August 2009 -- Question: I see so much debate about the traditional game and the modern game, and whether recreational players should try to swing like the pros. How do you determine which techniques to teach and which could cause problems for less accomplished players?
Answer: My answer to this question could create a political firestorm because there are many entrenched opinions about each game style and when, or even whether, it should be taught. But, so be it, let's try to answer it anyway. Starting with the politically correct answer to your question on techniques, I would say: There is nothing that should not be taught, but you have to be careful in some areas. Now, having said that, let's go deeper.
The biggest questions to ask include: What are you trying to teach? Are you after control for your student, consistency, depth into the court, or more power? Are you trying to teach your student how to lob in doubles as a service return? Are you trying to teach better placement in the serve? Are you trying to teach your student how to take advantage of a weakly hit ball that lands in the middle of the court? Again, the most important question becomes: Exactly
what are you trying to teach?
The next question is: What is your perception about each game style? For example, traditionalists might believe that a student should begin learning the game with an eastern forehand grip and also begin learning strokes by stepping into each shot. The proponents of the modern game might suggest that a semiwestern or western forehand grip should be the starting point, and that hitting open-stance strokes is appropriate for beginners. (I can feel you cringing one way or the other right now; that's how entrenched our belief systems can be.) There are obviously many more distinctions to each style, and there are certainly other arguments and even overlaps among the various ways of thinking.
That said, few people would argue about the evolution of the game and how today's players tend to load their shots with incredible leg drive, open stances, and extremely "whippy" follow-throughs. The body action almost seems flailing in nature. But, if you really study the videos on tennisresources.com you will see that players hitting those "out-of-control" shots are actually in total control of their bodies! Before going any further, this is a very key point to recognize.
The layperson who takes lessons from you may not have access to the instructional videos discussed above. Additionally, it's doubtful that the average person who visits our facilities has thoroughly examined the biomechanics of modern stroke production. With that in mind, what are some observations you might make on the court while watching your students play? I've listed a few below, and all of these could cause problems for your students.
- Overhitting without the capacity to hit the ball hard. Many students simply believe that power is the way to play the game. They see Nadal and the Williams sisters swinging from their heels and your students identify with this style. They come to your court, swinging from the heels, with no physical preparation. By physical preparation, I am not necessarily just talking about the warm-up (although that is very important). I am actually speaking to the fact that the person may not have the physical strength to handle the acceleration of the many swings, nor the capacity to withstand the deceleration and impact of the ball strike. Injury is likely for this student, and the injury could be acute, physically traumatic or chronic, with the wear and tear taking its toll over time. In such cases, we must help our players get fit to play tennis. In addition, we must help them understand how their "heroes" actually use their bodies to play the game so effectively.
- Overhitting with poor control. No matter how hard you hit the ball, it still has to stay in the court. Many students struggle with this fact. At the end of the day, tennis is still a control game. I know there are people who argue that the modern game makes it a power game. However, I will say it again: Power, without control, means very little. Even high-velocity shots to the middle of the court that overpower some opponents will not overpower others. Controlled power is essential. And, it's a simple fact that some people try to hit the ball very hard but cannot control the ball's flight path. In swinging hard, these players usually don't use their lower body well. Their shots can become much too "wristy" and they can lose upper-body control, which causes poor racquet control. When top players leave the ground on incredibly hard shots their shoulders are almost totally parallel with the ground and their upper torso is in total control. That's how they have great racquet control.
- Swinging with the arm only. This is a big problem for some novice players and you can see this in both game styles. It really isn't a function of the modern game or the traditional style; it's just that the players have the mentality that tennis is a game played with the upper limb(s) and really don't understand how to use the lower body in stroke production. Usually, these "arm players" view their legs as only providing speed to get to a shot, but don't understand how to "load" the lower body, hips and trunk to not only develop the force for the shot, but to protect the upper arm as well.
- Not learning to move forward as part of the modern game. This is my only concern with professionals who start every player with the modern-game style of play, employing open-stance strokes immediately. I am not saying that pros do this, but I am saying that one danger in teaching the modern game immediately is that the player might not learn how to use forward momentum, a natural tool, in accelerating for a shot. This becomes especially true in passing shots where players move laterally, attempting to hit all passing shots with great strokes but never learning to attack the ball with their feet and angle the body forward. Although they may have very good strokes, when will they learn how forward momentum can help them?
To conclude, and to be as objective as possible, I first have to say that you are your student's
teaching professional! You must be able to teach both techniques. One student might have the capacity and coordination to begin with open-stance strokes and feel great success, while you're thinking he could learn the forward movement a little later. Others of you might have an uncoordinated student who benefits from stepping forward into the shot. His aspirations might not be to excel and hit hard, penetrating shots into the opponent's court. Even if you feel that every student should use a western grip and hit every groundstroke with an open stance, there could be the day when a student walks on your court and needs to use a different approach, a different grip, etc. To me, this is one reason why our game is so great to teach and this is what makes each day on court unique in its own way.
Send questions to jgroppel@LGEPerformance.com.
