Book Description
Coaching Youth Tennis is an excellent introduction to youth coaching and teaching young tennis players valuable skills. It provides all the information you need to coach effectively and help 6- to 18-year-old athletes learn and enjoy the game.

This third edition features the games approach to coaching tennis, which makes practice more fun for the kids and teaching more effective for you, the coach. Also included are chapters on communicating with athletes and parents, planning and conducting practices, and coaching during games.

Developed by the American Sport Education Program (ASEP), the nation's number one coaching education program, and with the USTA, Coaching Youth Tennis provides volunteer coaches with both an explanation of their role and concrete instructions on fulfilling that role. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good baseline...
I was interested in a book to learn tennis basics to help my daughter the love of the game that my wife and I both have. This is the one! Not only were the tips helpful to my daughter but we also learned a few things aswell. This book should be in any tennis parents library. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Excellentfor all tennis players at any level
Fit to Play Tennis: High Performance Training Tips

In contrary to what some other review said, that this book is not for recreational tennis players, I believe that this book is just perfect for any level player. Many of the chapters about gym training, stretching and myofascial release keep the tennis players healthy and injury free. The more hours one spends on the court, the more one needs to do the off court training/rehabilitation. And especially a recreational player, because they generally don't have massage/physical therapists around them all the time. They have to do it on their own, and this book will teach you how.

Besides that, the book has chapters on nutrition, mental aspects of the game, planning in long term, etc. Great book!!! I have it in my bed and just randomly open it and just read a few pages again and again!

Good but not great
This book gives a good general overview on fitness and how it applies to tennis. The chapters on flexibility and dynamic warm-ups are well written. However, it fails to provide specific programs which can be incorporated forstrength and cardiovascular training. In addition, much of the information is geared toward professional or traveling junior players, and not the recreational player, who is most likely to be purchasing this book.

A great book for tennis players!
This is an extremely helpful book that has tips ranging from on court training to injury prevention.

My daughter is a junior tournamnet tennis player and she plays a lot of tennis. When she visited Canada, she injured her lower back/hip. After she went to several doctors, we finally found Carl to help her recover from her injury. It turned out to be a malaligned hip problem, which he has written a whole chapter about in this book. Under Carl's treatment, my daughter recovered in 4 weeks. About ten months later, my daughter felt pain in her lower back/hip again, we realized that it may be hip malalignment again, so we followed the correction exercise in this book and she recovered in two weeks.

In this book, there is a chapter on how to strengthen one's core and how to connect one's lower extremeities with his/her upper extremeties through the core, which is really important in a sport like tennis because of all the constant rotations and movement on the court.
Aside from that, there are also great tips on injury prevention, nutrition, mental andtactical strategies, and recovering from an injury. So, as a tennis parent, I highly recommendthis book to all tennis players.

Fit to Play Tennis
This book is a must-have for every tennis player. It covers all relevant topics of and gives you dozens of easy-to-follow exercises on how to keep the body in tip-top condition. ... Read more

Book Description
"A very comprehensive and well-written book about the most common tennis injuries. I certainly wish something like this had been available 25 years ago."—Fred Stolle, member of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.

"Maintaining fitness is a high priority for people of all ages, especially those of us addicted to tennis. This book can help you improve not only your game but your quality of life as well."—David N. Dinkins, USTA and USPTR Board Member and former mayor of New York City.

"It would be hard to find a more comprehensive or comprehensible guide to preparing for tennis play, not to mention preventing and treating tennis injuries. Every tennis player—beginning, intermediate, and advanced—could benefit from Dr. Levy's and Mark Fuerst's efforts."—Shimon-Craig Van Collie, author of Tennis: The Lifetime Sport.

From the authors of the classic Sports Injury Handbook, this top-notch manual of easy-to-follow tennis do's and don'ts is all you need to prevent injuries, treat common symptoms, and improve your conditioning, flexibility, and strength, so you can pick up the pace on your serve or unload a return that won't come back. Dr. Allan Levy's practical knowledge of tennis fitness is indispensable for players at every skill level—from absolute beginners to club champions.

Developed from his own experience treating recreational and professional tennis players, Dr. Levy's program features refreshingly simple stretches and exercises you can do on or off the court. For ease of use, the main part of the book is organized by area of the body. You'll learn how to recognize and treat injuries and determine when it is safe to play again. Packed with clear illustrations and practical advice, the Tennis Injury Handbook features:

• Specific training ideas to improve your game and prevent injuries.
• Easy-to-follow techniques for stretching, conditioning, and rehabilitation.
• Expert advice on what foods to eat before, during, and after playing.
• The pluses and minuses of a variety of tennis gadgets on the market.
• A complete guide to tennis injuries from head to toe—how to recognize them and how to heal them. ... Read more

  Customer Reviews (6)

  Very good reference on the subject
  If you are interested in this book, there is a good probability you are a pretty good player of middle age.In your youth your body felt invulnerable.You could play all day long injure free.Now, with a full life and little exercise during the working week you are facing an onslaught of tennis injuries.This is the fate of zillionsof former high school and college players.
  
  The title of the book alone reminds one how tasking tennis is on agingjoints.You won't find similar books related to surfing, swimming , or biking.All these sports are associated with very smooth motions absent of any shock on the joints.But, tennis is just the opposite.
  
  The book serves as an encyclopedia of all the injuries you could potentially face playing tennis.The author being an M.D. specializing in sports medicine does an excellent job in imparting information about diagnostic, prevention, and treatment for each one of them. Explanations of exercises are very clear associated with precise drawings that leaves no doubt about what you should be doing.
  
  I am just in the midst of nursing an Achilles tendon and plantar fasciitis.The author has provided me all the info I need to treat these conditions.I am doing the related exercises.And, I am already feeling much better.In probably just a few weeks, I should be able to get back on the courts reasonably safely.
  
  For your own sake, I hope you don't need this book.But, if you do don't hesitate getting it.I think it is excellent in imparting information on sport medicine that your typical general practitioner won't know.

  Tennis Injury Handbook Review
  Excellent book.Concise and accurate.I've used it multiple times and refer to it often as needed.Well worth the price.

  Tennis Injury Handbook
  My son is a 13 year old tennis player that's moving up the rankings ladder by playing alot of matches and practice.With that comes many different injuries.This book has given him the information he needs and has helped him learn the exercises that will make him a stronger player and "hopefully" keep him injury free. He has taken a tremendous interest in "Tennis Injury Handbook".Anything that keeps him reading and playing is great in my eyes!

  Jack of all Trades ...
  This is a general book that attempts to cover all types of tennis ailments in about 180 pages.Needless to say, if you have a specific problem you'll find it wanting since it will devote only a few pages to your problem.

  That said it does do a good job of providing general information and provides excercises to help condition and prevent future injuries.The description of some of the exercises are not too clear and it doesn't really go into specifics on how to do the excercises properly.

  Good Advice and Help with Tennis Injuries
  I recently came back to tennis after years of not playing.When I played when I was younger, I never had any injuries and never really thought about it.Now, I'm over forty, playing regularly in a tennis league and all of asudden injuries are here to stay.Reading this book really helped me bothwith preparing before I play and dealing with those little aches and painsafterward. The book is easy to read and organized so that you can find whatyou're looking for quickly.Now I spend more time on warming up usingexercise suggestions from the book to avoid injury.But, if I do getinjured I know I can refer to the Tennis Injury Handbook for good advice tohelp get me back playing.I recommend this book for all tennis players,especially those weekend warriors and league players who want to stay fitand healthy to keep on playing. ... Read more

Book Description
A Davis Cup winner and Pepperdine coach has written the first book on the strategy and mental dimension of the game since the bestselling The Inner Game of Tennis. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Perfect for New Intermediates
This book very clearly explains the purposes of various shots, how to decide on a winning style for yourself, and how to construct winning points from the baseline and from the net. For a college player or old timer most of this will be old hat, but for the vast majority of intermediates who have learned the strokes but can't win against experienced players, this is mandatory reading. The diagrams are clear but they do require a few seconds of thinking and visualization; this is strategy after all.

Great teacher but average book
Having throughly enjoyed Brad Gilbert's book, I hoped to learn even more from his former coach who shaped Brad into the world class player he was.Unfortunately this book is written in the typical how to play tennis and be better at it.There are pictures showing the different strokes and grips.It's actually not similar to Brad's book at all although it does have a couple examples of how Brad and other players used mental advantages to win matches against better players.

If you are a beginner and want to read a good "how to" book, this would be fine.But if you already play and are looking for some useful tips from a master, this doesn't quite fill the bill.

Strategy from a geometric point of view!
This book specializes in strategy from a geometric point of view. This means that it helps you analyze your options and explains why an option is best. It also explains what is the best spot to recover to after hitting a certain shot. I find this very useful because the author throughly explains why. I don't often apply something to my game unless I know exactly why I am doing it. This way I won't feel reluctant or unsure about doing something. This book takes away my reluctance because the author explains exactly why what he preaches is ideal. It is ideal because he explains how what he says is the best based on angles, court coverage, and percentages. I also enjoyed the chapter on strategy of past champions and current champions such as McEnroe or Becker, and the chapter on game plans. I didn't like his advice on tennis strokes though, but it is still worth the read just for another opinion because no one knows everything. I'd give this book a 4.5 star rating and I believe it is a must read for any tennis player.

A terrific book on tennis strategy
"Think To Win," is the best book I've ever read on tennis strategy-and I've read a bunch of 'em. Allen Fox doesn't just tell you how to stroke the ball, he shows you how to PLAY TENNIS! Fox's book has done more for my game than many (too many, I'm sorry to say) years of lessons. His insights on the subtleties of court geometry were a revelation to me, and have improved my winning percentage immeasurably.Buy "Think To Win," along with Brad Gilbert's "Winning Ugly" (who, by the way, was coached by Fox at Pepperdine) Between the two, you'll find the majority of the information you'll need to play successful, competitive tennis.

Covers all the aspects of tennis. Quite good.
Mr. Fox is very detailed in his explanations. His insights are very interesting, sometimes a little too scientific. He covers all the aspects of the game, from technique to strategy and court positioning. I find this book suited more for coaches than for players, although players can benefit from it, too. If you are a player, like me, I would reccomend Gilbert's "Winning ugly". Although Fox was the one to coach Gilbert, I think Brad's book is more practical and it can help you win more immediately and against specific types of players. ... Read more

Book Description
Raise the level of your game with the complete instruction found in Serious Tennis. Internationally known instructor Scott Williams, in conjunction with 20 of the top tennis minds in the world, presents the same technique, conditioning, mental training, and strategy tips used to develop the world's best players.

Serious Tennis shows you how to

• use SMARTS to improve your strokes,

• develop tactical awareness and increase anticipation,

• perform better under pressure,

• hit the ideal shot at the right time, and

• tailor equipment to your style of play.

If you're dedicated to becoming a better player, you owe it to yourself to get the best instruction in the game. Get Serious Tennis and become the kind of player you've always wanted to be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

A Fine Instructional Book with Some Unique Observations
The author presently coaches in Florida and obviously knows his tennis well. It is similar to many other conventional tennis instructional books. However, it has some things that other books don't take into account. For example, it discusses sports vision which few other books tackle. The concept of eye dominance is seen by some coaches (e.g., Robert Lansdorf, Maria Sharapova's coach) as very important. Scott Williams also makes some interesting observations about footwork on volleys (landing before or after the contact point depends on ball height, etc) which happen to be quite true but rarely commented on. In addition, the author also adds comments from leading tennis coaches or experts. It is a fine comprehensive tennis book that you may want on your shelf simply because it has a slightly different angle on tennis. I have most tennis instructional books and have known or met many tennis authors/coaches; I do recommend this to be one of the finest books over the past decade.

Very Good, Complete Tennis Analysis
I bought this book as I have mentally been struggling with nerves in match play.There were a couple of chapters on the psycology of tennis and how to deal with nerves and pressure.I found those helpful.The famous sports psychologist, Jim Loehr was quoted in there quite a bit.

While I did not buy the book for stroke production that is the substantial part of the book and they covered every shot imaginable with emphasis on their "Smart" approach.This is a large book that I could see in any Tennis Pro's office as it is great reference material and you could hand out to students who wanted to read more on a problem.Also, there were quite a few references to drills to preform on different shots.

Overall a very good, informative book.

My #1 tennis book
This is the best of instructional books out there.The author does not give you a glam rock romp of who he has instructed on the tour, but instead he gives YOU the "I want to be better than average club player" guy some solid advice on more than just tennis stroke production which you probably already have in place in your game.You actually remember the advice in a match, you use it to improve your game that is in place already and you are given tools to complete your game on and off the court.This is the book that took me pushed me beyond a 4.5.

Best tennis book I have
EXCELLENT BOOK !!

I have a few tennis books from Vic Braden and Brad Gilbert which are not bad but this book is by far the best.

So many club players concentrate only on swinging which is why SMART system is tremendously useful to anyone serious about tennis.

For instance, in the past, I never know there is such a great difference of using dominant eye versus non-dominant eye.
I now can see the ball more clearly and quickly.

Serious Tennis Helps You Get Serious About Your Tennis.
This book helped me improve parts of my game that I just could n't improve further with more court time or match play. The expert advice from leaders in the field of professional tennis allowed me to explore avenues of improving my game that are usually reserved as resources of the pro players.Williams' SMARTS system helped me streamline my stroke production and the expert advice helped me to hone my skills into a completely different level of play.Finally some refreshing and useful tennis reading that you can actually apply to your game!Pictures are great.My favorite chapter, because I find the info in it sticks in my head when I'm playing: Performing Under Pressure - Chapter 9.I would like to take a clinic with this author.Will probably carry this book with me to some matches.I'm looking forward to the updated edition to Serious Tennis! ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

Ultimate Conditioning for Tennis
Like so many products, this book includes information that could be helpful or useless depending on the need.It has standard information found in many other conditioning books that cover a variety of exercisesdrills used for a wide variety of sports that may or may not include tennis.It uses figurines to demonstrate some of the drills along with pictures of actual athletes. Depending on the individual, this could be a help or an annoyance.Some of the drills are group drills so the usefulness of this book will depend on this need.I train my daughter in an individual setting, so group drills are not relevant for her.However, club coaches might find them to be very relevant and useful.

I have not completed reading the book since so many of the drills are similar to those found in other books that I already use.However, based on the information currently read, I have not found any endorsement of the book by Andy Roddick even though his face is on the cover of this book.

Strengths of this book are as follows:The organization is generally concise.Key teaching points & variations/progressions are helpful sections. There is also a section for proper & improper execution. I don't regularly see this in other books.Therefore, this section provides valuable information.The area & equipment section for each exercise/drill helps organize activities.

In sum, the organization & presentation are very good.However, the content seems fairly standard.Therefore, the usefulness of this book will depend on the needs of the athlete(s) as well as the current knowledge or library resources of the coach/trainer/parent.

Given the other resoueces that I already own, my rating of the book is based on its usefulness to me.However, others may find it very helpful if this is a first resource on the subject.








... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (1)

product arrived in time, no trouble no hassles.
The only trouble I had was that I ordered three books at the same time and checked 'em all out at the same time, I assumed that they would all have overnight delivery but only one from amazon had over night delivery and the other two arrived normally which was late for me. I wish amazon could change that. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (5)

Great Analysis of Subject
This is an excellent review of every conceivable aspect of tennis and the colliding forces on the ball.It covers frames, spin, deceleration...about the only thing I can think of that was not covered was differences in altitude and high altitude vs. regular tennis balls.Mathematical formulas are provided throughout describing the physical phenomenon that is being explored.I loved the section of the rate of deceleration of the ball, which helped me to understand why my serves seemed to be quite fast, but only registered 95-100 mph at the net.This was good stuff!

My review did not earn 5 stars because the book is a little bit dated in terms of current racquet choices, and because it appears that a little bit of material is redundant from chapter to chapter, and I wonder if this could be either justified or eliminated in a subsequent edition.

If you have ever wondered if a coach/friend was giving you factual information about your game, read this book!

Viewpoint from Avid Tennis Player & Engineer
It was very interesting to read technical explanations for tennis realities...Since the book is filled with obtuse scientific concepts such as Vertical Angular Acceptance, Coefficient of Restitution, etc., most readers may find the material difficult.I've summarized some of the finer points from the book at my blog site:

http://www.sokol-blog.com/

The BEST Book on the Science of Tennis
Simply put... this beautiful book is the best book on the technology of tennis and should be read by every MANUFACTURER of tennis gear, as well as those serious about increasing every aspect of their game!This is well written, beautifully designed and packed with information that any tennis player will enjoy and benefit from!

Get the real scoop based on scientific facts
This is an excellent book that dismisses many myths regarding tennis equipment.The three coauthors include two physicists and one tennis pro.They are all avid tennis players.They also have incredibly investigative minds.The book consists of about 40 different articles covering many different technical subjects regarding stroke mechanics, ball bounce, racquets, and strings.All these articles represent serious investigation and research from a physicist standpoint.These articles stand on their own independently.As a result, you do not need to read them in sequential order.You also don't need to read them all to extract the information you care about.For my part, I skipped some of the articles on the physics of ball bounce, but was very interested on all the articles regarding strings and racquets properties.Depending on your own personal interest, you may read or focus on different sets of articles.Given the rather dry subject, the writing style of the authors make the information easy to digest.

Contrary to what players believe, racquets have very similar power.Strings, regardless of tension and type have also very similar power.But, different strings can feel very different based on their respective stiffness.Gut and high quality nylon strings feel soft because they are relatively flexible.Kevlar does not feel so good, because they are the stiffest strings.

According to the authors, the pros don't use any of the high-tech latest models, including oversize, and widebody frames. They use older models customized with lead tape to add swingweight. Oversize racquets are not maneuverable enough at their playing speed.

The authors state throughout the book that racquets that are stiff strung at low tension feel better.A stiff racquet vibrates less.Its vibrations have a faster frequency. The ball sits longer on low tension strings than the fast vibration of a stiff racquet.As a result, both string and frame vibrations are dampened by the longer impact time of the ball.Thus, the least amount of vibration occurs in stiff racquets strung at low tension.

The book has a whole lot more of interesting information about tennis than I share in the above paragraphs.If you love the game, and are somewhat of a quantitative type, you will love this book.

The truth about tennis rackets
Don't buy your next racket until you read this book.This book, by 2 physicists and a tennis specialist, sets forth what they have found scientifically about tennis rackets and technology.The book takes considerable concentration to mine the lessons learned for your game.But here are a few of the nuggets I found:
1)All rackets have essentially the same power!
2)Stiff rackets vibrate less and feel better.
3)Soft strings and lower tension feel better.
4)String tension has little effect on power.
5)No one knows how to measure "control".
6)Perimeter weighting drastically reduces shock.
7)Backspin groundstrokes are easier to hit than topspin, but have much less tolerance for error.
8)Stand inside the baseline when receiving a slow serve and bash it at the netman.He'll have no time to react.

On the downside, the authors should have done a much better job of summarizing the findings.The chapters are written in sort of a mystery fashion, where you have to wait until the end to get the lessons. The first book by Dr. Brody did a much better job of summarizing the findings for the general tennis player.

Finally, a book that helps you sort through tennis rackets!Unfortunately, the authors conclude that your skill and arm make the difference in how good you are.No racket will take you directly to Flushing Meadows. ... Read more

Book Description

Can tennis really be this simple?

Just ask the dozens of world-class players who have made it to the top using Oscar Wegner’s groundbreaking approach. But if playing tennis isn’t so easy for you, if you never seem to play up to your potential, don’t blame yourself—blame the coach who taught you a lot of uselessly complex techniques. Play Better Tennis in 2 Hours is your guide to tennis as the pros play it—more intuitive, more fluid, and more fun. World-renowned tennis coach and ESPN commentator Oscar Wegner shows you how to focus your efforts on one thing—hitting the ball correctly. Your own natural athleticism will take care of everything else. Follow the simple drills in this power-packed handbook, and you’ll learn how to:

• Move to the ball efficiently and fluidly
• Stop worrying about foot position and stance
• Hit every stroke harder and more accurately
• Put a wicked topspin on your forehand
• Master both one- and two-handed backhands
• Combine control and power on your volleys
• Put more speed and spin into your serve and more punch in your return

"Oscar has broken the mold, demystifying the modern tennis stroke. There's genius in his analysis of pro techniques—the dynamics of what the racquet does to the ball, how power and spin are added. He understands how top pros really stroke the ball, and always have, all the way back to Tilden."—Andy Rosenberg, Director for NBC Sports Wimbledon and French Open ... Read more

Customer Reviews (14)

Simple, but it works!!
I have been a tennis coach for 22 years and have coached at every level. I was a college coach for years and now I coach players at the National level. I read Oscar's book about 5 years ago and thought it was somewhat flimsy. It looked too simple to be true. It is as if I wanted it to be complex to work. The truth is I reread this book three times looking for the truth it held. I decided to try the drills and exercises on myself before totally discounting the book. What I found was that Oscar's concepts were genius. These concepts have bridged the technical aspects of tennis with the all important feel and rhythm. It is a must read for all coaches and students. I do agree that seeing the DVD's was a big help. I think you can get them both as a set here at Amazon.

Simplicity at its finest!
I have been a tennis coach for 22 years and have coached at every level. I was a college coach as well as a coach of touring pros. I read Oscar's book about 5 years ago and thought it was somewhat flimsy. It looked too simple to be true. It is as if I wanted it to be complex to work. The truth is I reread this book three times looking for the truth it held. I decided to try the drills and exercises on myself before totally discounting the book. What I found was that Oscar's concepts were genius. These concepts have bridged the technical aspects of tennis with the all important feel and rhythm. It is a must read for all coaches and students.

Bad instructional book
This book maybe contains some useful information, but not for me.I would never recommend it as an instructional book.
Some parts are totally misleading for the beginners. Chapter about the serve especially disappointing - there is no sense to waist time to teach a serve like this. After reading this book I started immediately to look for other instructional material.

BEST TENNIS BOOK EVER...but
Oscar's instructions are so deceptively simple that a beginner might have difficulty comprehending them. The best way to learn tennis with Oscar's technique is to buy his dvd's. Just google his name and you will find his website.

Oscar's tennis perspective has changed my game over nite. I've been playing the game using classic style for a long time and saw a decline in my ability to compete with modern players. Oscar's explanation of the modern forehand and backhand has made it easy for me to make the transition. My new skills has enabled me to compete with more success agaisnt modern players.

This book is good for players who have been playing for a long time using classical style of the 70's who want to adapt to the modern style of play.
Good companion for beginner while taking some lessons from the teaching pros. It's a great book for all you frustrated players looking for something to bring back the edge.

save your money!!
This book was very disappointing.I am a 4.0 player. I was expecting an advanced book since the man talks about how he had something to do with Gustavo Kuerten's success.But as the book went on it was more tailored for beginners, telling people to choke up on the racquet in order to learn a stroke, how to hit top spin, etc. It's explanations oversimplify everything to a fault and the pictures accompanying the text are amateurish and inaccurate.For example, in explaining the serve motion, in one picture a woman is using the eastern grip to serve (ala a beginner) but in another picture the guy is using a continental and the text does not point out the difference or that there are different grips at all like the eastern, semi-western, western or continental. On the backhand grip, he says to put the thumb behind the racquet. He talks about the american twist serve but only explains its effect; not how to hit it or what grip to use. In another example, he is explaining the windshield wiper forehand but the woman in the picture isn't doing it.

It is the worst tennis book I've bought from Amazon so far.No wonder there are only six ratings on it but they all rate it very highly so I bought it.Now I regret it. ... Read more

Book Description
Written by Dick Gould, the most successful coach in the history of intercollegiate tennis, this text provides students with the same proven step-by-step instruction Gould uses in his tennis classes at Stanford. The instruction is useful to players of all levels, and is reinforced by hundreds of photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

ABSOLUTELY ONE OF THE FINEST INTRO BOOKS
Good coverage of all the fundamental aspects of playing tennis. Good photos and illustrations to make the points understandable and clear to the reader. Not much needs to be updated even though the game has evolvedbecause the author stays clear on stressing the right fundamentals inapproaching the game. ... Read more

Book Description
The singular, authorative source for skill-enhancing drills, this guide is equally useful for begining or advanced players of all ages. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Disappointed With the Tennis Ball Machine Drills
When I bought this book I was hopeful that the chapter on the Ball Machine drills would help me to use my new ball machine more efficiently.I was disappointed by the fact that the chapter was geared for more than one player and the machine, rather than just one player and the machine.I believe that most of the drills can be revised so that they work with just one player, but it didn't really contain what I was looking for.I didn't feel there was that much value added to when I go out with the machine before reading this book.

Incredible number of great drills
While I agree with the other reviewer who said that the drills were tailored to a clinic setting, I have found that many of the drills can easily be adapted to as few as two people. The value in the book is in learning the concepts that each drill is meant to teach.If you need work on a particular part of your game, there is most likely a drill that can help you.

The book explains each drill in text and with a clear diagram of how the drill should be conducted (where players should be positioned, where the balls should be hit).The text portion also gives variations on the drill that can be used depending on the skill level of the players.It gives suggestions on how to make it easier for less advanced players, and suggestions for making it more challenging for more advanced players.

I teach clinics, so it's obviously a good reference for me to keep my clinics fresh, but I also refer to it for my own practice with my mixed doubles partner.

The overall content of the book is excellent, but having read through most of the drills, I've found portions where the editing fell short.There were a couple of drills where the text portion didn't match the diagram, and it looked like the description was for a different drill.But overall, the information in this book is extremely useful.Of all the tennis books I have, this is the one to which I refer the most.

great basic catalog of useful drills
This bookis a comprehensive, easy-to-read list of drills for all levels. The pictures and clear directions simplify my coaching andserve as an invaluable resource on the fly!Buy this book if you don't have oodles ofextratime to read fluffy descriptions and just need creative basic drillideas to serve as a backbone for your practices.

Many drills for the clinic setting
I purchased this book in hopes of finding a tome filled with qualitytennis drills for two people or a player and coach. The drills in this bookare, however, arranged for more than two people such as one would find in atennis clinic setting. Nonetheless, the drills seemed fine and there wereseveral for each stroke. ... Read more

Book Description
Seishun players spend sleepless nights anxiously awaiting the Kanto Tournament Finals against Rikkai. And they should be worried! Rikkai's diabolical doubles team of Bunta Marui and Jackal Kuwahara has some crazy moves that'll keep their opponents up for nights to come!

... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

The book that puts theory into practice
Gallwey expands his concepts and approaches to the inner game. He manages to explain his ideas even more clearly and identifies many more inner obstacles. But his approach is the same - cooperation of Self1 and Self2, letting go and trusting your body and applying the principle of non-judgment.

He goes deeper into the natural learning mechanism and uses many examples from his coaching that shows us exactly how the lesson went and what his questions and advice to the player were.

The best parts of this book are the drills. Their goal is to quiet our mind and allow our potential to come through unhindered. And quieting the mind goes even deeper in this book. He calls it Progressing in the Art of Relaxed Concentration and it has four stages: paying attention, interested attention, absorbed attention and finally »being wholly there« or union.

What he describes is actually a pathway to »the zone« which is a more common term among coaches and athletes for this special state of mind.

The parts on natural learning and body awareness can help the beginner and the advanced player to quickly realize - become aware - of his shortcomings and correct his technique. Which usually corrects itself by the way...

The book ends with two very intriguing chapters which go deep into human psyche - self-image and the will to win. The self image part is quite possibly a real eye opener if you haven't read any books on similar subjects. It makes you realize all the limitations that we put on ourselves because of our self image.

There are many books about tennis technique and tactics. There are also many books that deal with the mental approach to tennis but this approach is limited to off court or in between points or games. Timothy Gallwey's work fills the gap with one of the most challenging aspects of tennis - what do with our mind during the ball exchange. It shows us how to achieve a mental state that will allow us to play at our best regardless of our level.

This reading is a must for anyone who feels that his mind is not yet his best ally in the tennis mind game.

Tomaz Mencinger
http://www.tennismindgame.com

All That I Needed
I just wanted to share the incredible feeling that just a little patience managed to get me after reading this book. Mr. Gallwey has managed to put into words how one feels and thinks when involved in sport (any sport not just tennis). I first read this book 18 years ago, and my snooker game (billiards) improved immensely. For anyone wanting to master their sport, and find out what "being in the zone" is all about, this is a MUST read! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Definitely Maybe
Mr. Branden spends a large section of the book going over identifying the mental issues in playing tennis. This is done well however, actually finding solutions is not done clearly at all.
The best part of the book were the simple tips such as putting more height on the ball over the net, getting one more ball back and improving just one shot in your repertoire.
This isn't a bad book but there are better books out there that have worked out much better for me. I would recommend Total Tennis by Peter Burwash and Bill Tilden's How to play better Tennis. The subject matter is different and I feel they have more value.

Great Bathroom Reading
Yes, exactly that. Braden produces an easy-to-read book that dips into a bit of almost everything tennis except strokes. So he covers physics, genetics, statistics, psychology, great tennis personalities, finding a coach, tennis parents....ummm, yes, you got it. It's not so much about the mental side of tennis as a collection of tennis television commercials that every now and then touch upon the mental side of the game. So it goes alongside my people magazine (Vic is a marvelous rambler!) into the bathroom. And even when it covers the mental side, it is not very practical. There are other books that cover the mental game much better (e.g., Inner Game of Tennis, Zennis, Smart Tennis, etc). Still it is well-written and enjoyable and more decorative than potpourri by the bath.

Perhaps a little eccentric
When it comes to refining your mental approach to the game, you've got to hand it to Vic Braden! I've always had the physical talent, but never the mental capacity to outthink my opponent, even if it was only a girl.Vic taught me to write down useful acronyms of my strategies and reactions to my opponent's strategies and shots as well on an extended wrist band that I make reference to between points - and sometimes during points(not recommended for beginners or women).For example, GAN is oftentimes effective when my net-happy opponent arrogantly holds his racquet above chest level(go after nuts).For a female opponent, Vic calls it GAP.This helps to teach a lesson of humility, says Vic.

Perhaps the only point of contention I have with Vic Braden is his affinity for the Aussie formation in doubles while putting down your racquet and using both hands via sign language to communicate cryptic codes while serving.It's just too bizzarre.One other bone of contention with Vic is his advocating to 'release your juices' before the match, and hence any bent-up sexual frustration, in order to 'fully become one with the tennis ball.'To each his own.

Always losing? It might be in your head
After being praised by pros and even attending adult tennis camp, I still found myself choking in matches. Although I'm a female who grew up pre-Title IX, I thought I could learn how to compete, but it just wasn't happening. No matter how much I learned about form and strategy, when it came to game time, I'd lose.

This book has helped explain what's going on in my head and what I can do to either win or just plain enjoy tennis for fun. It's going to take some time to put Braden's tips to use, but his common-sense approach simple to understand and the data he uses to back it up convinces even the skeptics.

Here's one tidbit that makes sense: get back one more ball, and you'll up your game-wining percentage by 33 percent. That's an amazing number and I find myself diving for balls now that I ordinarily consider hopeless. I'm going for that 33 percent!

Recommended for all all levels of play.

Only caveat: they could update this edition. Some of the players used as examples retired years ago.

Lynn

Great book, clear, concise, meaningful.
As an adult new tennis player who is highly analytical, this book opened doors for me into the world of tennis.It explained real reasons coaches and pro's say to do certain things which are in actuality not really what they want at all.Vic explains the fundimentals in a way that you can immediately benefit and learn from.His book has made the game even more enjoyable to play. ... Read more

Book Description
Chuck Kriese, men's head tennis coach at Clemson University and former U.S. Junior Davis Cup Team coach, is the all-time winningest coach in the Atlantic Coast Conference, and his career victories stand among the top in U.S. collegiate history. His coaching accomplishments include eleven ACC titles, eight national top ten finishes, and six ACC Coach of the Year awards. The Kriese coaching legacy has produced thirty All-Americans, sent twenty-three former players to the professional ranks, and spawned twelve current collegiate level coaches from among his former players and assistants. Coach Kriese is the author of three other books--Total Tennis Training, Winning Tennis, and Youth Tennis. He has lectured on the sport in the United States, England, Japan, Spain, and the Netherlands.Coaching Tennis, formerly published as Total Tennis Training, is a recipe for total player development that gives players and coaches the competitive edge when it comes to understanding the complex sport of tennis. The most comprehensive coaching guide available, it is complete with detailed descriptions of physical training techniques, useful approaches for mental and emotional development, and keys to establishing player strategy and team unity. Updated to discuss every conceivable aspect of the modern game from technical skills to momentum management, practice drills to goal setting, directional guidelines to coaching philosophies--discover Coach Kriese's unique motivational program, a formula proven in competition and proven by champions. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Great Tennis Book
As a lifelong tennis aficionado, I try to read a bit of everything that has to do with the sport.I must say, this is the most thorough and fascinating tennis book.Kriese covers everything that a player needs to know: The fundamentals for beginners and more advanced strategies for professionals.I found the sections on "directionals" (where to place the ball) and "pecking order" (how to play against opponents of different rankings) to be the most helpful.And not only is it informative, but very entertaining as well.Kriese spices the text with personal stories and antidotes that he has collected throughout his long career as a teacher.And it's less than the price of a single tennis lesson.

Great Book!!
This book does an excellent job at covering all the aspects of playing and coaching tennis.He divides tennis into 3 parts:the physical, the mental, and the emotional and he covers all three areas well.For example, he writes about your "role" when you play someone:are you the underdog or the favorite (he gives several other roles too)?He explains how to be comfortable with your role and how to excell in your role.He also writes about the different types of player personalities and how to best motivate them as a coach.I thought this book was just great.

Coaching Tennis
This is an outstanding book that deals with every aspect of coaching tennis.The book is very easy to read and includes charts, diagrams and photos to supplement the excellent techniques described.A must for anysuccessful tennis coach!

A great guide to techniques, theory and drills for tennis
This book is great for the beginner, intermediate or even an advanced coach/player.No matter what level player the reader is, Kriese gives good advice on getting mentally and physically ready for the game.His advicecovers stretching and physical training, advice on how to play the gameagainst many types of players, (ex. players with good forehands and weakbackhands, players who are fast and come to the net, etc.), drills toprepare for the game, photos of techniques, diagrams on drills...and Icould go on.I've been using this book for almost two years to get tips ondrills and techniques as a player/coach.It's helped improve my game andthe players I teach.I highly recommend it!

Scientifically up-to-date tennis training
Contains quite a bit of updated material towards the coaching of tennis.Be most suitable for the high-school coach looking for optimal growth for his teams.It is a necessary reference for the serious tennis teacher or coach who likes to leave no stone unturned to give the best learning to his trainees.Is not misleading but is scientifically correct when it comes to the technical, tactical, physical and mental. ... Read more

Book Description
A clear step by step intructions on how to play the mental game of tennis. The book consists of 46 Mini Lessons and 14 tennis drills to help you practice the mental game. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

A Must Read For Serious Players
A Must Read For Serious Tennis Players
I bought David Ranney's book a year ago and it was immediately helpful.The book gives you a framework for practicing and playing at your peak mental level. The drills that David has developed for this are fantastic. The trick is to keep reading the book over and over and to keep practicing.
I recently had the good fortune to not only attend David's clinic based on his book, but to also practice with him each day for two weeks.David is a born teacher; he can't help himself.With the help of the book and the practices with David, I have eliminated almost all the anxiety that I used to have when I played.This has allowed me to play in the moment without minute to minute negative judgment of my play. I am playing at a consistently higher level and more importantly my enjoyment of the game has increased greatly.Thank you David.

Good practical advice for the mind game
This book compliments the Inner Game Of Tennis.It assists those of us who are trying to master NOT thinking about how to play by providing tools to get to the Inner Game.Very helpful.

Tennis Transformation: On the Road to Relaxed
Since reading this book, I have been experiencing a transformation in the way I feel when I play.I used to shout an angry "argh!" or wack my racquet against the curtain between courts when I would miss YAES (Yet Another Easy Shot).And tighten up--yes choke--when the point meant win-or-lose.I felt resigned that this was just "the way things are" and I'd never be able to change.
After reading "Tennis: Play the Mental Game" my time on the court has truly become more enjoyable--and I really am playing better tennis (just as the book promises!).Focusing on the ball, watching the spin to the "blur of the racquet", noticing my breathing and practicing a long slow exhale on return of serves--these simple steps have me more relaxed and feeling very present when I play.
Some portions of the book are repetitious, a bit like practicing strokes, but overall the book made it easy to grasp the concepts.
It will no doubt take me many more months to be "in the zone" for most of the playing time, but after a few weeks, I am enjoying the ongoing transformation in how I feel when I play.
Thanks for a great addition to the mental game of tennis.

Redundant
"In my opinion, the other present-day books on the philosophy of the mental game pretty much says what Tim Gallwey was saying over 30 years ago, only not so eloquently."

The above phrase, by the author himself on page 14, is ironically fitting for this very book!

A Book to Read and Use
What makes Ranney's book different is that it's not only fascinating to read, but it can be used again and again by reading a short section before each time you go out to play and then concentrating on implementing the principle in that section.. He concentrates on 4 Core Principles: Consciousness, Focus, Breathing, and Non-judgmental Play--If you just read about one of those principles before you play and then focus on it during your match, your game will not only improve, but you'll have more fun--one of Ranney's key points is that we hear "Watch the ball," so much that we assume we're watching it when we're not--he gives you exercises to really "see" the ball and you will be amazed how hard this is--but it gives you a goal for each point and with practice and concentration, you get better and better--then you focus on the next key point--breathing--and so on. An incredible bargain for the price. ... Read more

Book Description
If you have ever lost your concentration after a bad shot, gotten tight and choked due to the pressure, got mad over a bad line call, or lost motivation to practice or hang in a match, then Tennis:Winning The Mental Game is just for you. In competitive tennis, it is usually the player who can win the mental game, that usually wins the match. This hands-on research-to practice book is an excellent tool for understanding and building mental toughness and teaching mental skills ... Read more

Book Description
What common elements separate the best tennis players from the rest? Maximum Tennis will teach you the 10 defining characteristics that allow the top professionals to play their best.

Play from the heart. Simplify your stroke. Focus on the elements you control. As a professional player, an elite coach, and a coach of elite coaches, author Nick Saviano has seen the differences these keys can make. Saviano distills the nature of championship play into its essence, helping you play to your strengths and enjoy the game every time you step on the court. Some of the best to ever play and coach add their own examples to each of Saviano's lessons. Contributors include Jim Courier, Chris Evert, Nick Bollettieri, Stan Smith, and many more.

Champions aren't born; they're made. With Maximum Tennis and hard work, you'll be the best player you can possibly be. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Fine Guide for Becoming a Player
Nick Saviano was a world-class player, top adminstrator and coach with USTA, and now consulting on his own (after the book was published). His views in this book are the templates for developing players for USA Tennis High Performance; i.e., the American system for player development. But it is a system, not an academy. And this is a book, not a personal coach. Still, it gives a wonderful template how to create a developmental program, set goals, develop style of play, customize personal tactics, prioritize training, plan a training and tournament schedule, etc. It allows players (juniors and adults) to organize and take charge of their tennis life. It is a good book for players trying to put pieces together: strokes, tactics, training, etc into a personal package. It puts together your passion for tennis, your personality, and talents into what you probably should do on the court. It may be the best book in the subfield and is a fine resource for parents and juniors (older than 12 years old) and college players. It is also an excellent resource for the serious player (development, juniors, tennis training/planning, understanding your self and game) who would like to improve his or her tennis using a long-term plan. It is obviously a great resource for coaches, too.

Tennis Players Guide to Fun with Success
I am a member of the USTA, played countless tournaments and have read many books and magizine articles during my 30 years of playing the game.
Maxium Tennis, by far, offered me more information and guides on how to become all I can be by providing me with information and directions in areas I have not found any place else.
The stories of Saviano's relationships with many well known professionals, are not only fun to read, but give very beneficial tips on improving your play.
This book can put you on the road to reaching greater achievements then you thought possible. Have FUN! A Must to read!

A very experienced coach gives mental recommendations
Nick Saviano is an excellent coach with great credentials. Saviano attempts to improve the reader's mental outlook of tennis by focusing on 10 key subjects.
Tennis instructional books are difficult due to the varied backgrounds and levels of the readers. In this respect, I thought the author did an excellent job of trying to provide information that would please everyone. What I liked most about this book were the anecdotal stories provided throughout the book. All of the stories have memorable characters. The stories range from Saviano playing late in his career against an unknown but talented Boris Becker, to his coaching experience with Courier and Agassi.
While there were parts of the book I found boring like the typical summary descriptions of strokes, some parts were extremely helpful. Examples include Agassi's statement about not taking his racquet back on returns and the importance of making sure practice is fun so the athlete doesn't get mentally drained.

Overall, I would recommend this book for tennis players looking to improve their game. Still, the best book I have ever read for help is Brad Gilbert's, "Winning Ugly".

A very experienced coach gives mental recommendations
Nick Saviano is an excellent coach with great credentials. Saviano attempts to improve the reader's mental outlook of tennis by focusing on 10 key subjects.
Tennis instructional books are difficult due to the varied backgrounds and levels of the readers. In this respect, I thought the author did an excellent job of trying to provide information that would please everyone. What I liked most about this book were the anecdotal stories provided throughout the book. All of the stories have memorable characters. The stories range from Saviano playing late in his career against an unknown but talented Boris Becker, to his coaching experience with Courier and Agassi.
While there were parts of the book I found boring like the typical summary descriptions of strokes, some parts were extremely helpful. Examples include Agassi's statement about not taking his racquet back on returns and the importance of making sure practice is fun so the athlete doesn't get mentally drained.

Overall, I would recommend this book for tennis players looking to improve their game. Still, the best book I have ever read for help is Brad Gilbert's, "Winning Ugly".

A very experienced coach gives mental recommendations
Nick Saviano is an excellent coach with great credentials. Saviano attempts to improve the reader's mental outlook of tennis by focusing on 10 key subjects.
Tennis instructional books are difficult due to the varied backgrounds and levels of the readers. In this respect, I thought the author did an excellent job of trying to provide information that would please everyone. What I liked most about this book were the anecdotal stories provided throughout the book. All of the stories have memorable characters. The stories range from Saviano playing late in his career against an unknown but talented Boris Becker, to his coaching experience with Courier and Agassi.
While there were parts of the book I found boring like the typical summary descriptions of strokes, some parts were extremely helpful. Examples include Agassi's statement about not taking his racquet back on returns and the importance of making sure practice is fun so the athlete doesn't get mentally drained.

Overall, I would recommend this book for tennis players looking to improve their game. Still, the best book I have ever read for help is Brad Gilbert's, "Winning Ugly". ... Read more

Book Description
Be part of a winning team on the court! Doubles Tennis Tactics teaches you what positions and movements to use and what shots to make using proven patterns of play. These patterns will increase consistency, put more pressure on opponents, and result in greater success in competitions.

Developed in conjunction with the International Tennis Federation (ITF) and world-renowned coach Louis Cayer, Doubles Tennis Tactics presents 103 playing patterns and drills that are most effective in specific match situations. Court positioning and movement patterns are covered for all four players—server, server's partner, receiver, and receiver's partner—as well as court coverage and special formations for the serving and receiving teams. Practice drills reinforce the patterns so that smart tactical decisions become automatic on every point.

Study different styles of play and learn how to choose the patterns that will accentuate your own strengths as well as those of your partner. Use Doubles Tennis Tactics to play smarter and better with a partner, and become a winning two-player team! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Must reading for doubles players and doubles fans
"Doubles Tennis Tactics" is the most authoritative book written on this subject.Doubles requires specific shot selection, court positioning and movement patterns for each player: the server, server's partner, receiver, and receiver's partner.Louis Cayer, a distinguished coach, analyzes all that in depth. The chapter on playing styles analyzes the strengths and weaknesses of the five major playing styles, and that alone is reason enough for tournament players to buy this book.But the timeless question is: how can teams maximize teamwork to accentuate their strengths and minimize their weaknesses.
"Doubles Tennis Tactics" answers that brilliantly with expert tactics as well as more than 100 drills that will improve the skills and increase confidence so that those tactics work during competition.How do you become better at poaching?What is the I Formation, and why can it be highly effective?What are the best options for the receiving team to neutralize the serving team.Read "Doubles Tennis Tactics" and find the answers to these and many other important questions.You'll be glad you did -- whether you're a tournament player, recreational player or a fan. ... Read more