Is tennis as simple as it looks? In fact, according to most sports scientists, tennis is the most difficult sport to play. If you want to reach the top in tennis, you need speed, strength, physical and mental endurance, and a lot of talent.

Professional tennis players want perfect contact every time they hit the ball. But this is harder to achieve than you might think. Scientists have calculated how much you change the target when you change the racket's angle by 1 degree. Even such a small change can cause you to miss the target by as much as 41 cm. On top of that, you only have 0.6% of the time to make perfect contact because the angle of the racket is constantly changing as you swing. This shows how difficult tennis is to master, and why even the most skilled tennis players must practice for hours every day.

It's not just the players that affect the way the ball bounces and travels around the court. The court itself is also important. Tennis matches can be played on a variety of surfaces that affect the trajectory and speed of the ball, and it's not just the players that affect the way the ball bounces and travels around the court. The court itself is also important. Tennis matches can be played on a variety of surfaces that affect the trajectory and speed of the ball. Clay courts, for example, reduce the momentum of the shot due to friction between the loose clay and the ball. This slows a 107.8 mph shot by 43% to just 61 mph, giving the opponent time to react to the shot. On Wimbledon's grass courts, the same shot reaches a speed of approximately 72.4 kilometers per hour.  Without a doubt, Wimbledon continues to inspire tennis players around the world to perfect their strokes.

Spin Secrets

Professional tennis players tend to play matches with control rather than power. The key to this is "topspin".

Topspin is created by the speed at which the racquet swings, the angle at which it contacts the ball, and the type of strings used. The polyester strings on modern rackets act like suction cups, providing a large amount of grip on the ball. This control allows players to generate large amounts of topspin: The friction of the strings against the back of the ball causes the ball to spin forward, creating a high-pressure area above the ball and a low-pressure area below the ball. So when the impact of the spin occurs, the ball drops sharply. This means that tennis players can hit the ball harder and still get it down the line. Also, because the ball bounces higher, it creates more problems for opposing players and makes it harder to hit back.

Rafael Nadal is considered to be a master of generating topspin. Some of his forehands have been recorded at 4900 revolutions per minute (rpm). However, when it comes to backhand spin, Roger Federer can produce a spin of 5300 rpm.

FLAT STROKE Nowadays, most professionals use a flat serve to hit the most powerful shot. This shot is very effective on fast courts because the ball moves very fast, shortening the opponent's time.

SLICE The advantage of the slice technique is that it keeps the ball low. It works well on fast courts with low bounce. It forces the opponent to counter the slice from the most uncomfortable angle.

Anatomy of the serve

Learn the biomechanics behind the most important shot in tennis - the serve.

Wrist movement: Just before hitting the ball, the wrist flexes backwards away from the ball, driving the racket towards the ball and quickly launching it forward. This small movement provides 30% of the clubhead speed. A strong wrist is therefore essential for all tennis players.

Shoulder strength: The upper arm and shoulder provide only 10% of the clubhead speed, but are extremely important in creating the "tick position". This is the point just before the player swings the racket towards the ball.

Racket head speed: All of the muscles of the tennis player work together to increase the racket head speed (the speed at which the racket moves toward the ball).

Forearm strength: The forearm (the arm that holds the racket) provides 40% of the racket head speed. This is the highest of any body part. Experts recommend that the arm be fully extended at the point of contact, as this increases the total length of the arm, resulting in the highest speed.

Core rotation: A fast and powerful rotation of the torso results in a more effective serve. Depending on the player's style, a large hip rotation can add considerable speed to the serve.

Knee bending: The legs and torso provide 20% of the total power of the serve. Some tennis players bend their knees more than normal in order to jump towards the serve. This allows them to make contact with the serve as high as possible. This means a wider area for the serve. 

Basic Strokes in Tennis 

Forehand

Many people claim that it is the easiest stroke to learn and is much more likely to be achieved than other tennis strokes. Yes, the forehand is a little easier to learn and master than other basic strokes, but it is by no means considered a piece of cake.

This stroke is executed after the ball hits the ground once and bounces. It ‘s usually performed by the player swinging the racket across the body with the palm of the hand in front.

The player swings the ball and hits it in the direction he wants it to land. The most important factor to consider here is positioning. You don't want to hit the ball when it is too far away from you and out of reach. The best way to do this is to hit when the ball is within easy reach and you don't have to fully extend your arm to hit it. So you need to be in position when the ball bounces off the ground and comes to you.

Backhand

The next stroke on our list is the backhand. You can either use a two-handed or one-handed backhand. One-handed backhands can be more suitable for managing shots coming into the body than two-handed ones and are also there to give you a longer reach.

But two-handed backhands give you more control and balance. Many players prefer two-handed ones as they are easier to execute and give better results, but there are also some players who are more experienced and find one-handed ones more manageable. It really depends on personal preference and what works better for the player.

This stroke is achieved by a player swinging the racket around their body with the back of their hand before the palm. It is usually done from the baseline. In the case of right-handed players, the backhand stroke occurs when the racket starts on the left side of the body and continues towards the left side of the body to make contact with the ball.

The stroke should end on the right side of the player's body, with the racket over the right shoulder. This stroke is considered more difficult to master and execute than the forehand, and has also proven to lack the power and consistency that the forehand has.

Lob

This shot is typically hit when the opponent is standing near the net and waiting to volley. This shot is mostly used as a defensive technique and can be used to a player's advantage to a great extent when done correctly.

If you want to hit a defensive lob, you should do it when your opponent has retreated to the baseline. If a player is out of bounds, this defensive lob can easily give you enough time to run back and find a better defensive position.

When kicking the lob, the ball should be passed over the opponent and directly into the open court behind. A player usually hits the ball at an angle between 0 degrees and 45 degrees.

This kick comes with certain risks, but if executed perfectly it can give you a direct point. It can be a gamble, but it can also help you win and be one of your biggest advantages. Are you wondering which famous tennis players have adopted this shot and used it successfully? Some of the players who have developed excellent lob shots over time include Andre Agassi, Michael Chang, and Andy Murray.

Overhead

The overhead kick, also known as a smash, is a kick that is somewhat similar to the first kick (serve) we listed. This shot is hit over the hitter's head in a serve-like motion, so the overhead is similar to a serve. The overhead is typically hit with a high amount of force and power and is often the point-ending shot.

When a lob shot is not hit high or deep enough by the opponent, the overhead kick comes into play. Overhead kicks are usually hit near the net or sometimes from the center court before the ball bounces. It is also possible for a player to hit an overhead from the baseline, typically on a bouncing ball, but this often results in a less powerful shot.

A player can also hit overheads (shots) from both forehand and backhand. However, keep in mind that backhand overheads are much more difficult to achieve, especially for beginners.

For this reason, forehand overheads are much more common and frequently seen on the court. Two of the players known for their outstanding backhand overheads are Rod Laver and Jimmy Connors. Both are left-handed. Curious about the most famous forehand shot? The first person to introduce it was Helene Rice. She was the first player to hit this shot in 1890.

Drop Shot

The second to last shot we will talk about in this list is a shot commonly known as a drop shot. If a player hits the ball relatively softly and it lands near the net on the opponent's side, it is considered a drop shot. A drop shot is also known as a touch shot, given the lack of power used to execute this shot.

A drop shot is also considered a more advanced shot that some players perform when their opponents are on the baseline. The drop shot is considered difficult to achieve as it often requires the element of surprise, but that's not all. It is also necessary to have superior control over the ball to execute this shot.

Wondering when is the best time to take this shot? If a player is rallying with his opponent and after hitting one of the shots he notices that his opponent is slightly off balance, this is the perfect time to take the drop shot. Make sure to use as little force as possible to get the ball over the net, ideally a few meters away from the net. This way the opponent won't have enough time to run forward and put the ball back in play.

The last one on our list of tennis strokes is the volley, a shot that is achieved by hitting the ball before it bounces to the ground. A player usually hits this shot while standing near the net, but that's not the only way to do it. A volley can also be hit further back, in the center of the court, or even while standing near the baseline. The rules surrounding this kick are that the player must use an overhead movement and hit the ball before it bounces.

We can distinguish between several types of volleys: normal volley, swing volley, drop volley and drive volley. A normal volley consists of a short backswing and a piercing stroke. If a player takes a longer backswing to apply more power to the ball, we call it a swing volley. If a player touches the ball lightly and it lands just behind the net, we call it a drop volley. As for the drive volley, it is achieved when a player hits the ball with a full backswing and follow through.

If you “re wondering who the most recognizable volley hitters are, we can help you. John McEnroe, Stefan Edberg and Leander Paes are some of the best known to date.

Levent Aslan

28 Ekim 2024