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...

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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