Absolute Tennis

TENNIS PLAYERS MOVE UP, back, left, and right at varying speeds with different types of footwork. They hit the ball fast or slow, deep or short, high or low, flat or with heavy spin. They play against a variety of opponents whose style of play can range from relentlessly aggressive to incredibly patient. During a match, emotions can quickly swing up and down and concentration may fade in and out. The spectrum of physical and mental skills required in tennis is broad, so when Marty Smith told me about his plan to write a comprehensive tennis instructional book, I thought it was a terrific idea. His book Absolute Tennis appreciates the wide-ranging nature of the sport and is a great read for tennis enthusiasts both new and experienced to the game.

Acknowledging the fact that tennis is a very athletic game, Marty starts by discussing balance, the kinetic chain, and movement. Next, he takes you through grips and each phase of every stroke, giving you insights to improve your technique and play your best tennis. At each step, he pairs his instructional text with engaging individual and frame-byframe photographs of the world’s top players to illustrate his explanations. Federer’s serve, Nadal’s forehand, Djokovic’s return, and Murray’s backhand are a few of the strokes that are highlighted. Marty discusses not only the strokes of today, but also explores strokes that may be used in the future. Viewing tennis through the prism of the game’s increasing speed, athleticism, and serving prowess, he explains how swings could evolve and makes a compelling case for three unconventional shots. Following the chapters on the key athletic principles and the strokes, Marty dedicates the last third of the book to strategy, the mind, and fitness. Successful tennis players “think” well on the court and his chapters on singles and doubles strategy provide tips on how to play smart. Additionally, his extensive chapters on psychology and fitness will teach you how to focus the mind to compete in a more consistent and confident manner as well as how to train your body to move faster and last longer. Back in my day, we did not have access to advice on psychology, stretching, nutrition, etc. that are now such an important part of training for the elite athlete.

Marty’s goal is absolutely clear. He wants to teach you a tremendous amount, all while entertaining you with his holistic, practical, and forward approach to tennis. So read on to gain a deeper understanding of tennis and learn how to improve different parts of your game. If you put his advice into action, you will have more fun on the court and win more, just as his many students over his decades of coaching have done.

TENNIS IS MY LIFE’S PASSION and work. The sport has been so generous to me, and I am grateful that I had the opportunity to share my knowledge and experience with you in Absolute Tennis. Whatever your motivation for reading the book, my hope is that you learned a lot, are enjoying your tennis more, and are playing better than ever.

Of course to raise your game, the knowledge you gained from this book has to be combined with hours of practice. Nothing worthwhile comes easy, and this is particularly true in a skillful game like tennis where small deviations — like being a degree or two off with the racquet face — can result in an error. Improving your game takes mindfulness, commitment, and resolve. I urge you to be patient with the process; you will be very glad in the long run.

Remember too that it is important not to be overly critical of yourself. Judging yourself too harshly will hurt rather than help you. Instead, practicing and playing matches with a sense of gratitude and a smile will lead to more time on the court and faster improvement. The right internal approach is to salute your dedication and savor your progress along the way; raising your level of play is an accomplishment of which you should be very proud.

If you hit a speed bump during your training, which everyone invariably does, take a step back and remind your yourself of the many positive qualities of tennis: how its incredible variety makes every shot different and every opponent unique; how its innate malleability leaves you free to put your own stamp on each ball struck; and how it can be very individual, but at the same time permits you to play doubles or in a league and feel part of a team. It is also a sport that vindicates self-belief and activates the mind to think deeply and problem solve. As Andre Agassi once said, “There can be thousands of people watching or you could be in your back yard, and either way, you are dealing with simple elements that cause you to ask yourself to believe when you might not. To ask yourself to find a way, when you don’t think there is. It’s a great sport and very symbolic of life and prepares you for life.”(2) Tennis offers a lot, and I think it is helpful to appreciate this as you train and work on your game.

Playing better is well within your grasp, and if you do, the rewards are notable. There’s the joy of winning more often and the satisfaction derived from hitting skillful shots that were not previously part of your game. Also, playing better usually results in playing more often and you reaping the health benefits that stem from increased time on the court. I know you can improve and experience these rewards: I’ve seen it happen countless times in my life. With constructive stroke repetition, tactical knowledge, and a mind and body in good shape, it will happen.

For those of you learning a new stroke or beginning the game, don’t forget to use progressions to structure your practice sessions. There’s no question that swing technique is learned faster and cemented stronger when tennis training is broken down into gradually more challenging steps. Try not to be in a hurry to jump through the progressions. Wait until you are competent and confident executing each progression before moving on to the next one. Also, remember to keep the proper order of learning — that is, consistency, placement and then power. Consistency is the first principle; it slows down the swing to assist the grooving of proper stroke mechanics, encourages repetition, and reinforces the winning match philosophy of keeping errorsto a minimum. After consistency comes placement, which improves as you learn the correct timing of the swing and which part of the ball needs to be struck to direct the ball. Power is the third variable. It is the most fun part of the learning process, but at the recreational level, it is also the least important. My advice is don’t be enticed by power’s glamor until you have good consistency and placement in your game first.

And what about a key question raised in the book — the future? Compare the speed of the game 40 years ago to today. What will it look like 40 years from now? Tennis players will continue to get taller and faster, and the equipment and training methods will keep improving. With these advancements, will the extra power, reach, and time of Ambitennis lead to it becoming an accepted style of play? Will future players curve the ball rightward with reverse serves or “spike” their volleyball serve? Will the “best of both worlds” hybrid backhand become a recognized shot? No one knows but the advancements certainly will lead to some changes. Whatever happens, I am excited, curious, and ready for the future, and my advice to you is to be on the lookout and embrace the changes too. It is always better to lead and be in front of the curve than follow and play catch-up.