NBA Star Steve Nash & Recreational Tennis

By John Malanga

I recently read an article in Sporting News magazine about All-Star NBA point guard Steve Nash. The article focused on various aspects of Steve’s game that make him a great player and included several quotes from Steve. After reading the article, I realized that many of Steve’s quotes could be useful to those of us who play recreational tennis. In this post I will highlight several of Steve’s quotes from the article and relate them to recreational tennis.

VISION

“(Basketball) is a lot of quick bursts, it’s unpredictable, and it’s multidirectional. (Vision) helps me see how guys move, and helps me as far as anticipating where everyone will be.”

Tennis is also a game that has a lot of quick bursts, unpredictability, and multidirectional action. Having good vision and anticipation are keys to playing winning tennis at any level.

PACING

“(Proper movement means) moving with a purpose, doing everything with a purpose – a basketball-related purpose. To be successful, I have to use change of direction, I have to use my balance, I have to use my coordination, I have to use my own advantages.”

The essence of good tennis footwork is contained in this quote. Good tennis footwork requires the ability to change direction, move with a purpose, while maintaining coordination and balance. As Steve says elsewhere in the article, there is a misconception that athleticism equals explosiveness. It is not necessary to have explosive speed to be a great mover on the tennis court.

ENDURANCE

“I work hard at it. I spend a lot of time getting treatment, having (the training staff) look at how I am moving and giving me corrective exercises to keep me going. When I was younger, it was a little easier – you recovered faster, you put in your off-season work and then sort of go from there. But now, it is a whole-season thing.”

Fitness is vitally important for both tennis and basketball players. Tennis players would do well to emulate Steve’s year-round approach to fitness. Putting in the time and work necessary to maintain and strengthen the body will pay great dividends during a match.

SHOOTING

“How I do it? Years of practice. That’s the short answer. But I don’t necessarily practice my shot (a lot). I did that when I was younger, but nowadays, I try to shoot 15 to 45 minutes four days a week. I know what my shot should feel like. I have taken thousands of shots. If I didn’t know my shot by now, I would be in trouble.”

“For me, it is more physical work, to have the legs and technique and the ability to repeat my motions, the correct motions over and over. Leg strength is something that is so important for shooting because you need to have the same form on your shot no matter what. And rhythm. (Now) when I practice my shot, it’s more just staying sharp just to keep my rhythm.”

You could substitute the word “serve” for “shot” in the preceding quote and it would be excellent advice for all tennis players. Have you ever seen video of Federer practicing his serve? Federer is always relaxed and smooth while he works on maintaining the rhythm that Steve talks about in this quote. Serving with a smooth, consistent, repeatable motion is far more important than speed for recreational tennis players.

PASSING

“Passing is a feel thing. I don’t sit and study films on it. I just have a feeling for a teammate and how he plays and where he likes to receive the ball. It becomes second nature with everyone you play with. (The important thing is) having feel, having your eyes open and your head up and knowing who you’re playing with.”

This idea of keeping your head up, eyes open and being aware of what’s going on at all times is essential to winning a tennis match. During every point it is vital for recreational tennis players to observe the location and activity of the player(s) across the net in order to 1) move properly, 2) anticipate the incoming shot, and 3) decide where to hit the next shot.

Recreational tennis players can learn a lot from an NBA star because concepts such as balance, awareness, anticipation, and feel apply across sports.

Book Excerpts: Arthur Ashe on Tennis

Arthur Ashe on Tennis: Strokes, Strategy, Traditions, Players, Psychology and Wisdom, with Alexander McNab (Knopf, Inc., 1995) (143 Pages, with Foreword, 4 Introductory Articles, 6 Chapters)

“Arthur Ashe motivated. He taught. We listened when he spoke. He used tennis for a greater good. Many players don’t. He made a difference.” The Player, by Billie Jean King.

In this short yet pointed book, sports writer Alexander McNab compiles many articles and thoughts of the great Arthur Ashe. Ashe was the first man of color and African-American to win the U.S. Open and Wimbledon. Ashe was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Clinton in 1993. His insights on the the topics of tennis, strokes, strategy and psychology, and much more, remain relevant today.

One of his insights was about “who” you really “play” in tennis. In a famous quote, Ashe remarked: “You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards. And when you reach your limits, that is real joy.”

The book is easy-to-read and nicely organized on a wide range of tennis topics, and packed with gems from a gifted and accomplished player. And it is well worth reading in full…

Here are a few brief excerpts…

Five Shots-a-Point Rule
For club players, I have a comfortable rule of thumb. If, on every point you play, you hit the ball in five times, you are not going to lose any matches…steadiness is a habit; it is not something you turn on or off like a light bulb…start with steadiness; and then add aggression and power.

Make Up Your Mind
Indecision is a common problem for many players…You can take too long to make up your mind and end up trying a foolish play…In most situations, there is a bread-and-butter play that works ninety percent of the time…

When You Get in Trouble
Aim for the center strap of the net. If the ball passes over it at a reasonable speed, it should stay in, regardless of where you are on the court.

The Important Points and The Important Games
The first point of the game is key. After that, the points on the Ad side of the court are more important than the points on the Deuce side because you are either building a two-point lead…pulling even…or winning or fending off a game point…The first four games are important because that is the feeling out period of the match, and no one wants to lose his serve. I think Bill Tilden was right about the seventh game, which he identified as crucial. [That] is the place where you can forge or consolidate a winning lead…or…break your opponent’s momentum.

Make Your Opponent Hit the Shot He Hates
Every player has a shot that he or she would rather not hit…If your opponent is shaky on overheads, lob a lot. If he doesn’t like to come to net, feed him a lot of short balls. Chip away at your opponent’s confidence by making him hit the shot he hates.

Covering the Court
Too many club players play as if they can cover the whole court, which cannot be done. Whoever configured the court back in the 1880s did a pretty good job because even the fastest players…cannot cover the whole court very well. You have to try to get your opponent to hit the ball where you can cover it, and within that area you can be more aggressive.

Anticipation
Anticipation…is the ability to size up a situation and intuitively guess where the ball is going to be before it gets there…It gives you a huge advantage…There is no question that experience helps you anticipate better. But [also] pay attention. If somebody hits a ball crosscourt to you, more than half the time you are going to hit it back crosscourt. The way a person holds the racquet has a lot to do with where he can hit a ball.

Keys to Better Play
1. Play with a decisive attitude
2. Mix up your shots
3. Have a plan on break point.
4. Lob when you’re in trouble.
5. Hit approach shots down the line.
6. Cover the open angles at net
7. Get moving after you hit the ball
8. Practice with a purpose

What It Takes To Win
It is not just the more talented player who wins. Some players may try a little harder. Some players may be a little smarter with strategy and tactics. Some players may be in better shape. Some players may have a better temperament for the game…To be a winner, you must be a fierce competitor as well as a shotmaker.

Relish the Combat
The sheer intensity of your competitive fire may be enough to overcome an opponent with more firepower in his strokes…you can get a psychological advantage by the body language you display on court…Always try to look like you are a winner, even if you are behind…a sustained look of control and confidence can give you a mental edge…

See Yourself Succeeding
Pancho Gonzales once told me that whenever he thought that a stroke of his was a little off, he would close his eyes and picture himself hitting the shot perfectly…Close your eyes before the point begins, and see yourself executing the shot, and then open your eyes and do it, without worrying too much about the result.

Conditioning
Vic Braden, when asked, “What’s the first thing I should do to improve my tennis?” always answered “Lose five pounds.” There is some truth to that…Most people play at a level or pace commensurate with their conditioning. If you improved your conditioning, you could play a lot more and a lot better.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

DVD Review: Biomechanics of Power

Biomechanics of Power, with David Sammel (ITP, 2001) 54 minutes with 19 Chapters and Bonus Feature.

International Tennis Products (ITP), based in the U.K., has produced this fascinating 54 minute DVD about the Biomechanics of Power in tennis, as part of their Visual Learning System series.

In this DVD, David Sammel, U.K. national coach of top Davis Cup stars and currently Head of Coaching at Monte Carlo Tennis Academy (MCTA), introduces and explains the human physiological components or “biomechanics” of tennis power and fluidity.

Sammel breaks downs how biomechanics works in the major groundstrokes – forehand, backhand (both one-handed and two-handed), closed stance, and open stance. He includes many practices tips, drills and techniques to help the club and recreational player improve in this area. He also adds a bonus feature on developing a feel for groundstroke power and on maintaining dynamic balance on the run.

The core of Sammel’s concept on biomechanics is: groundstroke power comes from the body’s “big parts” rotating – especially shoulders, hips, and “core”. He explains the so-called kinetic chain movement with power coming from the ground-up traveling from feet to bent knee to hips to shoulders in the takeback (i.e. “loading” or “coiling”). This is followed by movement traveling from shoulders to hips to arm to hand with racket head “sweet spot” following-through to full finish (i.e. “unloading” or “uncoiling”.)

Sammel goes on the describe what he calls the three (3) forms of biomechanical power: 1) Linear Power which is body and racket moving forward horizontally, 2) Groundforce Power which is the body and head rotating and bending down below shoulder level and then rotating back and pushing upward from the ground, and 3) Circular Power which is the full extension and follow-through with arm, hand and racket.

Additional Research:
1. You Tube Clip of Sammel’s Biomechanics of Power (Apx. 2 minutes)

2. ITF’s (International Tennis Federation) Biomechanics of Tennis: An Introduction (47 Pages, PDF format.)

In my view, the biomechanics of efficient and powerful tennis has probably not been a well-understood concept by many club and recreational level players. Indeed, many coaches say that they see too many lower level players hitting the ball with too much “arm” and “hand” only. In contrast, we see the top players, though they may vary in play style and other aspects, efficiently and intelligently use their body mechanics to maximize their game.

This fascinating DVD helps to de-mystify this sometimes little-understood area of biomechanics for everyday players. And it offers illuminating insights into how recreational players can improve their use of biomechanics in their play, and thus elevate their game. Well done.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

Secrets of a True Tennis Master: Welby Van Horn and His Teaching System

Secrets of a True Tennis Master: Welby Van Horn and His Tennis Teaching System, By Edward Weiss (Wilson Printing, 2007).

The Book & Author
The author Edward Weiss is a lifelong tennis player and former Captain of Swarthmore College tennis team and Division III All-American in 1978, and is now a corporate lawyer in Connecticut. In this thorough book, Weiss has done a beautiful job in explaining the Welby Van Horn Tennis Teaching System. In 13 Chapters and 296 Pages, profuse with illustrations and photographs, Weiss details Van Horn’s concept – a theory based on four (4) fundamentals of tennis instruction, and a system of checkpoints to help students master their game.

About Welby Van Horn
Welby Van Horn is the legendary tennis coach Sports Illustrated called one of the most successful coaches in all sports. (The Right Way to Begin, Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, April 28, 1969)

In tennis, Van Horn has been called “that rarest of breeds” – one of the few great tennis players who then became a great coach. He was ranked in the world’s top ten as both professional and amateur in the 1940s. He was the youngest male player at age 19 to reach the U.S. Open Finals at Forrest Hills in 1939. He played Jack Kramer, Pancho Gonzales, Don Budge and Bobby Riggs. His biggest win was over the great Bill Tilden in July 1945 (6-0, 6-2, 6-1), though Tilden was age 52 at the time and well past his prime.

In 1951, Van Horn moved the Puerto Rico to coach at the Caribe Hilton Swim & Tennis Club, teaching kids 8-10 years of age and other beginners. He slowly amassed an amazing record of teaching 100 nationally-ranked American junior players. This included Charlie Pasarell (ranked No. 1 USA player in 1967 and who many recall played Pancho Gonzales at Wimbledon in 1969 in one of the longest and greatest matches in tennis history), and Victor Amaya, No. 14 in the world and French Open Doubles Championship winner in 1980.

In his book, Off the Court, Arthur Ashe wrote: “If I had to send my kids to somebody to learn the game, I would send him or her to Welby Van Horn. He has the best track record. You don’t get that by accident…”

Later, the Welby Van Horn Tennis Academy opened in Boca Raton, FL and other locations. Van Horn was inducted into the USPTA Hall of Fame in September 2008. Van Horn is now retired in Palm Springs, CA USA, and is Tennis Pro Emeritus at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The Welby Van Horn Tennis System
The Welby Van Horn tennis system is evident in all his players – a fluid classical style and all-court game.

Van Horn believed that that there are four (4) fundamentals to the game and that they should be taught in a particular order. The four (4) elements are in order of priority: 1) balance, 2) grips, 3) strokes and 4) strategy. Let’s review these very briefly in reverse order to better understand Van Horn’s thinking.

*STRATEGY is useful only if you can control the ball. You control the ball through proper STOKES. Proper strokes are dependent upon correct GRIPS. But even with correct grips, proper strokes are predicated on good BALANCE. In other words, you can only control the ball and racket, if you control first your body and it’s balance mechanism. Thus, good balance is the first fundamental, and can be learned and practiced even without a racket.

In Welby Van Horn’s words: “Balance is the key fundamental. It is what makes the expert game look so easy. Proper balance means an economy of motion: achieving maximum results from minimum effort.” Van Horn’s system emphasizes use of checkpoints in helping players achieve their maximum balance as a platform for strokes and volleys.

The reader is invited to read much more about Van Horn’s equally compelling ideas on volleys, the serve, teaching drills and practice methods in this fascinating read.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net

Coach Saviano on Tennis Styles & Secrets

Maximum Tennis: 10 Keys to Unleashing Your On-Court Potential,
Nick Saviano (Human Kinetics, 2003) 195 Pages, with 10 Chapters, Index, Bibliography and Black & White Photos

Nick Saviano is a former top coach and director with USTA and now head of Saviano High Performance Academy in Sunrise, FL USA. He was a top 50 player and was once coached by Pancho Segura, and himself once coached Andre Agassi. Saviano has offered this insightful and instructive book on his keys to “maximum tennis”. It includes contributions on his ideas from top former stars and coaches such as Chris Evert, Billie Jean King, Stan Smith, Jim Courier, Nick Bollettieri and others.

Tennis Styles
Saviano says 90%+ players fit very broadly, though not perfectly of course, into one of four (4) player game styles.

These are: 1. Counter-Puncher, 2. Aggressive Baseliner, 3. Net Rusher, and 4. All-Courter

He argues that each style presupposes a player personality and that you should “embrace” your player personality in developing your game style. Doing this will enable you to play tennis better and just as important, enjoy playing it. Playing a game style in conflict with your on-court personality will trouble your enjoyment and inhibit your game, he says.

Saviano also says that your physical characteristics (fitness level, height, speed, endurance, etc.), and your weapons and weaknesses affect your choice of game style. Also, certain patterns of play you might like could affect your choice of game style.

He also writes that people should make a distinction between “game style”, and “strategy” and “tactics”.

Game Style – the style or overall mold of the your game. Examples are a net rusher style or counter-puncher style.
Strategy – overall game plan in a match. One example of an overall match plan is that of Venus Williams serving big, hitting aggressive baseline shots and take control of point early. Another is Davydenko taking ball on rise and hitting angled shots.
Tactics – specific shots, combination of shots or maneuvers to win a point. An example is a serve out wide, then coming to net, and hitting to opponents weaker side such as backhand to get a weak reply.

More on the Game Styles
1. Counter-Puncher – These are defensive baseline players who react to shots, wait to counter, make good passing shots, play far behind baseline, and hit with high net clearance and heavy topspin usually. Depth, consistency, control are their keys. They tend to be mentally tough and patient. They are not risk takers, but they have high fitness and like to run. They usually play high percentage cross court tennis. They use directionals well. Example: Leyton Hewitt.

2. Aggressive Baseliner – They try to dictate play with aggressive groundstrokes, and usually have a baseline weapon such as big forehand. They are very quick and agile. They are good service returners. Their personality is aggressive, and they go for winners and want to make it happen rather than wait. They are good at changing direction, using the inside-out forehand, and opening up the court with angles. Examples: Andre Agassi, the Williams sisters, and Lindsey Davenport.

3. Net Rusher – They possess aggressive court personality, and much prefer short points. They are big risk-takers. They like high risk or high reward. Don’t like long points; they not patient players. They like putting pressure on opponents. The serve is usually a good weapon for them. Outstanding volleys and net coverage. They are good athletes, with good anaerobic powers, powerful sprint-and-stop skills, and fine court movement skills. They know how to approach, come behind their shot, and make high percentage volleys. Examples: Pete Sampras, Taylor Dent, and Martina Navratilova.

4. All-Courter – They are capable of mostly all styles. They use all strokes, and are usually very fit. They move between a defensive and neutralizing game. They like to adjust and adapt, or they get bored. They may or may not have one clear weapon. All-Courters are problem solvers and thinkers. Yet most tend to prefer mostly one style or the other, such as net or baseline most of time. They usually like ball control. They like to use play patterns – serve/volley, approach down the line, cross court directionals but with smart change of direction, and inside-out shots. Examples: Martina Hingis and Justine Henin.

Tennis Secrets
Saviano identifies what he believes are 13 psychological secrets of the champions – methods which help them achieve top performance – sometimes called the “ideal performance state”. These are reviewed by him in order of priority and he suggests that doing the first one will help in doing the next one and so on…We’ll just briefly review the top six here…

1. Focus only on the things that you can control, and forget the rest
Doing this will enable you to play your best and increases the chances of good results. Monica Seles was once quoted saying: “I truly try to worry about things I can control, and not worry about stuff outside of my control.” Legendary basketball Coach John Wooden was also quoted as saying: “The more concerned we become about things we can’t control, the less we will do with the things that we can control.”

2. Winning is NOT the number goal, it’s executing your game to your best ability
Doing this will not guarantee a win, but will indeed ensure success. Billie Jean King said: “When you stay in the process is when you win. Not when you get into the end results.” Winning is just a by-product of executing to your best ability.

3. Emphasize performance goals, not outcomes
Outcomes are things you cannot control such as winning a point, game or set. Performance goals are things you have control over: staying in the moment, engaging in positive self-talk, attacking a second serve, doing a slip-step (hop-and-go) before each opponent’s stroke, etc.

4. Cultivate intrinsic motivation, not extrinsic motivation
Intrinsic motivations refer to passion and rewards inside of yourself, such as improving your game or gaining fitness, rather than external motivations such as wins, rankings or trophies.

5. Stay in the present or the moment
Andre Agassi summing it up once said: “I have learned the hard way that to lose the focus on one point interferes with the job. If you let up on one point, what’s going to stop you from doing it on two? You can’t run out the clock. You have to finish.”

6. Project a powerful, positive presence
The projection of confidence is exactly what people see. Never let the opponent feel that they have broken you mentally or emotionally. “Never let them see you bleed” is what his superiors instructed James Bond in one of the movies…Win, lose or draw, always act as if you are winning and just won.

Timeless Tennis: A Blog
www.timelesstennis.net