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Technical Tennis: Racquets, Strings, Balls, Courts, Spin, and Bounce
Table of Contents
By Rod Cross and Crawford Lindsey
FOREWORD
PREFACE
CHAPTER 1: RACQUETS
INTRODUCTION
Choosing a Racquet—the Basics
Mistakes When Buying a Racquet
Three Types of Racquet
Racquets and Player Psychology
Racquet Features Combine with Strokes
Selecting a Racquet Is Art and Science
Care of Racquets
RACQUET PROPERTIES
POWER
The Components of "Power": Exit Speed, Rebound Speed, Racquet Speed
Match Point Box 1.1: Effect of Grip Firmness on Power
The Maximum Exit Power Point Changes with Racquet Speed
Comparing Racquet Power
Racquet Power Defined as Rebound Power
Match Point Box 1.2: Maximum Effort Power
Rebound Power Is the Sum of All Racquet Properties
Power and Energy Loss
Match Point Box 1.3: Maximum Theoretical Ball Speed
The Bad News: Rebound Power Values Aren't Readily Available
CONTROL
Rebound Control
WEIGHT
Weight and Apparent Weight
The Six "Weights" of a Racquet
Racquet Weight
Light vs Heavy Racquets
Ideal Racquet Weight
Balance Point and Pickupweight
Swingweight
Twistweight
Spinweight
Hittingweight ("Effective Mass")
STIFFNESS
Racquet Stiffness
Measuring Racquet Stiffness
Match Point Box 1.4: Vibration Comparison between Racquets
Racquet Vibrations, Sweetspot, and Feel
Vibration Dampening
Shock and the Center of Percussion
Match Point Box 1.5: The Difference between Shock and Vibration
CUSTOMIZING A RACQUET
Match Point Box 1.6: Customizing Weight, Balance, & Swingweight
Further Reading
CHAPTER 2 STRINGS
STRINGS AND THE MODERN GAME
STRINGBED STIFFNESS
Static and Dynamic Stringbed Stiffness
Effect of String Material and Gauge on Stringbed Stiffness
Effect of String Tension on Stringbed Stiffness
Effect of String Pattern on Stringbed Stiffness
Effect of Headsize and Stringbed Suspension System on Stringbed Stiffness
Match Point Box 2.1: Rise in String Tension During a Shot
Stringbed Stiffness Summary
TENSION AND PERFORMANCE
Tension and Power
Tension Loss and Going "Dead"
Tension Loss and Feel
Tension Loss and Control
Tension Loss and Sound
Tension Loss and Prestreteching
Tension and Spin
Tension and Player Perceptiveness
DWELL TIME AND PERFORMANCE
Dwell Time
Dwell Distance
Dwell Error
Dwell Time and Force
General Rules of Dwell Time
Further Reading
CHAPTER 3 BALLS AND BOUNCE
BALL BASICS
Ball History
Rules about Balls
Match Point Box 3.1: Ball Testing to Compare New and Old Balls
Pressurized and Pressureless Balls
BALL BOUNCE OFF THE COURT
Friction
Bounce Factors
Bounce Factor #1: Angle of Incidence
Bounce Factor #2: Incident Speed and Spin
Bounce Factor #3: Hardness of Court
Bounce Factor #4: Court Smoothness or Roughness
Horizontal Bounce Speed
Effects of Friction on Ball Spin
BALL BOUNCE OFF THE STRINGS
Angle of Impact
Tilting the Racquet Head
The Bounce Path off the Strings
Further Reading
CHAPTER 4 SPIN AND TRAJECTORY
SPIN BASICS
Generation of Spin
Influence of Incident Angle and Spin on Rebound Spin
Match Point Box 4.1: Effects of Spin on Bounce off the Strings
Types and Uses of Spin
18 Different Ways to Hit the Ball
Spin Before and After Bounce
Effect of Grip on Spin
Can Racquets and Strings Increase Spin?
Match Point Box 4.2: Can Players Feel Spin
Increasing Spin with Stroke Technique
Simple Topspin Experiment
Match Point Box 4.3: Topspin and the Federer Forehand
Effect of Racquet Tilt on a Topspin Forehand
SPIN AND THE SERVE
Ball Toss
Tips on Serving
Arching the Back to Serve
Slice Serve
Serve Actions
Forearm Slows Down
Match Point Box 4.4: The Sampras Serve
Force on Handle
TRAJECTORY
Vertical Launch Angle
Hitting the Ball Deep
Further Reading