For more recent features, please see the Articles and Resources categories in the left margin of every page.
12/16/05 - 2005 ATP Tour Year in Review Quiz
Test your recall of tennis highlights from the ATP Tour in 2005.
12/02/05 - 2005 WTA Tour Year in Review Quiz
Test your recall of tennis highlights from the WTA Tour in 2005.
11/18/05 - Photo Lesson: The Two-Handed Backhand on the Rise
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the two-handed backhand on the rise.
11/04/05 - Photo Lesson: The Semi-Open, Semi-Western Forehand
Stop-action photos illustrate this step-by-step lesson on the semi-open, Semi-Western forehand.
10/21/05 - Seven Little Tennis Riddles
Solve seven tennis riddles ranging from trivial to technical.
10/07/05 - Book Review - The Physics and Technology of Tennis
Review of a book by Howard Brody, Rod Cross, and Crawford Lindsey that explores the physics of racquets, strings, balls, court surfaces, and strokes.
09/23/05 - Singles Positioning and Placement FAQ
How to position yourself on the court and where to aim your forehands, backhands, volleys, and overheads in offensive and defensive situations.
09/10/05 - Should the WTA Injury Time-Out Rule Be Changed?
In light of the Mary Pierce vs. Elena Dementiva singles semifinal of the 2005 US Open, consider the arguments on both sides of the question of whether the WTA's injury time-out rule should be changed. Is the current rule unfair to the other player, or would changing it be unduly harsh on the injured player and lead to worse performances for the audience?
09/02/05 - Photo Study of the Points of Contact for One-Handed Backhands
Photos illustrate this comparison of the ideal points of contact for the Modified Eastern, Full Eastern, Continental, and Western one-handed backhand styles.
08/22/05 - Backhand FAQ
Answers to questions on grips, stances, spins, and one hand versus two.
08/05/05 - Forehand FAQ
Answers to your questions about the Eastern, Semi-Western, and Western styles; open and square stances; and when to use topspin, slice, and flat strokes.
07/22/05 - Step-by-Step: How to Hit the High Backhand Volley
Stop-action photos illustrate this lesson on how to hit the high backhand volley.
07/08/05 - Volleys Quiz
A fun quiz on the positioning, grips, spins, and placement used for volleys in tennis.
06/24/05 - Beginners Getting Started FAQ
Answers to your questions on how to get started playing tennis. Beginners will find help on the best racquets, balls, and shoes to buy; when and how to take lessons; how to practice; and how to have more fun playing.
06/10/05 - Windmill or Sky Hook Overhead Smash - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a windmill or sky hook overhead smash, with instructional comments on strategic uses, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
05/27/05 - One-Handed Backhand On the Rise - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a one-handed backhand on the rise, with instructional comments on strategic advantages, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
05/13/05 - How to Handle an All-Court Opponent
Strategies and tactics you can try against the most complete type of tennis opponent, the all-court player.
04/29/05 - High Forehand Volley - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a high forehand volley, with instructional comments on strategic purpose, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
04/15/05 - Photo Tour of the One-Handed Backhand Grips
Close-up photos of the Full Eastern, Modified Eastern, Continental, and Western one-handed backhand grips for tennis, with comments on their strengths and weaknesses for topspin, slice, and flat backhands.
04/01/05 - Forehand and Backhand Half Volleys - Tennis Videos and Analysis
Video clips of forehand and backhand half volleys, with instructional comments on footwork, backswing, timing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
03/18/05 - How to Handle The Spin Meister
How to find the right strategy and tactics against the heavy topspins, backspins, and sidespins of the spin meister.
03/04/05 - Swinging Volley - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a swinging volley, with instructional comments on strategic uses, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
02/18/05 - Photo Tour of the Two-Handed Backhand Grips
Close-up photos of each of the major two-handed backhand grips for tennis, with comments on strengths and weaknesses.
02/04/05 - Twist Serve - Video and Analysis
A tennis lesson using full-speed and slow-motion videos to help you learn the twist serve, one of the two kick serves.
01/21/05 - Close-Up Photo Tour of the Forehand Grips
Close-up photos of each of the forehand grips for tennis, with comments on history and major strengths and weaknesses.
01/07/05 - Forehand Drop Volley - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a forehand drop volley, with instructional comments on strategic purpose, grips, footwork, backswing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
12/24/04 - Overhead Smash - Video and Analysis
Video clip of an overhead smash, with instructional comments on grips, footwork, backswing, timing, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
12/10/04 - Step-by-Step - How to Hit the Forehand Drop Shot
Stop-action photos illustrate this tennis lesson on how to hit the forehand drop shot, including strategic uses, grip, racquet preparation, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
11/26/04 - Step by Step - How to Hit the Jumping Backhand Overhead
Stop-action photos illustrate this lesson on how to hit the jumping backhand overhead, including grip, racquet preparation, swing, point of contact, and follow-through.
11/12/04 - Topspin Serve - Tennis Video and Analysis
A tennis lesson using full-speed and slow-motion videos to help you learn the topspin serve, one of the two kick serves used primarily as second serves in intermediate and advanced tennis.
10/29/04 - Sidespin Slice Backhand - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a one-handed sidespin slice backhand, with instructional comments on producing the stroke and how to use it strategically.
10/15/04 - Underhand Sidespin Serve - Video and Analysis
A tennis lesson using full-speed and slow-motion videos to help you learn the underhand sidespin serve, an extreme spin serve used commonly in early tennis history and as a rare surprise in contemporary tennis.
10/01/04 - Tennis Racquets Quiz
A fun, challenging quiz on tennis racquet balance, weight, swingweight, stringing patterns, power, sweet spots, and construction.
09/17/04 - Slice Serve - Video and Analysis
A tennis lesson using full-speed and slow-motion videos to help you learn the slice serve, which is used to pull receivers wide or jam them.
08/27/04 - Basic Two-Handed Backhand - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a basic two-handed backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
08/10/04 - One-Handed Topspin Backhand with Run - Video and Analysis
Video clip of running to, then hitting a one-handed topspin backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, run path, and racquet preparation.
07/23/04 - Return of Serve FAQ
Mental and physical service return techniques, including adjustments in your backswing and spin, that you can use to return hard, kick, and slice serves.
07/02/04 - Tennis Strings and Stringing Quiz
How tight is your knowledge of the effects of string type and stringing choices on racquet performance, arm safety, and stroke production?
06/18/04 - Slice Backhand - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a one-handed slice backhand, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
06/04/04 - Spin Serves FAQ
How to hit ten different spin serves, including topspin, twist, and slice; which spins are best for first and second serves; and which work best against tall or short receivers.
05/21/04 - Slice Forehand - Video and Analysis
Video clip of a slice forehand drive, with instructional comments on footwork, grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
05/07/04 - Topspin-Slice First Serve - Video and Analysis
A tennis lesson using full-speed and slow-motion videos to help you learn the topspin-slice serve, the most common first serve used in intermediate and advanced tennis.
04/23/04 - The Figure 8 Loosening Exercise for Tennis - Video and Comments
A pre-match tennis exercise, illustrated with a video clip, to loosen and warm up your arm, shoulder, and torso.
04/09/04 - Tennis in the Wind Tactics Quiz
A fun quiz for advanced tennis players on using the wind to enhance spin and placement tactics.
03/26/04 - Best Defensive Tennis Tactics
Proven tactics to toughen up your defensive tennis.
03/12/04 - Tennis Balls Quiz
A fun, self-grading quiz on tennis ball types, bounce and weight standards, history, and current use.
02/27/04 - Basic Serving FAQ
Answers to your questions about the basics of serving in tennis, including stance, toss, point of contact, and the serve swing.
02/13/04 - Basic One-Handed Topspin Backhand - Video with Analysis
Video clip of a basic, one-handed backhand with moderate topspin, using an Eastern backhand grip, with instructional comments on key points of grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
01/30/04 - Australian Open History Quiz
A fun quiz on the history of the Australian Open tennis tournament and its greatest players.
01/16/04 - Basic Eastern Forehand Video with Analysis
Video clip of a classic eastern topspin forehand, with instructional comments on key points of grip, stance, power production, and swing path.
01/16/04 - Eastern Topspin Forehand with Run - Video and Analysis
Video clip of running to, then hitting a classic eastern topspin forehand, with instructional comments on footwork, run path, and racquet preparation.
01/16/04 - Extreme Crosscourt Eastern Forehand - Video and Analysis
Video clip of running to, then hitting a crosscourt topspin eastern forehand with a same-side follow-through, and instructional comments on the swing path and balance used for this somewhat rarer stroke.
01/02/04 - How to Hit the Half Volley
Tips on grip choices and swing mechanics to make your half volley a reliable defensive shot and a potential weapon.
