Jeff Salzenstein Total Tennis

[Jeff Salzenstein]

Originally Posted by Federerkblade

Jeff , will the forehand solution to some degree be covered to some degreein the Total tennis solution. ?

To some degree, but it might take a few years to get all the forehand video lessons and concepts in T3 that are in TFS now. TFS is very concentrated. T3 will be spread out more with various lessons. The voiceovers in T3 go over a lot of the concepts on the forehand but they are all under 20 seconds. Not a lot of explanation like there is in TFS. We will be releasing an updated version of TFS later this year or early next year. Hope that answered your question.

[onehandbh]

Originally Posted by Jeff Salzenstein

Hi Sureshs We have a few serve videos on youtube but we have a huge serve course coming-out later this year....basically my life's work on how I developed my serve which was average as a junior to hitting a 136 mph serve at Indian Wells at the age of 32. John Yandell helped me big time along the way. I love John's work and he is a good friend and mentor.

That's a pretty impressive improvement.

Just got a chance to look at your youtube videos. Great job!

btw, I think you could probably improve the opening intro video by adding
sprinkles of your instruction instead of just a pitch. IMO, it's a bit too long
and doesn't do your instruction and what you have to offer justice.

[SFrazeur]

Originally Posted by Jeff Salzenstein

Hi Arche, Yes, $9.95 per month for everything with weekly updates as long as you stay in..the price will go up soon.

Will it go up for everyone including "Charter Members?"

-SF

[jmnk]

I have a question on those serve instructions. This proverbial 'diaper holding' server analogy discussed here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3tqxsS42Dg
is essentially very similar to the practice tip described here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iONY6fcqZGg

which is all great, seems like a useful practice tip.

what I'm confused about is that in the Jeff's video, he talks about and demonstrates how the racket face hitting the ball ends up facing the player (see at 3:23).
While the McCraw's instructions seem to suggest that the face of the racket hitting the ball ends up facing away from the player (see at 0:29 mark)

So,which is it? Is one overpronating more than the other?

[WildVolley]

Originally Posted by jmnk

So,which is it? Is one overpronating more than the other?

Watch Jeff's video again. On the follow thru, his racket ends up facing away from his body and then he pulls it down toward his body. Ultimately the pronation motion seems to be the same with both drills. After the racket pronates the face then falls or is pulled back down toward his body.

I've noticed this same motion on the big kick serves of Roddick. Perhaps Jeff can explain this, but I think it is probably just a result of the high elbow and natural relaxation of the lower arm.

[jmnk]

Originally Posted by WildVolley

Watch Jeff's video again. On the follow thru, his racket ends up facing away from his body and then he pulls it down toward his body. Ultimately the pronation motion seems to be the same with both drills. After the racket pronates the face then falls or is pulled back down toward his body.

I've noticed this same motion on the big kick serves of Roddick. Perhaps Jeff can explain this, but I think it is probably just a result of the high elbow and natural relaxation of the lower arm.

not sure if we are talking about the same thing. Yes, the racket as a whole is away from his body. But the side of the racket face hitting the ball ends up with 'strings facing me' (his own quote), which is the opposite of what happens in the other video I gave the link to.

[WildVolley]

Originally Posted by jmnk

not sure if we are talking about the same thing. Yes, the racket as a whole is away from his body. But the side of the racket face hitting the ball ends up with 'strings facing me' (his own quote), which is the opposite of what happens in the other video I gave the link to.

Yes, I see what you are talking about. But Jeff actually has the racket face pronate through the ball and away from his body, just as the other guy does, but when he then lets the racket drop, he turns the face back toward his body.

Watch it again. The motions in the two videos are basically the same until the very last part when the server is relaxing.

[Jeff Salzenstein]

Originally Posted by onehandbh

That's a pretty impressive improvement.

Just got a chance to look at your youtube videos. Great job!

btw, I think you could probably improve the opening intro video by adding
sprinkles of your instruction instead of just a pitch. IMO, it's a bit too long
and doesn't do your instruction and what you have to offer justice.

Hey onehandbh, Thanks of for the tip on the video. If you give me specific examples of what you think I should show, that would really help. I wanted to make it 5-7 minutes but it cam tout 10 because I felt I had a lot of material to cover.

[Jeff Salzenstein]

Originally Posted by SFrazeur

Will it go up for everyone including "Charter Members?"

-SF

SFrazeur, If you sign up as a charter members, you are grandfathered for life. Any price increases I make in the future will not effect you or others who choose to sign up. $9.95 for life if you get in this week. Thanks for asking.

[Jeff Salzenstein]

Originally Posted by WildVolley

Yes, I see what you are talking about. But Jeff actually has the racket face pronate through the ball and away from his body, just as the other guy does, but when he then lets the racket drop, he turns the face back toward his body.

Watch it again. The motions in the two videos are basically the same until the very last part when the server is relaxing.

In this particular video for the kick serve I am not focusing on pronating even if it happens naturally. I have found the key is the finish and everything happens naturally before that. If it does not, then make adjustments. Get the stings facing you at the end of the swing, if you want to develop feel and control on the kick serve.

[sureshs]

Originally Posted by Jeff Salzenstein

Hi Sureshs We have a few serve videos on youtube but we have a huge serve course coming-out later this year....basically my life's work on how I developed my serve which was average as a junior to hitting a 136 mph serve at Indian Wells at the age of 32. John Yandell helped me big time along the way. I love John's work and he is a good friend and mentor.

I have seen the youtube ones on the serve.

What was the speed of your "average" serve as a junior? I suspect it was far above the speeds of club-level serves.

[BigT]

Salzenstein is the man. I remember seeing him back in his Stanford days and have followed his career.

Definitely not 'just another pro trying to make a buck'. Hello, he has a degree from Stanford....If he was not a tennis player, he would be a top exec. somewhere.
He is educated and intelligent, which is not so common on the Tour. His videos are clear and helpful for all levels of play.

[onehandbh]

Originally Posted by Jeff Salzenstein

Hey onehandbh, Thanks of for the tip on the video. If you give me specific examples of what you think I should show, that would really help. I wanted to make it 5-7 minutes but it cam tout 10 because I felt I had a lot of material to cover.

I think 5-7 minutes might still be pretty long. There are a lot of possible
ways to cut it down. Off the top of my head, some ideas:

- use video when you want to show/illustrate something. You can start
with the image of you talking but since the main content of what you
currently have is actually the audio (what you say), you
don't need to keep the camera on you. You can cut up the audio and use it
as narration/VO while you show samples/examples of your teachings.
You can use bits of some of the clips you have on youtube.

Since it's on your webpage, some of what you say should just be in
writing.

Consider the following analogy:
How would people most likely like to ingest the story "Gone with the Wind" ?

1) Read the book
2) See the movie
3) listen to the audiobook
4) watch a video of a guy standing there reading the book aloud

I'd hazard a guess, that most people would not choose #4. A 10
minute video on the web can feel like an eternity to some people.

What you want is actually a combination of the 4. A movie trailer.
You can show the author (you), cut to parts of the movie (your instructional
videos), use the audio of you underneath at times (audiobook), and then
maybe show a little bit of text (phrases) with the video or as separate
cards (screen w/text) stating key points. Just give them a taste. The
specifics should written on your webpage.

If you have more questions, you can contact me via my TW profile.

[arche3]

Originally Posted by onehandbh

I think 5-7 minutes might still be pretty long. There are a lot of possible
ways to cut it down. Off the top of my head, some ideas:

- use video when you want to show/illustrate something. You can start
with the image of you talking but since the main content of what you
currently have is actually the audio (what you say), you
don't need to keep the camera on you. You can cut up the audio and use it
as narration/VO while you show samples/examples of your teachings.
You can use bits of some of the clips you have on youtube.

Since it's on your webpage, some of what you say should just be in
writing.

Consider the following analogy:
How would people most likely like to ingest the story "Gone with the Wind" ?

1) Read the book
2) See the movie
3) listen to the audiobook
4) watch a video of a guy standing there reading the book aloud

I'd hazard a guess, that most people would not choose #4. A 10
video on the web can feel like an eternity to some people.

What you want is actually a combination of the 4. A movie trailer.
You can show the author (you), cut to parts of the movie (your instructional
videos), use the audio of you underneath at times (audiobook), and then
maybe show a little bit of text (phrases) with the video or as separate
cards (screen w/text) stating key points. Just give them a taste. The
specifics should written on your webpage.

If you have more questions, you can contact me via my TW profile.

Great ideas. I thought the website a bit confusing as well. I was not sure if the sale was for the DVDs pictured or the subscription.

[Jeff Salzenstein]

Originally Posted by sureshs

I have seen the youtube ones on the serve.

What was the speed of your "average" serve as a junior? I suspect it was far above the speeds of club-level serves.

Average speed of my serve was slow as a junior..nothing above 90. I improved my serve 25-30 MPH after my freshman year of college at Stanford through my own experimentation.

[Jeff Salzenstein]

Originally Posted by onehandbh

I think 5-7 minutes might still be pretty long. There are a lot of possible
ways to cut it down. Off the top of my head, some ideas:

- use video when you want to show/illustrate something. You can start
with the image of you talking but since the main content of what you
currently have is actually the audio (what you say), you
don't need to keep the camera on you. You can cut up the audio and use it
as narration/VO while you show samples/examples of your teachings.
You can use bits of some of the clips you have on youtube.

Since it's on your webpage, some of what you say should just be in
writing.

Consider the following analogy:
How would people most likely like to ingest the story "Gone with the Wind" ?

1) Read the book
2) See the movie
3) listen to the audiobook
4) watch a video of a guy standing there reading the book aloud

I'd hazard a guess, that most people would not choose #4. A 10
minute video on the web can feel like an eternity to some people.

What you want is actually a combination of the 4. A movie trailer.
You can show the author (you), cut to parts of the movie (your instructional
videos), use the audio of you underneath at times (audiobook), and then
maybe show a little bit of text (phrases) with the video or as separate
cards (screen w/text) stating key points. Just give them a taste. The
specifics should written on your webpage.

If you have more questions, you can contact me via my TW profile.

All good points. Thanks for your feedback.

[Federerkblade]

i have to say the first lessons on the total tennis site are awesome and well worth ten dollors a month alone plus more

[arche3]

Originally Posted by Federerkblade

i have to say the first lessons on the total tennis site are awesome and well worth ten dollors a month alone plus more

I'm about to sign up.... ten bucks is not much but I will most likely forget after a few months and Jeff will make 10 bucks from me per month till I die.
I had Netflix for like 3 years before I realised I had it. I did the trial and forgot about it.

[sureshs]

I was waiting for my match last night, when I heard "Jeff Salzenstein" mentioned! I turned around, and it was the head pro here talking about him to a junior student. I asked him how he knew Jeff, and he said he coached Jeff in high school. Then he said he (Jeff) was a great player and coach.

Jeff, I don't want to give out his name and please don't mention it here (some people don't like their names showing up on the Web), but he is on the list in http://rptctennis.com/Lessons.aspx

[Jeff Salzenstein]

Originally Posted by Federerkblade

i have to say the first lessons on the total tennis site are awesome and well worth ten dollors a month alone plus more

Thanks...it's only going to get better from here. More lessons, more insight, more fun. I am going to do everything I can to deliver at least 10x the value in this inner circle.