTA or their standing on their high school teams.”

This will be PAC’s second high school tournament this year, the first being the High School Kick-Off Tennis Tournament, held March 4-6. According to Blackburn, the Kick-Off Tournament was a great success, with over 50 high school players from all over the Portland and surrounding areas competing. Coaching was allowed, because this, too, was a non-sanctioned USTA tournament.

For more information on the upcoming doubles tournament, or to acquire the results from the singles tournament, visit www.portlandathleticclub.net/tennis_academy.asp, or call Anthony Blackburn or Alyssa Morrison at 503-292-2649.

###

Pictures from "Play for Japan"