Ian Westermann Appreciation

[Digital Atheist]

How were you able to write to him? I don't see his email listed anywhere. Did he remove it due to his recent channel growth and probably increased influx of emails?

He still answers individual emails in a timely manner. If you've ever subscribed to any of his mailers, you'll be able to work it out.

His name is Ian.
The domain is essentialtennis.com.

I'll let you fill in the blanks. But to be fair, Tomaz from FeelTennis, Simon from Top Tennis Training and (sometimes) Jeff from TennisEvolution also respond directly.

From a @MaxTennis serve video I watched recently in the 100 mph thread, I learned to have a deeper backscratch to provide more swing path and speed before impact

A poor racquet drop is a common amateur issue, so feel free to elaborate on what you did to improve this. I'm sure many here could benefit.

 

[Rubens]

I'll let you fill in the blanks. But to be fair, Tomaz from FeelTennis, Simon from Top Tennis Training and (sometimes) Jeff from TennisEvolution also respond directly.

What about that instructor on youtube who posted a video about an ISR checkpoint at trophy position? Did he ever answer you?

 

[sureshs]

A poor racquet drop is a common amateur issue, so feel free to elaborate on what you did to improve this. I'm sure many here could benefit.

Maxtennis's video:

 

[Digital Atheist]

Maxtennis's video:

Thanks, I'm aware of the video and had watched it when originally posted. I was more meaning the drills or possible teaching cues you used/focused on to achieve this "improved" drop. Or maybe you're claiming that just watching Max serve improved your racquet drop?

 

[aarenes]

While this is often true, it is not always true; for example, the YT channel Racquetflex is often very analytical in the nature of its teaching, and yet the hosts look they can play a bit.

I like racquet flex quite a lot, amongst others.
Most of the times the videos are long from an these coaches (including Ian's and tennis evolution) but then I started marking the action drills part and use them when I get to the courts

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Thanks, I'm aware of the video and had watched it when originally posted. I was more meaning the drills or possible teaching cues you used/focused on to achieve this "improved" drop. Or maybe you're claiming that just watching Max serve improved your racquet drop?

Hey, some people are visual learners!

 

[sureshs]

Or maybe you're claiming that just watching Max serve improved your racquet drop?

Yes

 

[nyta2]

Maxtennis's video:

pretty serve... hardly looks like you're trying.

 

[Digital Atheist]

Yes

OK cool; given the many court level videos of professional players practicing their serve, it's interesting that watching them didn't do it.

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[sureshs]

OK cool; given the many court level videos of professional players practicing their serve, it's interesting that watching them didn't do it.

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You never know when something clicks

 

[MaxTennis]

pretty serve... hardly looks like you're trying.

Yeah, I generate more whip when I'm relaxed versus when I consciously try to serve hard and then I tense up.

 

[Digital Atheist]

Hey, some people are visual learners!

Of course! But this is situational and depends on the learning required; for example, when your serve mechanics are such that you have a poor drop, probably combined with some kind of waiter's tray and you've been hitting the serve that way for many years - a hypothetical that is a reality for many recreational players - I am sceptical that nothing more than the viewing of a serve video can fix it. Imo, no matter how visual the learner, it will take a lot of hard work and many hours of corrective drilling to fix something that is so well burned in. I guess some people are just lucky to be so naturally gifted that they can bypass the hard work!

 

[Digital Atheist]

You never know when something clicks

For sure, and I am definitely a fan of visual learning.

 

[sureshs]

Standard advice to have a good serve without faults is to be "relaxed."

No. The advice should be to have a reasonable serve when completely tensed up. No one teaches someone driving and says make sure you are always relaxed, otherwise it is highly expected that you will crash your car.

The goal is to have a motion which has built-in safeguards (negative feedback components) which can ensure a reasonable correct serve over wide ranges of conditions, like sun in the eye, wind, limited or no warmup, and a tense body at the end of a bad day at work.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

Standard advice to have a good serve without faults is to be "relaxed."

No. The advice should be to have a reasonable serve when completely tensed up. No one teaches someone driving and says make sure you are always relaxed, otherwise it is highly expected that you will crash your car.

The goal is to have a motion which has built-in safeguards (negative feedback components) which can ensure a reasonable correct serve over wide ranges of conditions, like sun in the eye, wind, limited or no warmup, and a tense body at the end of a bad day at work.

I'd rather work on relaxing and then hitting my serve than doing so while super tight. Besides, the latter will likely lead to injury.

 

[time_fly]

Ian and Essential Tennis are great. Ian isn’t the world’s best player, and he would be the first to admit that, but he’s a solid coach and his content is usually every engaging. In terms of other channels, Jeff Salzenstein at Tennis Evolution has some unique tips and content, although he’s less engaging and his endless self-promotion is tiresome. Brady’s lessons at Daily Tennis Lesson are very well organized and short, to-the-point. Brady’s one of the few that doesn’t try to stretch out past 10 minutes to get better YouTube metrics and I appreciate that. I watch a few other channels too when I’m bored, but they are more hit-or-miss.

PS. Just re-read my post and apparently I’m into hyphens — even not-very-necessary ones -- today.

 

[time_fly]

No. The advice should be to have a reasonable serve when completely tensed up. No one teaches someone driving and says make sure you are always relaxed, otherwise it is highly expected that you will crash your car.

Over a decade ago, I signed up for an autocross and the first question on the event FAQ was, “I drive better when I’m relaxed. Is there a bar on the premises?“ That always stuck with me, probably because as absurd as it is, there’s a grain of truth in there. While being drunk is obviously dangerous, being super tense is rarely to your advantage either.

 

[S&V-not_dead_yet]

—

Wasn't that an "M" dash, not a hyphen?

 

[StringSnapper]

I appreciate mr. Westermann, he's been honest about his weaknesses and we've seen him work hard to improve his backhand and he hasn't been afraid to play matches / post videos against stronger opponents he's lost to.

Respect!