Global Tennis Teaching Institute

It should be well known that the tennis industry has excellent and interesting advertisements. We are told about the “ thinking racket”, the “speed producing racket” and other useful help to entice into buying their product and some of us do it without questioning their statements. Understandable, competition is challenging and tough. But when again and again TV commentators tell about a new string which produces a better top spin,I don’t like this, as their statements are just not true. Are they paid to make such statements? I don’t think so. But if you are in such a postion, where you can address millions of tennis players, you can express an opinion, but don’t make statements, witch are not true. Most pro players and tennis teachers do not know what happens when the ball is hit by the racket. Why? Because nobody told them and they really don’t care, as they think that what they feel when hitting, is more important than to know about the ball on the strings. I do not agree with them, but let me address this issue at a later time.

When, in 1975, after having spent some time with Prof. Dr. Kopf at the Technical University in Dortmund, Germany, finding out about what is happening during ball contact in a stroke and announced that the tennis ball touches the string only 3,6 to 4,0 thousandth of a second, it meant very little to the tennis world. Would they have known that our nervous system is 1o times slower, some would have reacted. This is also why a tennis player does not see the ball on the strings. During this research and testing, it became evident, that as much top spin you hit, the ball does not move (rotate) during the time it touches the strings. A rolling of the ball on the strings just does not happen. What causes the topspin? It is very simple to recognize, when you have the possibility to use cameras able to take 8000 pictures in a second. Lamar Hunt , founder of WCT, Dallas TX made it possible. This high speed camera shows that when the ball touches the strings at first, only the small part of the strings on the contact spot reacts, before the string-bed stretches to the back. This second movement of the strings is influenced by the string tension on the racket. During the same time, the ball compresses and looses its shape and flattens quite a bit. The string bed begins to move back, and the ball begins getting its shape back. The string bed moves slightly in front of its original flat position. But as the rubber of the ball does not react as quickly as the strings do, the ball remains on the outside still partly flat but on the string side it shapes slightly like a pear. During the last instant the ball has contact with the strings, the strings touch the pointed side of the ball. This is the only moment when the racket influences the ball rotation during the stroke. Flat stroke: the ball will start pulsating straight out by changing from oval to round for a few times until it remains round. Topspin: The moment of separation the racket is moving front and upwards. Consider, the ball is almost round in the front and pear shaped in the back when it leaves the strings . At this moment , the up motion of the racket strings ( top spin) gives to the totally stagnant ball the intended rotation. The ball rotates and pulsates at the same time. In doing so it creates a negative suction under the ball which the ball overcomes and suddenly it is pulled down in to a down curve, witch changes the flight of the ball into the so called “ top-spin “ curve.

Mr. Fischer, a German tennis club player and engineer was influenced by this study and used it to add in a clever way some additional very fine lose string and plastic pellets to the existing string pattern which in the up movement are propelled against the ball and triple the rotation . He created a monster racket with which every beginner could hit a brutal top spin. Illje Nastase won a tournament the first time he used it. Mr.Fischer asked me to help getting approval for his stringing. I refused, as his strings were destroying the tennis game. Shortly after the ITF committee banned the Fischer-String.

Years ago most string manufacturers tried to make strings with different structure, for a better top spin grip. Some strings were square, others rough and looking like stretched roots. Nothing made hitting top spin any easier. The top spin stroke will depend on the way the ball is hit and will continue to need the technical execution to create the ball rotation.

All this is difficult to understand but as nothing is really easy in tennis we can only through knowing about it, improve how to address the tennis technique and game. At the Global Tennis Institute the teaching is based, for the strokes, on the laws of physics, for the movements on the best use of the body structure, muscle and reactions. All our students know that the moment they feel hitting the ball, or hearing the hitting bang, the ball is gone. This means to them that everything they do before touching the ball is the stroke, so they act accordingly. I can assure you, they will not go and buy the new top spin strings!!!

In today’s athletic competitive tennis most balls are hit wide deep into the court or very wide with the bounce reaching far outside the side lines. During the last month tournament in Rome Italy, for many points 20 to 30 strokes were needed to win the point and most of the 20 or 30 strokes would have been winners 15 years ago. The running for the balls was fantastic and demanded great energy from legs and arms as all balls were hit with tremendous topspin power. Analyzing the players’ game, it was easy to recognize, that most of them hit with little difference, mostly with the same powerful topspin except for a sudden winner which had little top spin coming low over the net. The advantage each player was looking for, was not only through power or speed of the ball, but in moving the opponent as much as possible and waiting for the opportunity. Running , running and running again was demanded as much as hitting a fast ball. The only chance for a player to stay in the point was to be able to reach the ball which most did very well. Considering the speed and the spin of the ball to be reached, the player had not only to get there, but get there in a position to be able to execute a powerful stroke. I remember the times when power was the most successful tool to win a game. Do not understand me wrong, it is still very important to have powerful strokes, but not alone, as in today’s game two additional demanding factors must be part of the player’s ability before the player is able to hit the ball.

First: you have to get there, ( agility, foot-work, dynamic). Second: you have to be in a position to execute your best stroke ( balance, technique ). An off balance or streched out body just can not do it. A player who intends to be successful in today’s fast game must have great athletic ability before his racket technique can take over. Have we the teacher in the US recognized the needs to make real changes in our teaching structure to keep up with the athletic demand needed for the future pro tennis? We should consider, that the ability to get there in a good hitting postion is 50% of the game.

Teaching tennis students how to move is tough, as they come to the court to hit balls and do not understand the importance of perfect movements. I eliminated this problem by informing my students in detail about the importance to develop the sensation of balance and learning how to move quickly through foot patterns. I have established a very demanding routine of movements and exercises which are technical demanding and must be executed every day with the same discipline as expected when hitting balls, to develop habits in their movements. It is almost imposssible to do this warm-up exercises and routines in less than 45 minutes. The good old way of running a few laps around the court with some skips and jumps do not meet anymore the demands made by today’s and tomorrow’s tennis.

With the mentioned starting exercises only a part of the physical development of the student can be met. During the teaching of the tennis technique students must be constantly reminded of the correct footwork by having all hitting drills executed in the run all over the court to train as close as possible to reality. It may be difficult at the beginning but young students form moving habits very quickly, as long as they do not get away with their so called personal style. My studends are made aware, that the racket head has to execute a technical movement if the ball is intended to go from point A to point B and that there is no time for personal approach.

The daily fitnesss program should be a continuation of the earlier warm up. Tennis-fitness does not mean only developing strength and power, it must be executed in balance and must include movements to improve agility, develop dynamic and rhythm. Attention should be given to the ability to separate upper body movements from leg dynamics as well as arm movements from body movements. Balance will improve dramatically, through which the body will move easier and will not have to work as hard and not get tired to quickly.

As I strongly believe that tennis requires a very special athletic body and movements, I insist,that in all daily teaching programs enough time is spent on warm-up at the beginning and fitness to end the day.

It is a fact that the tennis sport is a long time project and cannot be practiced by yourself. A teacher/coach has to be present all the time, otherwise no development is possible and short cuts do not work. This means that people around your child’s tennis must be paid.

The early stage of the game is simple as it can be learned in small groups of three to four children. But as soon as a decision is made to be more serious about it, parents should be aware that an additional investment is needed.

I would advise to make small steps until your child shows more interest than just to like playing tennis. As junior competitions begin at an early age, you have to start planning during these years 10-12. At first look at the opportunities you have and evaluate which situation is the best for you. Do not sign long term arrangements as you don’t know if you made the right choice. By finding a second student at your child’s age, the cost for the tennis program can be kept down. I don’t advise single lessons as they are much to expensive and don’t bring the results you expect. Don’t forget that years, many years are needed to develop a player. I would stay away from single lessons until the single lesson is used to address small details which need very personal attention.

Here is a way to make a plan: Go to junior tennis tournaments close to where you live. Look for another child and parents with the same desire and see if lessons can be arranged together, or talk to a teacher of your choice if he has a student who harmonizes with your child’s tennis. I did not mention academies, because their teaching method cannot be influenced by you and it is very difficult to make a personal plan for your child as they have to give consideration and equal treatment to all of their students. There are some teachers who work with small groups which are better for concentrating on single players’ needs. For establishing a plan don’t forget to address the daily time schedule necessary to develop a player. If you are still not 100% convinced, three hours a day is not a bad start. But if you want to give your child a real chance, home schooling is a must to allow your tennis plan all the time it needs. Don’t be negative about home schooling, there are home schooling programs which are very good and demanding. I had students who went to an Ivy League College with a home schooling degree, but decided after one year to give tennis a better chance and became professional tennis players. It all depends how serious parents are about the activities of their children.

All this is not easy on parents but it can be done. Most professional players would have never made it without an enormous help from their families.

I mentioned earlier the “opportunity factor” which cannot be disregarded, as it is the foundation of the development of a tennis player. Florida residents have a small advantage with the weather, and there are many tennis schools, academies and tennis teachers active on many tennis courts. Looks like the best opportunity to give your child a chance. Yes and No! Consider how difficult it is to become a professional player and how much knowledge the teacher needs to be able to give your child the quality you want and need. Be choosy, discuss with the intended teacher the plan, the cost and who will be responsible for the program. If this is settled and you feel satisfied, you need a calculator to give yourself an idea of the financial investment you will face not just for 1 year but for the next 4 to 5 years.

An after school program for the first 1 or 2 years ( 2,5 hours a day, max. 3 children) will be in the range of $ 14,000.- a year. A full day program again in a small group will come close to $ 30,000.- for the full 12 months. Don’t be impressed by the schedule academies use for a normal school year which is around 10 months. In tennis you do not have the luxury of a 2 months vacation. The 10,000 hours needed to reach the top is not a joke or exaggeration. It is a proven fact that there are no short cuts. In my many years in the pro and teaching world I never experienced a short cut. The tennis sport requires dedication and willingness to work very hard and a certain amount of money to make it possible.

Does this sound negative? I hope not! It is the reality which we have to accept.

I mention the chance of finding a sponsor. The assumption exists, that if you show “something” on the tennis court, a sponsor could be found easily. Again reality is different. To convince a sponsor to support a young tennis player, the player has to show a very promising quality which has to be above expectation. The day you have reached your goal, agents and sponsors will knock on your door. Be satisfied if the USTA will help you cover some of your travel expenses. There is a very positive side in the effort to reach the goal as many exciting moments occur. Traveling in different countries (added expenses) is a wonderful experience for young people. Meeting new people all the time can be interesting and adds understanding for many different ways of life. After all, tennis playing can be an excellent profession with which you can make quite a bit of money if you become successful. Should this be disregarded? Maybe at the beginning of your planning, but not totally. By the time you decide to embrace the challenge, the cost will become a factor which will need some consideration but should not stop you if it is in your means. Tennis is one of the few sports where an early stage investment must be considered. As by all investments knowledge and supervision is necessary, tennis is governed by the same rules. Good luck!

[tags]top tennis players, tennis programs, tennis expenses, commitment, coaching[/tags]