What Makes A Great Tennis Commentator?

What Makes A Great Tennis Commentator? Much has been made of the qualities that make up a star tennis player. Determination, drive, killer instinct, and incredible skill are all part of a world number one’s arsenal, but many people don’t talk about one of the most important jobs off the court: that of the commentator.

Without great commentary and insight, most tennis games wouldn’t be as interesting to sit through. The high drama of each point, each rally, and each deuce wouldn’t come across anywhere near as well without someone behind the microphone who really knows what they’re talking about. Here are some of the qualities we think that make up a great tennis commentator.

Love for the game

It should go without saying, but any great tennis commentator should adore the game of tennis in all its forms. No good tennis caster just wants to watch professional-level games; if you live and breathe tennis, you should be just as comfortable watching amateur games as you are watching major Open tournaments.

In an interview with sports betting platform Betway, commentator Andrew Castle said that it was “unbelievable” to return to tennis casting after a prolonged absence due to COVID-19 protocols. Legendary player and commentator John McEnroe reportedly felt the same. That’s the kind of dedication and adoration you need to be a tennis caster.

Insight and analytical skill

Of course, even if you love tennis, that doesn’t mean you know enough about it to be a great commentator. There’s a good reason many of the legends behind the microphone are former players themselves; it’s because they know tennis inside and out, and can analyse players’ performance and the ebb and flow of a game effortlessly.

Next time you watch a tennis game, pay attention to the way the commentators remark on the game. You’ll notice that they aren’t just discussing the score or each play in a banal sense. They’re always looking for what each point means, how players’ performances are changing, and how the overall game is being impacted.

A flair for drama

Even with incredible tennis knowledge and analytical skill, it’s important to have a flair for drama when you’re behind the microphone. Tennis games can be dramatic, especially when the score is close; straight sets are one thing, but deuce after deuce requires an understanding of just how tense the situation is.

There’s a difference, though, between a flair for drama and overstating the case. Tennis isn’t a contact sport and it’s not as constant as something like football; there are regular breaks between points, games, and sets, so you also need to know when to back off and let the game state speak for itself.

A thick skin

As a sports personality, a commentator is going to come under fire regularly for their perceived commentating style. There are many fans who don’t like particular commentators, and while the reasons for this can sometimes mask uglier truths, personalities clash, and that’s a fact of life.

If you’re going to be a sports commentator, you’re going to need a thick skin to weather the storm of criticism you’ll inevitably receive over the course of your career. Don’t let constant comments about your presenting style bother you; just accept that you are who you are, and nothing can change that.

Impartiality

Everyone has their favourite player, but rooting for Murray, Djokovic, or Raducanu while you’re commentating is a big no-no. Even if your nationality corresponds to the player you’re supporting, a commentator should remain completely impartial and simply comment on the game as it happens.

This is true in other sports as well, but it’s especially true in tennis, where nationality often plays second fiddle to individual personalities. As a tennis commentator, the drama of the game and the skill with which it’s played should be the most appealing aspects to you. Your personal opinion about players shouldn’t enter into the equation.

A head for statistics

Tennis games can be enhanced to no end by knowledge of the statistics in the background of the game. For example, if two players are facing off against one another, you should know their prior match history, their current standing in the world rankings, and what the outcome of the game could mean for each player.

Of course, nobody expects you to be an encyclopedia, but the more knowledge you have, the better you’ll be at your job. This means you should study the world of tennis outside of the games themselves in order to shore up your knowledge and be better-prepared for each individual match.

A good voice

Unfortunately, this aspect of tennis commentary is something you can’t really control. If you want to be a well-loved commentator, you’re going to need a voice that’s as smooth as honey. People should want to listen to you talk for protracted periods of time, so if your voice isn’t aesthetically pleasing, you might not get very far.

We say that you can’t control this element of your personality, and to a certain extent that’s true, but there are voice coaching services available that should help if you’re worried. These lessons can help you with diction, delivery, and tone, and while they won’t change the fundamental timbre of your voice, they will go a long way towards making your commentary style feel more professional.

These are just some of the qualities that go towards making a great tennis commentator. Of course, there’s much more to it than just this; there’s an indefinable quality that great commentators have. Still, if you put the work in and believe that you’re a great commentator, you’re bound to achieve success!

 

Sports Betting Sites – Sports Betting in Sweden

The gambling market has become a huge industry all around the globe. This is no exception in Sweden where its gambling market ranks the fifth biggest in Europe. Playing at online casinos and betting on sports are highly popular activities in Sweden, particularly when this is carried out online with nearly 60% of Sweden’s gambling activity happening online. In this guide, one can find information on sports betting in Sweden and an insight as to why online gambling in Sweden is the highest in all of Europe.

Sports Betting Sites – Sports Betting in Sweden

Online Sports Betting in Sweden

In order to get to grips with this emergent industry, Sweden passed regulations in 2001 after correctly perceiving the great prospects of online gambling. With a population of nearly 10.1 million people, the gambling market has continuously grown thanks to the introduction of gambling regulations set by the government allowing foreign private companies to operate within Sweden itself. This change is however quite recent with Svenska Spel being the only state-owned gambling company granted permissions to offer a variety of gambling services up until 2019.

One may not be surprised at the constant increase in Swedes participating in sports betting. With an overabundance of sportsbooks offering ease of access in opening accounts in addition to quality services, players are highly drawn towards this market nowadays. Fortunately for them, regardless of the strict gambling laws in Sweden, it is not against the law for Swedes to partake in sports betting online. In fact, most of the rules and regulations set in place are mostly aimed at companies, leaving overall freedom to the actual players. Clearly, any Swedish betting site must still hold a Swedish license for it to be regarded as a legal betting site.

Most Popular Sports in Sweden

In the world of sports betting, a player would do well to have knowledge or at least interest in the particular sport being bet on. The Swedes definitely have plenty of that. With an estimation of half the population engaging in some type of sport, this country is not one to shy away from playing sports or betting on it. Some of the most sought-after sports in Sweden would be football, handball, golf, ice hockey, basketball and even horse racing. Whilst football is hands down the most popular in terms of sports to bet on, other sports such as handball or horse racing are gaining popularity.

Choosing a Good Online Bookmaker

With the knowledge of the different sports one is willing to bet on, choosing the right bookmaker becomes a priority. When searching for the best betting sites online, one needs to keep in mind a number of factors that can make or break your betting experience.

  • The betting industry in the United Kingdom is regarded as one of the best in the world. To ensure a positive betting experience one should search for a bookie with similar features to any top UK bookie. This is particularly true for non-Swedish players. With such a bookie, one is guaranteed a great quality experience, a heavily diminished possibility of fraud, safety in terms of data protection and 24-hour customer care support.
  • When betting on sports, it is vital to search for the bookmakers that offer the best odds. The higher the odds used, the higher the profit. It would be a waste to lose out on great odds for the same winning bet. In order to ensure that the bookmaker you are looking at offers great odds, it is useful to make use of comparison sites before betting online with a particular bookmaker.
  • Similarly, one would do well to look at bonuses and promotions that are on offer. Most Swedish bookies entice people to register with them through the right bonuses and promotions. Before committing to a particular sports betting site, go through bonuses and promotions being offered and compare them with each other. This may involve some research but it will enhance your betting experience if you register with a sportsbook that offers better bonuses than others.
  • Always consider the currency options being made available by a bookie. It would be easier to avoid paying extortionate exchange fees whenever placing a deposit simply by finding bookies that accept currency options that are available to you. Therefore make sure to pick a sports betting site that accepts Swedish Krona, Euro or Sterling. All the best Swedish bookies will offer you Swedish Krona or Euros as a currency option.

Sports Betting Sites – Sports Betting in Sweden

What Swedes Can Bet on in 2021

Having just witnessed the ending of the Euro 2020, football fans look forward to the Tokyo Olympics where football will once again be one of the major sports involved. With teams such as Spain, Argentina, Brazil, France and Germany competing against each other, football bettors have loads to get excited about. This competition will take place between the 22nd of July and the 7th of August.

However, football is only a part of the huge sporting event that is the Olympics. These will take place in Japan with its official start being the 23rd of July regardless of some games such as football and softball starting a couple of days before. The games will continue up until the 8th of August when the closing ceremony will take place. A huge number of sports will be available for Swedes to bet on. The following is a small list of these sports:

  • Basketball
  • Tennis
  • Equestrian
  • Cycling
  • Boxing
  • Softball
  • Baseball
  • Field Hockey
  • Fencing
  • Table Tennis
  • Archery
  • Rowing

With the Olympics starting soon, anyone who is into sports betting in Sweden is surely guaranteed a very exciting summer ahead.

Sports Betting Sites – A Look at Sports Betting in Finland

The gambling industry has grown tremendously in the past years, and it is still expected to do so all around the world. The Finnish gambling industry is no exception with a growth rate of around 10% per annum since 2016. For a population of over 5.5 million people, the gambling market has thrived in Finland, possibly thanks to the rich gambling culture present and the online sport gambling possibilities that this country has easily accessible. In this guide, we will find out more about sports betting in Finland, the culture of sports betting including esports and the best sites a Finnish player could use for a great betting experience.

Sports Betting Sites – A Look at Sports Betting in Finland

Laws and Regulations

Since the end of World War II, the gambling industry has mostly been monopolised by Veikkaus, the only state-owned agency with the authorisation to offer sports betting and other gambling games in Finland. With over one billion euros being generated every year and being invested in other Finnish fields, one may think that this is daunting news to foreign online bookmakers. That is partially true, with the European Union constantly piling pressure on Finland to discard this monopoly.

However, it is still perfectly legal to bet in Finland and not only within this monopolisation. This is because players are not forbidden from using offshore bookmakers. In addition, Finland never adopted a gambling license system, a system found in many countries around the world. Licenses are therefore not issued to private operators. What this means is that huge betting operators such as LeoVegas and Betfair can freely accept players from Finland and risk no repercussions by Finnish authorities, although they are not allowed to advertise themselves in the country. It is also worth mentioning that Finnish players are not required to pay taxes on any winnings they might get, which is definitely an additional point in favour of getting into the gambling industry.

Most Popular Sports in Finland

Finland is a country that definitely loves sports and competitions overall. In fact, Finland is home to a number of quite unusual sports such as mobile phone throwing, Reindeer racing or even wife carrying – yeah, you read that correctly.

You might be surprised to know that bookies have offered bets on such sports in Finland in the past! A little less surprising would be the importance given to Formula 1 in terms of betting and overall love for the sport. Having produced world-renowned Formula 1 Drivers such as Valtteri Bottas, Mika Hakkinen and Kimi Raikkonen, the sport is definitely loved and adored by the general public. Other notable mentions would be ice hockey and football where a good number of Finnish talents can also be found.

Esports in Finland

Whilst traditional sports are quite sought after in Finland, the sport culture does not limit itself to traditional ones. Electronic sports have made huge leaps in the past few years. These competitive sports use electronic systems and have generated interest in most parts of the world with professional video gamers participating in huge tournaments with astounding prize pots. Finland has also seen its rise and adapted accordingly. In fact, Finnish esports players have been recognised officially as athletes since 2017, which has positive repercussions to the players even in terms of taxes.

Finland is also home to great esports players known worldwide for their skill in particular games. The introduction of Assembly, a high-quality tournament involving numerous games attracting players from all around the world has further solidified the importance of esports in the country. It is worth mentioning how the government has also introduced the Nordic eSports Academy Bootcamp in the aim of promoting interest in the industry. Finally, thanks to the previously mentioned love for football, Finnish football launched eFutisliiga which brings the love of football and esports together.

With esports rising up in popularity, Finnish fans have steadily increased their interest in betting on esports with previously mentioned competitions being available online for both viewing and betting.

Sports Betting Sites – A Look at Sports Betting in Finland

Choosing a Good Finnish Betting Site

Bettors in Finland can definitely make use of the culture surrounding both traditional sports and esports and integrate it with the general love of the online sports gambling industry. It is important, however, to pick the right bookmaker. A number of factors should be kept in mind as these can definitely enhance or ruin your betting experience.

  • One of the most vital parts of picking a bookie is ensuring that the odds being offered are great. Odds vary between one bookmaker and another and picking the one with the higher odds is greatly beneficial in terms of profit. Simply put, going for the higher odds means winning more money, even if it is for the same bet. It is important therefore to compare odds of different bookmakers online to ensure that the bookie you are picking offers great odds when compared to other bookmakers. Websites such as Suomi Veikkaus can definitely help in this regard.
  • With the betting industry in the United Kingdom being regarded as one of the best in the world, it would be a good idea to pick a bookie with similar features to a top UK bookie. This is true for all players but even more so for non-Finnish players. Picking such a bookie guarantees fraud protection, data protection and good customer support in addition to an overall enjoyable betting experience.
  • It is important to check bonuses and promotions of a particular bookmaker before signing up for one. Generally, bookmakers will offer bonuses and promotions that tickle the fancy of a number of players in some way or form. Going through the different bonuses will increase the chance of your own betting satisfaction. It is important to do research in this regard so that you do not miss out on fantastic offers simply because you were too quick to sign up for a different bookmaker.
  • It is useful to know the best payment methods available. Visa and Mastercard debit and credit cards are extremely popular among Finnish bettors. Electronic wallets such as PayPal or Skrill are also very common due to security they provide through the lack of card details given to bookmakers.

What Is The Best Breed For Horse Racing?

What Is The Best Breed For Horse Racing?

When it comes to the sport of kings, there is nothing more exhilarating than watching a dash for the finishing line and when it comes to those who are charged with training some of the best horses in the world, they are often asked one rather pertinent question.

That being just what breed is the best when it comes to racing and although the Thoroughbred will undoubtedly be viewed by many at the top of the list, there are countless other varieties of equine power to choose from.

With that said, it would certainly be remiss to suggest that the Thoroughbred of the species is not the dominant force when it comes to horse racing and with it being solely developed for this pursuit in particular, it stands to reason as to why it is so coveted.

The evolution of this breed came during the 17th & 18th century within the United Kingdom and with three horses being imported with an eye on being the fastest, the trio of the Byerley Turk, Darley Arabian and Godolphin Arabian played a huge part in what we know as a Thoroughbred today.

While not only are they known for their speed, but they are also highly intelligent horses at the same time and it is this combination of factors, which also provides them with an extra edge over the likes of an Arabian or Quarter Horse.

Not to mention the incredible horsepower that this breed can generate and the fastest ever speed that was recorded by a Thoroughbred was back in 2008, as Winning Brew raced past the timing gun at 43.97mph.

An incredibly impressive speed it must be said and also when you consider that they usually have a heigh of anywhere over 60 inches, it is one of the best examples of both pace and power in any sporting environment.

While across the United States, Thoroughbred races are highly popular with both the viewing public and punters alike and on any given race meeting, a considerable number of wagers are placed on this special breed of horse.

While in states like Pennsylvania, the ability to place a bet on high-profile races, has certainly caught the imagination of the State and an ever-increasing number of people are now looking to put their money where their mouth is.

Of course, it is not just the other side of the Atlantic Ocean which is home to the cream of the racing crop, as there are multiple courses within the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, and they also allow such sporting wares to be displayed on a regular basis.

Ask any top trainer worth their salt and they will wax lyrical about the prowess a Thoroughbred can offer and although this will always be the optimum choice when it comes to chasing a race win or two, there are handful of options that could also be considered for glory.

One of those is the Appaloosa which originates from the USA and with it being a breed that contains not only the Thoroughbred but also the Arabian and Quarter Horse within its lineage, you can understand why it can hold its own on the racetrack.

At a range of 56 to 64 inches, it is not quite as tall as other breeds and for what it lacks in size, it certainly makes up in visual quality – if only because of their famous spotted coat pattern that they show off with pride.

Considered to be a rather versatile horse, the Appaloosa is just as adept on the flats than it is on the jumps and when you also account for just how friendly they are in terms of temperament, they are often a popular choice when it comes to breeding.

Of course, both the Arabian and the Quarter Horse cannot be ignored from the discussion either and when you consider that the former of the two can reach a top speed of 40mph, they are certainly no slouches when it comes to racing their rivals.

Although when it comes to the Arabian breed, their element to endure long distance rides should certainly not been forgotten either and although they may not have a blistering top speed, their ability to go further than the rest certainly sets them in good stead.

However, when it comes to the conversation of pace, the Quarter Horse is rather prominent in the discussion and with a maximum speed of 55mph, the term horsepower is one that seems incredibly fitting for such a magnificent breed.

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