Amazon.com
A phenomenon when first published in 1972, the Inner Game was a real revelation. Instead of serving up technique, it concentrated on the fact that, as Gallwey wrote, "Every game is composed of two parts, an outer game and an inner game." The former is played against opponents, and is filled with lots of contradictory advice; the latter is played not against, but within the mind of the player, and its principal obstacles are self-doubt and anxiety. Gallwey's revolutionary thinking, built on a foundation of Zen thinking and humanistic psychology, was really a primer on how to get out of your own way to let your best game emerge. It was sports psychology before the two words were pressed against each other and codified into an accepted discipline.

The new edition of this remarkable work--Billie Jean King called the original her tennis bible--refines Gallwey's theories on concentration, gamesmanship, breaking bad habits, learning to trust yourself on the court, and awareness. "No matter what a person's complaint when he has a lesson with me, I have found the most beneficial first step," he stressed, "is to encourage him to see and feel what he is doing--that is, to increase his awareness of what actually is."

There are aspects of psychobabble and mysticism to be found here, sure, but Gallwey instructs as much by anecdote as anything else, and time has ultimately proved him a guru. What seemed radical in the early '70s is now accepted ammunition for the canon; the right mental approach is every bit as important as a good backhand. The Inner Game of Tennis still does much to keep that idea in play. --Jeff SilvermanBook Description
The Inner Game of Tennis is a revolutionary program for overcoming the self-doubt, nervousness, and lapses of concentration that can keep a player from winning. Now available in a revised paperback edition, this classic bestseller can change the way the game of tennis is played. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Inner Energy for sucess
Every of us has problems when he stay alone. Like tennis player who has to fight agains his opponent, audience, sometimes referees, and of course, agains his the greatest "enemy" - himself.

When we are alone, in similar mental situations, like tennis players are, we have to match the pattern how to win. Excellent approach to everyday situations.

A philosophy for tennis
As an educational psychology doctoral candidate, I can say with confidence that this book, though written 25 years ago, was well ahead of its time then, and it still is today.Major principles of self-talk, relaxation, and imagery used in todays sport psychology are introduced in a manner which is understandable to the reader.Much of my philosophy for teaching tennis and sport psychology consulting is based on the ideas presented in this book.

Know Your "Selves" Better
As most people can guess by the title, the "inner game" of tennis is the game that takes place iin the mind of the player and is played against barriers such as nervousness, self-doubt, etc.

To gain clarity on the mental problems in tennis, the book looks at the concepts of "Self 1" and "Self 2". Self 1 is the name that is given to the conscious ego-mind which likes the tell Self 2, you and your potential, how to hit the ball and play the game. Or, to put it another way, Self 1 is the "teller" and Self 2 the "doer".I found this to be an interesting idea, as we have all caught ourselves talking to ourselves or have seen others talking to themselves during a game. If you ask someone who they are talking to, they will usually say "I'm talking to myself." This, of course, implies that there are 2 "selves", "I" and "myself"- and so is born the idea of Self 1 and Self 2. Pretty astutue observation in my opinion.

Now according to the book, to achieve peak performance, the key is to resolve any lack of harmony between the two selves, as it is the contrary thinking of Self 1 which causes interference with the natural abilities of Self 2. This requires the learning of several inner skills, such as the art of letting go of self-judgements, letting Self 2 do the hitting, recognizing and trusting the natural learning process, and so on- which is what much of the books spends discussing.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who plays tennis (or any other sport for that matter) as it does a great job in dealing with the fact that many of our difficulties in tennis are indeed mental in origin. Other helpful books for tennis players I've come across include Treat Your Own Rotator Cuff.

Great book!
I think this is a great read and an interesting approach to tennis. A must have for professionals, amateurs and coaches alike. Bringing meditation and tennis together.

enjoyable read
if you are under pressure to improve your tennis game, this book will put you at ease, but you 'll still improve. ... Read more

Book Description
For anyone who wants to improve their mental game, this must-have book provides inspiration, specific strategies and tools that will help tennis players shift their thinking so they truly can play the best tennis of their life. Former No. 1 world-ranked player, coach, sport psychology consultant and psychotherapist, Jeff Greenwald provides a deeper and richer glimpse into the mental game that gets at the heart of players' inner struggle. Full of highly practical mental toughness strategies, personal anecdotes and examples from clients, Greenwald's approach gives tennis players the edge they need to succeed at this most elusive part of the game of tennis. Organized in a simple and practical manner, no other book on the market makes improving your mental game this accessible. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Found some useful thoughts
It is a nice read to have in the tennis bag and read while waiting for a match.It did have some useful angles that I have used on the court.
Worth the money.

An Insight Into Life
Jeff Greenwald's well-written, nicely-packaged little book on how to improve one's tennis is far more than a "how to" book. It offers keen insight into the most effective psychological way to approach this game and, indeed, life in general. Greenwald's expertise comes from real life experience as a former #1 world-ranked tennis player and nationally recognized sports psychology consultant. In my opinion, not even players like Jimmy Connors, Bjorn Borg, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras, Andre Aggasi, or for that matter, Pancho Gonzales, Jack Kramer or Rod Laver could have gained the insight that Greenwald passes along to the reader. I give this volume five shining stars and recommend it to any sportsman or sportswoman who wants to not only improve their tennis game, but gain a valuable new perspective into how to get more out of life.
Woody Klein
Westport, CT

Enjoying my tennis more - and winning!
This book has really improved my game - and my enjoyment playing.I learned how my attitudes have been hurting my performance in the big matches. I have no doubt that my last tournament win is directly attributable to mental strategies from 'The Best Tennis of Your Life.' Thank you, Jeff Greenwald.

"If You Want the Best"
I only wish this book had been written years ago...there is absolutely no doubt I would be a much better player today and had a lot more fun! It provides such great practical insights that you can actually implement, from someone who really knows what they are talking about.

Competitve tennis players should carry this book in their bag at all times!
This book is the best psychological "coach" for serious tennis players I have yet to find. There are an untold number of sport psychology books which claim to help a player find the elusive "zone".The chapters in these books tend to droan on without a tangible connection to the player.For me, Best Tennis broke the mold because the author relates to us as players, not students.He has walked in our shoes and relates practical and applicable insight through his journey as a player, coach and psychologist. The dozens of "pressure" tennis situations succinctly described in this book will hit home for any serious player with untapped potential. I will carry this book in my tennis bag and read the circled chapters in the parking lot before my next tournament. Don't be fooled by the recreational title of the book, this book should get a serious player back on track and down the right path. Nuggets of wisdom in this book. ... Read more

Book Description
Take your game to a higher level! Now you can train to play like the pros by specifically conditioning each fitness component to meet the physical demands of tennis.

Complete Conditioning for Tennis improves your strength, power, agility, flexibility, quickness, and stamina. Experts from the United States Tennis Association provide the very best training exercises and drills, sample workouts from the game's top players, and sample programs to maximize your tennis performance. You'll finish strong in every match. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Completely Great!
All books on conditioning will get you into shape, but THIS book was the best for tennis I have ever come across.As a 4.0 level player, I was looking for a book that gave me step-by-step instructions to beef up my conditioning - while focusing on the tennis side in a big way.I leafed through this one in the bookstore, and liked what I saw.Upon reading it cover-to-cover, it was EXACTLY what I wanted, and got me excited to play again!I've never seen the in-depth, attention to detail, and one-step-at-a-time coverage this book has.

Good for down time
Son broke a bone in his foot and was going to be off the court for about 8 weeks.We decided to utilize the time improving strength, reflex reaction time, etc.We took this book to a personal trainer who used many of the ideas during the hiatus.Results - he went back to the court with a stronger serve, stronger strokes and better endurance than he went out with.So good in fact, that he continues to work with his personal trainer in addition to his on court time.

Complete Conditioning for Tenis Review
I gave this book 4 stars mainly beause here is nothing out there like it. Power tennis training is not even close to the coverage of this book. This book is for serious players in good shape already. I would say it is designed more for Juniors and Satalite hopefulls than the weekend player. If your working on the gut and hoping this will bring your game up you need to do more work before getting started on this book.It has great streching tips and fantastic agility drills and explains how to train based on playing tennis. What it contains is very good. The training programs however are written by people with no real world lives. They are all pros or have been around pros without I would suspect a normal 9-5 family and job. It references a lot of weight training equipment that must be in a nice gym. It covers and gets into more tournament fitness building strategy rather than an average weekend game. A modified version for the average guy would be nice.A very big dissapointment was nutrition. I was really hoping to learn when to eat, what to eat before a match etc. This book covered nothing about nutrition. It talked about water and sodium, thats it. If your really into tennis and run three times a week already and work out some, you can benefit from this book. The fitness test is good and gives you goals to shoot for but you better be self motivated. If they add two more chapters; nutrition and a modified weekend players life, home workout system this book would be perfect.

Excellent Reference for Tennis Conditioning
Paul Roetert was formerly the Head of Sport Science for USTA Player Development in Key Biscayne. He has been instrumental in advancing US tennis scientifically and shows why here. This book was created for thetennis player and coach and perhaps is the best book on the marketregarding conditioning for tennis (there are 3 or 4 other inferior books).For myself, I think it is a bit basic (a primer) and doesn't cover enoughscientific applications and how to scientifically create a conditioningprogram. Anyhow, I think that is for the German DTB (e.g., look up RichardSchoenborn books). Otherwise, Paul and Todd (a top trainer) would limittheir audience. The authors produce an excellent resource for most seriousplayers perhaps applicable to all. This book should rank among the top tentennis books written in the past decade.

Complete Conditioning for Tennis
I personally tried tried this book and it did wonders on my tennis abilities. This book not only kept on your toes but it made wont more. ... Read more

Book Description
Ryoma Echizen just joined the Seishun Gakuen Middle School tennis team, which is known for being one of the most competitive teams in Japan. Ryoma has proven his skills by winning four straight American junior tournament titles. With his skills, Ryoma challenges a rule of Seishun Gakuen that freshmen don't represent the team to play in tournaments until summer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

"Then all this time he was playing with his weak arm?!"
This is one of those manga that grows on you. At the beginning I found the main character to be too cocky for my taste, but I soon got around to liking him more. This is because Ryoma Echizen, the twelve-year-old tennis prodigy, has reasons for the way in which he behaves, and as the volumes of the manga progress, we slowly get to understand him better. Besides, some of his opponents are so obnoxious, that Ryoma's attitude does not seem all that out of place.

The story starts with Ryoma arriving at Seigaku, a high school that counts with one of the best tennis teams in the nation, and fighting to make the team, or as they are call it in the manga, regulars. This is not an easy task, and no freshman has done it in the past, but Ryoma counts with an unparalleled confidence and an impeccable lineage, his father was one of Japan's best tennis players until an injury forced him to retire. Will he be up to the challenge?

The author of the manga is an ex-tennis player and coach, so it is clear that the misplaced players in the court are intentional, but it still bothered me a little bit, since I do not understand the need for this. Also, there is the recurring theme of Ryoma playing with his weak hand, which gets old quickly. Nevertheless, the rest of the aspects are very good, and make this a sports manga worth trying out. The drawings are extremely detailed and convey the action scenes efficiently. As is common in the sub-genre, there is a fair amount of humor, which in this case is executed well. Also, there is a hint of romance in the air and there is definitely more to come.

Even though I would not say that this is one of the best sports manga available, Hajime no Ippo definitely takes the top spot in my list, it is a product that is good enough to deserve a chance. The good thing is that once the competition starts you are hooked, wanting to know what will happen next. Luckily, in this sense, this manga does not commit the error of having matches that last too long, which helps move things along and keep it interesting.

awesome
Never read the manga but saw the anime in english and japanese. Prefer more in japanese the english version makes their voices weird. Lol this anime is awesome, and I cannot wait to read my first POT manga very soon. Will tell you guys what I think.

Will and Determination
This Volume is thrilling to read.You go from maturing during a match to believing in your abilities.As the rest of the books, it always makes you think you are there.You want to talk to the characters and tell them their opponents flaws.It is a great read!

Great!
My tennis team loves it! All ages are borrowing those from me because it's well drawn and has a nice tennis-centered story to it.

A good series but a poor translation
The Prince of Tennis is one of my favorite anime series.Many people say the manga is superior.This may be true, but this publication butchers the translation to the point where I can't stand reading it.I've only seen a friend's copy, and it was enough to make me not want to get it myself.

What bothers me the most is how lazy the translators seem to be.The anime has a large following in america.You'd think they could get someone knowledgable in the common terms used, or how characters address each other.Any Tenipuri fan could have caught the dozens of errors prior to publication.

It baffles me that the same company can do a stellar job with the publication of Death Note but completely butcher this one. ... Read more

Product Description
The Ultimate Guide to Weight Training for Tennis is the most comprehensive and up-to-date tennis-specific training guide in the world today. It contains descriptions and photographs of over 80 of the most effective weight training, flexibility, and abdominal exercises used by athletes worldwide. This book features year-round tennis-specific weight-training programs guaranteed to improve your performance and get you results.

No other tennis book to date has been so well designed, so easy to use, and so committed to weight training. This book will increase your strength, agility, and endurance enabling more powerful and precise backhands, forehands, and serves. Following this program will allow tennis players of all skill levels to stay strong until the final shot.

Both beginners and advanced athletes and weight trainers can follow this book and utilize its programs. From recreational to professional, thousands of athletes all over the world are already benefiting from this book and its techniques, and now you can too!

As an added bonus, this book also contains links to free record keeping charts which normally sell separately for $20. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

New Edition is Way Better
I'm a multi sport athlete who trains all year round regardless of what sport I play. I bought a few of these Ultimate Guide to Weight Training books, and they definitely helped me train specifically for the different sports that I play. Then about a year later I received an email from amazon that there was a new edition out.These upgraded editions are even better than the originals, with more articles and a lot more sport-specific information. I would definitely recommend this series to anyone who plays a lot of sports or wants to specifically focus on training for one sport in particular.

Excellent Book - Helped My Teams
I purchased this book as an athletic director.I got this and the other sports books in the series.I received excellent feedback on the tennis book.The coach did not know much about training, but said the book is easy to read and understand.even the exercises he did not know how to do, there were photos and descriptions which made it easy for the players to use it.Definitely worth it. ... Read more

Amazon.com
Written for tennis newcomers but with enough detail to satisfy seasoned players, Tennis for Dummies offers practical, substantive, and perceptive advice on a subject that the United States Tennis Association describes as a "sport for a lifetime." Patrick McEnroe--little brother of John McEnroe--collaborates with Peter Bodo to provide a wealth of tennis tips, such as the difference between a ball's pace on slick grass courts and the slow, high bounce experienced on clay courts. Useful advice includes such things as how to find a good coach, which Web sites offer the most comprehensive tennis news, and how to respond when your opponent questions a close call: "I'm sorry, but I never had a moment of doubt. That ball was clearly out." Sprinkled throughout the book are interesting anecdotes about McEnroe's career, including an amusing exchange with his fiancée during a match, in which she eagerly and innocently advised him to just "get it over the net, Pat!" Those keen to take up a new hobby or to simply learn more about the sport they already love will appreciate everything this book has to offer--game, set, and match. --Jeremy StoreyBook Description
Tennis is a sport for a lifetime. It really is a game that you can enjoy long-term, both as a player and a spectator. Played all over the world on surfaces ranging from concrete to clay the game of tennis is exciting to watch and even more fun to play.

Whether you’re an adult looking for a new challenge or a parent starting your kids off, Tennis For Dummies provides a terrific introduction to the sport. It doesn’t matter if you’re young or old, if you who want to start playing the game of tennis, but don’t have the motivation or information to do so, this book can show you the way. If you’re already into the game, you’ll find out how to take your skills to the next level.

This easy-to-understand guide will introduce you to the basics of the game and show you what it takes to improve each time you step on the court. Tennis For Dummies also covers the following topics and much more:

• Equipping yours elf with the right apparel, racket, and accessories
• Polishing your strokes—from your serve to lobs
• Finding out how the game is scored
• Shaping up with physical conditioning
• Dealing with common tennis injuries such as shin splints and tennis elbow
• Sharpening your mental game
• Exploring the finer points of tennis etiquette, both on the court and in the stands
• Discovering how to find the best tennis instructor for you

Whether you’re interested in playing singles or doubles, on hard court or clay, Tennis For Dummies will inspire you get out on a court and play. Featuring detailed photos, illustrations, and court diagrams this book can help you discover how the game of tennis is played and show you how to get the most out of yourself each and every time you pick up a racquet. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

Great book for anyone interested in Tennis
This is the first book I bought about Tennis when I got into the sport over a year ago.Its not fancy with a lot of glossy photos of pro players, BUT it is one of the most useful and fun to read Tennis books I have found.If you are an absolute beginner, its a fun, interesting and non-scary introduction to the game.For more advanced players, its still great for refreshing basic details and rules, learning tennis-related exercise routines, etc.McEnroe's sense of humor is great and it makes the otherwise dull task of describing in writing a dynamic game much more intereseting.Lots of fun for anyone with any interest in Tennis.Like most of the "Dummies" books, sometimes you have to flip around sequentially for information, but thats not a big deal in the end.

Tennis for Dummies - excelent book
Tennis for Dummies is a great book for all tennis players. I found a lot about tennis that I was looking for.If you do not have this book yet, just buy it and will be happpy that you did. Thanks.

good book
for someone who has never tried to play tennis before, likes to watch it on tv, is interested to play on their school team, or maybe sommeone getting back into the game, this book is really helpful in learning all about playing the game of tennis. a great refrence on everything tennis. i especaially like the cheat sheet. this is the only book i needed to buy because it has everything in it!

good
A good book. Lots of good tips.But if you really want to learn to play tennis get a teacher

Great for tennis beginners!
I just started playing tennis and jumped in with both feet - joining an ALTA team.Practices were great but I knew nothing about the rules and terms.This book does a great job of explaining everything and it turns out several women on my team own it! ... Read more

Book Description
The Tennis Drill Book is the one complete collection of drills, games, and tips for improving stroke technique, match strategy, and everything in between. This extensive manual features 245 drills to improve performance:

·Progressive technique drills help you master every stroke and shot combination.

·Tactics drills help you develop winning strategies for every game situation—aggressive or defensive, doubles or singles—on any court surface, against any style of play.

·Mental training drills help you stay focused when the pressure is on.

·Warm-up, cool-down, and conditioning drills are designed to increase speed, agility, and endurance so that you can move swiftly into position, outlast opponents, and reduce the chance of injury.

·Game-based drills simulate match play for singles and doubles.

With more to offer than any other drill reference, The Tennis Drill Book should be an essential part of your tennis library. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very good collection of drills for all situations.
Overall, this is a very good collection of tennis drills.Tina Hoskins covers tennis drills for numerous situations including: singles, doubles, group and children drills, competitive games, and even backboard drills.That is how she reaches the staggering number of 245 tennis drills.Given that most players have specific needs and desire associated with tennis drills, you will probably find only a small percentage of these drills useful.And, that is perfectly OK.

In my case, I am a former varsity college tennis player still hitting at the NTRP 4.5 level with a technical orientation to the game.I actually love challenging singles drills.Within this book, I actually found only 8 drills (3% of total drills) useful.But, these 8 drills include some of the most physically and technically challenging drills I ever came across.The most extreme drill is the one actually portrayed on the cover page.Frankly, if it was not for this book, I did not think this drill was possible.This is because it is composed of shots that are typically outright winners (passing shots down the line, and cross court volleys in the open court).In any case, I tried these 8 drills this past weekend.And, they worked.After an hour and half of intermittently doing these drills, and then just hitting around to catch our breath; We did all these drills, had a lot of fun, were more exhausted than usual, but hit the best we ever hit.I can see how if I keep the work up on these extreme-8s, my game and physical condition will reach the next level.

If you are a tennis coach teaching clinics, there are probably many more drills you will find useful within this book.But even if you are not, you may find the book very useful just like I did.The drills shown in the book, opens your mind and body to what is possible.Out of the drills shown, it is easy to tweak them a bit to your own needs.Thus, tennis drills becomes also a mental game of creativity.

The one drawback of the book is that a slight majority of the drills are explained without drawing.I think the book would have been more effective by concentrating on maybe the best 100 drills and illustrate all of them instead of 245 drills where only a minority of the drills is illustrated.But, overall this is still a valuable book on tennis drills. ... Read more

Book Description

Following the formula used successfully in Golf Skills, Soccer Skills and Hoop Drills, we introduce Tennis Skills, an in-depth look at stroke-production skills, followed by a series of drills designed and used by the pros. Games, sets and matches are won only with a strong foundation of skills, from groundstrokes, volleys, serves and lobs, to developing strategy for doubles. In Tennis Skills, the author begins by breaking down each stroke into its elements to ensure a player's basic skills are strong and consistent, including warm-up, grips, body position, stroke, footwork and follow-through. Then he offers a series of more than 40 drills that focus on target areas, strategy, coordination, pressure, and footwork.

Court diagrams help players visualize a stroke's outcome, and easy-to-follow sequential photographs and diagrams accompany clear instruction. Action-packed, full color photographs of the world's greatest professional tennis players provide inspiration and motivation.

Master Stroke sidebars offer succinct, easy-to-remember tips, Fault Finder boxes point out areas of common mistakes and Coach's Comments share the experience and wisdom of seasoned tennis pros.

Customer Reviews (6)

Tennis Skills: The Player's Guide
Tennis Skills: The Player's Guide, by Tom Sadzeck.
Excellent book. I would recommend to all tennis players, all levels.

Tennis Skills: The Player's Guide
I looked at all the tennis instructional books in the library and this is the best so I ordered it. Very good on grip. I am a veteran tennis player.

George' Review
What An Awsome book! Specialized for beginners to intermediates, or for anyone wanting work on different stroke techniques. Awsome tennis book

Well, 3.5 if they had it....
For 10 bucks, what do you expect? I guess I expected more! But for the price, it's a good book. A tad bit simplistic and sketchy on the shots, it has a lot of great drills (if you can hit the ball that great after the short instructions!) The pictures are good quality and they take the stills at just the right point--but they need more pics--and more on hitting the ball and more on footwork. There's a few good tips. Overall, I'd say if you're not too serious, this is the book for you! For me, it's on to the next one. -- an avid tennis enthusiast

Taught me new strokes from a book!
My coach said "nice backhand slice". I said I got it from a book. I learned a sweet and powerful one-handed backhand from this book, also, and today a tennis friend asked where I learned that stroke since I have hit two-handed for years. This book is modern and it's easy to take what you read to the court to practice. ... Read more

Amazon.com
What is it about sports that makes some men wax as mystical as a Castanedan Yaqui? In the hands of writers such as David James Duncan and Norman Maclean, the simple, repetitive motions of baseball, fly-fishing, and golf have acquired almost numinous significance. In The Tennis Partner, Dr. Abraham Verghese takes on his own fascination with tennis and comes up with as good an explanation as any: "In the way we controlled the movement of a yellow ball in space, we were imposing order on a world that was fickle and capricious. Each ball that we put into play, for as long as it went back and forth between us, felt like a charm to be added to a necklace full of spells, talismans, and fetishes, which one day add up to an Aaron's rod, an Aladdin's lamp, a magic carpet. Each time we played, this feeling of restoring order, of mastery, was awakened."

For both Verghese and his tennis partner, a fourth-year medical student named David Smith, the game is a much-needed island of order in the midst of personal chaos. Both men are struggling to rebuild their lives, Verghese undergoing a painful divorce, Smith struggling with an intravenous cocaine addiction. For a brief, idyllic period, their friendship flourishes; Verghese mentors Smith in the examining room, while Smith, an Australian who competed briefly on the pro circuit, ends up Verghese's teacher on the court. But there are dark corners to David's personality, and under the mounting pressures of medical school and his increasingly complicated love life, these come to the fore. Even as he learns how to inhabit his new life, Verghese watches with horror as his friend relapses, dries out, then relapses again. The author of the powerful My Own Country, a chronicle of caring for AIDS patients in rural Tennessee, Verghese once again proves that the skills of a good doctor are strikingly similar to those of a good writer. Careful observation, compassion, restraint: these are the instruments Verghese uses to stunning effect in The Tennis Partner. A paean to the healing powers of tennis, this book is also a moving meditation on friendship, fatherhood, love, addiction, and the particular loneliness of physicians. --Mary Park Book Description

When Abraham Verghese, a physician whose marriage is unraveling, relocates to El Paso, Texas, he hopes to make a fresh start as a staff member at the county hospital. There he meets David Smith, a medical student recovering from drug addition, and the two men begin a tennis ritual that allows them to shed their inhibitions and find security in the sport they love and with each other. This friendship between doctor and intern grows increasingly rich and complex, more intimate than two men usually allow. And just when it seems nothing more can go wrong, the dark beast from David's past emerges once again. As David spirals out of control, almost everything Verghese has come to trust and believe in is threatened. Compassionate and moving, The Tennis Partner is a unforgettable, illuminating story of how men live, and how they survive.

Customer Reviews (54)

An emotion and thought provoking story, uniquely told!
The story started with a great suspense.I wanted to know what he (the Intern David) had done, who was he and what was about to happen when his pager beeped. I really like the author's style, the way he told his story.I just borrowed this book from the library but I ended up buying one for my collection.Its that good!I will be recommending it to our bookclub.Lots of emotion in the story.

The ending was sad and I kept thinking what went wrong with David.Was it parenting?Or was it David himself. The story, the way it was told, left a lasting impression in my mind.Cold Eyes

A portrait of the addicted person
My first up-close experience with drug addiction occurred several years ago at the hospital where I work. The scenario was remarkably similar to that described by Dr. Verghese. A bright, warm, wonderful nurse anesthetist succumbed to addiction despite having attended a rehabilitation program.
In recent weeks a family member has shared with me the frustration of living with an addicted spouse: the lies, the denial, the missing money, the worry about finding a lifeless body in one's bed.
The Tennis Partner is not an optimistic portrayal of addiction, but it is an accurate one. I recommended it to my sibling, and to anyone else struggling to understand the addicted person.

A satisfying read despite inherent flaws
Whether or not you have a background in medicine, this book will draw you in and keep you interested.The only parts that may seem a bit tedious to run through are some of the tennis sequences.This may seem odd coming from a tennis player, but reading about tennis is like watching grass grow.However, the sequences do bring other parts of the book together, and they are tolerable.
My only other issue is Verghese's constant romanticizing of El Paso, neighboring Juarez, and their inhabitants.Having lived here for almost three years (*and* having worked as a physician in the hospital he mentions in his novel), I can promise you that the innocence, the bluster, and the graciousness of his side characters is almost completely fictional.
I don't think it would have detracted from the book to portray the city and the people more realistically.

Recommended by my doctor
My doctor is an amazing person - not just a great doctor. We spend quite a bit of time talking about life, not just doing the clinical stuff. He recommended "The Tennis Partner" to me and I put it off for about a year before I dove into it. It's absolutely amazing. The depth of the writing is superb and the story captivates you from beginning to end.

Anatomy of Addiction and Relapse
Dr. Vergesse has great powers of observation and uses them in a powerful way to record the demise of his young friend through cocaine addiction.

For persons (especially medical Doctors) without intimate knowledge of the power of addiction this should be very informative.For those with personal knowledge (especially medical Doctors) it should also be helpful. ... Read more

Book Description
Tennis Tactics presents 58 strategic shot sequences to maximize your strengths and exploit your opponents' weaknesses. The book includes 63 drills that show you how to practice the shot patterns and make them part of your tactical approach in match play. By improving your shot making and decision making, you'll hit more winners than ever!

Whether you're an all-court player, a counterpuncher, an aggressive baseliner, or a serve and volleyer, you'll find patterns to fit your style of play. You'll learn how to executebackcourt, midcourt, net play, and defensive patterns that will win key points in competition. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

winning the right way
This book addresses effective tennis strategies from every angle. Tennis is a mental game after all. You just need physical fitness and endurance to go with it. Each drill comes with a clear description (category, purpose, player's level, time, procedure, coaching points) and a diagram. Every player's level is covered - from beginner to professional. In addition, USTA does not overlook the importance of planning your strategy around your and the opponent's strengths and weaknesses. In this respect, four basic styles of play are addressed: 1) counterpuncher, 2) aggressive baseliner, 3) all-court-player, and 4) serve-and-volleyer. Not only it recommends drill patterns for your particular style of play, it also offers a valuable look at the drill patterns that your opponent with a different style may (and surely will) use against you during a match. As an aggressive baseliner, I have always found playing against counterpunchers frustrating - now I know why. And if you are willing to step out of your comfort zone, and practise every drill in this book (as long as your level allows it, of course), your tennis skills will improve greatly. It goes without saying that you need another dedicated player to practise the drills for singles (or three for doubles), and a coach who will guide you through the drills and make necessary corrections (especially if you are a beginner or intermediate player). A great book for every competitive tennis player!

UNDERSTANDING THE GAME
I coach tennis for kids and teenagers for over 12 years. In order to plan classes not boring and profitable, I seek books that have pratical drills.
Besides having this kind of drills, this book shows you HOW, WHY and WHEN you should apply them to a specific game situation. Using diferent patterns of play, from the defensive player to the aggressive one, this book matches drills with tactics, giving you a good perspective of THE GAME.
I strongly recommend it.

Mário Santos
Tennis Coach
PORTUGAL

Great book for coaches.
This book divides players into four playing styles based on a paragraph description of each.Then, it has a chart showing which patterns and drills in the book each style should focus on to improve their play.There are two chapters each on Serves,Returns, Midcourt, and Volleying.The first chapter describes the patterns of play and the second has drills to improve on the patterns.

This is focused on singles instruction and is a great drill and skills book for a coach.Most all of the drills are for multiple player training.

If you're looking for a book to give you drills to improve your tennis team, its a great buy.If you're looking for a book about strategy, what to do, and why, then this is not the book for you.

Great!
This is a great book and has taught me excellent new stratagies! ... Read more

Book Description
Whether you're a competitive tournament player or a serious recreational player, Winning Table Tennis: Skills, Drills, and Strategies will help you improve your game.

Dan Seemiller, 5-time U.S. singles and 11-time doubles champion, shows you all the shots and strategies for top-level play. The book features 29 drills for better shot-making, plus Seemiller's own grip and shot innovations that will give you an edge over the competition.

Featuring the most effective table tennis techniques and strategies, Winning Table Tennis shows you how to

• choose the right equipment,

• serve and return serves,

• use proper footwork and get into position,

• practice more efficiently,

• prepare for competitions,

• make effective strategy decisions in singles and doubles play, and

• condition your body for optimal performance. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Okay, as far as it goes
This is the best table tennis instructional book I ever read.But this isn't saying much considering this is just the second book I've read and the first was completely useless.

I can't remember the title of the first book but it used drawings to demonstrate strokes.The good thing about Winning Table Tennis is that it uses sequences of photographs which is much clearer in demonstrating how to hit a shot.

My biggest disappointment was that only about the first third of the book is about teaching table tennis techniques (strokes, footwork etc...).The rest of the book includes segments on warmups, losing weight, carbohydrates, proteins and workouts, which was not entirely relevant for most readers I would have thought...and certainly not the reason I bought the book.

Also, in illustrating strokes, any book has to realise that verbal descriptions are not that helpful.Instead, the heart and soul needs to be clear, comprehensive and sequential photographs.You can have a few words but these should not try to be comprehensive but rather just cover a few key points.This book only had photographs for some of the strokes, and the rest were completely written accounts - which wasn't good enough for me.

Last gripe.I know that the author Danny Seemiller is a very accomplished table tennis player, and I like his spunk in championing his own grip etc...but I thought the following sentence
"some elite playes, like J.O.Waldner and the author (Danny Seemiller), use sidespin bocks" was too self-serving and arrogant.I mean, sure he was no.17 in the world, but he was no Waldner.

I still gave it 3/5 because there really aren't enough table tennis books out there...and this was the best I've seen.

Helpful for Intermediate even Advanced Players
If you're looking for a "Teach yourself Table Tennis 101" type of book, this is not the one. In fact, this book is targetting to most intermediate and advanced table tennis players, although it covers some basic materials and standard strokes in a couple of chapters.

Most players focus on improving their looping and attacking skills. However, the author kept emphasizing the effectiviness of enhancing the match results by practicing serves and improving footwork. He did a good job on the chapter about the serves. He explained all the key important placements of the serves for various siturations and effects. For the footwork techniques, the lateral two-step, the up-and-back two-step, the backhand-corner two-step, and the lateral crossover are all covered in pictorial step-by-step details. Readers can easily follow and practice. The author also gave out some tips on tournament tactics, like ball placement, the short game, and varying the spin. Overall the book is good except the chapters on conditioning drills are a bit basic and weak.

(Reviewed by Otto Yuen, 14-Jan-2006)

Indispensable for TT players who really want to win.
This book is for players who already know how to play TT. It doesn't include the TT rules. Ideal for intermediate-level players who want to progress up to "professional" level. This book describes all the major strokes and footwork. It's the only book that describes the various services both forehand and backhand. (Table Tennis from A to Z by Messinis contains only a cursory and theoritical examination of the services.). But the best part about this book is the one about how to shape up yourself for the tournament. The warm-up/warm-down exercises are great. The chapter on nutrition is excellent. The chapter on strategy is brilliant. Furthermore, the "tone" of this book is quite reader-friendly: it's like hearing the author speaking by your ears. In short, buy this book and I guarantee you'll never regret it.

Great book to improve skills
As a new player this is the book to get. It does a great job describing the various skills of table tennis. It also tells you how to improve. Great book I am sure you will like if your serious about the game.

A must have for any new players.
This is a good book which goes through the basic and advenced strokes of the game including how to be a world champion. The only bad thing is having to read and understand all those confusing directions about where to moveyour paddle and your hand. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

great tips
I have a few books on playing tennis and strategy -- this is by far the most straightforward and easiest to apply. Not lots of technical specifics about shots and strategy, but more about getting your head on the game your are playing. I highly recommend this book, and I am passing on the tips I learned from it to all my tennis team mates. ... Read more

Book Description
You have taken your first step to success in learning table tennis with the purchase of this book. Table Tennis: Steps to Success combines the knowledge and experience of master teacher Larry Hodges with the latest developments in learning how to become a proficient player.

Table Tennis: Steps to Success is a unique guide designed to maximize your table tennis progress. It is a breakthrough in sport skill instruction through its development of complete learning progressions—the steps to success. You will climb 15 steps on your way to table tennis success. Each step (chapter)

• explains why the concept or skill is important,

• identifies the keys to correct technique,

• helps you correct common errors,

• explains how to practice each skill in realistic ways,

• lists specific performance goals for each drill,

• gives you a summary checklist for evaluating proper technique, and

• lets you proceed at your own pace.

Each of the steps you will take is an easy transition from the one before. Your first few steps provide a solid foundation of basic skills and concepts. As you progress you will learn how to choose the proper stroke to match your various table tennis needs—whether for quickness, power, deception, or just fun.As you approach the top of your climb to success you will have gained confidence in your table tennis ability and experienced the satisfaction of becoming an accomplished player. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

EXCELLENT TABLE TENNIS BOOK
This book will tell you everything that you ever wanted to know about how to improve your table tennis game. Easy to read, and has many helpful drawings to illustrate the point being made. Covers the basics as well as advanced concepts. Each chapter contains many drills to help the reader master the different types of strokes and strategies.

OK, but better elseware
I could see that this could be a good book if you were brand new to table tennis and had a coach. Good drills for practicing with similarly leveled players. However, I feel book does not accurately describe how to truely improve your stroke. Descriptions tend to be vague and leave it to the player to experiment to get the result they are looking for. The danger for the player without a coach is that common early bad habits that are effective for begginers will become engrained. Also, the strategy section is not as good as in other TT books.

Excellent Book
I found the book to be very helpful and informative.I have just begun playing competitively for the past year and found that the graphics/steps really have helped my game. I'd recommend this book to anyone who is just developing their game.I have bought other table tennis books, but they lacked the graphics this book has, so I am very happy with this purchase.

The Best Table Tennis Book For Beginners-Intermediates
This book is one of the best book on table tennis that I have ever read.The clear and concise text makes this book very readable.While you may not turn into a table tennis champion overnight, following the instructions by Mr. Hodges by disciplined practice, a newcomer to the sport can learn the game, but it can also be used as a reference for intermediate players to correct their stroke or to improve it.
This book is useful not only because it explains the different strokes but it also contains sections on physical training and tactics against different style of play.
Table Tennis: Steps to Success is a must-have in any table tennis player's library.

An excellent slient coach!
I highly recommend this book as a supplementary material for references as technique guidelines and theory support.In fact, I dont' think anyone can actually learn any sport from any book, however well-written the book may be.Table-tennis is no exception.As is indicated in the book, to learn to play the game, you need to practice.With this book, however, you can correct your weakness, look up for any question you gathered during the practice.The book covers almost all the basic drills in the modern table-tennis game.

The book is divided into chapters.For beginners, I suggest you follow the steps and do the excersies in the end of every chapter.For those who already have some basic knowledge, just check the parts you're confused with.You can easily find your part because the index is very clarified.

This is a book for beginners and intermediate-level players.If you are an advanced player who already developed a mature playing style, I don't think this book will help you.In this case, you should check out other tactic books or tourement vedios.

As to the new 40mm ball games, the new rule doesn't change the basic techniques.Therefore, the book still works.What is changed by the new ball is mostly the equipement and tactics, which is not the main concern of the book. ... Read more

Book Description
He's been called the best in the world at the mental game of tennis. Brad Gilbert's strokes may not be pretty, but looks aren't everything. He has beaten the Tour's biggest names -- all by playing his "ugly" game.

Now, in Winning Ugly Gilbert teaches recreational players how to win more often without necessarily even changing their strokes. The key to success, he says, is to become a better thinking player -- to recognize, analyze, and capitalize. That means outthinking opponents before, during, and after a match; forcing him or her to play your game. Gilbert's unconventional advice includes:

* How to identify the seven "Hidden Ad Points," and what to do when they come up

* Six reasons why you should never serve first

* How to beat a Lefty, a Retriever, a Serve-Volley player, and other troublesome opponents

* How to keep a lead, or stop a match from slipping away

* How to handle psyching and gamesmanship

Winning Ugly is an invaluable combat manual for the court, and its tips include "some real gems," according to Tennis magazine. Ultimately, Winning Ugly will help you beat players who have been beating you. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (58)

Always a tie-breaker
Well, if this book is so good and everyone read it and managed to improve their games thanks to it, all the matches would be decided in tie-breakers in each set...

Come one! Don't talk about mind games. Guys like Federer, Nadal and Djokovic would destroy guys like GIlbert, and guys like Sampras and Agassi, Courier, etc, would win at least 7 in 10 matches against him!

The first aspect is to have the best all around shots - then you develop your mental skills, of course developing conditioning at the same time.

This book may be a pleasant reading, but it will not help you at ALL against a guy who simply is better than you. If both players are aproximately at the same technical level, of course there are a lot of aspects that can give you the edge: proper sleeping, adequate stretching, adequate warming-up, positive thinking, etc, etc... You don't need this book to know about all that stuff, if you're a reasonable tennis enthusiast.

Simple but efficient - and definitely not outdated
This book deals with mental tennistactics. Brad lets you think about your own game, and analyzes where things often tend to go wrong (on all levels: pros, but also clubplayers). It is helpful in making you a smarter player. A must read, and a true classic already, for everyone who wants to get its own game improved.

Great for everyone
This book is good book for those of you are tournament players but not at the top level. At the beginning it may seem like it is over your head but if you continue through the book, Gilbert begins to talk more to the not as serious players.He gives great tips on how to play before, After and how to win after the match is over. It is a great book for anyone wanting the extra mental edge. It is even better for the internationally ranked players.

Should be titled "Playing Smart"
I'm not prone to exaggeration, and I don't write many reviews, but this is an excellent and unorthodox book. Do not recommend it to your opponents.

The title suggests using dirty tactics to win at all costs, while the book is actually about Gilbert becoming a world-class player despite his undistinguished strokes. Gilbert accomplished this through mental preparation. Sounds like common sense, right? Analyze your opponents and their strengths and weaknesses as well as yours, pay attention during the match about "who's doing what to whom". This book isn't about how to hit a forehand or backhand (Gilbert rightly points you to a club pro for that) but how to think about where to hit that forehand and backhand depending on what is happening in the match. It's really difficult to do it justice. I'm just an intermediate player but it has already begun to impact how I approach playing matches and what I try to do during practice rallies.

The anecdotes are very interesting, and Gilbert plainly writes about his weaknesses and failures. He compares a number of different players, and even if they're not the current crop, there's plenty to learn and absorb.

I had one revelation late in the book, in a section on psychological tricks that players use. Gilbert doesn't advocate them, and presents them instead so you're prepared if an opponent uses them. I used to idolize John MacEnroe because of his style of play, and considered his tantrums to be minor blemishes on a great career. The book explains that John MacEnroe and Jimmy Connors basically resorted to whining (my word, not Gilbert's) and completely disrupting a match when they were losing, in order to throw off the opponent, and they were accorded much more leniency than other players because of their stature. I think this casts a shadow on their legacies. Anyway, that's just a minor point.

The best I ever read about tennis mental game.
This is trully a great book! The author opens so many hidden stones of the game you would never thought about, and it is fun to read. I really love it! Brad, thank you very much for your excellent job. I wish you were my coach earlier or coaching my son now. ... Read more

Book Description
As a coach, your success depends on the success of your players. Now you can better ensure players' development and team performance with Coaching Tennis Successfully.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) presents this comprehensive manual with information on planning productive practices, conducting drills, developing physical and mental skills, and teaching match tactics. You'll find ideas to prepare singles players and doubles teams for competitive matches. Plus, the book offers the best methods and helpful tips for teaching key skills:

· Footwork

· Serves

· Groundstrokes

· Overheads and volleys

With more than 670,000 members and programs that encompass all 50 states and beyond, the USTA is able to tap into the best minds and mentors in tennis coaching. Coaching Tennis Successfully synthesizes and shares that expertise to give you the winning edge! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Coaching Tennis
As a first year Coach I found this book Excellent. It taught me tennis from the Coach's perspective, rather then the players.

I had played both High School Tennis, as well as College Tennis for a Southeastern Conference school. This book helped me to understand the mental part of the game that had top be imparted to the players, as well as the refresher for the physical part. Passing on the mental toughness required for the players was critical for their future in Tennis.

coaching for dummies
As a beginning tennis coach, this book helped me immensely

Terrific stuff for the novice coach
Covers all the basics with a personal touch. Well done!

right to the point of coaching tennis
Iam a coach of a high school tennis team. I found your book right on the money. Thank you for writting it ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

This one has it all!
Whether you play tennis in just a casual way, or in contrast are dead serious about it and always looking to improve your game, this book is simply a must have item. The author has compiled a lifetime's worth of advice, insights, and inspiration and put them together into a very readable and entertaining package. I can't think of a single aspect of the game that wasn't covered in depth and in an authoritative way. Dr. Greene's willingness to share his wealth of personal experiences, coupled with his "cut to the chase" style of practical application make this book something special that you will return to again and again as you adapt his suggestions into your game. All of this for the price of a single half hour lesson makes it the tennis bargain of a lifetime. It's loaded with pictures, analogies, and revelations of personal interactions with some of the biggest names in tennis. In short, it's the best generalist book on tennis I've ever read (and that's saying something). This book was obviously a labor of love on Dr Greene's part (as well as his legacy) and I'd like to personally thank him for his efforts and the love of the game that he helps kindle in his readers. Finally, I'd especially recommend this item to the aging players out there who are looking to make the most of the abilities they still retain. Greene has been there and done that and thankfully he is willing to share every bit of the experience to our benefit.

Replace Your Coach
There is so much information in this book, you won't need your tennis coach any more!All the examples and pictures will really help your game.

if you want to improve buy this
I found this book at barnes and noble I took it cause of the nice cover and the pretty picture at first since I was in a hurry and had browsed trough about 10 book with no pictures in them by this time, well after getting home with the book I could not stop reading it, and I have had it with me for a week now, this book is loaded with so much information and examples that you could replace your coach with it, I play for a college team and I will tell you first hand that this book improved my serve mechanics overnight just by looking at the examples others have used and hat have been explained in thisbook, I know understand the mechanics of what I'm doing and how to improve them, you will not be disappointed by buying this book, it is explained in plain English but it does use the word overspin which sounds weird and a few quirky terms, the book in itself seems to be made of good paper not thin and the glossy pictures are great, I highly recommend this book to any beginning tennis player or to any person who wants to know what they are doing when they are out in the court, it tells you the little things the coach does not tell you as well as tell you what maybe problematic and why, by the way like I said I bought this in a book store and felt compelled to review it here since it helped me improve my game practically overnight, I might think about letting my team mates read it, or tell them about it but I want to keep reading and improving for a few more months before I let them know why I will keep improving

Ambitious, technical information with some flaws
Easily the most ambitious tennis book written by an American author in a while. The most comprehensive tennis instruction books are those produced by the DTB (German Tennis Federation) and the ITF (International Tennis Federation: Advanced Coaching, Strength and Conditioning, etc). The author provides hundreds of tips and technical information. There are accompanying photos (most small but still in color) including some very original ones (e.g., Sergei Bruguera with a backboard marked off for passing shots)! The photos include many players over the past 50 years representing the best collection in an instructional book. The technical tips come at you furiously. But perhaps it is a bit too much informational overload. There are some technical errors that take a very discriminating expert to find. For example, the serve is well-explained but the author takes a rather narrow view of endorsing a low toss (e.g. as low as 13"). Most experts on the serve would not endorse this method. The author may want to check other sources. He quotes Vic Braden who used to endorse the low toss but doesn't claim it as the bible anymore since Howard Brody suggested that the "ideal" toss is 18" past your contact point. He also endorses the straight toss but against the circular toss -- actually many pros use the circular toss to produce greater rotation and spin. It is suggested that in the kinetic chain, the server should stop the shoulders to allow the arm to accelerate forward. However, the majority of touring pros decelerate at the hips and the shoulders do go forward and turn. In short, there are flaws. In addition, the author also suggests that the two-handed backhand be hit with the left hand dominating and with the left elbow straight but the right bent. Although these styles are common and sound, other styles are ignored: e.g., bent-bent elbows as with many female pros [...] or even co-dominance of the right and left arm. In an encyclopediac book, all acceptable styles should be objectivity included. Many of the terms can be a bit confusing: the author uses uncommon words such as midwestern and overspin and to add to confusion, uses interchangeably "overhead" and overhand." Considerable time is spent on the underhand spin serve but almost nothing on the half-volley or topspin lob. Still it is refreshing to see someone talking about the underhand serve or how to pick up the ball with the racquet. There is very little footwork and no doubles covered in the book. Finally it could be organized clearer and some information can be eliminated. Nevertheless, it is very ambitious and fascinating! ... Read more

Book Description
Sports Psychology Consultant Jeff Greenwald (#1 in the world in men's 35) is convinced that all of us who take the game of tennis seriously and have a passion to improve have much more potential than we even realize--potential just waiting to be tapped. This FearlessTennis program will ensure that you never, ever regret the way you play the game. Through live interviews, powerful pre-match visualizations, Jeff's insights and the reflections of top pro players, you will begin to close out a lead with authority, play loose and focused under pressure and without fear. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Helpful Cd
Jeff Greenwald makes some very useful comments and analysis for improving your mental game of competitive tennis.His tone is deliberate, uses good examples from real experience and has usable suggestions.

Great Advice
There is really some good advice and suggestions in this CD for dealing with the tension and fears that can hinder athletic performance.Many of these can be applied to more than just tennis.One of the best keys for improving any athletic skill is reducing tension and this CD addresses several causes and introduces potential ways to address issues.I found the advice very relevant and useful.

Help for Mental Midget Tennis Players - Like Me
I bought this book specifically because this year I have been nervous and unconfident during matches.Was this helpful?Absolutely!Does it completely cure the problem and will listening to this make your problems go away?Absolutely not!

This tape hit right on the problems I had. That there is an internal conflict between my physical self and my ego.My ego makes me play tight when playing lesser talented people.It restricts my mental thought process when I'm getting beat by better players making me mad at myself instead of focusin