Tennis: Ever since I felt the soft tennis ball sink into the strings of my old wood racket and go shooting across the net in the dilapidated court where I first learned the game as a ten-year-old, I have loved tennis. The power and joy of controlling the speed and direction of a spheroid, hurtling it through space as Zeus might project a bolt of lightning, has always fascinated me. Taking whatever people could throw at you and returning it back to them intrigues me to this day. Now, I am more concerned with being more consistent, replacing the wild power of youth with the steadiness and control of one who knows when to defend and when to attack. It's become more of a mental game now, knowing how to keep your control and make your opponent lose his. It's a game which tests one's patience, one's wisdom, one stamina, and one's courage. Now that I am retired I go down to the local courts (Red Morton in Redwood City), and fit into a game of doubles with some of the other retirees, with whom I have been playing tennis for 30 years. In 2000 I joined a 3.5 USTA tennis team sponsored by the San Carlos Tennis Club, and we were lucky enought to go all the way to the Nationals in Tuson.
Five remedies for tennis elbow: 1) Let the racket strings do the work by having them strung loose or looser. 50-55 works fine for me. There are rackets out there which will compensate for the control you lose. (I recommend Voikl which I read about it in Tennis magazine.) 2) If it's sore, put your elbow in a mixture of ice and water afterwards. This is better than an ice pack. 3) Press on the sore area for about 5-10 seconds until the pain lets up, and then release. I don't know why this works, but an old tennis pro swears by this technique. It worked for me. 4) Exercise the tendon by gripping a broom handle and twisting it like one would the throttle on a motorcycle--or a in the car, a steering wheel. (My friend Cy says this works preventatively also.) 5) Don't overplay. Tennis every other day for a couple of hours works for me, but may vary depending on your injury, tolerance, etc. These things worked for me, especially 1). I'm healed. Hope some of them may help you, but remember, each person is his/her own best physician.
Tennis shoes over the net: I ordered a nice pair of New Balance shoes with a guarantee for wear and comfort over the net at Player's Pro. These shoes were recommended in Tennis magazine, and are great for the money--$42. Wilson shoes are also very good, too.
Golf Tip #1: I found the best way to improve your score outside of your swing is to improve your chipping. Tom Watson in his book Up and Down makes the point that the pro's on the average hit 13 out of 18 holes in regulation, and they have to "scramble" (ie. chip and one putt for the other 5 holes). The average golfer hits 5 greens in regulation and has to scramble on 13 holes. The point: Learn how to chip. PRACTICE. When I was good at chipping, I could shoot in the low 80's on an average course. Now that I am trying to work on other parts of my game, my chipping has fallen off, and so has my score. Guess I'll get back to those basics. UPDATE(3 / 05): I practiced rigorously and found my chipping stroke. I'm about 14 handicap player now (March 2005), but hope this will go down. I'm trying to get out once a week for 18, and to the driving range and putting greens at once or twice a week. My best round this year was an 81 at Sunnyvale, and a 28 at Emerald Hills (par 27).
Golf Tip #2: Chipping Technique: My Uncle Joe, a four handicapper, told me this one. When chipping use the 7 iron, place the hands in front of the ball to avoid chili dipping, and aim to land the ball on a fly 1/3 this distance to the hole. It will roll the other 2/3. Modify this if going up or down hill. PRACTICE THIS SO YOU HAVE CONTROL. Since then I have learned to chip with all irons depending on the situation.
Golf Tip #3: Distance and Accuracy in Driving: When using the driver, get more distance by hitting the ball on the upswing. To do this you really have to keep the visual angle at which you are looking at the ball, not merely keep you head down. Keeping that angle through the swing will slow you swing down, and make the ball go straighter also. UPDATE: I bought a Cleveland Launcher, and it's really helped my driving distance and accuracy.
Golf Tip #4: Putting: Distance in putting is everything. When I practice in my bedroom, I set up six balls at varying distances. Then I look at the place I want the ball to stop, and I imagine (visualize) the speed I have to hit the ball at to get it to stop just there, which is usually 6-12 inches past the hole on flat greens. It's like lagging a billiard ball. You have to think distance. Then if you miss the hole, you're just a tap in away. If you are putting up hill, aim several feet past the hole depending on the steepness. If putting downhill, air several feet in front of the whole. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE.