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Lighter Weights for Stronger Arms?
Put Your Pride Aside

Those are the arms of Gael Monfil from the professional tennis tour. Most men (and some women) would do anything to have arms such as those. Imagine the power of your groundstrokes with those guns, how easily you can wield the racquet. Setting out to do just that, I walked into the gym at TSTC and piled on a couple of 45 pound plates on the barbell. One on each side of course. Next to me was my friend Mike, who has killer arms - although I would never admit to admiring another man in any way.

Mike, who can probably bench press the world, had a ten on each side. I had to ask! "Hey, Mike!", I yelled out. "Training a little bit light today or is that your warm up"? I laughed. He didn't. He slowly put down the barbell and walked over to me. I thought he was going to kill me, since he weighs a good 50 or 60 solid muscular pounds over me. Finally, he smiles and asks me, "Can you feel your biceps actually flex at the top of the movment"? I couldn't, and I told him so. "Then you are using way too much weight and wasting your time in the gym, bro". "I used to be just like you when I was a kid. I would lift as heavy as I could on the arms and swing my back and all that. I didn't get any real strength results until I lowered the weight and went for intensity and 'feel'. Try it and you will see results". I mentioned it was for tennis training. Mike replied with, "What difference does the sport make? You're still gonna need strong arms no matter what you do".

Just for kicks, try lowering the weight you use on your workouts by half and go for the squeeze and really feel your muscles contract. Hold the contraction at the very top for a second or two then lower the weight again. You will be blasting your muscles and getting a much better work out. Look at it as if you are training for tennis (which you are!). You've seen those neanderthals out there blasting the ball as hard as they can, only to get one or two back and the rest in the net or over the fence. That's why, even though they have better technique and power, they get beaten by old men who aren't anywhere near as good as they are. All they have to do (and all they can do) is get the ball back and watch the caveman go ape after he misses it. It's the same mentality in the gym. Sure, you want to lift heavy; but only as heavy as you can to get a full contraction. Just as in tennis, you still want to hit the ball hard; but not so hard to where you lose control and don't get the ball in play. Soon you will see your biceps ripping through your shirts and you will have to ask your friends if they bought tickets to the gun show!

- Juan (J.D.) Davila

Need hands-on lessons? Don VanRamshorst is a U.S.P.T.A.
certified professional tennis instructor. Nothing beats the real
deal! Call the Harlingen H.E.B. tennis center for rates and your
next appointment today! (956) 428 - 2092


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Lighter Weights for Stronger Arms? Put Your Pride Aside Those are the arms of Gael Monfil from the professional tennis tour. Most men (and some women) would do anything to have arms such as those. Imagine the power of your groundstrokes with those guns, how easily you can wield the racquet. Setting out to do just that, I walked into the gym at TSTC and piled on a couple of 45 pound plates on the barbell. One on each side of course. Next to me was my friend Mike, who has killer arms - although I would never admit to admiring another man in any way. Mike, who can probably bench press the world, had a ten on each side. I had to ask! "Hey, Mike!", I yelled out. "Training a little bit light today or is that your warm up"? I laughed. He didn't. He slowly put down the barbell and walked over to me. I thought he was going to kill me, since he weighs a good 50 or 60 solid muscular pounds over me. Finally, he smiles and asks me, "Can you feel your biceps actually flex at the top of the movment"? I couldn't, and I told him so. "Then you are using way too much weight and wasting your time in the gym, bro". "I used to be just like you when I was a kid. I would lift as heavy as I could on the arms and swing my back and all that. I didn't get any real strength results until I lowered the weight and went for intensity and 'feel'. Try it and you will see results". I mentioned it was for tennis training. Mike replied with, "What difference does the sport make? You're still gonna need strong arms no matter what you do". Just for kicks, try lowering the weight you use on your workouts by half and go for the squeeze and really feel your muscles contract. Hold the contraction at the very top for a second or two then lower the weight again. You will be blasting your muscles and getting a much better work out. Look at it as if you are training for tennis (which you are!). You've seen those neanderthals out there blasting the ball as hard as they can, only to get one or two back and the rest in the net or over the fence. That's why, even though they have better technique and power, they get beaten by old men who aren't anywhere near as good as they are. All they have to do (and all they can do) is get the ball back and watch the caveman go ape after he misses it. It's the same mentality in the gym. Sure, you want to lift heavy; but only as heavy as you can to get a full contraction. Just as in tennis, you still want to hit the ball hard; but not so hard to where you lose control and don't get the ball in play. Soon you will see your biceps ripping through your shirts and you will have to ask your friends if they bought tickets to the gun show! - Juan (J.D.) Davila Need hands-on lessons? Don VanRamshorst is a U.S.P.T.A. certified professional tennis instructor. Nothing beats the real deal! Call the Harlingen H.E.B. tennis center for rates and your next appointment today! (956) 428 - 2092