A Little Voice
May 12, 2026
387 and counting. Yes,sir. That’s the number of times in the past fifty years that it’s happened. A player on court, at a party, or in the club lobby has stopped me to say…”I heard you in my head in my match last week”… or “I wish you were in my head for my match […]
Firecracker Feet
April 22, 2026
The 321 Firecracker Footwork Drill This is a terrific drill I found online to increase split steps, energy, and explosive movement. There are either five or six stations with 3 across the baseline and 2 or 3 two feet inside the blue line. The baseline stations have 3 low plastic discs spread 12-15 inches apart. […]
Mel
April 10, 2026
On each early morning trip to the river near Deckers, I drive around a bend and there he is. Tall, dark, and handsome, he pays little attention to the strange machines zooming by. Mel is always alone, never hurried, and content as an infant with a bottle as he munches on the plentiful grass at […]
The Pattern
April 10, 2026
Coach Randy Ross obviously read Bill Talbert’s classic book The Game of Singles in Tennis written 75 years ago. Randy teaches players that playing cross court in singles is the percentage play. He stresses that the net is lower, the court is longer (4.5 ft.), and the ideal recovery position (center of possible returns) is […]
Elvis Rocks
April 8, 2026
A husband and wife team were in drills this week. Both players have plus forehands, improving net games and backhands, and are junk yard dogs. (hustle like there’s no tomorrow) When we began playing points, the missing link was immediately apparent. Both possessed anemic serves which, on a 1-10 scale, were a 2. One player […]
Silly Little Things
February 25, 2026
Andre Agassi could have been the first player to use string dampeners to lessen the’ping’ sound at impact. His was a rubber band tied in two knots around the two central vertical strings. These days, we see a lot of worm dampeners that extend across the entire width of the string bed. Here’s my take […]
The 21 Drill
February 16, 2026
This drill features 2 lines and players begin in the center with David Bailey toggle steps and a split step. I call them Ali steps too. The players are given a free point and begin with 15-love. They play the first two balls cross court and the last down the side and large targets are […]
Squirreltown
February 7, 2026
It’s just a guess but it seems that today is day number seventy-nine or so 79 days of delectable Planter’s peanuts laid out on the back porch for Tiny and his furry friends The protagonist and pesky character arrived early today and with an expression of great disdain seemed to mouth the McEnroe words “You […]
The Golden Nugget
February 6, 2026
In every life there are pinnacle moments when God smiles upon us and all is good For balance sake perhaps there are seasons of storms that rock the boat that once sailed so smoothly and lulled us into believing that He had wrapped us securely in a cocoon of contentment This cocoon is a mirage […]
One great new artist
January 21, 2026
There are more great new artists than ever and Imani Shiloh is terrific! Just click on address below. And…if you’re looking for a great read, try Braveing The Way by Laurel Fox https://youtu.be/mVU3Gf_Q7No
Anam Cara
January 21, 2026
Anam Cara May you be blessed with good friends. May you learn to be a good friend to yourself. May you be able to journey to that place in your soul where there is great love, warmth, feeling, and forgiveness. May this change you. May it transfigure that which is negative, distant, or cold in […]
Shakapotomous
December 12, 2025
A player has a well orchestrated backhand unit turn and makes an aggressive swing at the two hander. Occasionally, the ball finds the sweet spot and a beautiful topspin cross court finds its target. More often than not, the ball caroms with a thud from the bottom edge of the racquet and goes fifteen higher […]
Michelle S and The Kinesthetic Trick
December 4, 2025
Michelle Sie scheduled a lesson in 1988 and said that her second serve was nowhere to be found. As she began hitting a few, it was obvious what the primary cause was. Michelle had an aggressive forehand using a semi western grip and just carried that grip to her serve. It produced a screwball […]
Cwaaazzzyy Great
February 27, 2024
Sally and I have enjoyed watching American Idol for years. The talent seems to get better each year with never heard of artists from little towns trying to make an impression on the judges. A few years ago, Luke Bryan was nearly speechless after watching a fellow named Alejandro masterfully play the guitar. This week, […]
Carly Cat
February 27, 2024
A not so young cowboy learned of the passing of three former teammates last year. My, oh my, could they play! Their exit from this life prompted a thought. What would I, if my number was called, like to leave our daughter. Not having a million dollars or a condo in Vail, perhaps something simpler […]
Never enough
February 13, 2024
We could say it a million times Sing till our lungs might burst Shout from the mountain tops Write until our fingers bleed But it wouldn’t be enough We could tell everyone we meet Write letters to the editor Hold signs all day on the street Carve it in every tree in the forest […]
The Right Stuff
February 13, 2024
A woman and her husband decided to bake a cake. The man chose to taste each individual ingredient…baking powder—-disgusting, raw eggs—-ugh, vanilla extract—-yuck. But once they were mixed together and baked, the results were a flavorful chocolate cake. The author said that sometimes, like the distasteful cake ingredients, it takes messy trials and tribulations to […]
Masterful
February 11, 2024
“The numbers that govern the operation of our universe are calibrated with mind-boggling precision so that life can exist. The very physics of the universe are so precisely tuned that they defy the explanation that the universe is merely the result of chance.” Lee Strobel ”The universe is the handiwork of a master designer.” […]
What You’re Saying