It's a pandemic - wear a mask! Please!!!! You probably look better with one covering your face anyway!

OK - Im really a little ticked off about people refusing to wear a mask during the COVID19 pandemic. It's really simple, it isn't harmful, you aren't going to suffocate, you aren't going to smother yourself, you aren't going to do anything except be a frigging selfish jerk and potentially harm someone else.

This is a pic of me wearing a mask. As you can see, it covers most of my ugly face. Due to the Stay-at-home restrictions imposed here in California, we aren't supposed to play sports with non-household members. So, that put a definite crimp on my weekly doubles matches with my friends. 

Therefore, in order to keep myself from turning into a 400 lb blimp watching TV, I started riding my bike again. My 44 year old Peugeot UO10 bike.

I just got done riding for 45 minutes in top gear on this bike in 90° F heat yesterday. The mask has 2 layers with a third layer - a PM2.5 filter - in between. It didn't bother me at all - and I'm 68 years old and a quadruple heart bypass survivor!

So, put on your damn mask. Act like a grown-up for once in your life. Save someone!

I once showed Cliff Drysdale how to hit a one-handed backhand

Ol' Ace was going through his computer files today, deleting stuff, saving other stuff, when he dusted off some old photos from a tennis clinic at the (now closed) Laurel Glen Tennis Club in Bakersfield, CA. The clinic was run by none other than famed tennis great Cliff Drysdale.

 

Two remarkable and memorable things about that clinic stick in MY memory:

 

1. During forehand and backhand groundstroke drills, Cliff would watch each of us, then offer some tips on how to adjust or improve our strokes. After seeing me hit he said, "Gee, I've been watching you for several minutes now and...I really can't think of anything that you need to improve! Keep up the good play!"

 

 2. I showed Cliff how to hit a one-handed backhand (he was famous for using two hands back in the day).

Just sayin...had a great time.

Me and my bud, Cliff...

Photo Credits:  © F.J. Maccioli/Kama Ruby

New background photo - what do you think?

Now ol' Ace isn't the most geekie guy there is in regards to web pages and blogs, but, I got tired of the background pic on this one. So, I grabbed one of my own, modified it, and stuck it on here. What do you think?

Photo Credit: © Frank J. Maccioli

Not bad, eh?

Stop Hitting Your Serves Long

Hey there all of you frustrated tennis players. When things open up again and you start playing regularly, you might notice that some of your strokes are a little rusty.

If one of them is your serve, and you seem to be hitting most of them long, then take a peek at the latest video I uploaded onto my YouTube channel. The problem is probably due to your ball toss.

Video Credit: © Frank J.Maccioli

Hope this helps out!

Ace

Stop Hitting Your Serves into the Net!

Hey everyone. Here's another 5 Minute tennis lesson that I just posted on my YouTube channel today.

This is something I always use when I'm serving - I always tell my doubles partners this too when I see them struggling.  It's a simple admonishment (hey - I used a big word!) to oneself to keep your head up!.

Video Credit: © Frank J. Maccioli

Simple.

Guaranteed.

Works every time or your money back!

Talk to you later!!

Aceyou's 5 Minute Tennis Lesson - Point Your Way to a Better Overhead

Hey there. Tired of looking like a total moron when you flub that overhead? Especially when you do it in front of a crowd of people (and USTA League teammates who probably are wondering why they ever even invited you to be on their team after that)?

Well Ace is here to help you fix that, help you correct your overhead motion, and get you to understand better why this shot is called an overhead SMASH!!!!!

Video Credit: © F.J. Maccioli

All you have to do is point at the ball with your non-racket hand when you see a lob or short high ball coming your way. Keep pointing at it until you reach up and hit it with your racket.

Simple. Easy to remember. Not hard at all. Unless...you really are a total moron, in which case, Ace suggests you take up another activity, like golf! (Everybody sucks at golf, which isn't even an athletic activity. It's just a game, like billiards!)

Aceyou's 5 Minute Tennis Lesson - Fix Your Backhand Groundstrokes with this Simple Tip

Hey everyone - I had nothing to do today, so I went out and shot some more video. Here's a great tip if you are having trouble with your backhand, especially if your shots are flying high and long.

Just concentrate on keeping your front shoulder down and pointing toward the ball. It helps to ensure that you hit off of your front foot instead of your back foot.

Anyway, give it a look, see what you think. Thanks!

Ace

Aceyou's 5 Minute Tennis Lesson - COVID-19 Wall Practice

Hey all - here's a little something that you can do if your tennis club or public courts are shut down due to the pandemic. Just look for a wall in your neighborhood, grab a racket and some balls (take several in case you hit the ball over the wall), and have a go at it.

Aceyou's 5-Minute Tennis Lesson - Two Handed Backhand Grip

As promised in my earlier video about how to hold a tennis racket, here's a lesson geared toward those of you who want to hit a two-handed backhand.

I still don't understand why people prefer this - I've always used one hand. You get more range that way. And, if a two-hander is so superior, then why aren't you hitting two-handed forehands as well?

Oh well.

Here's another free lesson. Won't cost ya a cent. Nothing. Nada.

Aceyou's 5-Minute Tennis Lesson - How to Hold Your Tennis Racket

As promised, here's another free tennis lesson.

One thing I've noticed about a lot of beginning players, even some who have been playing for YEARS, is that no one ever took the time to show them how to hold the racket.

This isn't badminton folks!

So here's a free lesson. Save that 50 bucks you were going to pay a pro and buy your significant other a special treat instead. 

Video Credit: © Frank J. Maccioli

I have nothing better to do, so I decided to give some free tennis lessons!

Well, as you probably have figured out, I'm either an expert poker player or a terrific tennis player. The name Ace does come from my tennis skills though, so, if you guessed the latter you're in luck.

Why?

Because I've decided to share my great wealth of tennis knowledge and experiences with a series of free tennis lessons for you. Gee, you'd have to pay $50 or more to a USPTA pro to get what I'm giving you for nothing.

So, here is the first one - especially geared to those of us stuck at home with local or state COVID-19 Stay-at-Home orders.

Video Credit: © Frank Maccioli