Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 22, 1990 TAG: 9004220018
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LARRY LINEBERRY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Here are some facts and fallacies about tennis that, I hope, will reassure some and enlighten others:
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FALLACY: Keep your eyes on the ball.
This statement long has been used to get the beginning-to-intermediate player to focus on the ball. But the ball becomes a blur 4-6 feet from impact, and most players lose sight of the ball before that. If a player actually does keep his eyes on the ball, he may move his head near impact, causing a mis-hit.
\ FALLACY: You must step into the ball sideways on groundstrokes.
It is a luxury to be able to step into the ball (linear motion) at all on groundstrokes. More important is the upper body, hip and shoulder rotation (angular motion) at impact. This rotation can occur either sideways or with an open stance. For beginning players, stepping sideways may facilitate good footwork but inhibit upper body flexibility, which is essential as ball speed increases. Many great shots are hit off the back foot with an open stance.
\ FACT: The racket face must be near vertical at impact to obtain optimum results.
The most a racket face varies from vertical is about five degrees. On backspin shots, the racket face may open a little but not much more. The direction from which the racket comes determines the spin (topspin or backspin) of the ball, and the angle of the racket face determines the arc of the ball.
\ FALLACY: A player has more reach with a one-handed backhand than with a two-handed backhand.
Studies show that on power strokes, when the body is in position, reach is not a factor. Obviously, low and wide shots on the backhand are difficult for the two-hander, but they are tough for the one-hander, too. There are advantages to hitting a one-handed backhand, but reach is not one of them.
\ FACT: Keep your feet on the ground on all shots.
Power is generated from the ground up. The action-reaction principle applies in tennis, as in all motion. Sometimes players are pictured with their feet off the ground just after impact. It may seem that they are off the ground at impact as well, but this is not true. If there is no resistance against the ground at impact, there is no real power. This is true for every stroke in tennis. Don't let the pictures fool you.
\ FACT: Hit up on serves.
Some players swing down on the ball while serving, and - guess what? - the ball goes into the net. To serve effectively, hit the ball straight out or from underneath.
There is no straight line from the center of the strings at extension to the back of the service box. The net is in the way. So, hit the ball forward - and long - then bring the ball down with more spin until it starts going into the court. Don't let the high reach fool you.
\ FALLACY: Tight racket strings, power; loose racket strings, no power.
People frequently come to me to have a racket restrung and say, "I want more power. String my racket tighter." Tight strings make the ball deform more at impact, and velocity is lost in the string bed. Loose strings give more and don't flatten the ball at impact. This catapults the ball away as the strings return to normal. Tight strings don't give as much, and thus provide more control.
Strings too loose can cause big control problems. Proper string tension is a function of many factors, and only a qualified professional can determine what tension is right for you.
\ FALLACY: To gain more control, swing lower.
Actually, to hit the ball with more control you need to spin it more. To spin the ball more you need to brush the ball from behind, swinging low to high, and increase racket-head speed.
Also, the arm muscles are more in unison at very slow speeds (not practical for a tennis swing) and at very near maximum speed. Middle-speed swings cause too much disparity in the upper arm muscles and cause excess racket head movement at impact. When you are nervous, you should use a more assertive swing. Your odds are better.
\ FALLACY: Keep the racket head up when hitting a volley.
This tip is not exactly false - it is used to get the player to place the wrist in the proper position at impact. For above-the-waist volleys, the racket head generally will be above the wrist. But for shots below the knees or at waist level, the racket head could be pointed to the ground and well below the wrist.
The key is the angle created by the forearm and the racket shaft. For volleys, this angle needs to be more acute (about 100 degrees) than for groundstrokes, and the wrist should be very still at impact. The first volleys learned usually are very easy chest-high shots where the racket head is up, but advanced volleys can have the racket head anywhere. Just remember to keep the wrist still at impact, and adjust for various shots with the elbow and shoulder.
\ FALLACY: "Feel" the ball on the strings.
The ball stays on the strings for no more than about 1/500th of a second. It takes 1/50th of a second for you to feel someone touch you. There is no way "feeling" the ball on the strings can help you on any shot. The ball is off the strings so quickly that if you are not correct at impact, there is no time to adjust. But you can adjust for the next shot, and the next, thus creating consistency and rhythm. That is what "feeling" the ball means.
\ SUMMARY: As you think between points of a game, it is important to remember the proper cues that can make your game more effective. For example, if you are not extending on your serve, thinking to reach up does no good if your toss is too low. The proper cue is to think "higher toss," and the arm will extend automatically. These facts and fallacies may help give you the correct cue when you need it.
\ PREDICTION: Pete Sampras of Rancho Palos Verde, Calif., will make a big move this year. The 18-year-old player has no glaring weakness in his game.
by CNB