The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

For those who love the game of tennis but do not regularly play, there are many reasons why you should join a local tennis club. Depending on your tennis ability and your reason for playing- whether it is socially or competitively- there are different tennis clubs which suit different people. No matter your tennis ability, there IS a tennis club for you!

While tennis clubs provide players with access to competition tennis, they also offer so much more for those who just enjoy the occasional hit. Clubs that accommodate social tennis are perfect for this. Every player has to start from somewhere, so don’t be afraid of not being up to the standard of others. At my own tennis club, Highmoor Uniting Tennis Club, players are matched up fairly in doubles matches, so that you are always able to play with and against players of a similar standard.

Tennis is also one of the best sports which maximises exercise without sacrificing enjoyment. If you are looking to improve your fitness you will be amazed at what a few social sets once or twice a week will do for you. You also get the chance to meet new people.

So go and find a tennis club near you and join. There are no more excuses left, and only a lot to gain!

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

After a very successful Australian Open we once again witnessed fighting spirits, noble sportsmanship and sublime skill. However, we are also left to ponder many questions – What does 2011 have in store?

First there is the question raised by many, after Djokovic’s second grand slam win, were we witnessing the changing of the guards? Both Murray and Djokovic are similar in age and according to many have potential to get even better. Both made the final, with Nadal losing in the quarter finals and Federer being clearly outplayed in the semis. Does this mean that these two players as well as others coming through will overtake Nadal and Federer at the top? Perhaps they will, but then again we have heard this for many years now every time Federer or Nadal lose a match.

While the gap probably is closing, I think a lot of this hype is nonsense. Before the Australian Open, Federer and Nadal had won 21 out of the last 23 grand slam titles. We have to remember Nadal primarily lost his match due to injury and he is also at a similar age to Djokovic and Murray, so he isn’t exactly aging. Federer on the other hand still has a few good years in him and at his absolute best can be unstoppable. I think between them they will win the next three grand slams in 2011.

Overall on the men’s side of the draw I think we can expect the rankings to shuffle around. While the top six or so players will most likely remain inside the top 10, I think other players such as Andy Roddick may find themselves outside the top 10 for the first time in a long time. Roddick simply has to be more aggressive on his groundstrokes and cannot rely solely on his serve to get him through. I think Lleyton Hewitt will make his way back into the top 30 while John Isner will be close to the top 10.

On the women’s side of the draw things have really opened up. There is now uncertainty at the top of the rankings, and gone are the days where we could pencil in a Serena-Venus final. Serena Williams is still injured and how well she recovers from this no one can be sure of. Venus seems less threatening recently too. Combine this with the fact that the world number one hasn’t won a grand slam and things are looking cloudy. Kim Clijsters seems to be the obvious favourite going into grand slams this year, especially after her recent Australian Open victory. Yet she has never won the French Open or Wimbledon. So can she break this trend?

The time is now for Sam Stosur to step it up and take out her maiden grand slam title. She has been a French Open finalist before and with others around her having problems this is a great chance for her. Unfortunately for her, she is currently not in the best form, but who knows what can happen… It would be great if she could win though!

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

Well what an Australian Open it has been so far. Just when we thought everything seemed to be going to plan, the last couple of days have brought a brand new twist.

Nadal is out. Federer is out. For the first time in three years we are going to have a grand slam final without either players participating. While it is exciting that other players will now have a fantastic opportunity, it is also sad to see two great champions fall.

Even as I have typically been a Roger Federer fan, I have always had the upmost respect for Rafael Nadal. Yet that respect has only skyrocketed since Nadal’s exit. In obvious pain, he fought on since the second game of the match, fighting for every point, knowing deep down it would not lead to victory. To me these are the characteristics of a true warrior, and it was one of the finest displays of respect and sportsmanship seen in a long time.

While Roger Federer also lost in straight sets, it was under different circumstances. Despite coming in with good form, Federer was convincingly outplayed by Novak Djokovic on the day. While you cannot take anything away from Djokovic, as he was near flawless all night, Federer was not at his absolute best. He made too many unforced errors and struggled tactically to expose Djokovic’s weaknesses. I do believe that this was just a bad day for Federer though, and that he will still have one of his best seasons ever this year.

Whether up against Murray or Ferrer in the final, I believe Djokovic will win the tournament. His flat hitting will test both players and take away their time to defend. His speed should prevent his opponent from penetrating through the court. Also of course, he is in great form!

The women’s final looks like it will be a brilliant match. Both players have very similar game styles, and we can expect hard, hard hitting. Given this, it is almost impossible to predict a winner. I think Clijsters may just have a bit more versatility with her ability to find angles in the court, as well as having a slightly better retrieving ability.

With great drama having occurred already, I have no doubt that we are in for some cracker matches to finish off the tournament. I guess we will just have to wait until the French Open for hopefully another Federer- Nadal clash!

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

When selecting a tennis racquet there are many key features that you must take into consideration. These include the weight, head size, string pattern and grip size.

Weight –

While a heavier racquet is more powerful, a lighter racquet is more manoeuvrable and can therefore be swung faster which produces power. The only way to find out which one is best for you is to try them both for yourself.

If you want to upgrade your racquet but were comfortable with the weight of your previous racquet, try to find another tennis racquet similar in weight.

Head Size –

Head size can also influence the power generated from a racquet. Generally, a larger head size produces more power and a larger sweet spot. A smaller head size is used to gain extra control.

String Pattern –

The string pattern on a racquet is usually classified as either open or closed.

An open string pattern is one in which the strings are spaced further apart. This allows for more spin potential, however increases the chances of breaking a string.

A closed string pattern is handy for players seeking more control (less rebound), yet does not offer as much spin as an open string pattern.

Grip Size –

It is essential that the grip size on your tennis racquet is correct for your hand. A size too small or too large can result in wrist problems as well as being detrimental to your game. If you are unsure about which grip size you are, a Sportsmart staff member can help you in-store, or you can learn more by reading our article about grip size.

Be sure to head into Sportsmart and take advantage of the ‘Summer of Tennis Sale’ happening right now! Buy yourself a brand new tennis racquet at a great price and even try out a demo model.

As for the Australian Open, I am tipping a Federer – Soderling final with Federer to win, and a Clijsters – Wozniacki final with Clijsters to win.

Sportsmart Footwear Manager, Ryan Meggs

Tennis can be demanding on the body. It is important to choose the right tennis shoe to help avoid injury and to provide maximum cushioning, stability and support.

Two of our most popular styles of tennis shoes, in store now, are the Adidas Barricade 6.0 and the Nike Air Max Courtballistec 3.3.

Adidas Barricade 6.0

Our price $199  Smart Card member price $179

Worn by Andy Murray, Justine Henin and Maria Kirilenko

Key features:

* Extremely durable synthetic leather upper

* Lightweight

* Adidas Torsion system for mid-foot support and stability.

* Adidas adiprene and adiprene + for rear and fore foot cushioning.

* Tough-wearing Adiwear outsole with a 6-month guarantee.

Nike Air Max Courtballistec 3.3

Our price $179 Smart Card member price $169

Worn by Rafael Nadal

Key features:

* Lunarlon cushioning for a soft, bouncy ride

* Drag-on upper for superior durability

* Arch-fit for exceptional support

* Max Air unit in heel for maximum impact protection

Visit us in store for expert advice about which tennis shoe is best suited to you, and to try on our latest styles.

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

With the Australian tennis season well up and running, and the Australian Open on the way, many of us will be eagerly watching hoping to pick up some tips for our own game. Here are a few things to keep an eye on when watching the pros:

1) Listen to the footwork. When players are in a baseline rally, listen to the squeaks on the court. The squeaking indicates the footwork players go through before playing each stroke. You will often notice many small squeaks. This is because the key to footwork is to take many small steps to get into position, rather than just one or two big steps, otherwise known as lunges. So, when back on the court, practice always being on your toes.

2) Watch the follow-through of every shot. Whether backhand or forehand, pros follow through with their racquet well over their shoulder after hitting a shot. This is essential in tennis as it assists with control, power and top spin. Many of us get into bad habits of stabbing, slapping or chopping at the ball.

3) Watch out for the knee bend. The knee bend is vital in providing weight transference, and giving power to the serve. Andy Roddick demonstrates the best knee bend in serving, so keep an eye out for him.

4) Watch the ball toss in a serve. The ball toss is the most important part of the serve. Without an accurate ball toss, any consistent serving motion is not possible. When watching the pros play, note how they toss the ball in the air, rather than chucking it. Their arm remains in the air until the racquet swings through.

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

The key to training is quality over quantity. While it may often be fun to just whack the ball as hard as possible, this practice is not the most beneficial.

MATCH PRACTICE

Match practice is one of the best ways to improve your tennis game. Matches provide pressure situations, and allow you to practice coping with break points and other important points. The mental side of tennis is perhaps even more important than the physical side, and matches are an effective way to increase your mental toughness. Players who can serve out a set or play the deuce points without going into their ‘shell’ are often the best. Rafael Nadal is a classic example of this.

PLAYING POINTS

Another good tennis training method is to play points without actually serving. This involves one player feeding the ball directly to the other player at the baseline, and then the rally commencing from there with each player’s aim to win the point. Allocate a set number of points to be played before you begin. For example, you may decide to play 50 points and the final result may be 27-23. This method takes the cheap points through serving out of the equation, and improves your ability to win points through ground strokes and variation.

RALLYING

For more advanced tennis players, try rallying with another player while keeping the ball within the tramlines. This will increase your accuracy and confidence in hitting down the line.

SERVING

Finally, practice serving! This is often neglected, despite being arguably the most important stroke. Practice serving numerous times in a row while another player practices their returns.

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

Every racquet is unique, each with specific features usually fine-tuned to a particular game style. Whether it be Nadal’s topspin, Roddick’s serve or Federer’s sublime control, their respective racquets are all designed to accommodate their style of play.

When choosing a racquet for ourselves, we have to find a racquet that is best suited to our own game style, and the only way to do so is to try them out for yourself. Thankfully, Sportsmart recognises this, and has a fantastic program allowing tennis players to demo numerous racquets not just against the hit-up wall in the store, but you also get to take them home. I was able to take advantage of this, trying out my Wilson BLX Pro Open before making my decision.

I am usually useless when it comes to trying out new racquets, as I tend to need months to get used to everything! Yet when I picked up the Wilson BLX Pro Open it immediately felt good. I noticed great consistency in my ground strokes thanks to the large sweet spot, and I could generate great spin.

At first I had a bit of trouble finding my range, and struggled to hit the ball deep in the court. But after I hit up a bit more I could barely miss! It was great once I got used to it. It is very much an all-round racquet, with easy spin generation and power, both being balanced with great control.

My usual ‘lollipop’ serves transformed into ACTUAL serves … serves that can threaten the opponent and win cheap points! The ball carried right through to the fence after it bounced, which is always a good sign. There was also great flexibility with serving, allowing for a good kick-serve. The surprise for me with this tennis racquet was the volleying. The ball came off so well with a nice crisp feeling, and it was easy to aim.

Overall, this tennis racquet has no real weaknesses, and is very easy to use for players of all levels, unlike other racquets which can often be playable by the pros only. And if you are still not convinced, go and try it out at Sportsmart yourself. There is no risk of purchasing a racquet that is just not for you, and who knows, you may just find that secret weapon to take your game to the next level.

Check out the racquet and Sportsmart’s very cheap price here.

The winner of Sportsmart and Wilson’s tennis sponsorship program, Scott Lyons, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – tennis …

As we all know, tennis manufacturers worldwide are constantly developing new technologies to give a tennis racquet that extra bit of control, unprecedented power and crazy spin. We also know that we are naturally attracted to new clothing designs and styles. However, a good pair of tennis shoes is often at the top of the list for any tennis player. Sure they look good, but they are also essential in protecting our feet from immeasurable stress and strain.

Somewhere between the rain and the hail, I was able to try out my new pair of Adidas Barricade 6.0 tennis shoes. As expected, I was very impressed! I immediately noted the high level of support and cushioning, which made it nearly impossible for your feet to slide inside your shoe, while also providing a high level of comfort. I tested the shoes on an en tout cas tennis court, where in the past I have often had trouble with losing my grip on the court and sliding all over the place with a total lack of traction. Yet with these tennis shoes I had no trouble chasing down balls and rapidly changing direction. Hopefully this will mean the end of me constantly falling over!

Overall I found the strengths of the Barricade tennis shoes to be great traction, support, cushioning and light weight. While I found them to be brilliant on an en tout cas court, don’t be put off if you generally play on other surfaces – apparently they perform just as well, if not better, on any other court surface. While the Adidas Barricade 6.0 tennis shoes may cost a little more than other brands, it is definitely worth the extra cash. You simply cannot go wrong with these shoes, no matter how or where you play. Oh, and they look great too!