Tennis shoe Q & A

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Online Shop Manager 

To kick off the opening of our online store towpathtennisshop.com, featuring the latest and greatest tennis sneakers out there, we felt it was appropriate to dedicate a few posts on this essential tennis gear. We’re asked a lot of questions when it comes to the shoe department so we compiled a few general answers so you can better equip yourself the next time you’re ready to buy shoes.

Can’t I play in my running shoes or cross-trainers?

Nike Air Vapor Advantage

They’re all sneakers so you don’t really need a specific shoe for tennis right? Wrong! All sneakers are essentially made best suited for different types of surfaces or activities. When it comes to tennis, you need to make sure the sneaker you buy has a smooth non-marking sole with traction, nice cushion, and strong structural support for the areas you’ll need it most, which in tennis will be the area around your toes, ball of your foot and ankle. Think about it, tennis has you cutting and moving in all different directions at a moment’s notice. Your shoe needs to do the same without putting you at risk for injury. Any other sneaker that is not made specifically for tennis like a running shoe or cross-trainers may have too jagged of a sole, too flat arch support, or too flimsy of an outsole, where a rolled ankle or knee injury is a nightmare waiting to happen.

How much space do I want to leave for my toes?

A good rule of thumb is to go a ½ size up from your regular dress shoe. This is because you want to leave enough space for your toes as they tend to swell during play. We always suggest to our players to move around in the shoe they’re trying and to do the ‘stop-short’ test. (Imagine chasing down a drop shot from the baseline and having to put on the breaks before toppling the net.) If your toes are grazing the brim of your shoe without feeling totally crammed or broken afterward, you found a good fit.

Also, if you're one to get a lot of blisters after you play that may indicate that your shoe is too big since your foot is sliding around too much--we see this a lot with teen boys! The next time you're trying a pair of shoes on, stand up and have someone feel for your big toe. You should have about ½ an inch to play with from your toe to the tip of the shoe. 

Is one brand better than the other?

That's hard to determine since all brands have entirely different fits so for your personal preference, you may be biased toward a particular brand. For instance, if it’s style that appeals to you then Adidas might be your shoe. If you have a narrow foot, Nike might be a better fit. If you’re looking for cloud-like cushion then give Babolat a try. For those that are looking for support structured like a tank, then by all means try K-Swiss. But just because we say a shoe is one way doesn’t mean you’ll likely agree, so don’t write that brand off immediately. All brands try to be versatile with different styles of their shoe, so Nike Zoom Vapor may feel too tight, but the Nike Air Max Cage might fit perfectly.

For any other questions concerning the fit of a shoe or tennis shoes in general, ask any of our representatives at the front desk for help. We guarantee we'll find something that will fit your needs!

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When to replace your tennis racquet

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Online Shop Manager

It might be because you two have been in a long term relationship, or there's been a lot of tension between you both lately. Or maybe it's because you can't help but let your eye wander to the newest models out there. Whatever the reason, you can't help but wonder if it's time to buy a new racquet. But when do you know when it's time for a change?

Signs you need a new racquet:

•  Cracks - As much as you try to keep your racquet in pristine condition, it's going to see a lot of wear and tear over time. But what to watch out for are any signs of visible cracking on the frame, or if you hear rattling from inside. Once a crack is formed, your racquet is no longer able to perform at optimum level and the chance of it surviving another stringing is slim to none. It might just be a matter of hitting a few groundstrokes before it splits completely in half!
• Damaged grommets - When your grommets start to wear, your strings take a toll since they no longer have that added protection to keep them from easily snapping. Normally you can order new grommets to bring life back to your racquet, however, you may be stuck when you are unable to find new grommets for older models. 
• Over 10 years old - You should definitely be looking for a new racquet if you've had it for more than 10 years. This is basically because the technology is drastically different from then and now. We understand you might be attached to your old friend, but racquets today are designed to only improve your game-why not just give it a try?

There might not be any particular reason you need a new racquet other than you're ready for a change or like to keep up with the latest models. That's perfectly fine, just be smart with how you buy.

1. Always demo a racquet before purchasing--you wouldn't buy a car without driving it!
2. Keep a budget in mind but know that the average price for a quality racquet will be around $150-200. Always check our demo bin for sales since you might find a good bargain for a quality racquet that is only a couple seasons old. 
3. Finally, focus on the weight and feel of the racquet rather than the color or what professional is playing with what. 

If you follow these guidelines and find it speaks to you, this year you'll be sporting a new racquet that everyone will envy!

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How do you know if a tennis ball is bad?

Kristianne Bontempo | Towpath Tennis Employee | Online Shop Manager

We see it all the time. Whether you're a professional or just your average player, we are all prone to testing our tennis balls to see if they're any good. But what exactly are we looking for? How do we know when a good ball goes bad?

There are a number of ways on how to check for a faulty tennis ball. The following steps will help you determine whether you have a bouncy happy ball or a dead rock.

1. Check the can - Before you peel the metal lid, you should be able to squeeze the can and feel some resistance due to the trapped air-pressure. If there is a lot of give in the plastic, it might not be sealed properly therefore depleting the new ball of any decent pressure.

   

   good vs. bad

2. Open the can - It should make a 'pop' when you pull away the metal seal. No 'pop' = no air pressure. 
3. Inspect the ball - It should be neither too fuzzy nor too bald. A healthy ball will also have a bright yellow glow. 
4. Squeeze the ball - A ball that has gone bad will be as hard as a rock or extra squishy. A good ball will have some resistance and give.
5. Bounce the ball - You should be able to bounce a ball with little force only to have it bounce lightly back to you. If the ball barely lifts off from the ground, it has most likely flat-lined. 

If all else fails and you're still unsure whether your tennis balls are good, then hit the ball! A dead ball will not only feel heavy when you take a good whack at it, but it will also make a low unmistakable 'thud' when it hits the strings. 

All tennis balls are going to have different life cycles depending on the player, court surface, and surrounding environment. However, for the average player playing a couple times a week, the majority of balls will have a life span of 4-5 matches. If you're ever wondering what to do with your unwanted balls, we are always sorting through by setting aside the better half for lessons and drills, and giving those past their prime to dog lovers, schools, and anyone that doesn't mind what they're hitting with-just as long as they're hitting!

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How to become a better competitor

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

Junior players Andrew Ong & Irene Norman 

are the recipients of the Diane McNeal 

Sportsmanship award at this year's annual 

meeting of the North East Ohio Tennis 

Association.

Despite a lot of talk about notions of self-respect and respect for others, it has been said that players don’t always necessarily display a suitable attitude toward their peers. Here is where the balance is--you have to be able to express how you feel, but it’s equally important to take into account the feelings of those around you. One who is a good sport has respect for the game (knows the rules, traditions, courtesy, and expectations of being a competitor), has respect for themselves (no comments like “I suck”), and has respect for their opponent and/or partner (no comments such as “ that player is a pusher", or "we would've won if my partner had played better"). Having respect for yourself, your competitor/partner, and for those that are making the event possible (the tournament director, officials, captains, and your team) is what it's all about.

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The ability of having respect (or good sportsmanship) is going to carry you a long way in this world. The wins and losses will be forgot by many, but people will not forget how they were treated when they interacted with you as a competitor, team member, or spectator for that matter. Next time on the court or during your next match, make the effort to work on your own respect for the game--trust us, you'll enjoy it that much more!

  
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How to lose graciously

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

Did you know that if you play this game you are going to have to learn how to lose? There is a difference between losing vs. taking a loss and finding a purpose. In order to improve when you're beginning to play tennis, you are going to have to accept so many losses that it seems like there is no end to it.

Nobody says they like losing but you have to be able to enjoy the process, which is more important than a particular win or loss. You have to learn how to overcome the setbacks and see that progress comes over a period of time. You also have to learn how to be a gracious loser and congratulate the winner, while always keeping in mind that there will be another day and another meeting that just might have a different outcome.

So how do you learn to lose and like it?

• Your losses reveal your true competitiveness. After a loss, are you ready to throw in the towel or get back in the ring? Champions like Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams have short memories of every loss and are ready to return to the arena with a more determined attitude and will.   

• A loss can reveal your weaknesses (even if you don't want to admit to having any). But this can embolden you to work on those holes in your game and avoid making the same mistakes.

• A loss can challenge you. You win alone, you lose alone. Take responsibility for the reasons that you lost, and look at how you can change them in the future. 

• No tears in tennis. You have to go onto the court knowing it's not the end of the world if you lose. The score is only one small measure of the outcome for your effort. 

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What is shadow stroking?

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

Have you watched players such as Maria Sharapova, NovakDjokovic, or Marion Bartoli shadow stroke? They step back from a point they've just played and they practice a forehand or a backhand, sometimes to an excessive amount. But does this practice of shadow stroking actually work or are they just wasting energy?

               

upmysport.com

I think for any top player, we should never assume they are simply wasting energy. What these players are actually doing is a “computer reset” for their muscles to remember a stroke they practiced hundreds of thousands a time. Tennis and stroke production comes down to a collection of movements that add up to a finished dynamic product. That product is your tennis game, so when you play every movement counts. The more times you shadow stroke your forehand for instance, the quicker it’ll be to find your groove.  When you’re confident about your strokes, you allow yourself to be loose and agile where you won’t easily fall victim to breaking down under pressure. You know exactly how you should feel on the court. There’s a reason they call it muscle memory. 

However, please note that your stroke is dynamic. There is no such thing as a ‘finished’ forehand or backhand. Your game is a never-ending experiment so when you find the right groove, try to capture it by practicing shadow stroking. The more you do it, the less likely there will be a breakdown of a shot. Remember, it was Djokovic against Federer who hit the loosest, most fantastic forehand to change the outcome of the 2011 U.S. Open finals. Now do you think shadow stroking is a waste?

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Play as good as you practice

Dallas Aleman | Towpath Tennis Owner | Tennis Guru

Why is it that you can play well in practice or in a lesson and then when you play a match, you play poorly at times?

hopnews.com

It may be the way you practice or the type of lesson you take. If your practice partner or pro is always hitting the ball back in your strike zone where your strokes are grooving, then you are preparing yourself for only one type of ball. You are essentially ‘playing catch’ where no ball really challenges you. This type of practice is great to correct a defective stroke but it’s not so good for preparing you for matches.

During actual competition, you are going to see the player that hits with spin, drop shots, uses the whole court, or the dreaded moon ball. They are your nightmare and you are cannon fodder for them. That is unless you know how to turn things around to your advantage. By beating the enemy you must learn their game and if you can’t seem to figure it out during practices, then match play is your best bet. Challenge yourself to find those types of shots and players that don’t just ‘play catch’ with you.

When you find yourself struggling against a player that doesn’t fall into your catching game, remind yourself this--you learn to improve the best when you are struggling in an uncomfortable situation.

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