September 2025
Quotes per day and their meanings
September 1- "Crazy bounce, Crazy Swing." - Amy Gardner
Playing on clay or grass courts, you can expect a lousy bounce occasionally. When receiving a crazy bounce, forget about your swing technique; you only want to get a racket on the ball.
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September 2 – "Playing in rainy conditions."
Playing in heavy or rainy conditions is something we sometimes face. These conditions can cause the ball to play heavier, even doubling in weight from absorbing moisture on the court. In such weather, a drop shot can be effective with the right touch. However, generating power will be more difficult in these heavier conditions.
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September 3- "Wind is a great neutralizer."
Playing tennis in the wind does not matter how skilled you are – the wind can instantly change the game. Embrace the challenge and learn to use the wind to your advantage. Don't let it defeat you; let it be your secret weapon against the opponent.
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September 4- "Spin counters the wind."
Playing in windy conditions can be challenging. When the wind is at your back, use topspin to counteract its effects and keep the ball from sailing long. If the wind is in your face, hit the ball higher with a slice to allow the wind to help bring it down into the court.
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September 5- "With the wind, hit topspin."
When the wind is at your back, you are hitting with the wind. You need extra help to bring the ball down into the court, and placing topspin on your shot will help bring the ball down.
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September 8- "Cross-court wind hit cross-court or down the middle shots."
It becomes too difficult to assess the wind effect on the ball flight. By directing your shot down the middle of the court or cross-court, the wind will have less influence on your shot.
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September 9— “Serving into the sun won’t be fun.”
Dealing with the sun during serving is essential. Some tricks can help, such as lowering the ball toss so it doesn't go into the sun or using an underhanded serve. Both techniques can make serving with the sun in your eyes easier.
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September 10 - "Taking the uncertainty of the bounce out of play.”
The inconsistency of the ball's bounce off the court can be quite troublesome across different court surfaces. If this is a concern, you can shorten your backswing. This will enable you to adjust your swing quickly if a bad bounce occurs. Another option is to not let the ball bounce. Try to hit the ball before it bounces whenever possible.
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September 11- “Breaking a string during the point.”
When hearing the string break during the point, you have 2 options: first, run to the net as soon as you can; this will allow you to volley the ball, the string tension is not as important as when you are hitting a groundstroke. Second, suppose you have to play from the baseline. In that case, taking a shorter backswing is necessary because the strings' tension loosens in your racket, creating more uncertainty in the string response.
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September 12- “Lobbing? Sunny side up.”
Many players consider it poor sportsmanship to use the sun to their advantage; however, I disagree. A clever tennis player leverages every available advantage. Being aware of the sun's position when lobbing can be beneficial. Your opponent will be forced to look into the sun, likely causing them to let the ball bounce and step out of the sun, thus losing their advantage.
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September 15- “Tight strings vs. loose strings.”
Tighter strings on a racquet provide more control but less power, while looser strings offer more power but reduced control. Additionally, the ball will "fly" farther in warmer weather, necessitating tighter strings. Conversely, the ball will travel more slowly in colder weather, requiring looser strings.
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September 16 – “Getting a grip.”
Selecting the correct grip size for your racket is crucial. To determine the appropriate grip size, place a ruler at the center of your palm and measure to the tip of your middle finger. This measurement will indicate the handle size you need. However, comfort is key; if a smaller or larger grip size feels more comfortable, choose the one that feels best in your hand.
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September 17 – “Playing on Wet or damp courts hit behind your opponent.”
A wet court makes it challenging for your opponent to maintain traction and change direction swiftly. Therefore, hitting the ball behind your opponent's movement is strategic.
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September 18 – “Don’t get strung along.”
The tension in your racket's strings can decrease by as much as 5 lbs. from their original tightness. A widely accepted guideline for restringing your racket is to do it as many times per year as you play weekly. For instance, if you play five times a week, restring your racket five times a year; if you play four times, then four times a year, and so forth.
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September 19 – “Gauging your strings.”
Gauge refers to the thickness of strings; typically, 15 or 16 gauge is standard. Thicker strings, which are lower in gauge, tend to last longer but may reduce the strings' responsiveness. On the other hand, 17 and 18-gauge strings are thinner, providing a "bite" into the ball on your racket, which results in increased spin and control. However, these thinner strings usually have a shorter lifespan. Additionally, the higher the gauge, the more costly the strings can be.
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September 22th – “Are you open or closed on your string pattern?”
Rackets are available with either a "closed" or an "open" string pattern. The open string pattern features fewer strings and wider spacing, providing greater spin and power more efficiently. However, the downside is that the strings may break more frequently. Conversely, a closed string pattern includes more strings, which offers enhanced control and durability but at the expense of reduced power and spin on the ball.
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September 23- “Let cord…Racket up!!”
When you're at the net, and the ball hits the top of the net, it's called a "let cord." There are two kinds of let cords: the live let cord, where the ball bounces up and forward, and the dead let cord, where the ball grazes the net and trickles over. In either case, when you hear the let cord, be ready with your racket up! This position prepares you to hit the ball if it's a live let cord, and if it's a dead let cord, the ball's slower pace gives you extra time to adjust your racket's position.
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September 24 – “Courting surface.”
Each tennis surface possesses distinct characteristics, with some surfaces exhibiting fast play, while others offer slower play and varying bounce heights. The court speed comes into play after the ball bounces, either decelerating or accelerating the ball. Traditionally, clay courts tend to decelerate the ball post-bounce, while hard courts may accelerate it, although they can be customized to reduce speed. Grass courts are renowned for their low and fast bounces. It is advantageous to practice on a court with a similar speed to the one where you will compete. If such parity is unattainable, opting for a faster court is recommended. The rationale behind this is the ease of adapting by slowing down one's game during a match instead of attempting to accelerate it.
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September 25 – “You make money off of your clothing contract; you make money with your racket.”
This professional adage highlights the significance of the racket. It means that regardless of your attire, the clothes you wear do not determine the match's outcome. What's crucial is the racket; it must feel right in your hand, with the proper balance, response, grip size, and so on.
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September 26- “4 tips for playing in the heat.”
Bring two coolers onto the court: one for beverages and another for ice. Submerge four wristbands in the ice cooler, swapping out two during each changeover. Also, two bandanas should be exchanged in the ice cooler at every changeover. Remember to hydrate and rehydrate, and stay in the shade whenever possible.
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September 29 – “Blinded by the Light, 3 tips for serving into the sun.”
Here are 3 tips to assist you in serving while serving into the sun. 1) Modify your ball toss to avoid directing it into the sun. 2) Change your serving stance; perhaps positioning yourself further to the sideline or closer to the center mark will help keep the ball out of the sunlight. 3) Opt to receive after the racket spin at the start of the match. This strategy allows you an additional game to acclimate to the match before dealing with the sun's interference.
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September 30 – “Tennis courts could create a racket.”
External noises can be distracting on the tennis court, such as passersby chatting, adjacent courts in use, or an opponent's grunting. Engaging in self-talk during play can help keep these external distractions from affecting your concentration.​​​​​​​​​​
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