Your grip decides the angle of the racquet face at contact, and therefore how easy it is to hit topspin, flat drives, slices or volleys. There is no single best grip, but each shot has one or two that work well. Finding the bevels A racquet handle has eight sides, called bevels. For a right-hander … Read more
Many baseline players avoid the net because they feel exposed there. Yet a reasonable volley ends points quickly and puts pressure on opponents, and in doubles you cannot avoid it. The net game is less about talent than about a compact technique and good positioning. The volley: short and firm Use a continental grip so … Read more
Tennis is a relatively safe sport, but its repetitive movements and sudden sprints put specific stresses on the body. Most tennis injuries are overuse problems that build up gradually, which also means they can often be prevented. Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis) Pain on the outside of the elbow, made worse by gripping or backhands. It … Read more
Doubles is a different game from singles. Points are shorter, the net is more important, and the team that communicates better often beats the team with better individual strokes. Get to the net The fundamental rule of doubles is that the team controlling the net usually wins the point. Volleying from close to the net … Read more
Coaches often say tennis is played with the feet. Most errors that look like technical problems with the forehand or backhand are really positioning problems: the player arrived late, too close, or off balance. Better footwork makes every stroke easier. Ready position and split step Between shots, stand with feet slightly wider than your shoulders, … Read more
Racquet marketing promises more power, more spin and more control all at once. In reality, every specification involves a trade-off. Understanding the main ones helps you pick a racquet that fits your level and style. Head size Larger heads (about 105 to 110 square inches) offer a bigger sweet spot and more power, which suits … Read more
For most players, the forehand is the main weapon. Power on this side does not come from swinging harder with the arm; it comes from rotating the body, letting the racquet lag behind, and hitting the ball in the right place with enough topspin to keep it in. Choose a grip that suits topspin The … Read more
Football is commercially stronger than ever, yet it faces serious questions about player health and about who will play the game in the future. How the sport handles them will shape the next decades. Head injuries and long-term health Research on concussions and on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease found in many … Read more
There are more ways than ever to follow football, from watching on TV to managing a fantasy team, coaching youth players or becoming an official. Getting more involved also makes the game more enjoyable to watch. Watching games In the United States, NFL games are shown on broadcast networks (CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC), on ESPN, … Read more
American football can look chaotic at first: 22 players, frequent stops, flags on the field. Once you understand downs, scoring and the clock, the game becomes a strategic contest you can follow play by play. The field and the teams Each team has 11 players on the field. The field is 100 yards long between … Read more
