Day 2...a little sore this morning.

So, needless to say I was sore as hell this morning. I had forgotten what a workout doing push-ups could be. I'm not going to dwell on my being sore though, because this was the first workout and it's probably going to just get worse over the course of the next two weeks. Oh well. If you are in the same situation as me, you should take some time and stretch it out in the morning. I just did some light stretching as soon as I peeled myself out of bed. It makes you feel a little better, and it gets your heart going early a bit, which is never bad. I had some water after I stretched and I grubbed 2 pieces of toast and a banana for breakfast. I would probably eat more, but I just don't have the biggest appetite in the morning, so I don't fight it too much. I do however make sure I eat something in the morning to 'break the fast' between last nights dinner and todays breakfast. Get it? Alrighty then. For lunch I made myself a sandwich, because they are delicious and they don't ever get old to me. If they don't have the same appeal to you as they have for me, try something else. If however, you can take a little repetitious eating, then by all means join me. I go light on the mayo, and thats about it. Add all the veggies and condiments at your hearts desire. Mind you, don't put a block of cheese, and a stack of bologna on your sandwich. Turkey, a little ham, chicken and so on. You get the drift, just nothing fatty. So thats what I've eaten so far today, and I'm really not hungry at all at the moment. I'm sure when 3 o'clock rolls around at it's usual time, I will start to encounter some hunger issues. Until then I'm good.
Today is cardio day. I will start after work but before I eat dinner. That is just the way I do things. I am going to start by taking a mild jog on my treadmill. I purchased one last year around christmas time on ebay, and unfortunately I am barely starting to get any use out of it. Better late than never I guess. If you don't have a treadmill, I really would recommend you getting one. They are sort of big and bulky, but mind folds up to save space. They make all kinds. Here is a link to Ebays treadmills, they have great deals year around. After I lightly jog for about 20-25 minutes. I am going to do some low impact exercises that are easy to do, but gets your heart-a-pumpin. It will be nice and easy, your soreness will probably subside for a few while your body is pumpin, but probably come back as you cool down. Be aware that being sore is a good thing, and if you feel this way it means you actually succeeded in working yourself out properly. If you don't feel sore, you are a either a finely oiled machine that is way too advanced for this workout, or you didn't do the exercises right or to your maximum potential. If you are on either side of the 'not sore' spectrum, find ways to fix this issue. Ok folks, until tonight.


We are not going to cover abs for a week or so. If you would like to get a jump start on abs, then Click Here and get the ab routine that I will be implementing.

Getting back into Racquetball. "Tricks and Secrets"

So, I've decided to start writing a weekly article on Tricks and Secrets to winning racquetball. I figured since I played for so long and at such a high level, might as well share some of this tips I learned along the way. So, I will be posting those articles on this site as well, so that you all can benefit from the tips as well as the article readers. I will also link the article for you so that you can read those if that what you so desire. So here's the first lesson called "The down the line shot"...If you (my readers) have any questions on any of these lessons, feel free to comment me and I will address your issue. Thanks,


Drilling the 'Down the line shot'

Drilling or 'practicing' different racquetball shots and variations of those shots is a crucial part of becoming a great racquetball player. Knowing what to drill and how to drill is so important for beginners that are trying to succeed in racquetball. Remember, Practice alone doesn't make perfect. Rather, Perfect Practice makes perfect. Write that down. Ingrain that quote in your mind. I am going to now tell you one of the most basic fundamental 'shots' in racquetball in this lesson, and later lessons cover more advanced shots.

The Down the line shot
When I was competing at a high level, I would practice this shot first of all my drills. This shot is one of the best and most important shots in the game. (you can screen legally) This shot when done correctly is virtually 'un-gettable'.

To practice this shot, first go stand on the first solid line in the court.(the one closest to the front wall)Face the sidewall square to assume the correct racquetball swinging stance. Next, stand an arm and racquets distance away from your forehand sidewall wall. Hold the racquet up ready to swing with your racquet hand, and hold the racquetball in your other hand. Now, gently underhand toss the ball in front of you so that you have to take a step into it to hit it. Don't swing until the ball is in between your ankle and your knee. Strike the ball flat with your racquet so it hits the ball no more than 5 inches above the ground at the front wall. The ball should return off the front wall and bounce AT LEAST two to three times before crossing the first solid line. Do this drill and the first solid line, the middle solid line, the dotted line, and the back wall 50x's forehand and 50x's backhand. That is called a 'down the line kill shot'. Remember, you don't have to hit the ball hard. Try these drills first with a nice easy swing and a nice follow through. I will cover how to hit the ball hard in later lessons.

Once you have mastered this shot, try it from other spots on the court. Start playing around with different angles and shots to experiment different shot types. Racquetball is a very geometrical game, and knowing where the ball is going to end up is key in winning. The 'Down the line' shot is the 'foundation' swing for every forehand shot in Racquetball. The backhand shot is quite different but the technique behind the swing stays the same. Don't use your arm to swing the racquet. It is all about hips, legs, abs, back and wrist snap. If you can practice enough to acquire some of these qualities then you are on your way to becoming a great competitor. Your forehand swing should become second nature to you, and you should be able to utilize the same swing from anywhere on the racquetball court.

I used to hit 50 of these perfectly before I would move on to the next drill. If you mess up at all before you hit 50, start back at 1. It's tough, but it will give you a flawless 'down the line shot' on both forehand and backhand.

Note: If your backhand is weak, drill it more strictly. Allow fewer mistakes to train it.

Lesson #2 will be 'the pass shot'

Click here if you are looking for racquetball gear. It's where I get all of my Racquetball stuff