AP BELT: More Great News

Bungalo Bill

Bungalo Bill

G.O.A.T.
Hi Folks, as promised I spoke with Pat and showed him all the
activity we've created on these boards. He was extremely appreciative for the thoughtful feedback from all of you. He is thankful for your valued opinions and has agreed to extend his very best deal, exclusively for the TW community.

Through the end of the year or until stock runs out, TW posters will be able to purchase A.P. Belts for only $99 + shipping, using a special online purchasing link below. Since the price is higher at www.apbelt.com, you can't access the same deal there, only use the following link to access this TW deal...This is your big chance and if you order today, you still might be able to get it by Xmas. Enjoy and have a happy holidays. Here's the special link:

http://www.active.com/event_detail.cfm?event_id=1188193

P.S, -Those of you who already purchased A.P.Belts at regular price, contact sales@apbelt.com and they will make good on the difference...how's that!
 
I just got my AP Belt yesterday. And after adjusting the belt, I noticed that in a full sprint position, the cords will tighten up. I have not played with it on the court yet, but I am concerned that I may trip and fall if I was to try a full sprint due to the tension from the cords. Can anyone who has used the belt tell me how to use it properly?
 
Got mine late last week and got a chance to use it on the court for a bit yesterday.

First impressions:


It REALLY forces you to spread out and get low, which is the intent of the whole thing so that's good. I found that I was getting in the ready position before the shot okay beforehand, but I had a tendency to lift up during the shot. The AP Belt still allows for this, but it forces more of a synchronized "explosion" into the shot.

I wasn't able to hit very long with it (just one session of 125 balls from each the forehand and backhand side) but it's quite a workout. I can usually hit for about 2-3 hours and not feel it the day after, but my quads felt the effect of this short workout this AM.

My forehand has always been pretty good, and hitting with the AP Belt wasn't an issue.

My backhand improved a great deal, as my previous setup wasn't spread out enough and I was coming out of the crouch WAY too soon during the stroke. I was surprised how well my backhand was struck, in terms of consistency and pace, with the AP Belt on.

I tried serving a basket after the AP Belt workout, and my quads were too shot to explode into the ball during the service motion, so it didn't last more than a serve or two.
 
George,

I've been training in the belt for almost 2 months now. I can relate to the feeling that you describe (tension when sprinting). I emailed the folks at APbelt.com for their opinion on this issue. Long story short, they suggested that I was likely feeling tension during the sprint because I was raising my center of gravity while sprinting. They also mentioned that my stride length was likely getting too long. You rarely find yourself on the tennis court where you need to sprint (like Carl Lewis) for any significant distance. Usually you need a good start and a few explosive "burst" steps.

I'll be darned if they didn't nail the issue right on the nose. Even when chasing a topspin lob or a forehand out wide, if you can concentrate on a low, explosive start, with a few explosive strides, you can keep your center of gravity low, cover more ground and reduce the feeling of tension during this movement.

Hope this helps.
 
Ordered One Yesterday

I just hope that I have the guts to wear it in public at the club !
 
AP Belt - Whoa!!!

So how long do ya think you have to keep using the belt until your trained to keep your butt low and stay balanced, I know after awile you get the idea and can stay down without the belt, I know my game has changed dramatically now without the belt, but I'm still using it. I think the Williams sisters must have trained with this belt because they whack the crap out of the ball in that same sitting type position just like they had the belt on. What a difference it is when you hit the ball from this position. But if your not in the greatest shape, start slow and add a little more time each practice or like they say your quads are gonna pay for it. Wish I didn't get mine for $150. Shi*t
 
dogman said:
So how long do ya think you have to keep using the belt until your trained to keep your butt low and stay balanced, I know after awile you get the idea and can stay down without the belt, I know my game has changed dramatically now without the belt, but I'm still using it. I think the Williams sisters must have trained with this belt because they whack the crap out of the ball in that same sitting type position just like they had the belt on. What a difference it is when you hit the ball from this position. But if your not in the greatest shape, start slow and add a little more time each practice or like they say your quads are gonna pay for it. Wish I didn't get mine for $150. Shi*t
Click to expand...

You can contact the AP belt makers for a refund of the difference. Locate the link above in my post and go from there. Let me know how things turn out. Hurry up though!
 
okay, so I've only practiced with the thing two times, but I went out and hit back and forth with a buddy without the belt and made a conscious effort to stay in the "AP Belt" position while rallying. Wow. Better pace, depth and loads more consistent.
 
I bought a belt before this post came out. I emailed the company and gave them my information and told them I was a member of the TW message board. They sent me a refund check for the difference. Awsome company, and thanks BB for the great deal.
 
jjjosh said:
I bought a belt before this post came out. I emailed the company and gave them my information and told them I was a member of the TW message board. They sent me a refund check for the difference. Awsome company, and thanks BB for the great deal.
Click to expand...

Great NEWS!!!
 
Bungalow Bill: Since this belt's purpose is to keep you in an "athletic stance" i.e. in a "semi-squat" postition (you're apprx. 1 ft. shorter than if standing straight up), is this belt potentially injurious to your knees as a result of the flexed knees advancing forward of the toes?

They always say (when doing a lunge, for example) that when you're bending your knees that they should never extend beyond your toes. Doesn't this belt force you to adopt a stance where that becomes the case? Could you advise? Thx.
 
Having had knee problems in my career (torn meniscus in both knees), I can understand your concern. I developed my knee problems from football and weight lifting (I used to compete in powerlifting events....Those squats....Yuck).

The heavy squatting contributed to my knee problems because I was executing the excercise incorrectly. I used to squat with a base that was just a tad wider than shoulder width, with my toes pointing straing ahead, and the bar on or just under my trap muscles. In this position, your knees would move forward beyond your toes as you decended into the full squat position. A subsequent side effect of this narrow stance was to create a significant amount of pressure on the spine, forcing a concave arc in the back (C looking curve). Keeping the weight high on my back only exacerbated the problem.

As I learned "the hard way", the proper squatting stance (particularly for powerlifting) is what they call a "Super A". This essentially entails that you widen your stance 2.5 - 3 shoulder widths apart. Your feet should not be pointing straight ahead, but slightly outward (30-45 degrees), thereby straddling the sides of a giant "A" (assuming the tip of the "A" was painted on the floor (under your behind), with the legs of the "A" extending in front of you. The weight should be placed lower on your back, across the back of your shoulders (more in line with your center of gravity throughout the squatting movement).

Using this position, you can keep your back in a strong, upright "Convex" alignment. The weight stays over your center of gravity. The load of the weight is being carried by your glutes and hamstrings. Your knees never move ahead of your toes in this position.

While wearing the belt, you should strive to achieve this "Super A" stance. Your reaction time will improve, you will be more explosive to the ball and you will be in a strong athletic posture. To see evidence of this, take a look at Federer or Roddick right after they split step as they return serve. They model this stance perfectly.....Now if Roddick would only put a loaded barbell on Feds back, maybe he would fair better.

Hope this helps.
 
VJH, are you still lifting? If so, do you have a body weight set in your mind that you won't let yourself pass? Weightlifting and tennis kind of have opposite ideals for weight.

Sorry for the hijack.
 
Vin,

My workout has changed a lot since college. I used to weigh 240 (at 6'2). I could bench 425, Squat just over 600 and deadlift 570. You are right.....Not your typical tennis frame. I now fluctuate between 198 and 202 lbs. My workout consists of interval cardio training (a minute of sprinting, 30 second rest on whatever machine I'm using) and light weight work. My split looks like this:

Day one: 45 minutes cardio, abs
Day Two: 30 minutes cardio, shoulders back and abs
Day Three: 20 minutes cardio Chest, Bi's, Tris, abs

I never bench more than 225 or military press more than 185. If I do go that heavy, I am sure to keep strict form and do no more than 5-6 reps. I do 5 sets of each bodypart....As compared to the 12-15 I used to do back in the day.

About 2 years ago I weighed about 220.....Dropping that extra 20 pounds made a huge difference from a movement perspective......I was always pretty fit, but I am definitely quicker at this weight. I can already see another agility improvement as a result of training with the belt.

I have considered scrapping the lifting all together, but haven't yet, because 45 minutes of cardio every day is just too boring....
 
Damn, those are some big lifts! I think what you're doing now is smart, why would you scrap the lifting all together?
 
The reason that I would consider scrapping lifting altogether probably has more to do with ego than anything else. I can't press the weight I once could....It is tough to do sets of 5 with a weight that I used to use as a warm up for 15 reps....(example 225 lbs for the bench). These days I see these high school kids or kids home from college pressing that type of weight for numerous reps.....It is a **** to my pride to slide under the bar and hit it for 5 or 6 reps....when some punk (and I mean that in the most affectionate way possible) just nailed 18 reps with the same weight...

I know for my game flexibility is more important than poundage....although I have to admit that there have been times that I've taken solace in the fact that although I may have been beaten on the court (and pretty handily at that) that I could still move way more weight than my opponent.....You know how the male psyche works...Stronger = better.....if not in tennis than "overall".....At the end of the day...what would benefit me the most is to dedicate all the time I spend lifting....albeit with baby weights now....to stretching....Now that would take some discipline....along with a dose of humble pie.....

Peace.....
 
VJH said:
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

It sho' do! THANKS! Football? "Knees?" Tell me about it! (wink!)

When squatting (with free weights) I did know enough to turn the toes outward, and now that I'm an "ancient" (now use "leg press" machines), I make sure to position my feet "high" on the footplate so that the knees never extend beyond the toes during the "negative" portion of the movement. And I do point the toes outward as if I were working the inside of the "head" of the calf. Btw, (at the risk of sounding twisted) isn't the burn from "inroading" that 'extra' / last rep great or what?

Speaking of football (and "ouch" knees), do they still do "duck walking" up and down the field drills??.....uggh!

Thanks again--great tip.
 
Rickson said:
Why can't you just stay low without the belt?
Click to expand...

You can but it takes a lot of discipline and awareness to maintain a lower center of gravity for even 15 minutes!

A coach can be good to use in this case as they can see your center of gravity rising and they can let you know it by saying "bend at the knees" or "stay down". But even this can be hard to do as you may believe you're staying down and your coach is full of it!

The AP Belt will provide constant feedback to your athletic position. There is no lying and no cheating and no shortcuts! It will work you. It is simply an excellent workout for the legs. It is one of the best performance improvement coaching devices made for tennis.
 
The link is not working

I tried the link however it does not work. Do I need to call or try apbelt.com
 
awys40_0 said:
I tried the link however it does not work. Do I need to call or try apbelt.com
Click to expand...

You need to examine the dates of the posts above a little more carefully. The "before the end of the year" deal was for 2004, one expects the link has probably expired by now! :)
 
I am not sure if this works. But i have ordered one anywayz. If 99$ + some hardwork is going to improve my game, i am willing to try.
 
Tennis_Monk said:
I am not sure if this works. But i have ordered one anywayz. If 99$ + some hardwork is going to improve my game, i am willing to try.
Click to expand...

If anything, it will alert you when your center of gravity is rising. This is important to know because on the court your mind needs to regulate the body to perform. When you are trying to concentrate on hitting the ball and other things, sometimes we slowly begin to straigthen too much as we play - especially when we get tired.

So it will help you but it is not easy.
 
I ask them is they will give me a discount and basically they said "no way", even if I'm a TW forum member. I know, the offer was from 2 years ago
 
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