Search Results for: feed
The half volley
February 16, 2026
Dennis Van der Meer had a neat hack for fixing a half volley that has a downward angle of attack and underspin. The Master would feed balls to the player and have them touch the racquet edge to the court prior to contact. He’d show the player and encourage them to create a bump with […]
Mary
January 1, 2026
Mary booked a private lesson and arrived to be asked these two questions …”if you could improve one or two things today, what would they be? “ When she said backhand and serve, the second question was…”would you prefer that anything we explore today would be subtle and not damaging to brain cells?” ”Absolutely”, she […]
Carlos Goffi
December 26, 2025
Carlos Goffi was a coach of a young left handed player from Douglaston, New York who became the number 1 player in the world. Can you name him? Goffi wrote the book Tournament Tough and is credited with using a stoplight concept to assist players in shot selection and point play. Many coaches have, like […]
Agassi
December 4, 2025
Andre Agassi has been a favorite player since we saw his dazzling play when he was ten years old. i decided to name this drill after him. The coach hand feeds 4 balls and the first ball is … Average speed. The second is… Accelerated and the third and fourth are… Agassi Ask […]
Tennis learnings
December 30, 2023
A couple of recent tennis coaching scenarios. A player trying to break into the ranks of 3.0 play has the potential as he’s on court more than five hours a week. Dave has a chance to develop a plus forehand if he can reduce mishits on the bottom edge of his racquet and center the […]
Peter Burwash and ATOB
November 13, 2023
The year was 1983 and a very young cowboy was in Miami for a coaching workshop. A gentlemen named Peter Burwash was introduced and his name was new to most in attendance. Two things he said have lingered in my skull for forty years. The first was a story he told about traveling to France […]
Meaning
October 30, 2022
It was dark outside when I woke up this week. The mornings are getting colder as well (yes, even here in Los Angeles). I like that The morning gets your attention with its briskness, and I love things that get my attention. My friend and TM teacher Bob Roth, who runs the David Lynch Foundation, […]
Revolutionary new tennis product
July 1, 2019
As a tennis coach, I receive match feedback each week from players of all levels. The report that came in today was disconcerting to say the least. In a recent 3.5 women’s doubles match, a player deemed it ‘fine and dandy’ to scream (louder than Sharapova) on each hit. But…it wasn’t on the strike of […]
No guarantees
September 18, 2018
A seven hour day on the river and only one brown trout to show for my efforts. A very young cowboy fished to a feeding fish for thirty minutes with no engagement before offering the spot to another angler. In five minutes, he hooked and netted the sixteen inch trout. Oh well. As noted author […]
Wowser
August 18, 2018
This gives new meaning to the phrase ‘never give up.’ Maybe sit down with your child…watch this together, and ask for their feedback. https://youtu.be/xjejTQdK5OI
Big bad brute
August 5, 2018
We were in Breckenridge last week and ran into a huge, must have been 1,200 lb. bull moose. It was feeding leisurely on birch trees in a startled resident’s backyard. No, this is not a foolish young cowboy taking a photo but one fella did venture twenty five yards from the brute to snap it’s […]
Sadie
November 22, 2017
We agreed to try it just once. Having grown very comfortable looking after dogs, we said ‘sure,’ when Ellen called to ask if we could care for her cat for three days. I guess that’s how you learn. The fact that she brought enough food to feed two Labrador retrievers for a week should have […]
German browns
September 14, 2017
This is The South Platte River where large German brown trout prowl the softer water in search of small fish and other tasty treats. Occasionally, they can be fooled by soft hackle flies and streamers if drifted near their feeding stations. When they hit, hold on but don’t force things. Why, I know a fella […]
Tennis momentum
July 28, 2017
In the last couple of years, tennis commentators have commonly used the term ‘business end of the set,’ when describing the mindset needed to close out a set. Whether it’s 4 all, or 4-3, these are times that demand poise, persistence and positive shot making. A player or team must be relentless but not reckless…willing […]
Smile
May 7, 2017
It was quite a trip to The South Platte River at Eleven Mile Canyon. This has to be one of the most scenic places in Colorado. The rainbows and brown trout were very spirited and the views of snow capped Pikes Peak were extraordinary. A very young cowboy decided to take highway 67 back to […]
Evolution
February 17, 2017
Throughout history, sharks have evolved. Researchers have discovered that they have the capacity to become extraordinary mimics. Here is all the evidence you need. A great white shark doing its best impersonation of a friendly porpoise. Ok…so the big fella needs a little more practice. Just give him some time and we’ll check again in […]
Memorable
November 2, 2016
Oh sure, I’d like you to think that this very young cowboy is skilled enough to catch this gorgeous rainbow. Truth is, a rookie like me has to be content with the seven inch brown trout caught yesterday on The South Platte River. He fought like the one pictured here and slipped merrily back into […]
The tennis teeter totter
October 19, 2016
It was apparent at The 4A State Tennis Tournament last weekend that…the better the player, the more respect they have for conversion tennis. A conversion used to mean winning 3 points or 3 games in a row. The accepted wisdom was either would prove a player or team had captured significant momentum in the match. […]
What if…
September 10, 2016
What if something amazing happens today? Every morning when I wake up, it always seems too early. I always opt for the snooze button at least once. Eventually when I do get out of bed, I will: shower, do my hair and makeup, get dressed, take out my dog Bruin, eat breakfast, drive 1.5 miles […]
A mixed bag
May 30, 2016
One of my neighbors used to have a beautiful tree in her front yard. Her Dad had planted it for her when it was nothing more than a twig and for years it seemed to barely grow at all. Yet, after a time it started to shoot towards the sky with amazing speed. Soon it […]
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