Your guide to exciting Professional Tennis Programming and the latest tennis news and events for fall 2009.

It is both our mission and our passion to provide Professional tennis programming and instruction, tournaments and special tennis events designed for the whole family. We offer a variety of fun and educational programs for players of all ages and skill levels.

This past summer was surely one to remember with all the tennis action at the Oglebay Tennis Center. From the start of the summer back in May, our Tennis Across America Block Party helped us blast off the summer season with so many tennis players getting a chance to come out to the Tennis Center and have fun learning to improve their tennis and meet new friends.

With all the smiling faces, good food and tennis action this was truly one of the most successful tennis events. We pulled a great staff together who enjoyed helping out and giving back to the community with this Free Tennis event. The positive spirit and the team work from our teaching and volunteer staff made for an inspiring day for all who attended the event.

We offered 6 week long Junior Tennis Camps and in between we hosted 4 tournaments. We even had a Match Play Tournament with an International Team from Spain! Our theme this past summer was Tennis for the Health of It! Tennis is the fun way to get fit and stay healthy, and every Friday our Ladies Day Cardio workout has gotten the Tennis Center rocking.

Tournament Roundup 2009
The Junior Oglebay Classic enjoyed an increase of players this year with over 140 participants. The Classic is the only USTA sanctioned Junior tournament in our area and is an AMD designated event where Junior players receive double points for their AMD rankings. The Classic is one of the top 4 tournaments in AMD and is in the running for Jr AMD Tournament of the year 2009. We had many local Juniors playing in this year’s event. Special Congratulations go out to Jackie McDermott who won the Girls 14 doubles and won the 2009 Sportsmanship Award.

USTA National Senior Tournament, was the most successful senior event in recent years. We had great tennis and a wonderful atmosphere while everyone enjoyed the hospitality and great food and friendships made during the week of tennis at Oglebay. Kudos to Lynnette Parker and everyone who helped make a smooth enjoyable event.

WV Open Was better than ever and this year’s field of exciting players had the tennis fans on the edge of their seats with some spectacular play. Hats off to Mark Panepinto for all the long hours of work to ensure this year’s tournament was an Ace. Also we want to thank all the volunteers and the Oglebay Tennis Staff who work hard to help make all the tournaments successful.

Top USTA Ranked AMD Middles State Junior Tournament Players Attend CTC AMD Tennis Workshop at Oglebay    
Oglebay Tennis Center held the 2009 CTC AMD Junior Tennis workshop Saturday, Aug 15, 2009.  Director Marc White who was joined by Certified Middle States coaches conducted an action packed, educational workshop for top players who are aspiring to advance their tennis careers to the next level. Movement Patterns, Tactical Awareness, Mental Toughness, Ball Identification, Making your Serve a real weapon, and improving dynamic balance were just some of the topics the coaching staff presented to this elite group.  Coach Marc said, “We want to inspire the players and develop camaraderie in a team atmosphere and help them to be the very best athlete they can be.”

Oglebay USTA Summer Junior Team Tennis
We had an enjoyable July with Team Match wins over Greensburg, Pittsburgh, and 2 exciting matches with the International Team from Spain. Our High School Team then traveled up to Pittsburgh to compete for a chance to go to Princeton NJ, just like the adult USTA teams do. We played hard and finished in 2nd place in the High School division. Next year we are going for the gold, great effort to the following Jr. Players who played in these Team Matches during the month of July: Buddy Reinhart, Jacob Mayles, Scott Dorsey, James Long, Tim Tran, Stefan Riggs, Luke Mason, CJ Petrini, Morgan McDermott, Kris Pauley and Emmi Weaver.

	Director of Tennis Oglebay Resort USPTA-PTR, Marc White

ASK THE PROFESSIONAL
            
Question:
Coach Marc, I want to be a better doubles player, but my volley always ends up in the bottom of the net. How can I improve my volley and net play?

Marc’s Answer:
The key to winning doubles is to control the net. You must feel comfortable and relaxed around the net and have a compact stroke. By getting to the net in doubles you can hit down at your opponents feet, plus you can create winning angles with your volley. Remember that on your volley you don't need power, touch and finesse is best. If you are hitting a lot of balls in the net, you probably standing still and swinging at the ball. You must learn to move forward with your feet. This will get you closer to the net and get your body into the stroke. If you stand still, you let the ball play you. Don't be a Frozen Delight! Attack the volley with your feet. This will also help you eliminate the intention of swinging at the ball.

Now that you are on the move forward, prep your racquet by laying your wrist back. This new move is essential for hitting a crisp and clean volley. When you lay your wrist back on a forehand volley you will notice a little wrinkle on your wrist.

This will help you hit a compact volley, without a swinging motion. You must keep the wrinkle in your wrist as you hit the ball well out in front of your body. Keep your head still with your eye on the ball and push forward with the palm of your hand. This will prevent you from swinging and will help keep your volley short and sweet which will give you that winning shot. Remember, the faster the ball is coming to you, the less swing shape you want on your volley. So, less is more on the volley. Great doubles players have quick hands and fast feet, and win by controlling the net. You can do the same in your next doubles match by practicing these four new volley techniques.

To improve your volley......

• Keep both hands well in front of the body.
• Lay your wrist back and keep the wrinkle in the wrist.
• Lead in to the ball with the palm of your hand.
• Don't be a Frozen Delight! Move Forward...The Party’s at the Net.

This tennis instruction article is the third of a series written by USPTA, PTR Certified Professional Marc S. White, Director of Tennis Oglebay Park.  Oglebay Park offers professional instruction for all levels of players and is the home of the Marc S White Tennis School”. This Fall get in to the game at Oglebay in one of our many exciting tennis programs and sign up today for our MSW Fall Tennis Academy! Marc also writes a tennis column in the US called “Ask the Professional”. If you have any questions, please E-mail msw2240a@aol.com, or call 304 243 4039.

US OPEN Arthur Ashe Kids Day
Coach Marc was invited to conduct an on-court clinic at the US Open Saturday, Aug 29. Arthur Ashe Kids Day at the US Open kicks off the beginning of this year’s US Open Tournament. Marc will be one of the lead Coaches in this fun exciting day long event to help juniors get back in the game. Coach Marc is also teaming up with Canadian Coach Butch Staples and the two of them will be giving an innovative on-court presentation.  Marc is also attending the 3 day USTA Teachers Conference. Coaches from all over the world are coming together to share new ideas for training techniques and tactical patterns of play.

Darren Cahill, Brad Gilbert, Larry Stefanki and US Davis Cup Captain Patrick McEnroe, are just some of the international coaches who will be at this year’s US Open Coaching Conference.

US OPEN Family Round Robin
Saturday, Sept. 12
1:00-3:00 pm
Oglebay Tennis Center
Sign up at the Pro Shop

Let’s Serve them UP!

Let’s keep the flame burning for the next 2 months. We have had a fantastic tennis season. The Oglebay Tennis Center was recently voted in the top 75 tennis resorts by tennisresortsonline.com. We have a lot to be thankful for and we are looking forward to the fall junior indoor academy, with our special Junior Open House October 24. We would like to thank all of the Oglebay tennis staff and a very special thank you to Suzette Redford for her support and her editing of our newsletter. 

So come out and play tennis for the health of it.  Let’s keep the positive energy flowing!

See you on the Courts,
Coach Marc S White
Director of Tennis
USTA-PTR
MSW2240@AOL.COM    
304-243-4039