Tennis Science Optimizing Performance On The Court

With more than 75 million people worldwide playing the game, and many millions more watching Grand Slam tournaments, tennis is truly a global sport. So how do tennis players harness their physiology and the laws of physics to achieve success? Tennis Science uncovers the science within the game, bringing together the study of biomechanics with stroke development, psychology, and the technical development of equipment and playing surfaces.

This book will serve as a key resource for all clinicians working in orthopedics, sports medicine, and rehabilitation for the sport of tennis. It provides clinically useful information on evaluation and treatment of the tennis player, covering the entire body and both general medical and orthopedic musculoskeletal topics. Individual sections focus on tennis-related injuries to the shoulder, the elbow, wrist, and hand, the lower extremities, and the core/spine, explaining treatment and rehabilitation approaches in detail. Furthermore, sufficient sport science information is presented to provide the clinical reader with extensive knowledge of tennis biomechanics and the physiological aspects of training and rehabilitation. Medical issues in tennis players, such as nutrition and hydration, are also discussed, and a closing section focuses on other key topics, including movement dysfunction, periodization, core training, and strength and conditioning specifics. The expansive list of worldwide contributors and experts coupled with the comprehensive and far-reaching chapter provision make this the highest-level tennis medicine book ever published.

Filled with action photographs to illustrate the exercises and techniques, this book distills contemporary scientific research into easily accessible principles for designing and implementing tennis training programs. Sample programs provide a highly targeted, efficient, practical, and individualized framework for every competitive level, including junior, collegiate, professional, adult, and senior. Science is brought to the court with clarity and precision, informing and transforming on-court performance.

If you have watched a Grand Slam tennis tournament in the past decade, you are probably aware that the game is dominated by just a few international powerhouses. At the conclusion of each tournament, it is likely that you will see Serena Williams atop the women’s podium and a member of the Big Four—Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, and Andy Murray—hoisting the trophy for the men. And while there is not a lot of variety in the outcome of these matches, the game of tennis itself has changed drastically over the decades, as developments in technology and conditioning regimens, among other factors, have altered the style of play. Underpinning many of these developments is science, and this book explains the scientific wonders that take the ball from racket to racket and back again. Each chapter explores a different facet of the game—learning, technique, game analysis, the mental edge, physical development, nutrition for performance and recovery, staying healthy, and equipment—and is organized around a series of questions. How do we learn the ins and outs of hitting the ball in and not out? What are the main technological developments and software programs that can be used to assist in performance and notational analysis in tennis? What role does sports psychology play in developing a tennis player? What is the role of fluid replacement for the recreational, junior, and professional player? What rule changes have been made with respect to the racket, ball, and ball-court interaction to maintain the integrity of the game in the face of technological change? Each question is examined with the aid of explanatory diagrams and illustrations, and the book can be used to search for particular topics, or read straight through for a comprehensive overview of how player and equipment work together. Whether you prefer the grass courts of Wimbledon, the clay courts of the French Open, or the hard courts of the US and Australian Opens, Tennis Science is a must-have for anyone interested in the science behind a winning game.

Thought provoking and original, Tennisology delves into the science, psychology, and history of the world’s most popular individual sport in search of the factors that truly influence successful on-court play. The findings will not only surprise you but also change the way you approach the game. Based on the latest research, statistics, and analysis, Tennisology provides fascinating insights and observations on development, conditioning, and performance: • How and when the skills of the game are best learned • Why pressure affects some players but not others • Whether observing others can improve individual play • Whether there is a link between player personality and style of play • How and why height influences serve velocity • Whether great players are born or developed You will also discover how to apply the laws of physics to improve accuracy and consistency of shots and serves; how to structure training to minimize fatigue in lengthy matches; and how technology has affected the way the game is played, officiated, and coached. From the historical roots of modern tennis to the physical attributes that define the game, Tennisology will captivate you and make you think. It is a must-read for passionate players, coaches, and fans alike.

How does your opponent put that tricky spin on the ball? Why are some serves easier to return than others? The mysteries behind the winning strokes, equipment, and surfaces of the game of tennis are accessibly explained by Howard Brody through the laws of physics. And he gives practical pointers to ways players can use this understanding to advantage in the game. Through extensive laboratory testing and computer modeling, Brody has investigated the physics behind the shape of the tennis racket, the string pattern, the bounce of the tennis ball, the ways a particular court surface can determine the speed of the game, and the many other physical factors involved in tennis.

First Published in 1994. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This addition to the Handbook series will allow the tennis coach, athlete, and medical professional responsible for their care to improve technique, training and performance, and to reduce the risk of injury. When injury does occur, Tennis will aid quick accurate diagnosis and treatment, and effective rehabilitation so that the tennis player can return to peak performance with the minimum of fuss.