AP Belt

[scottmurphy]

Dear Pat,

From the first time John Yandell had me try your AP Belt I was sold on the product and the intent behind it. I've been using it with my students and getting great results in most cases. I recently discovered that there are different sizes of the belt and as I work with alot of kids in the 8-12 age bracket I'd been having trouble fitting the belt to make any kind of an impression. How many sizes are there? Also, any thoughts about the amount of use and tension for the young ones with regard to leg strength?

My adult students love it and I enjoy seeing the light go on as to what it means to effectively use the legs. Other people seeing it in use are always intrigued and invariably want to try it out.

I'm looking forward to your next article.

Scott Murphy

[patdougherty]

A.P. belt for all sizes

Thanks Scott....I'm glad to see you're enjoying the response from your players and bystanders watching the belt at work. It really is thought provoking to see and it's amazing how even non-athletes appreciate the belt's intent and can understand the importance of playing low.

The small belt can fit as small as a 26 inch waist and even smaller if you drill out additional holes for a tighter fit for waist sizes smaller than 26 inches. I have small, med, large, XL and XXL which can handle up to 46 inch waists. The length of cord you receive will be long enough to accommodate the tallest players you intend to use it with. So, if you intend to use one belt with several different players, I need to know the height of the tallest player and then I'll provide the appropriate cord. Generally the cords for the small belt usually accommodate from about 4'5'' to 5'5''. However, I can provide long enough cords to go to 7 ft. if need be. Because there are tall but thin players and short but stout players, I have to customize for all sorts of combinations of belt sizes and cord lengths.

The length of cord should be adjusted so there is definite pull down tension while the player is standing straight up but relaxes tension once the player bends their knees and lowers the hips to the point that they are between 6 inches and a foot below normal standing height. I often make it easier for a player the first time they wear it until they become more accustomed to it. As they get more adjusted to the feedback response and come to realize they CAN move quickly in it using shorter but quicker strides, then I tighten it down to optimal specs as mentioned above.

Having used this device for over a decade with great results, there is no question that it works... as proven by movement specialists like Guillermo Coria who continues to train with it and can move explosively and efficiently while wearing it. He uses it to achieve greater productivity and to reinforce his movement technique....much like the 8 top 20 NCAA tennis teams that use it. So it's not WHETHER it works but rather...how well do you work within it?

I use the belt to train in several different ways. Interval training of fed ball- 45 secs of f/hds and b/hds then 30 seconds rest ...repeated for about 15 minutes. Stamina sessions against a ball machine alternating sides to see how long they can hit productively before their technique clearly starts to breakdown... then rest for a minute. I'll use it while teaching the groundstrokes and volleys even though not much movement is involved, to let them feel the benefits of how the lower body contributes in their stroke.

Most importantly I want the students wearing it when hitting with friends and I'm not around. It is the many hours spent when players are out just hitting that they tend to do most of the habit reinforcement...more so then during their lessons. The more often a player gets into the habit of wearing it, the quicker better habits will develop. All the full timers at the Bollettieri Academy are required to have their own this year and we use the belt within the program in all the various ways mentioned above

If you or anyone else has any more questions I'll be happy to help.

Pat

[jcraiss]

AP belt

I bought a belt after I read Pat's first article and have used it a half-dozen times hitting with my portable ball machine or rallying at my club. I really like it a lot because it helps pound into my head the importance of staying low and maintaining athletic height. It is incredibly hard work to do this and I have to take it off after less than 5 minutes, so it will take time to develop the strength and stamina to use it for longer periods.

I also need to learn more about how to move to the ball with it on. Right now I find it hard to do this and I was interested in Pat's comment that students learn to use shorter and quicker steps when moving with it on, and that Coria can move explosively and efficiently with it on.

Thank you for making this excellent training tool. It also helps when doing training exercises like a series of forward lunges with a medicine ball, with a ready position between each lunge