Farm-boy Training
I pioneered functional training for racquetball but never realized it! Back when I was a boy, I grew up on the farm. In the summer we planted crops and baled hay. I remember many days of 100 plus degrees in the top of the barn, stacking bales of hay that weighed 75 pounds plus. (acclimatization, […]
Movin’ on Up…Or Not?
This one came from Winterton Nation- “Hey Coach-can you address sandbagging-it seems like there is a huge jump from A to open” Signed, Sandbagged in Sandusky Dear S.i.S. It may seem that way, but I seldom see it that way. In fact I remember going to tournaments, watching a rally and thinking omg that player […]
Watch Like an Expert
The fans of racquetball are great for the game. No matter what player they root for, they add energy to a tournament. Now here is a little tip of going beyond the fan thing and thinking like a playa, and a Coach. First , watch the serves closely. What side of the court gets the […]
Reverse Thinking so The Backhand Won’t be Stinking!
Reverse the thinking and your backhand won’t be stinking! Forehand vs backhand mechanics. Is the backhand really that radically different than the forehand? I use Loom and video both have wheels on a video so you can run video back and forward. Run the forehand backward and you have a backhand. Therefore the footwork and […]
The Secret is Relocation, Relocation, Relocation!
One of my many jobs is to work for the USA Racquetball Instructor’s Certification Program. Some time ago I graded a video of an instructor. He did an outstanding job coaching up the Z serve. One thing he forgot though; relocation. After he hit the corner of the front wall six to eight feet high […]
Coach’em Up!
Athletes-listen up! I have worked hard to get out in front on the latest science and technology. I have formidable competitors in the coaching market and they are fine coaches. But almost all of them have followed my example of coaching up billboard athletes. What is a billboard athlete? A billboard athlete is an athlete […]
How to Play the Rabbit
How to play the “getter”. The getter is frustrating to play because they seem to get to every shot. Here are five rules for defeating the getter. 1. Play deep so you will have a good angle to their “gets”. 2. Hit down the lines and wide angles so there is less to “get”. 3. […]
Backhand Checklist
Backhand check list– 1. Backhand grip-V formation of the thumb and forefinger for right-handers should rotate to 11 to 9 o’clock. That roughly translates to Eastern to modified western grips. Why do I not teach one grip? Some of my competitors believe the way they played is the only way. I am of a different […]
Ugly Wins are Beautiful!
Winning ugly is an art form. We can’t play perfectly all the time but that does not mean you have to lose. Go for passes, not kills. This cuts down on unforced errors.Take your time between serves so you can focus on your serve. On return of serve do the same as this sometimes causes […]
Coachin’ ‘em Up
Last winter I spent over 20 hours (per athlete) on the court with top pros and open level players rehearsing footwork, mechanics and mental approach to racquetball. These sessions are fun but exhausting for me. At the pro level you have to really be aware of how the players execute as well as what shot […]