Not that long ago, we had great role models like Ken Rosewall, Maria Bueno, Rod Laver, and Chris Evert that we could use as examples for just about any student that walked onto the coaching court.  Their smooth, lengthy drives made it seem like they were playing underwater.  Then rackets changed, strings changed, surfaces slowed down tremendously, add to that a new level of athleticism, and players today hit the ball so violently, it’s a wonder that the balls can hold up.  It seems every year their striking of the ball increases in topspin and speed accommodated by their enhanced movement and coverage of the court.  

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The evolution of the game has been amazing, but in this change, we lost those beautiful strokes that served as great examples for so many students learning the game. Coaches in recent years have been caught in this contradiction. 

Of course, there are many new players or existing players that will be able to use these new extreme grips and rip their groundstrokes.  But it is fair to say that there is a strong majority of students that have physical limitations.  Could be age, physical skills, physical condition, or even goals that are less lofty and are not focused on competition.  This doesn’t mean that we can’t learn and enjoy the sport, just means that most likely they will not have highly touted role models they can imitate.

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This is the area of most conflict with today’s teachers.  When a less athletic and capable player wants to hit a kick serve, or an exaggerated topspin groundstroke, it’s not easy to say, “Sorry, no can do.”  How do you explain the physical risk and potentially the lack of ability for that student to produce what they are seeing on T.V.  All of this is even more complicated when occasionally a new student to the game, with an aging body and athletic limitations, takes a stray lesson and is told that the only way to play tennis is just like Nadal or Serena. That will not be a fun or comfortable conversation to navigate, especially if this person is a customer and source of income.

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Other individual sports seldom have these issues. Swimmers have limitations that are easily recognized yet performance styles that are still quite common. The same could be said of golf, biking, running, or even skiing. But racket sports in general are different animals. There are four different moving parts to these games…the racket, the ball, the opponent, and the player. That by nature requires much more timing and variations for a successful and improving performance. There is also an opponent providing the unknown; unlike the individual sports mentioned, with racket sports, you have someone you are in direct combat with during the execution of play.