Get A Goal And Get More From Your Tennis Lessons

This is Part 4 of a series on finding and getting the most from your tennis lessons.

In case you missed the first 3 parts of this series (links at the end of this post) and are wondering what's going on here - the purpose of this series is for me, someone who has been taking private lessons for several years (Yikes) to help you get your money's worth out of your own private lessons. I've made every mistake in this regard that can be made - so do as I say, not as I do.

Private lessons from a good tennis coach aren't cheap. Probably. Unless you've somehow found the one great coach who is independently wealthy and believes in teaching lessons for the good of the sport. But I'm guessing that, like me, you haven't found that guy and you spend a good chunk of change on your private lessons. So how do you make sure you're getting the most value possible out of those lessons?

Have a goal for your lessons.

Sounds obvious, right? But how many of us are taking lessons that are really nothing more than paying to mindlessly hit tennis balls with a pro? I've done this plenty of times and I bet you have too.

So put an end to that today! Get your money's worth out of your lessons! Get a goal! Here's how:

1. Think about it.

Whether you are new to tennis or have been playing for years, you should not be paying for lessons unless you know what it is you hope to achieve in those lessons. This means you have to honestly, perhaps painfully, evaluate your game and decide what you might actually achieve in lessons.

Your goal may be very simple - learn to play tennis! It may be a little more complex - move up from a 3.5 to a 4.5 player. It can be a short-term goal that requires a few lessons - learn to hit a one-handed backhand slice on the run. Or it can be a long-term goal that requires regular lessons for the rest of your life (this seems to be the plan that I am on).

The point is - think about why you're taking lessons and what you want to achieve. Write some notes, review them after a few days and come up with your goal.

2. Discuss and evaluate that goal with your tennis coach.

If you took the time to create a goal, you're going to tell your coach what it is, aren't you? Well, even I ignore this important step. It's so much easier to just go out there, hit balls and assume that, whatever it is you're doing is going to improve your game. But, to get to your goal, you need to spend some time talking to your coach about what you hope to achieve so that he or she can come up with the appropriate lesson plan that will get you there. (Or perhaps tell you what a laughable goal you've set your heart on - "You? 4.5? That's a good one!") (No, of course not, I would never take lessons with someone like that.)
Warning - If you are working with a coach who makes you feel uncomfortable about this, someone who thinks he knows what you need to work on and doesn't want to hear much if anything from you, that is a sign that you may not be working with the right coach.

3. Revisit your goal periodically.

Yes - still with the goal! over time, as you work with a coach, you may forget you had some purpose for your lessons. So, if you're on the short-term goal plan, figure out if you've achieved what you wanted at the end of your termy. If you didn't, decide whether you try again with the same coach (maybe you didn't give yourself enough time), reset your goal (maybe you were trying for too much) or move on (maybe this wasn't the coach for you). If you're on the longer term plan, revisiting your goal periodically is very important. Again, it is easy to fall into the trap of mindlessly hitting balls with your coach just because its fun and easy. Review your goal and your progress towards getting there every 3 to 4 months and decide what needs to change, if anything, to get you achieving that goal.

The point is - don't walk into your lessons and answer the question, "What do you want to work on?" with "I don't know." Get a goal!



Want to read other posts in this series? Just click on these titles and find out how to get the most from your tennis lessons:

Part 1 - Federer Hired A Tennis Coach - Should You?
Part 2 - Where, Oh Where, Can I Find A Great Tennis Coach?
Part 3 - Eenie, Meenie, Miney - Tennis Coach!

This post originally appeared on Tennis Fixation's blog page on the Tennis Now website. Click here to read this and other great Tennis Fixation posts on Tennis Now!


© Kim Selzman 2010 All Rights Reserved

UNIQLO Gets Into The Tennis Game

Does Uniqlo Ambassador Orlando Bloom play tennis? Who cares?

Last summer, my daughter and I went to New York for a weekend and paid to go on a shopping tour through Soho. I was worried it would be kind of cheesy and we wouldn't get to shop anywhere cool or different but it turned out to be completely fun. A very cute graduate student led us through the neighborhood, took us through a combination of well-known chain boutiques and funky closet-sized shops, and pointed out interesting architectural details along the way. We loved it.

But what we really loved, and returned to after the tour, was Uniqlo, a huge Japanese retailer with a flagship store in new York.  They offer Gap-like clothes at incredible prices. We could not get enough of this place and shopped for hours.

So I can't tell you how excited I was to find out that Uniqlo is getting into the tennis market! Right now, Japanese tennis pro Kei Nishikori (ranked No. 82 by the ATP) is wearing their stuff so they must be starting with men's wear. But I'm hoping they'll figure out quickly that women's tennis wear is where the money is and get that line going soon.

Just remember - Uniqlo tennis wear - you heard it here first!


Image via www.uniqlo.com




© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Tip From The Pro: Improve Your Toss, Improve Your Serve

This is a guest post from Brian Montez, tennis pro and owner of K Factor Sports. Brian is a teaching pro working with players of all levels and abilities, from kids to adults, beginners to open-level, and everything in between. Here, Brian gives a great tip for improving your serve.


Without a good toss, your serve will be inconsistent. To improve your toss, first, place your toss correctly. To do this, imagine yourself in the middle of a clock and noon is directly perpendicular to the net from where you line up for your serve. If you are a righty, your toss should be at 1 p.m. If you're a lefty, your toss should be at 11 a.m. (since you will be facing in the opposite direction from a righty).

Next, adjust how far in front of you that you place your toss. There is a difference here between the first and second serve. Since you usually want a more aggressive first serve, your toss should be farther in front, but still located at the correct "time" for either a righty or lefty. Your second serve needs to be more consistent, so your toss should be a little closer in. And add some spin for more net clearance.

Developing a good first serve and a super reliable second serve is key. Just getting the second serve in is not good enough. You must develop confidence in the spin, depth, and placement of your serve, so that your opponent does not eat up the second serve every time!




© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Hey, Caroline Wozniacki - Margaret Court Called. She Wants Her Skirt Back.

Just when I thought I'd seen an end to the bad tennis outfits with Venus Williams' exit from the Australian Open, along comes Caroline Wozniacki.

Take a look:

Image via www.australianopen.com

All three of these women are wearing Adidas. Ana Ivanovic looks fantastic for a change in an outfit that I'm sure many of us would wear. Justine Henin, in her typical androgynous top and skirt, even looks pretty good. Its hard to believe that Caroline Wozniacki is actually the one of these three wearing gear personally designed for her by no less than Stella McCartney. I'm starting to wonder if Stella McCartney has watched a tennis match in this decade. Or in the last three decades. This skirt is just way too high-waisted and 70's looking for my taste. And the top? Well, where is it?

Now perhaps the thought was to make Caroline look ballerina-ish:

Image via www.australianopen.com

Instead, I thing she looks Margaret Court-ish:

Image via www.australianopen.com

Or maybe even Daphne Akhurst-ish:

Image via www.australianopen.com

Now Margaret Court has 11 Australian Open singles and 5 doubles titles of her name, so she's no slouch. And Daphne Akhurst has 5 Australian Open singles and 9 doubles titles. Again, pretty impressive.

Those ladies did that awhile ago. And with those records, as far as I'm concerned, they can wear whatever the heck they want. But - Hello, Caroline Wozniaki - it's 2011. Put the high-waisted, pleated skirt away and, if you can't win a Slam, at least get with the fashion program.




© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Dress To Play Great Tennis In The Cold

Does your tennis ball look like this?

I want to play tennis outside but its just so cold!

Here in the U.S., we are all being absolutely hammered weather-wise with record-setting cold temperatures and mounds and mounds of snow across the country. In Houston, where I play, we don't have the snow but we've definitely got the cold. Its been down in the 30's recently and, while I know that doesn't sound too bad if you're reading this in Massachusetts or Ohio, I also know you're not trying to play outdoor tennis in December. But we're attempting it here in Houston.

So, for those of us who can get outside for tennis in this FREEEEEZING weather, what do you wear to play your best without getting frostbite? How do you stay "in-it-to-win-it" when you really just want to stay "in-the-house-and-drink-hot-chocolate"?

The secret to playing, and enjoying, any outdoor sport in this icy weather is to wear lots and lots of layers. I know - its uncomfortable to swing at balls in a bulky ensemble. But its even worse to stiffen up because you're numb with cold. Here's how I layer on the gear to achieve maximum warmth with minimum interference:

The top looks like this:

• tank top (a racer back tank with built-in bra cuts down on the bulk)
• long-sleeved wicking t-shirt
• fleece pullover or hoodie
• ski-type vest (the best option) or jacket (I have one that's quilted and not too heavy) (and pink!)

On the bottom?

• tights (of course)
• yoga pants (my preference, ball can be tucked in the back) or skort (ball gets tucked into the shorts)
• wind pants (just for getting out on the court and maybe for warm-up, I for one cannot play in these)

And the rest of the outfit:

• hat (while a ski-type hat may seem necessary, even a regular baseball-type cap will keep your head warm)
• gloves (maybe, I can warm-up in gloves but can't play in them, if I need gloves to play, its too cold to play)
• scarf (OK, this is totally worn just for looks, I have way too many cute winter scarves for living in Houston)

The great thing about layers is they can be removed or added to as needed. You warm up with the big coat, the wind pants and the gloves but then take those off once your blood is pumping and you're ready to move. You get down to your t-shirt after the first set but then add back the fleece pullover if the sky gets overcast or the wind picks up.

I know you're like me - you want to play tennis all the time, even when it feels like you're whacking at snowballs. Wearing layers is a good way to make sure that, even in the winter, you're out on the court working on your game.


For more great tips on playing in the cold, check out this Tennis Fixation post: Cold Weather Tennis.



© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Tennis Fashion Fix: Venus Continues To Baffle Me

Venus promised us more skin for the 2011 Australian Open and she is definitely delivering.

So here's her first round dress:

Images by Ben Solomon

When I saw this, I thought, "Okay, I get it. The see-through mesh panels. The zipper that goes all the way from the top to the bottom on the front. That's more skin." The design itself seems somewhat juvenile but I get where she's going with this.

But get a load of her second round dress:

Images by Ben Solomon

Are you understanding this dress? Because I'm not. There are yellow strips of some kind of shiny polyester (?) fabric woven together to allow quite a bit of skin to show through. I have no earthly idea what is going on with the skirt area, which doesn't seem to have anything to do with the top area, so I'm not going to try and explain that.

Now, as I'm writing this, I'm watching a replay of this second round match and seeing the dress in action is even more uncomfortable than looking at the photos. I see a lot of problems - the color is not flattering, Venus is tugging at the skirt (which I'm starting to think is just a nervous habit she has since she does it with every outfit she wears) and the fit is just atrocious. In my non-fashion-school-trained mind, if you're going to have skin showing through like this, the dress should be very closely fitted. I mean its almost like wearing a bathing suit so it should fit like a bathing suit! Instead, this dress seems to bag around Venus' torso.

I really can't explain what logic, if any, is behind Venus' tennis fashion designs. If she's designing tennis wear just for herself - fine. Wear whatever. You're one of the top two American women playing tennis these days, the top American woman and a heavy contender at the Australian Open, so if you're happy in it, I'm happy for you to be in it. But she claims that this stuff is part of her overall post-tennis-career fashion empire. I just don't see anyone else, no matter how good their game or their body might be, wearing this stuff. Am I wrong? Your thoughts?




© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Tennis Fashion Fix: Australian Open 2011 - What Would Serena Have Worn?

Image via OPI.com

With the Australian Open starting today(!), the question we all have is, of course, what will the pros be wearing? Well, despite the fact that Serena Williams won't be defending her Aussie title due to ongoing "foot injury" issues, we now know what she would have worn.

First, don't you love the cheesy cover girl pose in this first pic? This is actually a photo from the nail polish pros at OPI touting Serena's "Glam Slam" lacquers, the first two of which were rolled out just in time for the year's first Slam. Keep tuned to Tennis Fixation for an update on these two polishes as well as the entire Glam Slam collection because the whole thing will tie into each of this year's Slams. Anyway, I thought this photo of Serena wearing her Australian Open outfit was too precious to pass up.

But let's get serious.


In this next photo, you can really see the Down Under Smash Dress that Nike put together for Serena.

Image via Nike Tennis Facebook

And here's another view of this dress, minus the 105 mph serve stance.

Image via Nike Tennis Facebook

In my opinion, Nike has done its usual fabulous job with Serena. They've used a really clean palette of white, blue and green that I'm sure would have looked great on the blue courts in Melbourne and will also look great on my cracked, greenish-brownish, need-to-be-painted courts in Houston. Dri-FIT fabric on the shoulders and back of the dress allows for ventilation, darts on the front and back give a more fitted fit (nice lack of vocabulary there), and a pop of Green Apple piping at the waist and a pleated Vibrant Blue skirt make this outfit stand out.

Better than the dress are these too, too cute shoes.

Image via Nike Tennis Facebook

These are the Nike Air Max Mirabella 3 shoes and they have way too many high-performance, technical features for me to tell you about. Who cares anyway? Look at those colors! If I'm wearing something this splashy on the courts, I don't care if my feet are cushioned or well-ventilated or even moving very fast. Love these.

Well, enjoy these pieces here and in your favorite tennis shop. Because you won't be seeing them on the courts in Australia.



© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Tennis Fashion Fix: Get Ready For "More Skin" At The 2011 Australian Open

Image by Mark Riedy

The 2011 Australian Open starts tomorrow (Hooray!) and just in case you're hoping that Venus Williams will attempt to top her outfits from the most recent French Open (Remember this post? Tennis Fashion Fix: French Open 2010 - Venus In A Black Lace Negligee??), Wimbledon and U.S. Open (just see Tennis Fashion Fix: US Open 2010 - What Is The Deal With Venus?), you are in luck!

Although I have no photo evidence to present at this time (but I'll be searching for some to give you asap), at her most Aussie Open press conference (where this not-completely-flattering photo was taken), she promised "There'll be more illusion, and also skin - more skin this year. So we'll see."

More skin? How much more skin can there be? She's already done the lingerie thing. And the "is she or isn't she wearing anything under that dress" look? What's left? Tennis stripper? On-court string bikini? All I can say at this point is "Yes, Venus, we'll most definitely see."



© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

A Whole Tennis Cake TV Show!

When did this turn into a blog about tennis cakes? I don't remember but somehow, the tennis cakes just keep coming. Witness the recent U.S. Open cake created by none other than the Ace of Cakes himself, Duff Goldman.

This huge, gigantic representation of Arthur Ashe Stadium and the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center was created and filmed during the 2010 U.S. Open. But we're just now getting to see the story on the Food Network.

And this thing is truly huge:



It features Ashe and King duking it out on the Stadium court:



And how about working stadium lights, fireworks, and a variety of intense rivalries on its 12 outer courts (including the Phantom of the Opera battling with Cats to settle who is NYC's best musical)?



While the show about this cake was filmed during the 2010 U.S. Open, you can catch it today, January 16, 2011, on the Food Network channel at 4:00 p.m. Eastern time. And I, for one, will be DVR'ing this one - I gotta see the court with the Statue of Liberty taking on the 30 Rock Statue!


Photos by Chris Trotman via www.usta.com.



© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Tennis Fashion Fix: Australian Open 2011 - Maria Sharapova

The Australian Open is now just days away from kicking off and that means the tennis fashion is starting to roll out. Maria Sharapova introduced her Aussie Open 2011 outfit at a press conference at the Crown Casino in Melbourne. Get a load of the video:



Now, if you don't have the patience to get through a 2 minute video (come on!), here's a photo from the interview:

Image: Ben Solomon

And here's a shot of her posing for photographers:

Image: Ben Solomon

The front of the dress:

Image: Getty Images

And the back of the dress:

Image: Getty Images

This is the Oz Open Ace Dress or the Maria Sharapova Statement Ace Dress (depending on where you look). The colors here are typical Nike: a "Wolf Gray" body with "Peach Cream" highlights.

Now, I want you to know that I actually wrote a whole other post about this dress, concluding: "Maria looks good in this get-up but I won't and neither will most of the tennis-wear-buying general public. I anticipate seeing the dress and probably the rest of the collection on sale at my local tennis shop not too long after the conclusion of the Australian Open." And, after seeing this video and these photos, I'm still standing by that statement.

But, here's the thing - I really do LIKE this dress! Maria looks fantastic in it, like some kind of super-model. I can see why Nike loves sponsoring her. She just SELLS this outfit. I only wish I could put this thing on and look that good. And, while I know that won't happen until I grown another 10 inches, I'm a sucker for the advertising here. I'm definitely going to go to my local tennis shop and at least try this dress on. And I'll consider buying it when it goes on sale.






© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

The Plan 4 2011 - Gain Super Athlete Powers!

Image via 4allbyjofit.com

My dream for gaining power in 2011 looks like this: I run five to seven miles each week and stretch my muscles in yoga class on my off days. I regularly crush my opponents on the tennis court for each of the two teams I play for. I sweat my way through my weekly tennis lesson and master that kick serve I've been coveting. And I find the time and inclination to tee up and take those golf lessons I've been promising my husband I would sign up for for the last two years.

Am I up for all of this? Yes! How will I accomplish it? Hmmm . . .

Well, to start with, I'll look to the people who inspire me the most - my family. I'm lucky to have a husband and three kids who actually believe I can accomplish anything I say I'm going to do, whether I believe that or not. So I plan on getting all of them involved in the 2011 Super Athlete Plan.  My daughter? I'm sure she'll be interested in the running thing once I dangle the promise of a trip to the Disneyland Half Marathon in front of her. (I've already registered - Yikes!) My sons? Simple - they're my built-in tennis partners and absolutely HATE to lose to Mom. As for my husband, he has promised me a fancy golf/spa experience if I would just take up the game. I'll book the lessons - he can book the trip.

But what might really ensure my success through all of this would be some trendy, hot-looking, form-fitting clothes. Why? Because I think I could do it ALL if I knew I could just wake up each morning, throw on one totally cute outfit and accomplish my super athlete goals of the day - without having to change from workout clothes to tennis clothes to golf clothes to something that looks decent at the grocery store. Oh, and if a few compliments could be thrown my way about my adorable outfit, that would help.

So, imagine my excitement when I heard that 4all by JoFit, a tennis, golf and fitness apparel manufacturer, was looking for a few good women who wanted to look their best while performing their best and write all about it as 4all "brand ambassadors."

I'm telling you, I'm pretty sure they're looking for me.

4all puts out a very killer-looking line of performance athletic apparel designed by women for women. They've got incredible stuff that will work for yoga class, the tennis court and the golf lesson. (I personally love the taupe Boy Shorts and the taupe Thumbs Up Jacket. I would wear those pieces out very quickly.). And the best part is they absolutely celebrate the idea of being a hard hitting, competitive, in-it-to-win-it female athlete! Love it!

4all needs women athletes to put their products to the test and write all about it. I need good-looking workout clothes that can stand up to ALL of my athletic undertakings this year.

I think its destiny. 4all - here I am, ready to join the team. When can we get started?






© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Serena's Glam Slam Collection Is Here - Even If She's Not

Image via OPI.com

By now you know Serena Williams will not be at the Australian Open. The “foot injury” she suffered (or nose job or whatever you want to believe) post-Wimbledon 2010 will keep her from defending her Aussie title and ranking points. Meaning that, after Melbourne, she may slide right out of the WTA’s top 10.

But, hey, there’s good news! OPI is still rolling out Serena’s “Glam Slam” nail polish collection! OPI is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers of professional mani/pedi products. And Serena is well-known for being absolutely manic about her nails. (Just witness her recent pedicure performance for Oprah.) So, her decision to partner up with OPI on a nail polish collection tied to the Slams is actually pretty brilliant.

The first two polishes in this collection, introduced just in time for her non-existent Australian Open appearance, are Simply Smashing, a glowing, glittery green nail lacquer that might arguably be tennis ball-colored; and Black Shatter, a quick-dry topcoat that, when applied to a dry undercoat, produces a shattered or leopard-print look.

My personal take on these? I’m game to try Simply Smashing (just like I’m game to try the Wrist Assist, but that’s another story) but I’m pretty sure I won’t be rocking Black Shatter. Honestly, I have no idea how Serena plays with her long, tarted-up nails (and I mean that in a good way). I need the least amount of distractions possible to get through my games. Glowy green nails? Maybe. Black leopard skin on top of glowy green nails? That’s way more than I can handle.

Regardless, good for Serena for being able to not only carry this look off, but make lots of money while doing it! If the tennis thing doesn’t work out, she is more than prepared to fall back on her blossoming nail business (not to mention her HSN clothing line and other fashion ventures!).

When she does return to the courts, keep your eyes on Serena’s nails this year, as each Slam will bring new additions to the Glam Slam collection. Maybe Radical Red Clay for the French Open? White nail decals for Wimbledon? We will have to wait and see . . .

This Tennis Fixation post originally appeared on one of my favorite tennis web sites: Strawberries & Scream.




© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

So I Quit My Tennis Team . . .

So I wanted to follow-up on my big decision to quit one of my teams which I ranted about several weeks ago in How To Make Me Quit Your Tennis Team. This was my team where my captain consistently placed me on a very low line with an endless stream of subs who seemed only vaguely familiar with the game of tennis. And although we usually won our matches, it was always after a long and hard struggle that just wasn't any fun. I got really tired of "taking one for the team" week after week after week.

So I quit.

At the last match of the season, which my partner and I won 11-0 (this league plays one pro set, first to 11, rather than regular sets), I went to my captain and told her that I had decided to leave the team and would not be returning for the next season. I told her that I did not feel "challenged" at the line I was playing and was having a hard time with subs being rotated in so often. I was (I thought) very nice about it and did not indicate what a poor job I thought she had done in captaining the team.

And her reaction to my gut-wrenching decision to become a quitter? Nothing. Nada. Zip. And I mean that literally. She didn't say, "Sorry to see you go." She didn't say, "At last, you're leaving!" She didn't even say, "What did you say? I didn't hear you." She said nothing.

A few days later, I got an e-mail invitation to the team's Holiday Luncheon (that was nice of her) and after that I got an e-mail saying that "several ladies" were leaving the team but would hopefully play as subs next season.

Can you have a team populated by nothing but subs? That seems to be where she's headed.

Anyway, I thought my departure was going to be traumatic for someone (me?) and I was going to get to report the fireworks here. But it's turned out to be not that big of a deal. I can, however, say that I'm happy I quit that team and I find it extremely unlikely that I will be playing for them as a sub. I thought I would dread giving up one of my tennis days but I'm now looking forward to having some free time to work out more (I just signed up for a half-marathon in September which is another story) and maybe I'll start looking around for another team to join up with.

Finally, I want to say thanks to the very many of you who read my post about quitting and provided me with some moral support on taking the position that I did. Believe it or not, I really struggled with putting that info out there and it meant a lot to me to hear that I wasn't completely crazy in wanting to leave the team. Thanks to you my fabulous Tennis Fixation Followers!



© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Tennis Fixation Has New Look For The New Year!

Tennis Fixation is fresh, focused and ready for a fun New Year!

For 2011, the Tennis Fixation blog is tightening up and paring down to the essentials. With our new look and clean format, it will be even simpler and quicker for you, our truly fabulous Tennis Fixation Followers, to get a handle on all of the tennis info you need to crush your opponents on the court. And, as always, to look pretty darn cute while doing it!

All of your favorite Tennis Fixation features are here - the incredibly helpful video "Tennis Fix of the Day", tons of quick tips and strategies to help ramp up your game, lots of on-court fashion advice, and any juicy gossip coming our way from the always wonderful world of pro tennis.

So, what do you think? Is Tennis Fixation giving you what you need to win matches AND have fun doing it? Are you finding the advice, tips and fashion insights you need to dominate your opponents on the court? What else would you like to see when you check in with Tennis Fixation?

Let me know because this site is all about helping you play the best tennis you can - and to have fun doing it!





© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 2011! It's the first day of the new year and I am in very sunny Pasadena on my way to the Rose Bowl! Hopefully we will see the TCU Horned Frogs beat the (football) pants off the Wisconsin Badgers.

As I sit here in the hotel lobby, I am surrounded by Badger fans. Note to self - next Rose Bowl, don't book a room at one of the opposing teams fan hotels. I am very conspicuous in my purple t-shirt and tennis shoes. I didn't outfit myself in all of the required paraphenalia - thank God - quite yet.

Also - other note to self - don't book a hotel on the Rose Parade route. As we drove home last night from the Purple Pep Rally, I thought we had entered Hoboville. These Pasadena people actually camp out, in the COLD, to stake out a good parade viewing spot. And they have it all - barbeque grills, inflatable beds, TVs, silly string. We're pretty sure we saw someone with two computer screens doing a podcast out on the sidewalk at 11:00 p.m. A fun family tradition. I love it!

Have a great day today and check back in with Tennis Fixation as we shake off the holiday laziness and get back to helping you (and me!) play your absolute best and funnest tennis ever. Happy New Year!




© Kim Selzman 2011 All Rights Reserved