In pickleball, the third shot of the exchange (the one hit by the serving team) is often considered the most critical moment of the point. It is at this precise instant that it is decided who will take control of the net. While brute force is tempting, experienced players use a far more formidable weapon: the Third Shot Drop.Why Is It the Most Important Shot?Pickleball greatly advantages the team already at the net (the team receiving the serve). The serving team finds itself stuck at the back of the court.Neutralizing the Opponent's Advantage: If you hit the third shot too hard, your opponent

While beach tennis today evokes the sun of Brazil or the Caribbean, its roots actually dive deep into the sand of European coasts. This sport, which has become an official and highly competitive discipline, was born from simple summer leisure before conquering international federations.The Birth on the Italian RivieraIt all began in the late 1970s on the coasts of Romagna, Italy, specifically around Ravenna and Rimini.The Volleyball Pivot: The first players had the simple yet brilliant idea of using the beach volleyball courts already installed on the beaches to play tennis.Improvised Equipmen

The pendulum serve is the benchmark serve at the highest level. Its name comes from the swinging motion of the arm, similar to that of a clock. Its strength lies in its versatility: with exactly the same toss and starting motion, a player can produce three or four completely different spins, making the return extremely difficult for the receiver to read.The Technique of the Swinging MotionTo succeed with a good pendulum serve, everything starts with body position and the racket grip.The Racket Grip: Most players release the handle with the last three fingers to hold the racket only with the th

Padel is often played at high intensity at the net, but the best players know when to slow down the rally to better punish. The rulo and the chiquita are two essential shots for breaking the rhythm and forcing opponents, even when well-positioned, to commit an error or play a defensive shot that is easy to intercept.The Chiquita: The Offensive Drop Shot in Mid-CourtThe chiquita is a slow and short shot, often executed from the baseline or mid-court, whose objective is to land just behind the opponent's service line.The Concept: The chiquita is a short ball with little power and, most important

The second serve is the moment of truth in tennis. If the first serve is a weapon of destruction, the second is a tool for survival and strategy. The objective is not just to put the ball in play, but to place it in such a way that the opponent is forced into a defensive stroke. The two main options for the second serve are the kick serve and the slice serve.Option 1: The Kick Serve (Topspin)The kick serve is the default choice for the majority of professionals because of its safety and its ability to bother the receiver.Technique: The strike is made on the back-left part of the ball (for a ri

Singles badminton is a sport of extreme movement. A match is won not only by the quality of the shots but, above all, by the player's ability to effectively cover the four corners of the court and consistently return to an optimal central position. The 6-Corner System is the fundamental method used by coaches to teach the footwork necessary to transform defense into attack.The Principle of the 6 Corners and Their ObjectivesThe six corners are the targets the player must reach to hit the shuttlecock. They consist of the four outer corners of the court and the two intermediate points at the net.

The Milwaukee Hong Kong Open, taking place from December 1st to 7th, is one of the most prestigious tournaments of the season on the PSA Platinum circuit. It represents a major challenge for the players: not only does it offer significant prize money, but the points it awards are crucial for the world ranking. The 2025 edition is marked by continued Egyptian dominance and some pleasant surprises.The Stakes of the Platinum TournamentPlatinum category tournaments (like the Hong Kong Open) are mandatory for the best players and often define the hierarchy at the end of the year.Ranking Race: The r

Pickleball is often perceived as a game of volleys and dinks at the kitchen. However, the serve is the first shot of the rally, the one that dictates the subsequent strategy. With the evolution of rules and the introduction of the drop serve, the serve has become a subtle weapon used not to win the point directly, but to set up the attack and put the opponent in difficulty before their return.The Drop Serve: A Technical RevolutionHistorically, the serve was executed underhand with an upward motion. The introduction of the drop serve has given the server more control.The Drop Serve Rule: The se

Beach tennis is a fast, dynamic, and demanding sport. Its particularity? The absence of bounce! Unlike tennis or Padel, all shots are hit in the air (volley) or after an overhead smash. This constraint requires the adoption of specific techniques and positioning. Mastering these fundamentals is the key to transforming fun into performance on the sand.The Racket Grip: The Continental StandardIn beach tennis, the speed of the game and the necessity of hitting overhead require the use of a versatile grip.The Continental Grip (Hammer): This is the grip of choice. It is achieved by holding the rack

In table tennis, the racket is the extension of the player, but it is the rubber that dictates the style of play. The rubber is not just a simple rubber surface; it is a tool for transmission, reception, and, above all, spin generation. Understanding the differences between the types of rubbers is essential for optimizing your style of play.Smooth Rubbers (Inverted Rubbers): The Offensive StandardSmooth rubbers are, by far, the most used by players of all levels. They consist of a sponge and a rubber sheet whose pips are turned inwards.The Topspin MechanismSpin Generation: The gripping surface

The Continental Grip is achieved by holding the racket like a hammer, with the base of the index finger on the top rear of the handle. This is also why it is sometimes called the Hammer Grip.Why Only One Grip?Net Reactivity: In Padel, speed at the net is paramount. The Continental Grip allows for instantaneous switching from forehand to backhand volley without changing grips, minimizing reaction time.Managing Overhead Shots: This grip is ideal for overhead shots, particularly the Smash, the Bandeja, and the Víbora. It allows the player to "slice" the ball to control the height and direction of

In modern Tennis, the serve is the most powerful weapon. However, the rally truly begins with the service return. Knowing how to neutralize a fast first serve and attack a second serve is the mark of great champions. Improving your return of serve is not just about blocking the ball, but about finding an opportunity right from the start of the point.Adjusting Positioning: The Time FactorThe first step for an effective return is to control your reaction time by adjusting your position.Against PowerStep Back to Gain Time: Against a powerful server, moving back a few steps behind the baseline giv

Badminton is the fastest racket sport, but rallies are rarely won by pure strength alone. The real advantage belongs to the player who knows how to manipulate time and space by playing with the opponent's perception. Deception is the ultimate weapon: it consists of giving the illusion of executing one shot to then execute another, thereby frustrating the opponent's anticipation.The Wrist: The Central Tool of DissimulationThe secret of deception lies in the ability to generate a change of direction or speed at the last moment, using minimal movement.The Role of Grip and WristThe Loose Grip: The

The battle was long and fraught with obstacles, but Squash has finally secured its place at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games (LA28). This decision, announced by the IOC, is more than just recognition: it marks a historic turning point that is expected to revolutionize the funding, exposure, and professionalization of the sport globally. For the squash community, from athletes to local clubs, the work is just beginning.A Historic Recognition and its ConsequencesSquash was snubbed during many previous Olympic bids. Its inclusion in LA28 is the culmination of decades of effort and modernization

The rapid growth of Pickleball is inseparable from the evolution of its equipment. The paddle has gone from a simple piece of wood to a high-tech powerhouse, radically changing the speed, spin, and power of the game.From Modest Origins to Modern StandardsIn the beginning, in 1965, the Pickleball paddle was improvised. This was the era of wood.The Wood Era (1965-1980): The first paddles were simple plywood boards. They were heavy and rigid, limiting ball speed and promoting a game based solely on placement and finesse. It was a time when brute force had no place.The Introduction of Composite Ma

Beach Tennis has conquered the world, transitioning from a simple beach leisure activity to a structured professional sport. The international circuit, governed by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), offers intense and spectacular competitions on the most beautiful beaches in the world.The Organization of the World Circuit: The Role of the ITFBeach Tennis is organized by the ITF, which manages the world ranking and supervises high-level tournaments.The ITF Beach Tennis World Tour Circuit The circuit is divided into several categories, offering varying ranking points:BT World Tour (BT10