50+ Sessions Are Back!

Our popular weekly 50+ session returns on Wednesday 14th October as we continue to restart more of our adult programme.

50+ sessions are designed for the ‘young at heart’ player who likes to keep fit and healthy, and enjoys playing tennis with likeminded people. It’s a fun and social session which includes both technical and tactical coaching for single and doubles as well as social match play. Sessions can be booked online HERE or telephone 01256 358816 (book early to avoid disappointment).

According to medical research from the Cleveland Clinic, playing tennis on a regular basis for older people is good for the heart. It’s also good for the body and mind and regular play produces physical, physiologic and psychologic benefits. These benefits include increased burning of calories, reduction in blood pressure and reduced stress. All of these benefits play a role in reducing a person’s risk of developing heart disease, the number-one disease among men and women.

Session: 50+

Time: Wednesday 10.00am -11.30am

Level: Mixed Ability (Beginner & Improver)

Coach: Nari Jalali

Cost £8.50

Book online clubspark.lta.org.uk/TotallyTennisBasingstoke/Coaching/Summary/4aaa4604-bcde-4176-afc9-00b72973cf93

For more information email tt@totallytennis.co.uk or call 01256 358816

Other adult sessions now available include Monday Improver Drills (7:30pm – 8:30pm book HERE), Advanced/Intermediate Drills (Tuesday 8pm – 9pm book HERE), Advanced Doubles Practice (Wednesday 6pm – 7:30pm book HERE), Mixed Morning (Monday 10am – 11:30am book HERE & Friday 10am – 11:30am book HERE)

Lockdown Further Ignites Jasmine’s Love of Tennis

One young Totally Tennis junior players has used the last few months to focus on improving her tennis skills. Eight-year-old Jasmine Paul, who attends St Marys Junior School, didn’t let the enforced lockdown and closure of tennis courts stop her keeping fit and practising at home.

Jermaine, Jasmine’s father said;” Before lockdown we never trained in the garden but during lockdown Jasmine wanted to focus on her favourite sport ‘tennis’ more than others.”

The Dodgers squad player was one of the first back at the centre when permission was given by the government to re-open outdoor courts, she was training in the smaller squad sessions with tennis director Nigel Long and practising daily with her dad and younger sister Roxanna.

Jermaine added, “Jasmine is very motivated and often gets me up at 7am to hit the courts early. She sets her own alarm and wakes me up along with her sister to take her out to the courts or garden for a session first thing in the morning.”

Jasmine started playing tennis about 18 months ago and joined Totally Tennis after attending one of the club’s free open days which was her first real introduction to tennis. She loved the open day so much that her parents signed up her up for the weekly Dodgers squad sessions. She has also attended the club’s school holiday tennis camps and played in some competitions at the indoor centre.

Since lockdown, tennis has proved to the one sport she wanted to do in her daily exercise time, drawing from squad session activities she has enjoyed playing with her younger sister and father.

Alongside tennis Jasmine enjoys participating in a lot of other sports. She started gymnastics from the age of one which included ball co-ordination skills that has helped with her tennis, she also participates in swimming, athletics, and kickboxing. She plays in a FA U10 girls football team and competes in kickboxing competitions.

Jermaine said of his daughter’s dedication, “She always tells me and her younger sister, if you train hard you will become the best. It’s a very simple motto but one she has lived through all her sports and is now bringing this mindset into tennis.”

“Jasmine loves being on court. Her passion comes from the energy of the sport. Having competed in kickboxing tournaments for many years she has enjoyed the ownership of individual competition. She loves the pace and variety of movement along with the strategy in tennis. Similar to her martial arts and other sports. Tennis embodies all of the different sports that she has practiced over the last few years.“

Well done Jasmine! Keep up the motivation and hard work.

Photos kindly provided and used with permission of Jermaine Paul

September Squad Term

With the summer holidays now over it’s back to school and the return of the Totally Tennis Junior Squads which form part of the club’s junior programme coached by our team of LTA licensed coaches. Totally Tennis juniors squads are run throughout the year designed for children aged from four years upwards that start with mini tennis nets and sponge balls and work up to full sized courts and yellow balls. Every child is given an appropriate squad to join, usually guided by age.

Mini Development Squads (Under 10’s) include Pirates (4-6 years), Indians (6-8 years), Dodgers (8-9 years) and Giants (9-10 years). Development Squads (Over 10’s) include A, B and C squads are for older players aged eleven and over. Performance Squads include the invitational mini performance squads of Red, Orange and Green for talented players and Yellow squads are for older players in the U12 to U18 categories.

The 2018 autumn term started on 4th September and will run for sixteen weeks until Friday 20^th December 2019 (sessions run throughout half term). There are Open Weeks held during the last week of term in March, July & December where parents are invited to watch their children’s progress during an on court session. Sessions take place at the indoor centre in the War Memorial Park as well as some sessions at Hampshire Court.

For more information about the squad programme and session fees telephone 01256 358816 or visit the website www.totallytennis.co.uk/squads 

 

 

 

 

TENNIS TIPS | TIP 39: HITTING A SHORT ANGLED VOLLEY IN DOUBLES

Follow the weekly tennis tips by Totally Tennis Head Coach James McIntosh designed to improve your game.

Tip 39: Hitting A Short Angled Volley in Doubles

When approaching into the net in doubles try using a short angled volley cross court when you have pushed your opponent back. Try to take the pace of the ball by using a bit of backspin.

Wrong: Strings are facing down the line

Correct: Racket angle is facing cross court.

Read all the previous tips in the Tennis Tip tab – totallytennis.wordpress.com/tennis-tips/

TENNIS TIPS | TIP 38: Hitting An Inside Forehand

Follow the weekly tennis tips by Totally Tennis Head Coach James McIntosh designed to improve your game.

Tip 38: Hitting An Inside Forehand

Hit an inside in forehand when you have pushed your opponent out of court and you have an easier more central ball to hit into the space.

Wrong: Racket strings are pointing cross court

Correct: Strings are pointing down the line into the space

Read all the previous tips in the Tennis Tip tab – totallytennis.wordpress.com/tennis-tips/

 

 

Tennis Tips | Tip 37: Serving Down The T

Follow the weekly tennis tips by Totally Tennis Head Coach James McIntosh designed to improve your game.

Tip 37: Serving Down The T

Serve down the T on the deuce side to reduce your opponents angles on the return.

Wrong: Aiming across court

Correct: Aiming for the T

Read all the previous tips in the Tennis Tip tab – totallytennis.wordpress.com/tennis-tips/

Tennis Tips | Tip 36: Hitting With More Height Behind The Baseline

Follow the weekly tennis tips by Totally Tennis Head Coach James McIntosh designed to improve your game.

Tip 36: Hitting With More Height Behind The Baseline

To get more height over the net make sure your racket is below the ball so you can hit up the back of it. This will help you to hit with more height when pushed behind the baseline and under pressure giving you more time to recover.

Wrong: Racket too high

Correct: Racket is below the ball so you can hit up the back of it.

Read all the previous tips in the Tennis Tip tab – totallytennis.wordpress.com/tennis-tips/

TENNIS TIPS | TIP 35: Keep Your Eye On The Ball

Follow the weekly tennis tips by Totally Tennis Head Coach James McIntosh designed to improve your game.

Tip 35: Keep your eye on the ball

Keep your eye on the ball and and your head still when hitting the ball as this will help you to hit cleaner with a good contact point.

Wrong: Head has moved even before hitting

Correct: Head stayed still

Read all the previous tips in the Tennis Tip tab – totallytennis.wordpress.com/tennis-tips/

TENNIS TIPS | TIP 34: BE IN A GOOD READY POSITION

Follow the weekly tennis tips by Totally Tennis Head Coach James McIntosh designed to improve your game.

Tip 34: Be In A Good Ready Position

Make sure you are ready with your racket up and in front of you. This will help your set up when preparing for your forehand.

Wrong:  Racket down and not prepared

Correct: Good ready position with racket in front

Read all the previous tips in the Tennis Tip tab – totallytennis.wordpress.com/tennis-tips/

TENNIS TIPS | TIP 33: Stepping In With The Left Foot On A Forehand Volley

Follow the weekly tennis tips by Totally Tennis Head Coach James McIntosh designed to improve your game.

Tip 33: Stepping In With The Left Foot On A Forehand Volley

Make sure you step in with your left foot on your forehand volley. This will help you move forwards and make sure you get your contact point out in front of your body.

Wrong: Right foot forward

Correct: Right foot forward and contact point in front of body

Read all the previous tips in the Tennis Tip tab – totallytennis.wordpress.com/tennis-tips/