Concept of Tennis: Revised Edition

By Dan Schrank

The Concept of Tennis analyzes the various strokes and skills that comprise the game. It will provide you with a more comprehensive understanding of the complexity of the game. Hopefully you will be able to implement the skills into your game and improve the level of playing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jun 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483657998

Dan Schrank

Dan has had many decades of teaching experience. He is a USPTA certified Pro, and has run and worked at many clubs in the greater New York area. His teaching style is unique. He has been a member of the Prince Advisory staff and member of the Prince testing board in the past. He is currently an Elite Prince Sponsored Team Member Teaching Professional. He is a Member of several tennis organizations. He has had tennis tips published in Tennis magazine, was involved early on with Wheelchair Tennis in NYC. Past owner of several Tennis Retail shops which enhanced his knowledge of equipment and the industry in general. Many people from beginners to ranked players have benefitted from his skills and knowledge. He is president of Villages Tennis Association in Florida and Ambassador of Tennis for The Villages.

Book preview

CONCEPT

OF

TENNIS

Revised Edition

Dan Schrank

Copyright © 2013 by Dan Schrank.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 06/24/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

133572

CONTENTS

Dedication

Introduction

A Brief Overview

Grips

Forehand

Modern Forehand

Backhand

The Modern Backhand

Serve

Volley

Lob

Overhead Smash

Return Of Serve

Drop Shot

Approach Shot

Mobility And Setting Up

Conditions

Tennis Racquets And Strings

Wheelchair Tennis

Practice

Strategy And Tactics

Mental Toughness

DEDICATION

To my wonderful wife Nancy who has endured me for many years and without her I would not have been able to fulfill my dream of publishing this book. To my daughters Danielle and Sarah who have made my life complete.

I would also like to thank three tennis professionals who inspired me, Arnold Lynn, Bob Ryland, and Steve Turner. I would like to give special thanks to close friend Ron Tenore who encouraged me to publish the book originally.

INTRODUCTION

After many years of teaching tennis and observing players and other teaching professionals, I concluded that trying to be more analytical on the game was a lost art. Just like any other sport like football or boxing, you must have an understanding of all of the principles that make up the game. Every day we take for granted something as basic as walking. But when we get injured and try to focus on how difficult the recovery is, we then appreciate how complex the task of walking really is. The same is true for Tennis. You just can’t expect to take a racquet and ball, go out on the court and hit without fully understanding all the components that make the game. The positioning of the body, the proper holding of the racquet and the beauty of the perfect stroke, to accomplish the skill of hitting the perfect shot.

I have tried to educate you on what it takes to analyze tennis to the level and skill that I as a professional have taught to make a better and stronger player with the understanding of why and how. This should advance your level of playing and skills.

A Brief Overview

I feel that the reason it takes people so very long to get good at tennis is that few people understand the concept of tennis. I have heard very few people ever discuss or even mention that there is an entire concept to the game of tennis. If more beginners could attend a lecture explaining tennis, I believe they could learn the game in a shorter time. If the concept and principles were understood as why it works, there would be a greater understanding as to why one does a particular maneuver.

The concept of a groundstroke is as follows. The ball must accomplish two things. First it must go over the net and second it must land in the court. This seems so simple but no one seems to discuss it. Putting that as a foremost thought, might help the explanation of the best way to accomplish this skill. It is my opinion that the student is best taught, keeping this concept in mind, to learn how to hit topspin first and then basing the game on it. Topspin is accomplished by hitting the ball from a low spot to a high spot by lifting the ball. The exact way to hit this is fully discussed on the chapter on ground strokes. Lifting the ball in this matter puts the ball over the net. Our first problem has been conquered. By hitting low to high the ball takes on a forward spinning motion, thus the name Topspin. This forward spinning motion is what brings the ball back down into the court. This satisfies our second premise of the ball in the court. When the student can understand this, they will now have a perfect concept. The instructor now explains where to stand, how to prepare the racquet, where to step, make contact and how to follow through. Once these points are understood the student can merely practice to develop the skills of the concepts. By being mentally analytical the stroke will invariably start to work at a physical level.

When playing at the net. How many times have you seen a player at the net lower their racquet and volley the ball into the net. If the person had the concept that if a ball is