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.