Six Types of Tennis Footwork

Will,
It's unfortunate that Mestengo had to troll his dissatisfaction with Ian's show, and didn't have the guts to voice his criticism more constructively. Perhaps Ian needs to have a comments section for his podcasts. I like Ian's podcast as well as your video format. No need to choose.

Is it possible for us to vote 'Dislike' on comments?

Anyway I have the feeling that we are discussing about grammar and very high level tennis (Pro's level). Let's solve these 2 stories. First of all Internet is open worldwide and the information is available everywhere and let me tell you something, pure English language or American version of it is almost impossible to understand by foreigners at 100% level and according to my perception and depending on accent we can get maybe around 75% of the content. So, when I'm listening I appreciate a simple grammar and vocabulary in order to get the meaning. If I want literature I can choose Hemingway but is not the case here. On second point about quality of technical information again I think is a misunderstanding. I'm sure that none of top100 maybe top1000 is not looking or listening this kind of things so as according to the target group the advices should target beginners or players around 3.5 to 4 level but not higher.
Just to finish with this comment, I downloaded few episodes (around 20) and transferred to my iPod to listen in the car while I'm driving. I already followed few (sometimes searching in dictionary :) ) and I can say that some information is really useful both as a player and as a teacher for my colleagues and friends (from time to time I give advices if asked :) ). Let's say that sometimes you know and do some things but you don't have a clear and simple explanation in order to transfer the knowledge or just for yourself to repeat the situation for the same results. Following this kind of pod casts and blogs and videos you can get the understanding for each game element and how it should be done in order to have good results and improvement in your game. Sure, on the field you should implement these but at least you know how it must be done.

Overall, Will and Jan "products" are complementary in this case and feed the need for information for specific level players and clear type of readers. Till now I can say the everything is OK and improving and this is good so,
Keep going with the good job ;)

Will-
Why are you promoting Essential Tennis Podcasts? He is terrible! The guy is talking about footwork and does not know the difference between Karaoke and Carioca. His speech pattern sophistication and vocabulary are at the level of a 16-year old. It's painful to listen to. His concept sophistication is 2.0 level.
Is this guy family, are you dating his sister, do you owe him $$?

Hi Mestengo,

I strongly disagree with you here. I promote ET because I think Ian is a great coach. I also think his podcast is a nice compliment to the video content we produce. People learn differently so I think a variety of formats is beneficial.

Perhaps Ian mispronounces some words... have you ever listened to me stumble through the pronunciations of some of the pros names? It's ugly. I'd cut Ian some slack -- if there's something you think he could improve upon, send him an email w/some constructive criticism.

Will

Will,

Ian speaks well for a 16-year old C student. You are considerably more
articulate and obviously see something in him that is not the least bit
apparent on a podcast. I have probably listened to a 100 or more tennis
instructors verbally relate a concept and your little buddy Ian is the
worst. I am not criticizing his knowledge, its his communication skills. He
is so difficult to listen to that I can't offer you a fair opinion as to the
value of the knowledge he offered.

I will say that his concept of the "six types of footwork" is so
unsophisticated to the point that he offers the obvious as if it were
teaching. Just re-listen to his description of how to move out to hit a
forehand and recover back. He describes a hack that runs out, wacks a ball
some place and then mindlessly runs back to the middle with no regard to
strategic positioning. He does not offer advice on setting up closed,
neutral, or open and that each dictates a very different first step recovery
move. There is more missing than present in his podcast. I can not tell from
his presentation if he even knows what I just wrote about and consciously
chose to omit the instructions.

Ian may be effective as a coach but at present he has no talent for "radio".
I can't judge the former but of the latter I am sure. I will not listen to
him again or recommend him.

Mestengo

Hi Mestengo,

If you don't find Ian's podcast helpful then you shouldn't listen to it. However, Ian puts a lot of time and effort into his free podcast and he's committed to making it a great resource for tennis enthusiasts. If you don't like something he does it's more productive (and helpful to his listeners) to give him some feedback on how he could improve vs. simply saying he "speaks well for a 16-year old C student."

FYB is largely a product of viewer feedback -- we kept what worked, improved upon what sort of worked, and ditched what didn't work based on the comments of our viewers. Compare this early example to where we're at now --

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJbQRn8yOJQ

Our website / videos would be much weaker if we hadn't been helped along the way by countless people. I'd respectfully ask that you give Ian some constructive criticism vs. straight criticism. The latter doesn't help him, you, or anyone else trying to learn how to play.

Will

Will,

My thoughts on Ian's broadcast's can be used constructively. All he has to
do, if he really wants to improve, is read an unedited transcript of his
podcast. He should, assuming Ferris has legitimate educational achievement
standards for its degree awarding process, clearly see how poor his sentence
construction and concept development is. The latter is especially true
considering your assertion that he is in fact a competent tennis instructor.
The USPTA is pretty loose with their certification process, so I do not
consider that an endorsement.

The number one reason for my being so critical is that his podcast was a
prepared recording, not a live broadcast. His podcast is almost certainly a
one-take recording. There is no excuse for such a poor offering, unless he
really is that ignorant. Not taking the time to prepare a script with
precise and concise dialogue is sloppy and lazy.

Bet you a dollar. Get somebody from a public speaking organization like
Toast Masters or a junior college communication professor to listen to his
broadcast and see how highly they rate his speech pattern and topic
development.

The fire of harsh criticism burns away junk or forges steel.

Mestengo

PS - I'm done with Essential Tennis, but I will pay the dollar if you come
up with someone credible who thinks he is the next great tennis orator of
our time.

Mestengo,

My goal with the podcast has always been to make it informal and conversational in nature. You're right, it's obviously not scripted, and that's done purposefully for two reasons: time constraints, and a stylistic choice. I don't want the show to sound like an audio book, but rather like I'm actually talking to a student in person. I've listened to many, many podcasts during my long daily commutes and only ever heard one that was actually scripted out, all of the rest of them are outlined at best and some 100% off the cuff. If you don't like this format then my show is definitely not for you (as you pointed out).

Even though it's not scripted I agree that a certain amount of competence as a speaker is definitely needed for this type of audio show. I'm not trained as a speaker or presenter, nor have I ever claimed to be. I almost feel like that's part of the appeal of the show for many people, I'm just a regular guy with a tennis background trying to improve the tennis games of as many people as possible. My early shows were awful in terms of audio quality speaking ability, the show has come a long way and I definitely intend to continue working on it and myself. If at it's current state it doesn't reach your standards then I apologize for that, I've done my best with the show and will continue to do so.

Best of luck finding a suitable replacement for my show.

-Ian

Hi Ian,
I have not listened to this podcast, however, I have heard a number of your podcasts before and feel you have done a very solid job. I know I have picked up a number of tips that I have incorporated in my coaching. I have been coaching Varsity boys tennis (spring) for almost 20 years and girls tennis (fall) for four years. The boys record is 168 - 12 and the girls have been league champs the last two years. I mention this only because we have had a successful program for a while and I have found your information very useful. I'm a little surprised with some of the negative comments that I just read on this site. Personally, I do watch Will's site more often as I find it is easier for me to follow his presention visually. Will does a great job with his site......in fact I feel it is the best tennis site I have found. Your site also offers pertinent information but in a different way.
Keep up the good work. You are doing a fine job as far as I am concerned. It sounds like you have some challenges with some of the comments from listeners. When I hear criticisms of anything I have done, I just remember Mark Twain's words: "Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful." Good luck. Jim

Hi again Ian,
I just finished listening to your podcast and had to send another comment. I am a bit shocked as I kept waiting to hear the worst and didn't. You made some great points. Serving into the left hip of the returner to jam them and have them really have to run around to hit a forehand return; ALWAYS keep moving your feet (great point....I mention to my kids that studies have shown that even if you are moving your feet in the wrong direction, it is still faster than trying to move for a ball if you are standing still); hitting out with more topspin when hitting into the wind; taking adjusting steps as you prepare to hit because the wind is going to effect the ball more as it slows down; volleying with the backhand when the ball is in the body. You know what you are talking about.
Your style is what I think some of the comments are really about. You try to make people feel comfortable. I can see that when you speak to your students you speak "To them and not At them" as some coaches do. You give respect to the people who send in questions regardless of how elementary they are. I respect the semi-negative comments that some people made about your podcast BUT I certainly don't agree with them at all. Great job ! Keep it up. I'll keep listening.

Jim,

Thanks so much for your feedback, I really appreciate it very much. Congratulations to you on the success of your high school teams!

Hey Jim,

Excellent point about Ian making people feel comfortable -- speaking "to them and not at them," as you say. This is one of a number of things that makes Ian an excellent coach.

Cheers,

Will