The Grip Assistance – Racket Grip Size, Junior Racket Size and more…

Shop Junior Tennis Racket

Children’s rackets (19″, 21″, 23″ frames) and Junior racquets (25″, 26″ frames) are typically for players under 5 feet in height. They are designed with smaller grips that will better fit the hand of a younger player and they range in quality and performance from beginner style racquets to high-performance graphite frames that are simply a shorter version of the same adult frame. The better the quality of the racquet, the easier it will be for your Junior player to transition to a graphite adult frame when the time comes. While height is the best criteria to determine the proper racquet size for a junior or child player, we have provided general age guidelines as well in the event that the player’s height is not known. Lastly, in deciding between a 25″ and 26″ frame, we recommend the following guidelines: For the more serious Junior player, or a Junior closer to 5′ in height, we recommend a 26″ frame. For the beginning Junior player or a Junior closer to 4’6″ in height, a 25″ frame should suffice. The following chart provides a reference for sizing:

Frame Size	Height of Player	Age of Player
25″ or 26″	4’6″ – 5′	9-12 years
23″	4′ – 4’5″	6-8 years
21″	3′ – 3’11”	4-5 years
19″	up to 3′	2-3 years

It’s tough enough trying to look like you know what you’re doing on a tennis court when you’re just learning the strokes and strategy. The last thing you want to do is embarrass yourself by interfering with players on other courts or irritating your opponents.

Understanding some of the basics of tennis etiquette will help you fit in with your friends, teammates, and others at the club or park and help you look like you know what you’re doing.

Call the Score

If you’re serving, make sure to call the score before every point. This not only lets your opponent know you’re ready to serve but also prevents score disputes later.

Respect the Neighbors

Don’t roll balls behind or onto someone else’s court during a point. If a ball comes onto your court from another match, wait until they have finished their point to return their ball or roll it back to the fence in-between your two courts (but not behind their court where they could potentially trip and fall). Even if you roll the ball out of harm’s way during a point, at least one side will see that ball rolling behind the court and might become distracted, stopping the point (which will have to be played over).

If your ball goes onto or behind another court, don’t retrieve it if the players are playing a point. If a ball rolls behind a player or players who don’t see it and they might injure themselves by stepping on it, you might need to warn them. However, this can cause them to stop playing a point they might have won, getting you a lecture. In these situations, you are often damned if you do and damned if you don’t. Don’t worry, you’ll eventually learn to get the hang of when to issue give a warning and when to keep quiet.

Fair Warmups

Before a match, players have five minutes or so to warm up. This is not practicing time. You should hit balls in a way that lets your opponent warm up, and they should do the same for you. When your opponent comes to the net, for example, don’t blast balls past her or right at her. Make sure she can practice her volley.

Don’t Play Out Serves

If your opponent hits an obviously out serve, don’t hit it back. Hit it into the net or let it roll into the fence behind you. Practicing your return makes your opponent wait to hit his second serve and may require him to clear the ball.

Question Only Once

If you think (or even know) your opponent has made a bad call, you can ask once (per point) for clarification and that’s it. No matter how flagrant a bad call, you can’t argue. If there’s an official, you can ask for a referee to make calls, but it’s impolite to keep challenging the same call — and, you might be wrong!

Let Kids Play

Parents should not coach kids, make calls, explain rules or give coaching advice during junior matches. The only exception to this is if the league rules encourage this (often for beginner tournaments) and parents are unbiased, helping both or all four children. Getting involved with your child’s match also puts pressure on her and makes it less fun.

Hi, tennis world,

You train hard, you eat well…it should be enough to keep you in good health and physically and emotionally strong.

Yet, there is a danger lurking in our bodies that’s not only hidden from us… but which even doctors are failing to identify.

It affects nearly everybody, no matter how active or sedentary you are, or how old or young you are.

This problem affects not only our body but our whole well-being.

And when I tell you what it is, you’ll be shocked…

… because it’s tight hip flexors.

You see, our hip flexors are the engine through which our body moves. They control balance, our ability to sit, stand, twist, reach, bend, walk and play tennis.

Everything goes through the hips.

And when our hip flexors tighten it causes a lot of problems in ordinarily healthy and active people, like us.

IT’S TIME TO BREATHE NEW LIFE, ENERGY, AND STRENGTH INTO YOUR BODY BY UNLOCKING YOUR HIP FLEXORS.

CLAIM YOUR COPY WITH FREE BONUSES NOW!

Click on the  “link” Button Below To Receive Your Special Price.

   Unlock Your Flexors for a better tennis game!

As a tennis player, your feet are probably your most important body part. They bear your weight, and they get you where you need to be on the court.  If your feet are happy, you’ll be happy.  If not, you’ll be miserable.

What is your foot type?

Unfortunately, feet are not one-size-fits-all.  You know, of course, that some folks have huge feet and other tiny feet, but did you know there are different types of feet?  Your feet have a precise shape and a certain way of moving you around the tennis court. Your whole physical alignment is built on your feet, with your legs and upper body compensating for the kind of support your feet provide.  Foot type could also be linked with specific injuries.  See the top 10 causes of Foot pain and some remedies below. By identifying the structure of your feet, you may learn to avoid some common foot problems.

You will also be able to choose a better shoe for your foot type, with proper support and cushioning.  For years I have known that my Nike running shoes have been designed to provide me the special stability and motion-control needed while I run. But only recently have I recognized that my tennis shoes should match my specific foot type and the demands of my game.

Feet fall into three broad categories: supinated, neutral, and pronated,  (see Photos)

• Supinated. How Your Foot Contacts the Ground: outer side of the heel hits the ground at an increased angle with little or no normal pronation, causing a large transmission of shock through the lower leg. Push Off: pressure on smaller toes on outside of the foot. Injuries: Potential injuries include tears of inflammation of the plantar fascia (plantar fasciitis), bursitis, Achilles tendinitis or rupture, and ankle sprains plantar fasciitis, shin splints, ankle sprain. Foot type: high arches. A person with a high-arched foot puts pressure on the outside of the foot. The technical term is “supination.”  You might notice an outward tilt in the walk of a tennis player with supinated feet.  The weight-bearing starts at the heel, transfers along the outer foot border, and ends with weight distribution in the forefoot.  Supinators usually have calluses on the balls of their feet and may suffer from ankle problems.  The ankle joint is stiffer and less able to flex upward, contributing to conditions of excessive shock and stress to the bones and supporting structures.
• Neutral. How Your Foot Contacts the Ground: foot lands on outside of the heel, then rolls inward (pronates) to absorb shock and support body weight. Push Off: even distribution from the front of the foot. Injuries: less likely due to effective shock absorption, but neutral runners are not immune to injury. Foot Type: normal-size arches.  One quick way to determine your basic foot type is to examine the soles of your old shoes for the pattern of wear.  Which part of the shoe is most worn?  A tennis player with neutral feet wears shoes relatively evenly, stepping squarely on the center of the foot.  The stride also is even, with the front of the foot and heel aligned with the ground and positioned directly beneath the lower leg (not twisting to the side).  The arch is neither too flat nor too high.
• Pronated. How Your Foot Contacts the Ground: foot lands on outside of the heel, then rolls inward (pronates) excessively, transferring weight to inner edge instead of ball of the foot Push Off: big toe and second toe do the majority of the work. Injuries: Common pronation problems are injuries of overuse, loss of shock absorption in soft tissue structures, and muscle pulls. Those who overpronate for a long time can begin to suffer from shin splints, plantar fasciitis, bunions, heel spurs. Foot Type: low arches or flat feet.  Other tennis players have flatter arches and more flexible feet. When we make a step, our feet roll forward and push back, which sends us forward. The usual way the foot rolls is called “pronation.” Those that overpronate tend to walk with their feet facing more inwards, putting more pressure on the ball of the foot area.  Such players may get calluses along the inner side of the foot. Overpronation can lead to knee aches and foot pain in the ball of the foot or the arches. Since the arch is not doing its part in weight-bearing, the front muscles of the foot try to make up for it, resulting in fatigue.

So is your tennis game doomed if you don’t have a neutral foot?  No. While it’s true that too much supination or pronation can hurt your game in the long run, these conditions also have a few advantages.  A high-arch (supinated) foot can work well for quick cutting, pivoting, and speed.  And you actually need some amount of pronation for your tennis stance.  But you also need to be aware of the instability and potential injury involved.  Be extra careful if your feet are supinated or pronated.  Women’s feet tend to be narrower in the heel and wider in the forefoot with a higher arch then men’s.  Be sure to find shoes that accommodate your needs.

There are a few tests commonly used to determine which kind of tennis player you are and, therefore, which kind of tennis shoe you should use.

One of these tests is called the Wet Feet Test and it is very simple to do and to understand. The basis of this test is that the wet footstep you leave on the floor while walking is a good indicator on how your foot absorbs the shock of the impact with the floor.

Simply wet your feet and walk over a flat surface, either the floor or a sheet of paper. Now, compare the impression you leave with the three figures here below:

Whatever your kind of foot is, sports companies over the years have developed footwear technologies that can help. Almost all of them offer different lines of footwear, each one targeting only one of these foot types.

Maybe it starts halfway through your second set; some nagging pain in your feet or ankles.  It could be a blister or some kind of cramp, or maybe your feet are just plain exhausted from pushing you around the court.

Any pain is your body’s way of trying to get your attention.  Pain in your feet, ankles, or lower legs probably means your feet are telling you something.  Many tennis players just resign themselves to chronic foot discomfort.  It goes with the game, they say.  Recently a team member of mine took me that she believes all tennis players have ugly feet.  I was appalled. That’s not necessarily the case.  You can do things to correct many of the problems that cause you pain.  However, if the problem seems severe, or if other measures don’t correct it, see a sports podiatrist.  But before you go to that expense, check the following factors:

1. Do your tennis shoes fit properly?  Shoes that are too small or too big can cause corns, calluses, blisters, black toe, or other painful conditions.  Tennis is especially demanding on your feet and lower legs, with quick stops on the dime and constant pounding.  Your tennis shoes must provide ankle support and cushioning for the balls of your feet.
2.  Are your feet out of shape?  Like any other part of your body, your feet respond to conditioning.  By performing foot exercises at least four times a week, you can strengthen your feet and reduce your level of discomfort during match play.
3. Do you abuse your feet?  Off the court, you may be overusing your feet, misusing them, wearing ineffective shoes, or walking barefoot in treacherous places.  The serious tennis player needs to make a 24/7 commitment to keep the feet in good playing condition.

Top 10 Causes of Foot Pain

Foot pain is most commonly caused by some kind of inflammation in the foot. Here are 10 of the most common causes of foot pain:

• Plantar Fasciitis – This is a condition where the arches of the feet are inflamed and is often a result of prolonged foot fatigue.
• Achilles Tendonitis – If the area above your heel is bruised, swollen or aching and you find it painful to walk, you likely have Achilles Tendonitis.
• Heel Spurs – A heel spur is a growth (usually a calcium deposit that hardens) under the heel of the feet. If you suspect this is your problem, seek medical attention immediately.
• Bunions – Bunions are very uncomfortable swellings on the toes that make walking difficult.
• Ball of Foot Pain – Ball of Foot pain is where the forefoot swells or aches due to excessive pressure. This pain is often associated with wearing high heels day in and day out.
• Sports Injury – Spending a lot of time on the sports field can lead to overexertion of the feet from high impact activity. This can injure your feet without proper protection and lead to foot pain.
• Edema – Edema is an obvious foot condition where the ankles and sometimes the entire feet are swollen.
• Flat Feet – Flat feet are a common foot type that can be very uncomfortable to walk on, particularly when walking in shoes that are not designed for them.
• Foot Infections – Bacterial and fungal infections in the feet can cause the feet to swell, leading to discomfort.
• Blisters – Friction and moisture build-up inside your shoes can cause blisters, which can be pretty painful if left unattended.

The above causes of foot pain can be helped (or prevented) with the following foot pain remedies:

• Stretching – Stretching the feet every day will keep them fitter and prevent you from pulling muscles. This is critical for athletes and those who need to be on their feet all day long. Those with stiff feet will also benefit, as stretching improves blood flow and helps to loosen muscles.
• Ointments – An anti-inflammatory foot ointment can help to reduce foot pain tremendously. Some of the best ointments are arnica gel or a magnesium spray/cream.
• Foot Baths – A foot bath with Epson Salts tends to aid swelling and radically bring down inflammation. Adding natural ingredients like green tea or rosewood oil can help immensely too/
• Wearing Flatter Shoes – If you have flat feet or ball of foot pain, try wearing flatter shoes that distribute your weight evenly.