Showing posts with label Roger Clarke. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Roger Clarke. Show all posts

Sunday, July 1, 2018

What to Eat and Not to Eat before a Tennis Match


Roger Clarke is a passionate sportsman who currently works as a tennis instructor in the Chicago suburbs. Aiming to inspire younger people around Chicago to become athletes, Roger Clarke has helped bring tennis to local schools and also delivered a speech on getting proper exercise and eating the right food.

Eating healthy is important in order to gain the physical capacity to play tennis. Players require complex carbohydrates before and after a match. Complex carbohydrates provide the body with enough energy to last through the day, so dieticians recommend eating foods like wheat, oatmeal, and fruits that are low in calories.

Before a match, players are encouraged to consume only a moderate amount of protein, which is found in milk, egg whites, and yogurt. Large amounts of protein can be consumed after a match due to its refueling properties that help the body recover lost energy.

Dieticians recommend that players do not eat meals with high sugar content to avoid energy crashes while playing. Too much sugar releases insulin from the pancreas, resulting in sleepiness and the inability to focus.

Friday, June 1, 2018

Performing an Overhead Smash Shot in Tennis


Chicago-area tennis professional Roger Clarke divides his time between studying to become a teacher at National Louis University and teaching tennis at LaGrange Country Club and Hinsdale Racquet Club. As a tennis instructor, Roger Clarke works with students in the Chicago area to increase their skills as tennis players.

Of the many shots in tennis, the overhead smash is one that is often performed poorly. Most players do not practice this shot enough.

To start, turn sideways as soon as you see a lob from your opponent. As you do this, bring your racket and hands to your chest, and adopt your usual serving grip. Overhead smash shots are similar to serves, so much of the shot resembles the preparation for a serve.

Ideally, the ball should come down right in front of you. Because of this, you may need to adjust your location as you watch the ball come toward you. 

Still, your body must remain sideways when moving, so you must employ sidestepping. This requires a comfortable familiarity with footwork so you don’t trip on your own feet.

When the ball gets closer, move both hands above your head. Extend your empty hand toward the ball while you move your racket behind your head. 

Then, move your racket hand up so the racket head meets the ball at the highest point. Instead of hitting this shot as hard as possible, simply finish the hit smoothly.

Saturday, April 7, 2018

Four Benefits of Reading That You Probably Didn’t Know About


Roger Clarke, a graduate student at Chicago’s National Louis University, divides his time between studying to be an elementary school teacher and teaching tennis as a tennis professional. In his professional role, he works with students of all ages at the LaGrange Country Club and Hinsdale Racquet Club in the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale. Outside of work, Roger Clarke enjoys reading.

Below are several unexpected benefits of reading:

1. Longer lifespan: According to a study from 2016, readers live almost two years longer than their non-reading counterparts. Further, you can live longer by reading just 30 minutes a day, so there’s no requirement for you to make a major commitment to reading hours a day.

2. Boosts memory: You likely already know that reading boosts your vocabulary, but it also improves your memory. Every time you read, your brain forms a new memory. This exercises the memory process and strengthens your memory reflexes.

3. More empathetic: When you read, you have likely become emotionally attached to certain characters. While this may seem strange to some, it helps you be more sensitive towards the feelings of people you meet in real life.

4. Lowers stress: Reading is a great way to distract the mind, thus allowing it to relax from a stressful day. A study from 2009 found that reading for six minutes reduces stress by almost 70 percent. Meanwhile, another study revealing that silently reading slows the heart rate and reduces muscle tension.

Sunday, March 18, 2018

The Three Types of Outdoor Tennis Courts


A tennis professional in the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale, Illinois, Roger Clarke teaches tennis to players of all ages at Hinsdale Racquet Club and La Country Club. In addition to teaching students, Roger Clarke takes care of the clay tennis courts at the clubs.

There are three basic types of outdoor tennis courts. The following is a brief description of each:

Clay: Made of crushed stone, shale, or brick, clay courts are often seen in Latin America and Europe. These courts provide higher bounces that are perfect for players who use heavy spin and make consistent shots. While the cost of building a clay court is cheaper than other types of courts, maintenance costs are typically more expensive.

Grass: At one time, grass courts were the most popular tennis court around. However, the high cost of maintaining them has resulted in grass courts becoming very rare. Players with knee problems are better suited for playing on grass courts because these courts are softer. Unfortunately, these courts restrict how high the ball bounces.

Hard Courts: These types of tennis courts are usually made of cement or plastic. Since they favor hard serves and offer short rallies, they are often used for tournaments in the US and Australia. Hard courts are capable of handling varying types of play because it equalizes play better than clay and grass courts.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Roger Federer Wins Record 20th Grand Slam


Capitalizing on more than a decade of experience coaching tennis, Roger Clarke serves as a tennis professional at Hinsdale Racquet Club just outside of Chicago. In this capacity, Roger Clarke provides training and healthy eating regimens to Hinsdale players who play the sport on a recreational basis, as well as those who aspire to play at a high level.

Aspiring professional male tennis players can only hope to one day achieve a fraction of what Roger Federer has accomplished throughout his career. The 36-year-old native of Switzerland became the first man to win 20 Grand Slam titles on January 28 as he defeated Marin Cilic in a five-set battle to determine the winner of the Australian Open. Beyond establishing a new record for most Grand Slam titles won by a male player, Federer became the second-oldest man in the Open era to win a Grand Slam behind only Ken Rosewall, who was 37 years old when he won the 1972 Australian Open.

Federer was stuck on 17 Grand Slam titles for over four years, but returned to being one of the most dominant players on the planet in the past year. With the Australian Open win, he has now won three of the past five Grand Slams. Rafael Nadal and Pete Sampras rank second and third in Grand Slam wins with 15 and 14, respectively.

Saturday, January 20, 2018

The Top Three Grand Slam Winners in Tennis


Roger Clarke is a Chicago-based tennis instructor who has worked at the Hinsdale Racquet Club since 2011. Beyond his role at Hinsdale, Roger Clarke enjoys playing and watching tennis in his free time. 

Roger Federer leads all professional male tennis players with 19 Grand Slam wins, but the three most decorated players of all-time are women. 

1. Margaret Court - A native of Perth, Australia, Court won a record 24 Grand Slams, including 11 Australian Opens. She was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1979.

2. Serena Williams - This American won her 23rd Grand Slam in 2017, when she won the Australian Open for a seventh time, despite being two months pregnant. She has also won Wimbledon seven times and earned six U.S. Open and three French Open titles.

3. Steffi Graf - A native of Germany, Graf won 22 Grand Slams over her career. She's a seven-time winner of Wimbledon and six-time winner of the French Open. She also spent a total of 377 weeks as the top-ranked female player in the world.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

Mastering the One-Handed and Two-Handed Backhand in Tennis


Based in Hinsdale, Illinois, tennis professional Roger Clarke teaches learners of all ages, emphasizing the link between broader life success and tennis skills. At Hinsdale Racquet Club, Roger Clarke instructs his students in fundamental strokes that include the backhand

The one-handed backhand offers the benefit of superior reach and is ideal for shots that come into the body and require flexibility in the angle used. The two-handed backhand has advantages in terms of control and stability and can help when reaching for high shots. 

For both types of backhand, a key is not to shorten the backswing, as this can make the return shots weak and without sufficient range to clear the net with accuracy. This can be accomplished with the two-handed backhand through ensuring that the non-dominant hand is used at least as much as the dominant hand. This helps to lengthen the extension as you follow through. 

In addition, proper balance is essential, with shots anticipated and leaned into whenever possible. The savvy opponent will seek to exploit any weakness in the backhand until you prove that you can return equally effectively from any position.

Monday, October 9, 2017

Choosing the Right Tennis Racquet


For more than a decade, Roger Clarke has worked as a tennis professional in Hinsdale, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. Roger Clarke works with Hinsdale-area tennis students year-round, regardless of their age or athletic ability.

Choosing the right tennis racket often begins with determining whether a player needs a power or a control racket. In most cases, this depends on their skill level. Those who are newer to the game are best suited for a power racket. These rackets are lighter in weight, have an oversized head, and are longer. They allow players to hit the ball more frequently and create more power when the player cannot. Meanwhile, skilled tennis players who can create their own power should look at control rackets. Featuring a smaller head and heavier weight, control rackets are easier to move around.

Once players know what kind of racket they need, they can start looking at string types. Pre-strung rackets are often cheaper and are normally fine for children and beginners. As players advance, they should start looking into premium frames. These frames are unstrung and may cost between $100 and $250. 

The string pattern also plays a role in players’ overall abilities. Open string patterns add more topspin to the ball and allow players to hit harder without sending the ball out of the court. Dense string patterns, on the other hand, provide more control over the ball’s direction.

Saturday, September 30, 2017

Benefits of Tennis for Children


Since 2011, Roger Clarke has served as a tennis professional at the Hinsdale Racquet Club in Hinsdale, just outside of Chicago. Roger Clarke welcomes Hinsdale Racquet Club students of all ages, including children 3 years of age and older.

Playing tennis helps children to develop physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially. On the tennis court, children learn how to take ownership of their own decisions and adapt to a changing situation in the moment, as no one can respond for them when their opponents make unexpected moves. They practice staying calm in stressful situations and learn to control their emotions when their performance is at stake.

A child on the tennis court also learns to win and lose gracefully. In experiencing both of these at varying times, the child comes to understand the importance of respecting an opponent, whatever the results of the game. 

Doubles games play a particularly crucial role in the development of these skills. Children playing doubles must learn to work as a team and communicate with their partner, while also engaging in fair competition with their opponents.

At the same time, children learn how to become better athletes. They benefit from hard work and dedication, which pay off in improved performance on the court. They come to understand that planning and goal setting yield better results than simply reacting spontaneously in the moment, and they learn how to rely on these strategies even when emotions are running high.

As children develop their tennis skills, they become stronger and more flexible. They increase their endurance through high-intensity exercise, and they build their hand-eye and gross motor coordination. These practices help children optimize their physical well-being in their formative years. The mental and psychosocial aspects of tennis help them grow in those capacities as well.