Bolleterri's AP Belt Soon To Be Tested!!!!

Bungalo Bill

Bungalo Bill

G.O.A.T.
Had a great email exchange with some of Nick's boys. They are going to send me that AP belt that you see in his Killer Forehand video.

Pat said that out of 15,000 tapes they had about 4,000 people seek the belt out to order it and it hasn't really hit the market in full stream yet.

So this AP belt (or contraption as some of my little buddy bashers called it) will be tested on these old legs of mine.

This couldn't have come at a better time as we approach the holiday season. I usually gain a few pounds and as Pat said, "be prepared for the ultimate leg workout". So I will post my review. I am sure by the way Pat spoke (kind of scary talk) I will die with a smile on my face knowing I had a great workout playing tennis. :P

Stay tuned...
 
Without any specs, links or purpose this post is sorta a tease. I suspect it will improve all strokes by helping to lower the center of gravity using additional weight and thus give the legs a great workout as noted. Again, without any specs or concrete info, we are all left to speculate.
 
joe sch said:
Without any specs, links or purpose this post is sorta a tease. I suspect it will improve all strokes by helping to lower the center of gravity using additional weight and thus give the legs a great workout as noted. Again, without any specs or concrete info, we are all left to speculate.
Click to expand...

LOL, a tease? If you don't own the video as stated above you won't know what it is (hence the title of this post!).

I guess I didnt make it clear that the belt has not quite reached the mass production stage. There are no links although their will be, you can not order it right now although you will be able to soon, the specs and pictures are being developed right now to market the product. It is the makers suspicion that once it he is able to be develop the product in mass quantities, TW could review it and possibly carry it soon. Otherwise, you will have to trust me that I will give you an honest opinion and let you know (when I find out) where you can look it up and buy it.

If you do not own the Killer Forehand video (which shows the device being used) you will not know what it is. It is a belt that helps you maintain a lower center of gravity and therefore loads the thighs (legs) throughout your practice. The belt makes it difficult for you to hit and move standing straight up. Most players would be surprised as to how long and how much the knees need to stay bent throughout a tennis point and match. Therefore it is a conditioning device. The belt helps strengthen the legs and conditions the body to accept a lower center of gravity position for movement and stroke production.

Depending on which side of the coin you side with (staying down through the shot, or rising as you make your forward swing into the ball) the AP belt is going to test you.

So please just stay tuned. I have never steered you wrong. I am excited that I am allowed to test the product. I am also excited I get to tell all of you about the results of my findings. I will put it to the test in all areas based on my limited knowledge of the game and provide the feedback to you.

I hope you all can accept that.
 
I tested the AP Belt today and needless to say my legs didn't last but 10 - 15 minutes. Wow, I am out of shape! The AP belt provides immediate feedback when you are raising too high for your movement. It gets you and helps keep you in that stance we see Agassi and many other pros perform that we take for granted.

You are always in a slightly bent knee position and the AP belt helps keep you there. If you lift up or stand straight up you instantly feel the resistance telling you to bend at the knees more to loosen the tension on the cords. Very good feedback mechanism to learn how to move and keep those knees bent.

No doubt after a month of wearing it in practice, hitting on a ball machine, and or a backboard, you will feel this low to the ground stance.

It also (as the Pat Dougherty says) promotes the drop step technique. Your stance will be wider and lower. This is something I have seen in many professional strokes especially the wide base for the foundation.

I would highly recommend this product to anyone interested in competitive tennis. I have no doubt that it will improve your game from the ground up!

Here are some pictures of the belt and what it promotes. For further information please visit www.apbelt.com

104_0451.JPG


104_0450.JPG
 
wow bill, you have nice legs!

it seems like this thing wouldn't work so well with a one handed backhand where the finish is more vertically extended. Am I missing something?

m
 
Can you serve with that on?
It does seem good to stay bent and low.
I think that helps with developing a more consistent and compact swing.
Also keeping you in a stance where you are ready to move in any direction.
So it would help to develop a good habit. But I know I wouldn't want to be hooked up to that!
Looks like some torture device from medieval times.
Might as well throw a neck and back brace on that girl too and give her head gear braces to complete the ensemble.
 
mattm said:
wow bill, you have nice legs!

it seems like this thing wouldn't work so well with a one handed backhand where the finish is more vertically extended. Am I missing something?

m
Click to expand...

It is good for onehanders. I used both the onehanded backhand and the twohander. I hit open stance and closed stance. What the belt is doing is improving your movement not your technique (although this is a byproduct). After you hit off the front foot on the onehander and perform your normal stroke, the feedback that the cords have tension in them helps you to recover and move again in a lower position. This constant feedback will strengthen your legs which will help improve your onehander.

The stroke still needs to be performed the way you know how, but you won't be standing straight up too long while moving because of the instanct feedbakc on how high your center of gravity is.

As far as my legs...yeah I know they are nice aren't they? :)
 
kevhen said:
Can you serve with that on?
It does seem good to stay bent and low.
I think that helps with developing a more consistent and compact swing.
Also keeping you in a stance where you are ready to move in any direction.
So it would help to develop a good habit. But I know I wouldn't want to be hooked up to that!
Looks like some torture device from medieval times.
Might as well throw a neck and back brace on that girl too and give her head gear braces to complete the ensemble.
Click to expand...

The serve is the only stroke it does not help. It is for movement around the court and not the serve motion.

For you juniors, high school. amd advanced players looking to improve your game further - this is a great tennis tool and workout tool to put in your bag and head for the courts to practice. This will really help improve your jump on the ball.
 
Agree with all of the above! When did Billie turn in the Volkl for the Babalot???? No wonder he likes coaching.
 
kevhen said:
Agree with all of the above! When did Billie turn in the Volkl for the Babalot???? No wonder he likes coaching.
Click to expand...

LOL, no way jose. I am not a Babalot Boy. I am either a Wilson Prostaff man or a Volkl man. I have to break my "5" Tour 10's before I can switch to another racquet. That comes from a memo I received from my financial officer - my wife. ;)

But yeah looking at that photo does remind of the better days of coaching.
 
Belt

Bill

My coach keeps telling me that my problem is lifting during both forehand and backhand groundstrokes; would this device really cure that?

Also, is it easy to pivot your hips to hit the modern style forehand a la Safin for instance, seems like you could get all tangled up? :)

Does seem a bit pricey though, I remember something similar being featured in the UK tennis magazine, ACE, a couple of years back and that was less than GBP 50.

Thanks for your advice

Cheers

Steve
 
Re: Belt

zeusmerlin said:
Bill

My coach keeps telling me that my problem is lifting during both forehand and backhand groundstrokes; would this device really cure that?
Click to expand...

Yes it will help a lot. You will get instant feedback if your lifting. Lifting is not a bad thing but if you do it too abruptly, quickly, or too soon it can cause problems. A lot of pros lift in their shots but they do it while executing a controlled stroke. This device will give you the feedback you need right away if your lifting.

Also, is it easy to pivot your hips to hit the modern style forehand a la Safin for instance, seems like you could get all tangled up? :)
Click to expand...

It does not inhibit anything in your stroke. Your hips are free to move and so are your feet. The cord in the back does not get tangled up since there is no slack in the cord.

Does seem a bit pricey though, I remember something similar being featured in the UK tennis magazine, ACE, a couple of years back and that was less than GBP 50.
Click to expand...

All I can say regarding the price is that it is well made. The materials used for the training device is of high quality. It may be pricey for some but the device as far as a training tool is excellent. So I think everyone will have to make up their own mind whether they need this device or not. If you do end up spending the money to purchase this device, you won't be disappointed.
 
The price includes research, developing, marketing, patenting ...
It would be a good investment. Like BB noted, good luck making your own version. You could wear shoulder weights but this would not give you the same feedback and leg workout. You could also just concentrate on maintaining a lower center of gravity while playing but again, no feedback when you start getting lazy.
Anybody remember what the warranty is on that new device, Im not interested in buying one but just curious and dont want to research it ?
 
:shock: Damn Bill. If you ever need me to string some racquets for you on the weekends, my number is (617)227-7731. Call me if you're ever in MA and wanna grab a cup of coffee n chat. 8)
 
joe sch said:
The price includes research, developing, marketing, patenting ...
Click to expand...
Research and development was already done when IMG developed this product for their own use. A lot of marketing was already done through their Killer Forehand video.
joe sch said:
Like BB noted, good luck making your own version.
Click to expand...
Thanks, but I'll do just fine without the luck.
 
Is that Ashley Harkleroad using the belt? If so that might want to be a selling point that she would use it. I am sure that most guys would check out the webiste just to see her hitting in those pictures.
 
If nothing else the idea is a good visual reminder to keep low but have your back fairly straight. I can see why this thing might be a good investment because so many people try to play the game standing straight up like totem poles.
 
Materials: $60
Labor: 10 minutes
Proving the doubters wrong: Priceless

:)

Introducing ... The VM Belt. And yes, there's a pulley.

Haven't tried it on the court yet, but I'm sure it will do just fine.

belt.JPG
[/img]
 
vin said:
Materials: $60
Labor: 10 minutes
Proving the doubters wrong: Priceless:)
Introducing ... The VM Belt. And yes, there's a pulley.
Haven't tried it on the court yet, but I'm sure it will do just fine.
[badimg]http://192.168.0.4/tennis/pictures/belt.JPG[/badimg][/img]
Click to expand...

Hope it works better than the local computer img you attempted to link but please try again as Im sure many would like a look :)
 
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