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Playing on Different Tennis Surfaces and the Beset Clay Court Tennis Shoes

Posted by Rachael Thomas in Sports | Comments Off

Players involved in the sport of tennis are most familiar with the hard court: a surface based with concrete and asphalt layered over by acrylic.  Hard courts, while being the most popular, are only one of many different tennis surfaces.  

Playing tennis on grass and clay does not necessarily have to be part of a routine, but every tennis player should get a chance to try it at least once.  Some players will play exclusively on the clay surface, becoming defensive specialists and world class sliders.  Different intricacies of these surfaces make tennis a more interesting and diverse sport.  While it can be fun to experiment with other surfaces, careful attention should be paid to the proper equipment for each different surface.

Preparing for and Playing on Clay Tennis Courts

Clay courts are incredibly unique surfaces for two reasons.  First, and most obvious, the way the ball responds to the consistency of the loose dirt.  Balls will slow down considerably, while shooting up higher than normal.  The friction on the ball causes this effect and makes the ball sit up high in the air.  This can be problematic when hitting a normal shot that would normally be low enough, but instead floats up into your opponents strike zone.  On the other hand, utilizing topspin will increase the effect and produce a ball that climbs into the opponents shoulders, making it very difficult to hit back.

The other interesting effect that the clay court has is on a player’s movement around the court.  Tennis requires quick direction changes from side to side and the clay can really inhibit this.  The main problem is that the friction is considerably reduced by the loose material on the courts surface.  Lack of friction causes the players to slide rather than being able to make a full and complete stop.  

This sliding action can absolutely wreak havoc on an inexperienced player’s game.  Taking this into account, hitting behind an opponent becomes an amazingly effective strategy.  When you hit behind an opponent, they need to successfully change directions twice, once to recover towards the middle, then again to cover the shot.

Equipment for Playing on Clay Tennis Courts

The most important factor when gearing up for a game of tennis on the clay is your footwear.  Special clay court tennis shoes are designed to provide the most resistance on the clay surface.  Using a normal hard court shoe is possible, but not advisable.  The drawback to not having these shoes is less control in your movement, along with a heavier and bulkier shoe.  

Shoes designed specifically for the clay will be lighter performance based shoes.  This is because the reduced friction of the clay court will allow a lighter and less durable shoe more leeway.  Not taking advantage of these two factors when choosing footwear for a clay court is just giving up a huge advantage.  Movement is the key when playing on clay, having more controlled motion coupled with faster direction changes can make the difference in any match.

Exercise The Whole Family Can Enjoy With Inground Basketball Hoops

Posted by Rachael Thomas in Sports | Comments Off

Does your twelve year old have aspirations of achieving a spot on the school basketball team? Has he or she been constantly pestering you for a basketball hoop so they can practice at home and improve their game? Inground basketball hoops can improve their chances of becoming the next Dwayne Wade or Lebron James, but they also provide an enjoyable workout for the entire family. You can tell yourself you are buying a hoop for your son, but deep down you know you are going to get just as much fun out of it while practicing your free shots.

If you want to get a basketball goal that is going to last, you will not find one by choosing between the two cheapest models at your local sports equipment retailer. A cheaper option will more than likely not be as sturdy and will only last one or two years at best. To get a good quality basketball goal that is going to go the distance, and survive years of brutal slam dunks, you are going to need a specialist supplier of hoops and backboards.

Adjustable basketball goals are the sensible option for the growing family with children who are just starting to learn basketball. Being able to adjust the hoop down from its regulation 10 feet will make basketball a much more enjoyable experience for your 4 foot son or daughter. As their skill level improves, you can make gradual adjustments to the height of the hoop, so they are always challenging themselves to improve.

Good inground hoops have a number of must have requirements. Not surprisingly, you will want one that is of good quality and resilient. Make sure it is manufactured from steel. Powder coating is ideal, but otherwise make sure it has protection to prevent rusting and withstand all weather conditions. Padding the lower half of the pole will help prevent serious injury should heads accidentally collide with the pole. The secret to a sturdy installation is the anchoring mechanism that keeps everything in the correct position. Each basketball goal will have a different anchoring system. Some are just buried several feet into the ground, while others require anchoring in concrete. Securing with concrete is by far the most secure method, but this makes it difficult to take your hoop with you when you relocate.

Once you have your pole in place you need to secure a backboard and hoop to it. As most know, this is the most important part of the equipment for the basketball player. For a supreme quality backboard, strong tempered glass, such as those used in the NBA, should be used. The glass needs to be 3/8 of an inch thick for best results. Also, the glass ought to be fitted to a solid steel frame, which brings the backboard several feet out from the mounting pole. To complete the setup, the board should have a strong cold rolled steel rim. Once you have your nylon net in place, you should be ready to strut your stuff with a bit of one on one.

How to Choose a Good Pre Workout Supplement for Quick Recovery and Better Gains

Posted by Rachael Thomas in Nutrition | Comments Off

The sports supplement industry has turned into a huge business in recent years, because of the massive demand by millions of people around the world who use their products on a daily basis to help them create the perfect body. Of course, every person’s idea of “perfect” is different, but whether they are trying to lose a little weight or build a bit more muscle, there is sure to be a range of supplements that have been designed specifically for them.

With such a vast choice of supplements from a huge range of manufacturers, it can be difficult to know whether you’re buying the best one for your money. Take protein supplements, for example – these are mostly taken by people who are hoping to develop bigger and stronger muscles, and are scientifically proven to help after a scientific study conducted on US Marines in 2004 confirmed protein’s importance in muscle growth. There are different types of protein, though, and not all of them are as beneficial as others.

The most common types of protein used in sports supplements are whey, casein, soy and egg.  Both whey and casein proteins are derived from milk and they both contain the essential amino acids that are used by the body for muscle repair and regeneration. Whey protein is generally better than casein as it contains more amino acids, and it’s absorbed into the body quicker. Soy protein is generally used by people who are allergic to whey or casein or are looking for protein from a non-animal source, but it is an inferior substitute.

It contains less of the essential amino acids, and is slower to be digested and absorbed into the body. Eggs make a fantastic source of protein as they contain the greatest amount of amino acids which can be absorbed into the body incredibly quickly – it’s very expensive to mass produce egg protein for use in protein shakes, though, so it isn’t used that often. So, of all the protein shakes that are on the market, the best ones to go for are those that are made with whey protein – they might be a little more expensive, but the benefits of whey protein shakes far outweigh the extra cost.

Of course, if you’re looking to build bigger muscles then protein isn’t the only supplement that can help. Using a good pre workout supplement should help too, as it’ll give you the ability to increase the intensity of each workout. Pre workout supplements typically contain creatine, which is another amino acid that’s found naturally in the body and whose primary role is to feed energy to your muscles. By increasing the amount of creatine in your system just before you workout you should have more energy to put into your workout. These supplement also frequently contain glutamine and HMB, which both help with the muscle recovery and repair process, and they sometimes also contain natural stimulants such as caffeine which give you a little buzz and help you to tune in and focus on your workout.

Picking your way through the sports supplements maze can take a little time – but if you’re thinking of using these to help with boosting your exercise regime then it’s worth taking a little time to choose the right supplements to use. If you choose the wrong ones you could be making an expensive mistake, but if you get the right ones you could find yourself on a short cut to achieving the perfect body that you’ve always wanted.

Novak Djokovic’s Racquet Does the Talking

Posted by Rachael Thomas in Sports | Comments Off

No words were necessary as we watched the 2011 ATP men’s tour taken  by storm.  That storm was a whirlwind consisting entirely of the Novak Djokovic racquet.  The young Serbian tennis player didn’t even lose a match until half way through the tennis year in the semi-final of the French open.  After putting together a 41-0 record before his first loss, Djokovic had already captured the Australian Open title along with a number of smaller ones.  The stunning performance has led tennis critics to speculate if this might be the best season of tennis from a single player ever.  There are players in the past like McEnroe who have put up better win to loss ratios, but against weaker fields.  Djokovic has consistently crushed quality opponents all year long.

Best Tennis Season Ever Played?

The argument for Djokovic here is a strong one.  To top off the year he won the US Open in a decisive victory over Nadal.  Not only did he cement his spot as the number one player in the world, but he improved to 7-0 against Nadal this season.  Nadal is ranked second behind Djokovic and there is little question who is getting the best of that rivalry lately.  Nadal is known as the “king of clay” and a number of Djokovic’s wins over him this season have come on that very surface.

The win at the US Open gives Djokovic three of the four tennis grand slam titles this year.  His only miss was at the French open, where he lost to Federer in a tough match.  Federer seemed to have the Serbian beaten again at the US Open, but wasted two match points before Djokovic came tearing back.

As the season comes to an end Djokovic’s record stands at 64-3.  The third loss, coming recently in Davis Cup to Del Potro, saw Djokovic retire after a hard fought first set.  A back issue that surfaced in the final set of the US Open returned, leaving him unable to complete the match.  Two of his three losses this season came from retirements.  The single loss to Federer is the only indication that anyone on the tour can compete with the level he has achieved.

Looking Ahead to the 2012 ATP Men’s Tour Season

With a troubled back, Djokovic will likely be unable to compete in any more of the tournaments this season.  This isn’t tragic or immediately dangerous to his number one spot because of how he performed all season long.  The real question is how will he continue when he returns to the sport in 2012?  It’s hard to imagine that such a level of dominance could continue, but the only thing slowing Djokovic down so far has been his body.  The men’s professional tennis field is stronger and deeper than it has ever been before.  Djokovic knows this as well as anyone and he is going to take an unreal amount of confidence from it into the next season.  The record isn’t going to be as impressive as it was this year, but there is no doubt that the Serbian player will be the favorite to win at all of the grand slam stadiums.

To stay up to date with tennis articles and information visit TennisShoeView.

A Novice’s Guide to the Racing Go Karts Evolution

Posted by Rachael Thomas in Leisure | Comments Off

Go kart racing started off as a kiddy sport and popular summer past time that has really grown up and evolved into an industry. Racing go karts have been embraced the world over by speeding enthusiasts and racing fanatics. Karting is now being tried out as a sport for grown ups too, and carts are being built exclusively for them. These karts meant strictly for off road speed thrills, have been appropriately christened as off road go karts.

Historically, the first go-cart, was built by Art Ingels in 1956. It was a simple machine with a two stroke engine. Go karting has since come a long way, from a popular sport for airmen in the heyday’s to the current speed demons or superkarts, some of which are reported to cross 160 mph (260 Km/h) on asphalt!

The racing go kart is slightly modified compared to children’s go carts, since they are built for more speed and more endurance over various terrain. The more noticeable changes are in the wheels, which are much bigger, to offer better traction and stability and in the engines which are more powerful, with most Off road go carts having 150-250cc engines. Besides the horse power, there are other fundamental differences in the design of these carts such as:

· Higher clearance, to clear more ground based obstacles

· The adult models, have both rear as well as front shock absorbers, since enthusiasts will definitely try it out, on rough terrain

· A reverse gear

· Unique styling features, sometimes it’s tough to tell if the carts a dune buggy or vice versa

Racing go carts are basically open wheeled vehicles with no suspension. The basic components of an off road go cart, are the chassis, transmission, motor, seating for 1-2 people and 4 tires. Since, there is no suspension, the chassis itself must provide enough strength and flexibility to allow the cart to maintain its grip on the road, whether its going straight or taking a sharp left.

An underlying aspect of off road go carting, is the focus on safety. Since these race go-karts can easily reach the speeds of a normal car, accidents, when they occur can be deadly, so a few safety provisions are always included such as seat belts and padding with helmets, gloves, shoes and thermal suits is recommended. With carts on the racing track, roll bars and caged chassis provide protection to the driver, in the event of the car rolling over. However extreme racing go carts your dealing with rough terrain and also go kart races that can be very dangerous as well.

Go carting is considered to be a stepping-stone to the world of high-speed racing. Racing greats like Sarah Fisher, Darrell Waltrip, Kyle Petty, Tony Stewart and Michael Schumacher were all karters before they ventured into Indy or Nascar. Talent scouts often pick up the best talents from the go cart tracks and hone them into professionals. In fact, if you’re good enough to reach the top classes (and mind you, there are many classes), you should seriously consider professional kart racing.

There are many places to find racing go karts for sale depending on what kind of driving level you are going to be classified in. Some are built bigger and faster than others. However, if you’re just in it for the fun, forget the competition. Remember what it was like to be kids, and just have fun!