Now that the summer heat and monsoon humidity are here, it means we will be perspiring more. Now is the time to take a moment to check your grip and replace it or add an overwrap grip. Over-grips are ideal for those looking for a softer feel and more cushion, while replacement grips are more…
Tag: tennis
July 2024, Sports
Collaboration Makes for Good Friendships

Barb Jorgensen Five separate Valley of the Sun teams came together to form one USTA 65+ team. The team also consists of half Cottonwood Tennis Club members and half IronOaks Tennis Club members—quite the collaboration of otherwise opposing teams. This team has won USTA Sectionals and played in the Nationals, representing the USTA Southwest Division.…
June 2024, Sports
Masters Tennis Comes to IronOaks!

On April 20 the IronOaks tennis courts featured something new—Masters Tennis. IronOaks Tennis Club member Tony Simonelli introduced spectators to Masters Tennis (also known as Senior Tennis) and gave everyone a chance to participate. This fun and easy-on-your-body game is played with a standard tennis racquet on a smaller tennis court with a slower ball.…
June 2024, Sports
Paul Loves Golf. Barb Loves Tennis. They Both Love a Dog!

Penny Petersen Paul Jorgensen rejoined Cottonwood Tennis Club (CTC) recently. He’s really a golf fanatic but joined CTC as a form of exercise after knee replacement surgery. He and his wife Barb Jorgensen never play together. His sport is golf. Hers is obviously tennis. He plays golf four times a week. He loves golf. Barb…
June 2024, Sports
Come Try the New Thing in Tennis—Short-Court Tennis!

Penny Petersen Short-court tennis is played on a standard tennis court using a standard net. The singles lines are used, making it narrower. The service line is used as the baseline, thus the title “short-court.” A low compression tennis ball is used, which is exactly what juniors use when learning tennis. A special tennis racket…
Sports, May 2024
Can-Am Two-Day Tournament Fun and Close

Penny Petersen The two-day tennis tournament between Canada and the USA, Can-Am, provided good competition and lots of fun eating and drinking, and the surprise was that the USA won by one point. As Sylvia Page said, “The U.S. squeaked by with a one-point victory, setting up a rematch for next year.” Special thanks go…
April 2024, Sports
Jason Morton Tennis Classic

This year, the 2024 Jason Morton Tennis Classic of the top doubles team of Coach Kwong (IronOaks tennis pro and Cottonwood resident) and USTA Southwest Director of Adult Competition Matt Gleason were in top form when they ran an incredible 280 entries for this four-day prize money event, with lots of hungry talents. This is…
April 2024, Generals
Neighbors Who Care – April 2024
Neighbors Who Care: ‘Keeping Company’—Respite Care Is Simply Visiting with a Neighbor Remember the days when the crickets were chirping outside and the kids were scrambling to collect fireflies in jars and sitting on the porch keeping company with the neighbors? Shooting the breeze was the way we kept in touch before we scrolled through…
April 2024, Sports
Coach Kwong’s Tennis Tip
Kwong Young One of the toughest shots a player can display is referred to as a “Tweenie” or a “Tweener.” In this shot, they are chasing down a deep lob that’s heading toward the baseline and swing their racket between their legs, returning the ball to their opponent. A few players, when serving, will trick…
February 2024, Sports
Annual Jason Morton Is Right Around the Corner
Tournament Director Matt Gleason (USTA Southwest) and IronOaks tennis pro, Coach Kwong, hope to attract top-level players from all over the Southwest and beyond for this prize-money competition. There will be plenty of great volleys and tactics from both singles and doubles play, but in the end, no matter the outcome, the genuine handshake and…