Tennis Game

There’s a syndrome in tennis circles that has come to be widely known as “The Ugly Parent Syndrome.”

It is one in which teenaged players, or even those in their pre-teens, are placed under enormous pressure by over-zealous parents determined to see their children scale the heights of tennis greatness.

The pressure these parents exert can come in many forms — from subtle psychological techniques that play one child off against another (”How come Johnny’s forehand is much better than yours? — Don’t you think you should practise more often?”) to threatening a child with a loss of some value if he doesn’t perform (”Forget about that new racquet if you don’t beat Johnny”).

It can involve becoming deaf to their child’s concerns if those concerns conflict with what the parent has determined to be in the child’s “best interests”. (”I know you’d rather spend some more time with your friends, but I know what’s best, and what’s best is that you spend two more hours practising forehands.”)

And in some extreme cases, the pressure can even take the form of actual physical abuse.

On an international scale, the most (in)famous “ugly parent” of all is Jim Pierce, whose daughter, Mary, has been for a number of years one of the game’s top women players.

In the early 1990’s, Jim Pierce’s behaviour became so threatening to his daughter that she hired bodyguards and took out restraining orders to protect herself from him.

In 1993, he was banned by the Women’s Tennis Association from attending tournaments, although that ban was lifted a few years later.

There have been many other documented instances of what can only be described as child abuse leading, in most cases, to premature retirement and the destruction of the parent/child relationship.

Bearing in mind that it is only those instances where the child reaches an international level of play that any publicity is brought to bear on an abusive parent, consider how much of this sort of thing goes on at the lower levels.

When I look at some of the tennis parents today — in contrast to 20 or 25 years ago, when most parents were able to draw the distinction between a supportive influence and an overbearing, constraining one — I can’t help but observe the same sort of unhealthy obsession with their child’s performance that characterises the more notorious of tennis’ ugly parents.

Forgetting that the most important thing for a child to develop is a love of the game, these parents all but guarantee their child’s involvement with the sport will be short-lived.

As anyone who has competed at a high level of sport knows, there is nothing worse than having to deal with the added burden of unwanted pressure, particularly from a parent (or coach) who has zero understanding of what the game is about — but who thinks they do.

Living vicariously through their child, or attempting to impress other parents with their child’s ability, or secretly hoping to one day live off their child’s earnings, the ugly parent is driven by a compulsive desire to control every single aspect of his or her child’s career, often based on a groundless assumption that their child is destined for tennis stardom.

For any of you who are thinking of taking up tennis, or are simply interested in the basics of tennis, then you will find this an informative article.

It is good idea to dress in tennis clothes, as opposed to street clothes for game play. Tennis clothing has been designed to give where necessary and provide the proper comfort level when exerting yourself and making quick movements. If you don’t want to invest in a tennis outfit, make sure you wear shorts and a shirt that have plenty of room for your movements.

If you are a beginner, you really shouldn’t think in terms of buying less expensive equipment. Your tennis racket is a very important element in becoming successful and building your skill base. Good quality rackets will always outlast poor ones, and so the investment is worth it. Look for a racquet whose weight, balance, and size of handle fit your frame.

After you’ve decided upon a good quality racquet, make sure you use good tennis balls. The bounce you will get from a good ball cannot be underestimated.

If you are truly interested in learning the game, and succeeding rapidly, I would suggest watching some matches between talented players. In person is better, but the television will do. If you watch their stokes and leg movements closely, you will begin to see that certain movements are used consistently, every time. You may also consider getting an instruction book. This is particularly helpful if you are planning on taking lessons. That way you can be familiar with the terminology prior to beginning.

If you decide to take lessons, as opposed to “learning on the job”, never be discouraged if your progress is slow. Just continue to practice the strokes as you have been taught and eventually you will find that they both improve and become second nature. There are very few natural geniuses of the game. Excellent tennis players are the product of hard work.

If you’ve decided to take up tennis for fun, or for sport, you’ll find that tennis will pay dividends to you all of your life. Tennis is excellent exercise and a great stress reliever. Additionally, tennis is a social sport. You can expect to make many friendships.

Here is a list of skills you should master, in the order they should be attempted:

1. Concentration on the game.
2. Keep your eye on the ball.
3. Foot-work and weight-control.
4. Strokes.
5. Court position.
6. Match play.
7. Tennis psychology.

A Word About Concentration

Tennis is first and foremost a game played with the mind. Yes, physical ability and skill are extremely important, but without concentration, these skills are of little use. You will find that if you develop your concentration as your first and most important skill, it will carry you far. There may be times in match play that noises from onlookers will distract. Additionally, allowing yourself to concentrate on your game will also help keep your emotions in check if you aren’t doing well with your game. The sooner you learn this vital lesson, the better. In fact, in many cases, a player will highly developed concentration skills will find that they can beat a player of great ability, if that player doesn’t possess the same abilities in his or her concentration.

Learning tennis can be the start of a live long love of the sport. If you take the time to learn the fundamentals, obtain the proper equipment and work on mastering the skills you need, one at a time, you will most certainly succeed in not only enjoying yourself, but experiencing the satisfaction of becoming a skilled athlete.

Tennis clothes have changed drastically in style, fabric, and color over the last 100 years. The first lawn tennis players in England wore formal attire when playing. Standard tennis clothes for women were full-length dresses. Men wore long pants and formal, long sleeve shirts. The tennis clothes of both men and women were entirely white in color. Contrast this formal style with the tennis clothes worn by the tennis players of today. Modern tennis players favor synthetic fabrics, more athletic clothing styles, and a greater variety of colors.

The evolution of tennis clothes has mirrored the changes in everyday fashion. For example, male tennis players in the 1970’s and 1980’s favored short, tight-fitting shorts and traditional polo shirts. In the late 1990’s and 2000’s, male tennis players began to wear larger, looser shorts and more casual shirts. In addition, female tennis players of the 1970’s and 1980’s favored traditional tennis clothes with an updated style. Popular clothing included shortened tennis skirts and dresses. Today’s women tennis players wear a variety of tennis clothes, ranging from tennis skirts and dresses to shorts and t-shirts. While tennis players still wear white at more traditional clubs (e.g. Wimbledon), there is a much larger variety of colors in modern tennis clothes.

Another factor contributing to the evolution of tennis clothes is the increased athleticism in the modern game. Tennis is now a high intensity sport, requiring tremendous physical effort and exertion. Tennis players must be able to run, cut, jump, and twist all while executing precise tennis strokes to hit a ball often moving at high speeds. Consequently, comfort is a major concern of players. Modern tennis players prefer tennis clothes that are lightweight, fit well, repel moisture, and are generally comfortable. Tennis clothes that keep the body cool and dry can help players counteract the physical toll that playing tennis, especially in hot weather, can exact.

Advances in clothing technology have also contributed to the evolution of tennis clothes. For years, cotton was the fabric of choice for tennis clothes. In the last few years, however, many tennis apparel makers have introduced garments made of new, synthetic fibers. Tennis clothes made of these synthetic fibers help remove sweat from the skin and clothing by wicking moisture away from the body. Examples of these clothing technologies are Adidas’s ClimaCool brand and Nike’s Dri-FIT. Most professional tennis players and many recreational tennis players now wear tennis clothes made with these new technologies because they keep them cooler and drier than traditional tennis wear.

In conclusion, tennis clothes have seen many changes over the years. While tennis clothes maintain some of their formality and traditional style, modern tennis players value comfort and individual style over tradition. Increased athleticism, advances in technology, and changes in general fashion have greatly affected the tennis clothing industry. In addition, breaking from their traditional roots, tennis clothes have become a medium for personal expression of individual style and important pieces of equipment in an increasingly physical sport.